Taking a chance- turning down job and changing career fear!!!

Doolee

Have you ever taken a gamble with say work, or life or with money (dont mean the bookies type!) and how did it turn out?


Heres the thing...

I work in an industry that people think is amazing and interesting, and some would give their right arm to be a part of. I've worked with loads of international celebs/famous people which, ten years ago was great, but now, I couldnt give two hoots who it is and spend my time wishing they would get their lines right so I can go home. I work in a technical area, very very very stressful; 14/16/18 hour days, very physical and active but no matter how hard you work, or nice you are to those above you, you are never ever good enough. The pay is crap and the only way I can save is that you spend say 5/6 months on a shoot with such long hours, you have no time to shop, or have any type of a life.

Anyway, I'm due to start back in June again (though nothing is ever definate) and the thought just turns my stomach. I have savings, which for the 6 months of the year I usually have no work for, helps me live. But I'm afraid. Im a saver, for fear of not getting work and having rent to pay so I'm reluctant to spend any bundle of money at a time.

Theres a cookery course I'm thinking of taking (i love baking) and costs over 3,000. I'm trying to visualize having something to fall back on if I turn down the film work I expect to get. But I'm so so so afraid of saying no to the only job I get in the year, packing it in to work in a kitchen...or something.

Im sorry its such a long mail, and mods, feel free to move it to a more appropriate location, but have any over you taken a leap of faith in such an unruely work climate. I'm in my early 30's, not someone who has been let go from their job with a handly pay packet so its different to that.

Anyway, thanks for reading and would love to hear any good stories...or bad for that matter!

red menace

Slightly different scenario to you.
But myself and my wife both left our jobs last September to move to Canada.
We had nothing but our suitcases when we left and no jobs lined up.
Just a cousin we could stay with for a bit.
We had a lot of doubts and and lots of people told us we were crazy to be giving up jobs and leaving everything we had in Ireland.
4 months on we are both working and honestly don't regret it a bit.
I would say go for it! beats regretting not doing anything IMO.
Good luck with whatever you decide

peasant

Doolee wrote: »

packing it in to work in a kitchen...or something.

By all accounts (not from personal experience) cooking professionally is even more stressful and anti-social (hours wise) than the job you're starting to hate.

Might not be the wisest choice for an alternative lifestyle decision kind of thing

Doolee

red menace wrote: »

Slightly different scenario to you.
But myself and my wife both left our jobs last September to move to Canada.
We had nothing but our suitcases when we left and no jobs lined up.
Just a cousin we could stay with for a bit.
We had a lot of doubts and and lots of people told us we were crazy to be giving up jobs and leaving everything we had in Ireland.
4 months on we are both working and honestly don't regret it a bit.
I would say go for it! beats regretting not doing anything IMO.
Good luck with whatever you decide

Sounds amazing/scarey. Fair play to ye both for having the courage to do that. Great that its worked for you. The way it is over hear now, you definatly did the right thing!

peasant wrote: »

By all accounts (not from personal experience) cooking professionally is even more stressful and anti-social (hours wise) than the job you're starting to hate.

Might not be the wisest choice for an alternative lifestyle decision kind of thing

I know, well really, the plan would be for me to just bake tonnes of healthier versions of yummy things, and also assist as a sort of dietary coach for people wishing to change their bad eating habits/lifestyles. I've become a fitness fanatic in the last few year, and would love to help others. Its a long road, but admitting you need to change things is a scarey thought in itself.

Actually, all that awful news in NZ (used to live and work there for few years) gave me such a fright...I've realized life is too short and I've just finished filling out the application form for the cookery course I was thinking of doing. I dont know if I can really afford it...I dont know if anything will come of it...but...I'm doin it!

Now the next step is to practice turning down my job offer when it comes in June....hmmmmm:eek:

Halo Kitty

Applause to you...best of luck..and be happy

wylo

While I have to admit your job does sound really really interesting, its your life and if you are literally dreading the idea of going back then its not for you anymore. Take the leap, if you dont you'll be always wondering, if you do and it fails....well worry about it then not now!!! That may sound a little irresponsible and naive, but you have only one life , no point spending it miserable.

I cant relate to your situation exactly, but I do know how it feels to be absolutely miserable in a job and it is horrible, I was made redundant last year and was unemployed for a few months , i am now in the process of setting up my own business. It may fail, it may not, but its the first time in my life ive been happy about taking the risk rather than conforming to an unhappy life working for some rich company I don't care about. Now the decision was a bit easier for me because of the lack of job opportunities, but Im still going out of the comfort zone nonetheless and i haven't been this content in a long time. Lets hope it works now:D

Loadie

Well done for taking the plunge, the best of luck with it, life is a way too short for regrets and for doing a job that makes you so miserable

Doolee

Hey,

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and wishes. I guess I'm lucky in the knowledge that I can take this risk financially anyway...sort of:rolleyes:. The biggest thing would be the regret later if I didnt do it. So...its done. Handed in the application form this morning, with payment details so...no going back!

Its only one step towards a possible new career but Rome wasnt built in a day.
I guess you can spend so long being miserable in a job no matter how great it seems, that you inadvertently choose not to realise that it doesnt have to be that way for ya!

Anyway, thanks everyone. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me