should i quit my job and leave for a year in ozzie land??

jackie1983

Hi All,

just having a dilema here. i have a job as a traniee accountant and im half way through my accountancy exams. my job isnt particulary well paid and im kinda bored at the moment doing what i do.. exams are tough and not easy to pass so they are stressfull. im thinking of packing it all in and going to oz for a year i just want to have fun and destress and not have to worry about things for a year... Im 27 and have been in this job since i left college at 24. im just so worried that if i come back in a year i wont be able to get a job and will have ruined my chances of gettin my qualifications since my company is paying for my exams at the moment and with the country the way it is i just dont know if its a good idea:( i need some advise .has anyone had similar experience or any advice for me would be great!!

thanks

J

Shield

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Maglight

That would be a really bad idea. I know the job and studying is difficult and getting you down, but stick with it until you get your qualification. Then go travelling, chill out, relax. If you leave before you get your qualification the chances are you will never fully qualify. With an accountancy qualification you can work and travel all over the world. You are probably working in audit now - very boring, but you can move into any business area after qualification. Don't chuck it in now. You've come this far, see it through. Then go have your fun. Good luck

MyKeyG

You have a job, your company is paying for your studies and it appears you have enough cash stuck away to head off to Oz if you want. In the current climate that's an awful lot to sacrifice just because you're bored TBH.

Delancey

I have to agree with the other posters here OP - finish your exams and qualify then feel free to go walkabout. AFAIK if you drop out now that could be classed as breaking your articles and that will make you unemployable as far as some accountancy firms are concerned.
I went to Oz years ago and though I enjoyed it I did regret it afterwards - I had huge difficulty getting a job when I returned , this seriously impacted on my relationships too - others I met there reported the same experience.
Qualify and then go - remember accountancy is an international qualification.

jackie1983

thanks for your advise everyone....but i didnt put in my first post that i dont think i want to do accountancy anymore and i think that if i travel for a while i would know for sure if i want to switch careers??
i have 8 years to finish the rest of my exams if i want to them and have the choice to go back to college full time when i get back to finish them all off .. i just am in two minds whether to do them or not i have a good degree and thinking of doing something else ..:(

leeroybrown

If you know that ultimately you'll want to go back and finish your accountancy qualifications then you should finish up your training contract. You sound like you're just bored with life and need to find a way to fix that here. As others have pointed out the grass isn't always greener, etc. And remember, you can apply for the Oz working holiday visa until you're 30.

On the other hand if you hate the job and don't think you'll get through it then maybe a carefully considered change in direction might be the thing to do. I've known plenty of people like this but you don't sound like one.

jackie1983

thanks Leeroy. story is i never wanted to do accountancy i got lucky with this job and its just the fact that i know accountancy is a good career and everyone keeps telling me it will be worth it in the end.. i know it would be money wise but i never wanted to do it and im only sticking at it because of fear of doing something else and because of the current climate is making me even more fearfull... you no what i mean??

scotty_irish

I'm going to go against the general view of everyone else here and say f*ck it and go. You only have one life, no point in being unhappy during your best years. A trip away is the best way to sort your life out, and getting away from the doom and gloom of Ireland is fantastic. I'm not an accountant, or have any knowledge of the industry so I have no knowledge of how this will impact you career wise. However, for me getting away and having fun was the perfect cure, allowing me to figure out what I wanted to do and just blow off lots of steam. My opinion life's too short to be sensible, in a few years you'll be tied down with family and mortgages and all that, so go enjoy yourself!

witchgirl26

jackie1983 wrote: »

thanks for your advise everyone....but i didnt put in my first post that i dont think i want to do accountancy anymore and i think that if i travel for a while i would know for sure if i want to switch careers??
i have 8 years to finish the rest of my exams if i want to them and have the choice to go back to college full time when i get back to finish them all off .. i just am in two minds whether to do them or not i have a good degree and thinking of doing something else ..:(

Just a quick question - how do you have 8 years to do accounting exams? The ACA only takes 3.5 years in total after college (and that for people with or without exemptions) and I think the ACCA is similar.

Having a professional qualification of any sort stands to you whether you choose to continue in that field or not so I'd say stick with it to get the qualification and then decide where you want to go. As for the fact that your company is paying for your exams - there might be something there about if you leave before finishing them that you have to pay back the money they've forked out so I'd look into that carefully if I was you.

leeroybrown

In that case perhaps a change is the right thing for you. It's your decision not your family, friends, etc. Just don't jump into it thinking it'll fix everything. I'm not one for regrets because there's nothing you can do about the past. You can laugh about it over a drink with your friends but that's about it.

jackie1983

cheers scotty irish that's what im thinkin seeing as i have no mortgage no kids no boyfriend at the mo whats stopping me

Witch girl you have 10 space in which to finish your exams for ACCA ive been at it 2 years so i have another 8 to do them at my disgression. i know my company wouldnt do that i have to sit down with my boss though maybe he migjht even give me my job back after i come back (wishfull thinking i know)

thanks Leeroy i know i just have to sit down and work it all out from all angles!!

witchgirl26

jackie1983 wrote: »

Witch girl you have 10 space in which to finish your exams for ACCA ive been at it 2 years so i have another 8 to do them at my disgression. i know my company wouldnt do that i have to sit down with my boss though maybe he migjht even give me my job back after i come back (wishfull thinking i know)

Ah right - I'm doing ACA & we were told at the start that ACCA was a similar time frame.

I'd say have a sit down with your boss alright. I know you think that your company wouldn't do that (and in fairness most don't follow through on it) but considering the times we're unfortunately in then they may.

Do agree that you need to do what's right for you. If you were near qualified then I'd say stick with it just to get it but there's no point in being unhappy.

Good luck with it all!

jackie1983

thanks witchgirl :)

starlit

I'd suggest you finish exams and get your qualifications first. Stick at the job for a while and then consider Oz as you'll have qualifications and work experience as a backbone which will stand to you. Oz now has got more tight with incoming people looking for jobs which they often require them to have a third level qualification now a days. That restriction is new in but not sure if it is in affect yet. Good luck OP.

gbee

Yes, you should, though, be warned that the golden age of moving to Oz is somewhat over, there is still far more potential there than here, and it's easier to extent your visa [there] if you're doing well and apply in advance.

baldbear

Wait and get qualified firat anyway and take things from there.

jackie1983

i have a third level qualification i have a batchelors degree in business and administration.. this is further education..... ah i dunno what to do im more confused now:(

dearg lady

tbh if it's something you're genuinely not interested in, and don't see a future in, there's not much point putting yourself throught all that stress. You say you've 8 exams left? that's 2 years hard slog, I know I've been there

I can understand people saying don't throw it all away, and they're right, but if you can leave your current job on good terms I wouldn't see it as throwing it all away. You may find yourself coming back to your studies in a few years feeling re-invigorated, ar you may decide to move down a different career path altogether.

On the subject of travelling, I can't speak for Oz, never having been there, but travelling is a wonderful experience, which I would recommend to everyone. It will broaden your horizons and challenge you, and is really really a great thing to do. However, you are unlikely to 'find yourself' or suddenly have a flash of inspiration about what you want to do with your life. Just to be aware of that, if/when you come back to ireland, you will likely be in a similiar predicamant as now,if you are unsure about what you want to do. But do take the time to think about it, and consider your options.

Best of luck, whatever you decide

jackie1983

thanks a mill derg lady... hopefully ill make my mind up very soon as im thinking of doing it in 3 months...
great advise and i just need to make the desicion now so hopefully ill make the right one... travelling is just so appealing at the min

thanks

df1985

stick with it OP and travel after. The world is your oyster with an accounting qualification, and even if you dont want to do accounting anymore, just having the qualification will open doors for you. I know lads with accounting qualifications who strolled into teaching positions etc.

MyKeyG

I agree with a previous poster who said that no accounting course takes eight years. I think you started this thread to have your ears tickled but that's just my opinion. I wonder if you're even studying accounting?

leeroybrown

MyKeyG wrote: »

I agree with a previous poster who said that no accounting course takes eight years.

You misunderstand. Students have 10 years to finish the ACCA exams from the date you register for them. The passes the OP has are valid for another eight years so they could stop studying for the moment then go back and finish the remaining exams in five years time if they wanted.

MyKeyG

leeroybrown wrote: »

You misunderstand. Students have 10 years to finish the ACCA exams from the date you register for them. The passes the OP has are valid for another eight years so they could stop studying for the moment then go back and finish the remaining exams in five years time if they wanted.

I misunderstand NOTHING! I'm registered with ACCA I know how it works and that's not what I said. The OP claimed that his course would TAKE eight years NOT that he had eight years to finish it. Please read all posts carefully before you reply. Thank you!!!

leeroybrown

MyKeyG wrote: »

I misunderstand NOTHING! I'm registered with ACCA I know how it works and that's not what I said. The OP claimed that his course would TAKE eight years NOT that he had eight years to finish it. Please read all posts carefully before you reply. Thank you!!!

The OP clearly stated on two occasions that they had eight years in which to finish their exams not that it would take them eight years. The OP even corrected another poster who was equally as confused by their eight year comment as you appear to be.

jackie1983

mykey G i CLEARLY stated that the exams have an 10 year window to finish them...do i really have to repeat myself for your benefit??? and also my "ears tickled " this was a question i asked for advise not abuse so could you kindly stop throwing incorrect accusations about...

thanks for clearing things up leeroy:)

nocheerleader

Hi Jackie1983 – here’s my two cents:

About 4 years ago I was a couple exams into my ACCAs, had a very good job too, but got bored of it and realised that it wasn’t what I wanted my career in and decided to pack up and move to Oz. I thought if I took a year out that I could come back and start fresh. It didn’t quite work out that way.

I did a Round the World trip as part of the experience which was amazing but the coming home part was miserable. After my year of fun (temped here and there in Oz to survive) I had to come home. I came home to a bleak job market. I became depressed, there was no sunshine, no days off on the beach and worst of all no jobs.

I tried to change careers by going back to college to study Design but I had to drop out half way through the second year because the financial burden was too much and securing a part time job to get me by was ten times harder than finding a full time job!!

So now I am back, struggling to find accountancy roles because the majority of companies are looking for someone with professional qualifications or at least part qualified – and it’s an employer’s market so they have the pick of the bunch.

I totally agree with the ‘life’s too short’ mantra, this is the premise I based my decisions on. So my advice to you is, if you are going to do it:

• Leave on good terms with your boss.
• Leave a certain amount of savings with your parents (or someone reliable) so you have something to start with when you come back.
• Make a real plan of what you want to do when you get back.
• And don’t expect to have a life changing epiphany while you’re away – you’ll have a great time but I don’t think Australia is somewhere you’ll ‘find’ yourself.

Hope this doesn’t put a downer on your plans, just trying to give the best advice from my experience.

Delancey

My experience is almost identical to yours nocheerleader - yeah Oz is a real blast but once you are back home reality bites and in the current jobs market regrets are likely to set in after realizing that there are no jobs out there.

pog it

Jackie I think you should just go for it! You can always get back into the financial sector when you come back and can continue with your exams as well (if you still want to at that stage).

The younger you are the better for trying out new things and travelling and you are still young enough to make a good go of it over there and have lots of time when you come back to work on your career again.

I would definitely do it if I was in your situation... and have done in the past, and changed career... anything is doable if you want it enough.

jackie1983

thansk so much everyone for your advise... im seriously contemplating leaving going until my exams are over. i dont want to but the reality of the matter is that it is more of a safe option for me... hopefully ill get through them quickly and get out and see the world... ill keep uz posted

thanks again
J:)

shadowcomplex

I have an ordinary degree in analyical chemisty with quality management, im not sure what the jobs market is like in aus for qc analysts and what the requirements are

MyKeyG

MyKeyG wrote: »

I misunderstand NOTHING! I'm registered with ACCA I know how it works and that's not what I said. The OP claimed that his course would TAKE eight years NOT that he had eight years to finish it. Please read all posts carefully before you reply. Thank you!!!

I'd love to have an argument with you at work; "I misunderstand NOTHING!" is not something I could see you saying. You've got a horrible tone and sound like a miserable teacher the way you phrased your reply. Hate That!

Rossin

id stay till qualified.

i went travelling for 10 months with the idea of working in oz for at least a year at the end of my travels, when i got to oz I actually didnt like it!i had just assumed i would because of all the hype etc. stayed for 5 weeks and came home. took a while to get back on my feet again(ended up going back to college basically!)

mkdon

to be honest you are the first person oive ever heard that hasnt enjoyd oz

havent been myself

whats was the problem?

nocheerleader

mkdon wrote: »

to be honest you are the first person oive ever heard that hasnt enjoyd oz

havent been myself

whats was the problem?

I stayed in Australia for a little over 6 months and wouldn't go back or recommended it as much as others - it's very over hyped. I know I stayed a long time but I was really trying to give it the best chance I could. It would be fine for a holiday, especially if you rented a camper van and travelled around at your own leisure. Now each to their own and I may not have liked it as I am not a huge drinker but for me to sum it up (well particulary Sydney) it's like a hot/sunny Ireland or England, full for drunk 20 something Irish and English folks!

eire2009

From the threads I am reading most people went or are going for a year out, If you spend a year anywhere drinking and partying your going to get depressed after it.

I'm planning on going getting experience and making good money, saving and possibly doing a few cima exams as well eventually. Living like I would normally going out on Saturdays..

The Auz dollar has gotten about 50% stronger against the euro in the last 2 years making the money over there worth while going over for now.
If its a year flaking, boozing and partying your going for youd want some amount of euros for that now.. Head to South East Asia 10g`s should last you the year ..

Whats the professional job market like over there atm ?

jackie1983

ok ive decided not to go... from the replys im gettin the feeling is that its not in my best interests really.. i have done a lot of thinking and coped myself on a bit... a year and a half and ill be finished my exams and ill still be under 30 so if i wanna go then i will.. thanks everyone for the advise

mandrake04

Thought I would throw in my 50c

I went to Aus over 6 years, at the time I was 28 and had been working in England for few years. I fancied a change and a bit of adventure so decided to go to Australia on a WHV so I packed in my £26K + car job and went traveling in Asia on my own for 3 months then landed in Aus Xmas eve with nothing more than £3K and a WHV in my pocket. At the time people thought I was mad.

I didn't know a sinner in Australia, I managed to make a few new friends in a pub 4 hours after landing and had a great time over Christmas and New Year. After a few weeks started job hunting, got lucky and got a job interview but the company was a bit hesitant in employing me for just 3 month rule on a WHV. I said I would work for them for a couple of years if they sponsored me and they said no problem if I could produce an NSW drivers licence by the 2nd interview the job was mine. Great start to 2005 a new job, new car and also moved into a great house with a few new friends who were all sponsored as well. Went back to Ireland for a holiday Xmas 2006 and decided that personally for me Australia was far better, since then I became a permanent resident then an Australian Citizen, met a beautiful Aussie Girl (Irish background) and bought a house and am getting married in the near future.

I still own property and land in Ireland and have been back about 3 times just to reassure myself that I done the right thing. I am making a good living here and the lifestyle is fantastic not sure what the future will bring but am lucky enough to have the choice of being able to live in Europe, Aus, NZ and have been offered sponsorship in the US if I wanted it.

There is a few threads on the subject in AH as of late, some of it is a tad negative but I thought I would share my story.

jackie1983

thanks mandrake great to have a view of what can happen .. always good to hear real life experiences to help me make up the olde mind... think for now ill stay on and hopefully hit the road in a year or 2

mandrake04

To be honest you are safer going to Oz qualified and experienced to improve your chances of finding work, being useless puts you on struggle street and limits your funds and you won't enjoy the experience if you are worrying about money/always being broke.