Long term

changesouth

Hi guys , thanks for reading ,

I've been working in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry for 8 years or so now. Is there anyone on here who works in the same sector?. My problem is that the work is so demanding. It's basically 24/7 and because ppl don't think enough of their equipment they don't put any money into it and we are left trying to work miracles . Anyway I actually don't mind the work especially the air conditioning side of things but its something I don't want to be doing when Im over 40 . Still working long hours and then being on call at the weekends your never off the clock. It's sad that you pray for bad weather ( yes the recent bad summers are my fault ) so you don't get called out. I've actually considered a complete change of job ideally a handy 9-5 but just can't see anything that I could walk into without some significant training and being in my mid 30s I'm unsure about retraining .

So what's my question?!?! Is there any jobs within the sector I'm in that would be less manual labour and more regular hours? Something i can work towards and get ahead . I've seen guys late 40s still doin the same hard work that they were doing 20 years ago . I know this sounds like a First world problem but I don't want to get burnt out. I appreciate my job and don't take it for granted for a second. Thanks in advance.

Irish_Elect_Eng

You could look into "facilities" work in factories.

Most large factories have significant AC systems that need maintaining.

You could consider going out on your own?

ShaShaBear

changesouth wrote: »

Hi guys , thanks for reading ,

I've been working in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry for 8 years or so now. Is there anyone on here who works in the same sector?. My problem is that the work is so demanding. It's basically 24/7 and because ppl don't think enough of their equipment they don't put any money into it and we are left trying to work miracles . Anyway I actually don't mind the work especially the air conditioning side of things but its something I don't want to be doing when Im over 40 . Still working long hours and then being on call at the weekends your never off the clock. It's sad that you pray for bad weather ( yes the recent bad summers are my fault ) so you don't get called out. I've actually considered a complete change of job ideally a handy 9-5 but just can't see anything that I could walk into without some significant training and being in my mid 30s I'm unsure about retraining .

So what's my question?!?! Is there any jobs within the sector I'm in that would be less manual labour and more regular hours? Something i can work towards and get ahead . I've seen guys late 40s still doin the same hard work that they were doing 20 years ago . I know this sounds like a First world problem but I don't want to get burnt out. I appreciate my job and don't take it for granted for a second. Thanks in advance.

It might not work the same way, but if you are any good with computers you could try branching into the administration side of your line of work!

changesouth

Thanks guys

Ya I was looking at doing maintenance work in some factory or something, id imagine I'd have to get some additional qualifications .

I actually did computers in college but never put my degree into practice as the sector was in a slump when I got my degree. The company I'm with at the moment isn't big enough to have any admin work.

As for going out on my own its less hassle I'm looking for

knotknowbody

changesouth wrote: »

I actually did computers in college but never put my degree into practice as the sector was in a slump when I got my degree.

Would you consider getting back into the I.T sector, there are plenty of jobs if you have the skills, I was similar to you, I done a I.T degree but worked in a different sector for over ten years. I'm currently back at college bringing my I.T skills up to date and specializing in a specific sector of I.T. I'll be seeking work in I.T soon, it could be a good option, if you can get work even at entry level to build experience I can really see opportunities to build a decent career.

I'm doing a part time course so it all happens outside of normal work hours, I know you said you are on call in the evenings but is it possible to work out a call rota with colleagues so you could have your college evenings free. College is also a great way to meet people in the field you trying to get into, many of the people on my course are working in I.T and are doing the course to specialise so the networking opportunities are quite good.

Edit: Just to add I'm also mid thirties and of the 25 on my course only 3-4 would be noticeably younger than me the rest are all about the same age or significantly older in many cases, don't look at your age as a barrier to re-training or moving to a completely different sector, you'll be amazed how much of the old collage stuff comes back and is still relevant today, even though the industry moves forward so quickly, the principles are still the same.

changesouth

knotknowbody wrote: »

Would you consider getting back into the I.T sector, there are plenty of jobs if you have the skills, I was similar to you, I done a I.T degree but worked in a different sector for over ten years. I'm currently back at college bringing my I.T skills up to date and specializing in a specific sector of I.T. I'll be seeking work in I.T soon, it could be a good option, if you can get work even at entry level to build experience I can really see opportunities to build a decent career.

I'm doing a part time course so it all happens outside of normal work hours, I know you said you are on call in the evenings but is it possible to work out a call rota with colleagues so you could have your college evenings free. College is also a great way to meet people in the field you trying to get into, many of the people on my course are working in I.T and are doing the course to specialise so the networking opportunities are quite good.

Edit: Just to add I'm also mid thirties and of the 25 on my course only 3-4 would be noticeably younger than me the rest are all about the same age or significantly older in many cases, don't look at your age as a barrier to re-training or moving to a completely different sector, you'll be amazed how much of the old collage stuff comes back and is still relevant today, even though the industry moves forward so quickly, the principles are still the same.

Thanks very interesting, I had considered doing something in IT but wasn't sure what to do or where to go. My degree had a lot of business subjects in it and not much practical IT skills. I too would like to get into a niche area of IT rather than run of the mill fixing printers and such . A friend of mine works in a big IT company in dublin. We came out of college together but he is one of there top engineers, I think he works a lot from home now and does his own things . I'd ask him for some guidance but we arnt as close as we used to be, it's strange the difference between an office guy and a guy on the tools

Knotknowbody I'd be really interested in hearing more ....,,

wexie

Irish_Elect_Eng wrote: »

You could look into "facilities" work in factories.

Most large factories have significant AC systems that need maintaining.

You could consider going out on your own?

Maybe look into work in data centres? Data centre business in Ireland is pretty big and cooling/aircon is an important part of operations

knotknowbody

changesouth wrote: »

Knotknowbody I'd be really interested in hearing more ....,,

I graduated with the degree in Computer Science 12 years ago, my degree was pretty focused on programming and software development, with a bit of database and networking thrown in, like you things in I.T were a bit quiet when I graduated, so I took whatever work I could get which was in the agri sector as I'm from a farming background. It's hard when you have a reliable income and stable job to leave it but the long hours get harder as you get older and I didn't want to be doing that for life. I probably spent a couple of years where I could go months without turning on, or using a computer.

I started three years ago to up-skill in whatever free time I had, I learned about web development using PHP and MySQL, I developed websites for a couple of business locally for free to develop my skills. I set up WAMP and LAMP servers and configured my laptop to dual-boot, I practised using and installing Linux until I was reasonably comfortable with it. I set up a web-server on the network at home using an old laptop and LAMP, I hosted sites I developed on it before putting them live, I read a few of my old collage networking books as I always had a bit if a stronger interest in networking and security when at collage.

After a year of this I started looking for entry level I.T roles, 1st and 2nd level administrator/support and the like, got one quick enough and was in it for a year then moved to another company closer to home. I was there for almost a year, but the company ran into difficulty last October, by that stage I was already back at college studying Information Security. I continued with it and have another year to go to get my Masters, when I was let go I decided to focus on collage and further self study for the remainder of the academic year, I'm not working at the minute but have started a serious search since completing the exams at the end of May.

There seems to be plenty out there and I have had a couple of interviews in the last week or so, I am waiting on the outcome of these. Although my relative lack of experience is hindering me a bit and has been commented on during the interviews I am still confident of finding something. I think experience possibly is more important than qualifications in I.T, a degree really only tells someone you can learn, experience and a reference tells them you can deliver when needed. I think the way I've done it is probably a good way do go rather than diving straight back into collage, or looking for a job. I probably should have worked in support type roles for a year longer before collage, but I was losing my job so jumped at the collage rather than be out of work for a few weeks/months.

I think you need to start to up skill well before you start looking for work so you have a good understanding and can talk about things you've done in any interview. It's tough in those first few months looking at job specs and realising you don't really have any of the skills required but as you learn and see them come more within reach it builds your confidence. I.T is one of the few areas where you really can self school and bring your skills to the highest level, there are loads of sites and tools freely available to help, if you look for them.

If you are going to move over to I.T, make a 3 to 5 year plan of where you want to go and what type of work you want to do, figure out what you need to do to get there then start today not tomorrow. Look into professional certificates in the area your interested in, some are pretty cheap to get and prove to an employer you have a level of knowledge. I wasted a lot of time procrastinating when I decided to get back into I.T, it is pretty daunting but if you don't start you'll never get there.

changesouth

Cheers , I seem to be in the same position you were in a few years ago . As you said procrastinating is no good and is something I'm guilty of, usually at the weekends when I get time to think about things . Monday comes and I'm right back into it and any plans I had are forgotten. I'd like to get into IT because its less hazarderous to your health than my current job. Don't get me wrong I'm sure there are long hours and its mentally taxing. On the other side of things I was never really interested in IT or computers it was something I fell into on my CAO form. It's something I need to think about before I start anything, I don't want to be in the same position again in 4 or 5 years time. I have to say the lack of any career guidance in school was shocking . Anyway I need to sort something out sooner rather than later . Thanks for everyone's advice and if anyone has anythin to add feel free .