Any Job, Just For Job Security

tempnam

Hypothetical situation... You've been made redundant in your current job. However for some time you've been questioning whether or not this is the job/industry for you.

Redundancy is almost a relief as it means you no longer have to debate whether or not to leave - you now have no option!

The first opportunity that comes along is one in the same industry, that will likely be longer days, expectation of being on call with some out of hours working, and only a slightly better salary.

But..... it's a job. It's security. You can pay the bills - however you will probably not like it...

You also have a couple of other 'lines in the water' but no offers as of yet.

Do you take the job in order to just have a job? Or do you hold out for something better?

Bepolite

tempnam wrote: »

Hypothetical situation... You've been made redundant in your current job. However for some time you've been questioning whether or not this is the job/industry for you.

Redundancy is almost a relief as it means you no longer have to debate whether or not to leave - you now have no option!

The first opportunity that comes along is one in the same industry, that will likely be longer days, expectation of being on call with some out of hours working, and only a slightly better salary.

But..... it's a job. It's security. You can pay the bills - however you will probably not like it...

You also have a couple of other 'lines in the water' but no offers as of yet.

Do you take the job in order to just have a job? Or do you hold out for something better?

I threw my hands up in the air, delayed having kids, buying a house and retrained into an industry where everyone is self employed, and the majority make very little money.

I'm happier than I ever thought possible

YMMV

tempnam

Bepolite wrote: »

I threw my hands up in the air, delayed having kids, buying a house and retrained into an industry where everyone is self employed, and the majority make very little money.

I'm happier than I ever thought possible

YMMV

Already have the house and baby.....

sarkozy

I'm in the same boat as OP, except the job offer. I'm unemployed, having got a masters degree ten years in order to develop a career that never happened, and is unlikely to happen as my sector has shrunk by over 35% and only a handful of jobs are available to me.

I also have a wife, house and kid. I can really relate to this, so I'll be following this discussion with interest.

SCOOP 64

tempnam wrote: »

Do you take the job in order to just have a job? Or do you hold out for something better?

Take the job op, or your be holding out,holding out,holding out....................

Mr.Fred

tempnam wrote: »

Already have the house and baby.....

If that's the case take the job.

seamus

Depends on what kind of nest egg you have saved up I suppose, or what level of redundancy payment you've gotten.

If it was enough that I had time to pursue something else, that's worth thinking about. I would even be inclined to look for a low-paying/part-time job just to keep some form of cash flow while I searched for something I preferred to do.

dearg lady

seamus wrote: »

Depends on what kind of nest egg you have saved up I suppose, or what level of redundancy payment you've gotten.

If it was enough that I had time to pursue something else, that's worth thinking about. I would even be inclined to look for a low-paying/part-time job just to keep some form of cash flow while I searched for something I preferred to do.

This is a good idea in theory however I'm not sure how practical. I was looking for something part time, anything at all to tide me over, no luck, I was told I am 'overqualified' a lot.
OP, what are your options, would be job hunting in a different sector straight away, or returning to education first?

racso1975

My experience. Was offered a good job on muck wages this time last year. Turned it down as i was gonna be worse off then claiming social welfare. Currently have a great job good wages but for only 4 weeks left but am so glad i did not take the other job

racso1975

Oh i should also say i used the oppourtunity to return to college and do a level 8 business management course which i hope will stand to me.

seamus

dearg lady wrote: »

This is a good idea in theory however I'm not sure how practical. I was looking for something part time, anything at all to tide me over, no luck, I was told I am 'overqualified' a lot.

Really what I was thinking was of jobs where qualification isn't an issue and the employer expects a high turnover of staff; working behind a till, or whatever.

It's completely unchallenging work which doesn't tax you and you never bring home with you, which can be just what someone needs if they're considering a change of career and need space in their head and their life to look at other options. But it does at least bring in a nominal income to supplement whatever savings they have in the medium-term.

At the same time it is boring as hell, and in the current environment there probably isn't much of it about.

dearg lady

seamus wrote: »

Really what I was thinking was of jobs where qualification isn't an issue and the employer expects a high turnover of staff; working behind a till, or whatever.

It's completely unchallenging work which doesn't tax you and you never bring home with you, which can be just what someone needs if they're considering a change of career and need space in their head and their life to look at other options. But it does at least bring in a nominal income to supplement whatever savings they have in the medium-term.

At the same time it is boring as hell, and in the current environment there probably isn't much of it about.

yes, I do see what you mean seamus. I just had the unfortunate experience of being overqualified and underqualified and unable to get any work for quite a while. Very frustrating!!

Bepolite

seamus wrote: »

Really what I was thinking was of jobs where qualification isn't an issue and the employer expects a high turnover of staff; working behind a till, or whatever.

Retailers don't expect a high turn over of staff, they look for people who want the job long term. The ideal candidate is usually someone with young kids who wants a job to suit around that or the odd decent student. If you're hiring full time staff, again you look for people who will stick around.

seamus wrote: »

It's completely unchallenging work which doesn't tax you and you never bring home with you, which can be just what someone needs if they're considering a change of career and need space in their head and their life to look at other options. But it does at least bring in a nominal income to supplement whatever savings they have in the medium-term.

A rather condescending attitude. Working on the till will usually only be part of any job in retail. Customer focus and customer service might not be the most glamorous jobs in the world, but to some it's a career.

seamus wrote: »

At the same time it is boring as hell, and in the current environment there probably isn't much of it about.

Because people hold on to these jobs and recruitment aren't having to scrape the bottom of the barrel.

seamus

Hey, I've worked my time in retail. You're right, even though it's not glamourous, plenty of people work it as a career and love it. But it's the kind of job that you can just switch off when you clock out, meaning that you are freer in your spare time to focus on other stuff.

With a more challenging job (especially one that's remotely related to what you want to do), you can find yourself too drained at the end of the day to give a crap about doing anything else.

That said, in retail you don't get time during the day to arse about on the internet, so each has its pros and cons

Retailers and non-professional* industries in general do expect a much higher turnover of staff, especially part time staff.

*I use the term "professional" in the statistical manner, where professional jobs require specific qualifications. My intention is not to denigrate other jobs by calling them "non-professional"

doolox

This thread could be the story of my life.
I started out in the electronics industry 34 yrs ago and thought it was ideal for me.

At that time there was a shortage of degree qualified people in Ireland and the company had to train their staff from scratch. People with a fair leaving cert pass and a basic knowledge and interest in electrical devices could get a job in that industry.

It was probably a fair comment that I struggled to do my job but so did a lot of people in my role at that time. Increasing competition, larger supply of younger,keener and faster thinking people gradually pushed me further into the margins. The company I worked for closed down and I transferred to a new job with a company with a completely different corporate culture and ethos. I struggled in that company in two distinctly different roles working with a mixture of keen, competent and fast thinking people. There was also a fair percentage of incompetent, embittered and struggling people who found it easy to try and pass the blame onto me when things got nasty.....

I left the company on a voluntary redundancy package and undertook a course in FAS to widen and update my skills. I got a temporary job for 6 months with a small Irish company which I found a complete struggle due to my deteriorating eyesight and inability, due to bad eyesight and inexperience with mechanical test and measurement. I left that and pursued a completely different job path, with more emphasis on my main hobby skills.

I have only recently given up looking for work in the electronics sector when I was told that I could earn more in what I am doing now rather than pursue a conventional full time job in an industrial setting.

I know I should have done this years ago but it is vital for everyone to undertake a career review every 10 yrs or so in order not to become "square pegs in round holes".

Write down all your strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes etc.
Get feedback from as many people as you can at work, at home, friends in society etc and write this down.
Engage the services of a development and career guidance professional to see if further 3rd level training or education might enhance your job prospects and quality of work.

I found out that I had a big issue with personal development of which I was unaware for 52 yrs and which, in hindsight, crippled my life and career.
Get to know yourself as best as you can. On the plus side I did a test for academic development and IQ and was told that the results were very high so there is nothing fundamentally to stop me doing any course I want. Time however would not be on my side as at 55 I would only have 8-10 yrs payback on any level 8 course and I doubt such a course would increase my earnings after tax by the required amount to make the time and effort worthwhile.

This is why, if a person is in their late 30's and 40's in a bad job situation for a root and branch analysis to be taken of that person, their health, their abilities, their preferences etc so they can have TIME to change to a more suitable and rewarding career.

sarkozy

Great contribution. Can I ask how you addressed your 'personal development'. What this referred to, what you did about it. My issue is, I think, a combination of a dead sector, as I mentioned, along with some personality traits which are either a hindrance (anxiety, fear, lack of confidence, pessimism) or abilities that are undervalued. Thankfully, I still have some time (I'm 33) but not much to really make a go of things.

tempnam

Thanks all - some really interesting contributions. Part of my own problem is that I don't actually know what I want to do.

It sounds sad to say this but I don't have any strong passion for anything in life. We recently started a family and really all I want to do is spend as much time as possie with my OH and baby.

In terms of skills - I really don't know what I'm good at. I can do my current job fairly well but I don't like it - ie I never wake up in the mornings and look forward to going to work.

For me, what I'm ideally looking for is a job where: 1. I enjoy what I'm doing so I don't just look forward to weekend and dread the working week, 2. Get to spend lots of time with my family and 3. Pays enough so we can have a comfortable life (able to have the odd holiday, not worry about being able to afford Christmas / birthday presents etc)

I know I'm asking a lot there - but I've come to realise that happiness and mental wellbeing is so much more important than having a 'prestigious' career. I thought I wanted that once - but now I think I don't!

I'm rambling now so I'll stop!!

doolox

I have a mild form of autism called Aspergers Syndrome which makes social interactions difficult and makes the normal workplace very challenging and difficult.

While jobs were plentiful and talent was scarce I had no problem holding a job in my sector as, I suspect, many people in my sector also had some elements of autism and social phobia which did not matter in the job in those times.

Now most jobs in Ireland require high levels of social interaction, teamwork leadership etc and constant change and competition and uncertainty which make for a nightmare scenario for people with Aspergers.

With a great deal of help from various members of State agencies, voluntary sector workers etc I have managed to make a living out of my new job in a completely different sector.

I am fortunate that I have the support of a good wife who is in employment and our home is near paid for. I have only one dependent child who also has been diagnosed with Aspergers but we are fortunate to have her diagnosed early in her life and I will know what to look out for as her life progresses. People in a crossroads in their lives need to identify and sort out their priorities and needs and wants in their lives. It may be that it is impossible for them to change their career in the short term, 5 yrs, because they have a high mortgage, many kids, an uncooperative wife etc I know lots of people in this situation and I know their health is suffering because of this.

Each person in career or living difficulty needs to identify their true natures. Are they in the right job? Have they any hidden ailments or risks to mental or physical health which are a mismatch to their chosen work? I only found out about my autism when a friend of my wifes had a son with similar but more pronounced personality traits as mine and a professional development psychologist was able to make the diagnosis on the basis of mine and other close family members evidence.

I knew then that there were many things I would not be able to do but there were also many areas of work where I would be at an advantage. I had to identify job areas and types of work where my strengths would work in my favour and my weaknesses would not count. I am self-employed and work for a large number of different businesses so that I do not be exposed to one set of workers for longer than 2 hrs a week, often less. I work on my own and provide all the means to do my job, this suits me better than team work, where my performance could rely on the work of others. I always had a tendency to work alone at a high level of concentration and never felt comfortable relying on others, now I know why. I do not get involved in office politics, worker rivalries, workplace bullying etc which were the bane of my school and early worklife until I was diagnosed. For these reasons I would be very wary of going back to full-time employment with a "normal" factory or technology setting as office politics, worker rivalries and jealousies, and workplace bullying are endemic in modern Irish workplaces, despite of years of legislation and tinkering with the issues involved. While we have pathologically high levels of unemployment these issues will not be resolved.

Pac1Man

I would like to read your book doolox.

doolox

....I haven't written one yet but I would fancy a book on the lines of Dickens David Copperfield would be very suitable in these uncertain and unhappy times.

I bet a lot of people would have a book in their lives.

tempnam

Just to update this.... I stupidly turned down the first offer I got in the hope of negotiating a better deal (My thinking was that if I was going to do a job I don't enjoy then I should at least make decent money).

Anyway I was told that the offer no longer stands so I'm now due to finish up in a couple of weeks with nothing arranged and in a bit of a blind panic.

It's tough applying for jobs that may interest me when I'm either not qualified for them or else would have to take a drastic reduction in salary (although I won't have any salary soon). So I've been applying for jobs in the same industry as I'm currently in as well as random jobs I've seen advertised.

I quite like the idea of something that gets me away from the office/desk, for example photography or courier - but the likes of courier jobs seem to be poor money; and things like photography require experience, training and equipment which I don't have...

What to do!......