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Career Confusion

  • 22-09-2015 3:08pm
    #1
    Closed Accounts Posts: 29


    Hello,

    this is my first post on Boards so I'm not sure if it's in the right place?

    Basically, I'm 28 years old and have been working since I finished college. Problem? I absolutely hate my job. I work in a health field and have often considered retraining but something lately has given me the kick to actually do something about it. I've considered a lot of different careers and they all vary hugely.

    Originally, I wanted to retrain as a doctor but having had a harsh conversation with myself, I don't think it's for me. The things I dislike about my current job would also be things I dislike about medicine. I know I'd be a good doctor as my current patients have often said they wish their GP was a bit more like me, but I don't think I'd get any more job satisfaction than I do now (thought the money would be nice! :p )

    I enjoy teaching new members of staff so I looked into retraining as a teacher but, given the current job situation, I don't think I want to just put another name on the dole list.

    At school I loved maths and there being a right or wrong answer for the problem. That got me looking at accountancy. This is starting to look more and more appealing. Yes I'd need to take a significant pay cut to retrain but after a few years my money would hopefully start to increase again.

    I also had originally planned on studying law at college (before swapping to a health course, I've also been very undecided about my career path) and the idea of being a solicitor also appeals to me. Again, the job situation isn't fantastic outside of Dublin from what I've heard and I'd ideally like not to have to live there long term.

    I'm really confused about what to do work wise. I'm very unhappy in this job and have been for years. I didn't enjoy my degree at the time either but didn't want to drop out as I felt I would have more options as a graduate than as someone who didn't finish a degree. It's really getting me down and the only advice people seem to offer is to take my time deciding. Time isn't really helping me. I've been trying to decide what I want to do for over 10 years!

    Can anyone offer any words of wisdom?

    Thanks :)


Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 952 ✭✭✭whatawaster81


    Don't become a solicitor, Fe1s are ridiculous, especially with no prior Law degree. Very competitive, outside the top firms lot of minimum wage training contracts for 2.5 years plus 9k to attend Blackhall for PPC 1, if you have to pay it yourself which is likely. Also low paying/free internships as a foot in the door/experience builder are expected on the cv.

    Accountants don't earn great either pre qualification AFAIK, low 20s grad programmes.

    Consider, if that's what you're interested in, Fund Accountancy in Financial Services. Probably start nearer 28/30k, could do that while sitting Professional exams, would need probably a Finance related qualification to get started, although FS companies can be a nightmare to work for. You might love it you might hate it. There are also other Financial/Accountancy type jobs in FS if you had an aforementioned finance qual.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 166,026 ✭✭✭✭LegacyUser


    do you mind me asking what job it is you're currently doing? Im in health care related field (nursing) and I want to switch to something related but am having a hard time deciding what to retrain as, so hearing your current job and its problems might help me!

    I also agree on the accounting post above, have a friend in a graduate programme and the pay is not great, especially considering the cost of rent in Dublin. The hours expected of you are also crazy.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 889 ✭✭✭messy tessy


    Would you consider going to a career counsellor for a bit of advice? I went to one a few years back and found her quite helpful.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,885 ✭✭✭JuliusCaesar


    Think about which aspects of your job you like, which you don't like. Think about what you're good at, and what you're not good at. Then think about jobs which match your likes and what you're good at. If you're good with people, if you are patient, if you are meticulous - what might suit?


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29 Lagertha


    In my job I quite like being able to just tackle my work alone (e.g. when doing a report). That said, meetings etc are fine too, it's the one on one with patients I don't like. The paper work doesn't bother me, I prefer that to actually seeing patients. I like that I sometimes get to travel a bit with work to different locations. I am very meticulous. I hold my work to a very high standard and when others I work with don't put in the same effort, it really annoys me. I'm good with people but feel like I have to fake the jolly attitude that patients often need!

    Family and friends have often said I'd be a good solicitor. I'm the one they come to to delve into the T+Cs of something and make a written or verbal complaint for them. They've also said that I love arguing so it'd suit me down to the ground! :P

    At work I've often worked with the management team to help implement changes to how our payroll works. Most of the time my colleagues are asking me if they've been paid correctly and I have to sort it all out for them. It's not in my job description at all but I seem to be the only one on my team that actually understands the complicated system we have. I quite enjoy that part too.

    I like that I get the majority of weekends off. I don't want a job with shift work. I've worked shifts before and hated it. My current job has very long hours though and I'm on my feet all day. I wouldn't mind the long hours if I could sit at a desk!

    They're all very general likes and dislikes, I know. Even at school I was very much an all rounder. English and German were my best. Maths was a close follower along with History and Biology.

    I'll look into a career counsellor. I went to one years ago and he was useless so it's put me off a bit! Can't hurt to try again though :)

    Thanks for the advice everyone


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 255 ✭✭Mother Brain


    If your main peeve is spending time with patients then personally I would avoid solicitor.

    Used to work in a solicitor's office and it was basically meeting clients for the early part of the day, then court in the afternoons.

    Nearly all the paperwork is delegated to admins (like I was) via dictaphone while they are out and about so that they can get on with dealing with clients and so on.

    If you are meticulous, enjoy solitude and maths then I would suggest it. Though it's not for everyone mind you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,063 ✭✭✭MojoMaker


    You're not a people person, it's no big deal, but you need to do yourself a favour and avoid careers with a large person-oriented focus, such as a solicitor, barrister, some branches of accountancy, and especially teaching!

    The good news is there are a lot more folk working in non-people oriented roles/careers than there are facing off 1:1 or 1:n with the public so you won't be alone. Given you have expressed strong analyst tendencies in your posts have you considered financial services - treasury management, banking etc? They are always hungry for smart statistically-oriented people who can make sense of large amounts of data and how prefer working away out of the public glare. Well-paying careers too.


  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,662 Mod ✭✭✭✭Faith


    What about third level teaching? It's not easy to get into in Ireland, but if you were working at an IT/University level, you'd have plenty of alone time, some teaching time where you'd be teaching advanced-level ideas with scope for debate and discussion (in some areas, anyway, depending on what your exact field is). Conferences allow for some degree of travel.

    Of course, you may need graduate level qualifications if you don't have them, but it sounds like academia could be an field to investigate. But be warned, it's extremely difficult to break in in Ireland.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 101 ✭✭badgerbadger


    How about bioinformatics or biostatistics?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 601 ✭✭✭Magicmatilda


    Is your industry regulated?

    Have you thought about moving to the regulation side. Lots of laws and report writing, no "clients".


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29 Lagertha


    Thanks for all the replies everyone and sorry for the delay in responding. I'll definitely look into all the suggestions you've made. The financial/accounting ones seem to be looking the best for me. I've done quite a few online aptitude tests (I know some are rubbish) and most are telling me that those sectors are the ones I'm suited to (along with proof reading!).

    I don't mind taking an initial pay cut for training, as long as post qualification I'm on a decent salary. I know money isn't everything but I do want a well paid career. Also if we're making wishes here, I'd love to perhaps have the opportunity to work from home at times. That's probably very wishful thinking but if I have kids in the future, I'd like to maybe work from home now and then.

    I hate decisions but at least decided I need to change something is half the battle. I'm utterly miserable in my current job so something has to change.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29 Lagertha


    Thanks for all the replies everyone and sorry for the delay in responding. I'll definitely look into all the suggestions you've made. The financial/accounting ones seem to be looking the best for me. I've done quite a few online aptitude tests (I know some are rubbish) and most are telling me that those sectors are the ones I'm suited to (along with proof reading!).

    I don't mind taking an initial pay cut for training, as long as post qualification I'm on a decent salary. I know money isn't everything but I do want a well paid career. Also if we're making wishes here, I'd love to perhaps have the opportunity to work from home at times. That's probably very wishful thinking but if I have kids in the future, I'd like to maybe work from home now and then.

    I hate decisions but at least deciding I need to change something is half the battle. I'm utterly miserable in my current job so something has to change.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 29 Lagertha


    ^ tried to edit a typo and it posted twice...


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