What area would you go for?

StevoBoy09 · 05-05-2014 07:13PM #1

Hi,

I'm working at the moment which I'm thankful for but it really isn't where I want to be long term (money wise it isn't great).

So I'm looking at courses to do to give myself a better shot at getting a better job but I don't want to take on a course relating to an industry which is dead right now.

So basically I'm just wondering, is there actually any area or industry worth studying for...worth taking on a course for with genuine job prospects and money (long shot at this time I know but there has to be something out there doing well)... I'm looking at maybe becoming and actuary

Anyone any idea themselves?

hfallada · 05-05-2014 08:55PM

An actuary is insane money. I know someone straight out of college earning about 50k a year with an investment company. But he works 8am to about 8 pm most nights, sometimes later with no lunch. Its insane hours, but its expected.

There will always be jobs in banking and funds. Its one industry that is expected to rapidly expand in Ireland

LMK · 05-05-2014 10:03PM

You might consider giving Sales a try, industry independent if you have an aptitude for it.

Hollister11 · 05-05-2014 10:37PM

What's software engineering like for graduates ?

Mr. Loverman · 06-05-2014 11:19AM

Which is your priority:

a) happiness
b) bored, probably unhappy, "permanent and pensionable".

If it's (b), by all means chase the money. I recommend medicine, software development, actuary, accounting, senior management.

If it's (a), do something you enjoy.

TimeToShine · 06-05-2014 12:54PM

Hollister11 wrote: »

What's software engineering like for graduates ?

Tidy. Programmers are in demand.

Eoin · 06-05-2014 01:26PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

Tidy. Programmers are in demand.

Experienced developers are very much in demand, I understand there's a lot of competition for roles among graduates though.

TimeToShine · 06-05-2014 01:38PM

Eoin wrote: »

Experienced developers are very much in demand, I understand there's a lot of competition for roles among graduates though.

There is definitely jobs for everyone with a 2.1 in the country anyway. Everyone I know who graduated last year with a computer engineering degree was sorted by the following September.

Eoin · 06-05-2014 03:34PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

There is definitely jobs for everyone with a 2.1 in the country anyway. Everyone I know who graduated last year with a computer engineering degree was sorted by the following September.

That's good to hear, a lot of people seem to complain that it's hard to get the job with no experience.

Anyway, my stock answer applies - don't get into IT unless you've an interest (or at least think you might find it interesting).

Hollister11 · 06-05-2014 03:37PM

Whats a 2.1 degree

Jim2007 · 06-05-2014 11:12PM

Hollister11 wrote: »

What's software engineering like for graduates ?

IT is a kind of a funny industry, in that you are already expected to have done a lot even when starting out as a graduate. If you have no background in IT already and just do the degree work, then you will struggle to land a position as most other applicants will have experience to show, mainly in the form of stuff they did at home and at the weekend.

Mr. Loverman · 07-05-2014 07:16AM

Yeah I would advise people to stay away from IT unless they like it.

I've worked in IT in various roles since 1996 and amongst my colleagues it's obvious who liked IT (they're happy) and who disliked IT (they're unhappy).

It just doesn't make sense to me. You spend most of your life working. Why choose to be unhappy? It's so weird.

FURET · 07-05-2014 09:56AM

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Which is your priority:

a) happiness
b) bored, probably unhappy, "permanent and pensionable".

If it's (b), by all means chase the money. I recommend medicine, software development, actuary, accounting, senior management.

If it's (a), do something you enjoy.

It's extremely possible to enjoy and be happy at jobs that pay very well. You make it sound like there's some contradiction there.

3DataModem · 07-05-2014 10:05AM

FURET wrote: »

It's extremely possible to enjoy and be happy at jobs that pay very well. You make it sound like there's some contradiction there.

https://careers.rationalgroup.com/irecruit/home.aspx

Mr. Loverman · 07-05-2014 10:06AM

FURET wrote: »

It's extremely possible to enjoy and be happy at jobs that pay very well. You make it sound like there's some contradiction there.

Obviously it is possible to be happy in a job which pays well. That is what I am advising people to do.

If you read the first post you will see the context of this thread is seeking a job which pays well. It's not seeking a job which will make me happy and pay well.

FURET · 07-05-2014 10:17AM

Mr. Loverman wrote: »

Obviously it is possible to be happy in a job which pays well. That is what I am advising people to do.

If you read the first post you will see the context of this thread is seeking a job which pays well. It's not seeking a job which will make me happy and pay well.

Fair enough, it seems I misinterpreted your post as "bored, probably unhappy" = accounting, medicine, software, etc.

TimeToShine · 07-05-2014 01:43PM

There's far too much rubbish being preached in schools about doing "what you like". Fair enough for some people but there is a compromise that has to be reached. If an extremely capable student who enjoys maths and physics just happens to be an excellent guitar player you don't tell him to go and do a worthless 3 year music degree because he'll be happy. Like everything in life you have to weigh your options and it's a risk vs reward scenario. At 17/18 it's highly unlikely you know what you actually like anyway so in my humble opinion you're better off doing a useful degree which you like as opposed to chasing what is almost definitely a non existent dream job. You can then branch out into your specified field once you get some experience under your belt. When you realize how that dream job that would "make you happy" actually works in the industry and real world you may want to reconsider.

Mr. Loverman · 07-05-2014 06:37PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

There's far too much rubbish being preached in schools about doing "what you like". Fair enough for some people but there is a compromise that has to be reached. If an extremely capable student who enjoys maths and physics just happens to be an excellent guitar player you don't tell him to go and do a worthless 3 year music degree because he'll be happy. Like everything in life you have to weigh your options and it's a risk vs reward scenario. At 17/18 it's highly unlikely you know what you actually like anyway so in my humble opinion you're better off doing a useful degree which you like as opposed to chasing what is almost definitely a non existent dream job. You can then branch out into your specified field once you get some experience under your belt. When you realize how that dream job that would "make you happy" actually works in the industry and real world you may want to reconsider.

The problem is it's very hard to change career or branch out once you've started on a certain path.

For example, IT is full of people who hate their job. They did their IT degree, they stuck with their job for a few years, now they're in the late 20s. It's very hard to change direction at that stage.

blackbaron · 10-05-2014 04:31PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

There's far too much rubbish being preached in schools about doing "what you like"

You've about 70 good years on this earth, significantly less where you're totally at the driving wheel of your own decisions. After that, you're burned or stuck into the ground and everything you've done with your life will be forgotten about very rapidly. If you spend those years doing something you're not happy doing, the effects will be harshly felt outside the workplace and will seep into your relationships and everything else in life you try to derive happiness from.

Doing what you like with your life, so long as you can support yourself and not inflict harm on others in doing so, is what everyone should be concerned with. Making mistakes is all part of the learning process. Telling children they should do X because X will lead them to a job, any f-ing job, is setting them up for misery.

Jim2007 · 10-05-2014 10:46PM

TimeToShine wrote: »

If an extremely capable student who enjoys maths and physics just happens to be an excellent guitar player you don't tell him to go and do a worthless 3 year music degree because he'll be happy. Like everything in life you have to weigh your options and it's a risk vs reward scenario. At 17/18 it's highly unlikely you know what you actually like anyway so in my humble opinion you're better off doing a useful degree which you like as opposed to chasing what is almost definitely a non existent dream job.

To tell some one to compromise on their dreams before they even give it a try... That must be soul destroying for any 17 or 18 year old espically if it comes from a parent! We have no idea how it will turn out for them and to act as if we know what is right for them just plain arrogant!

The thing is my son has a very high IQ as a result of having Aspergers and yes he is very good at math and physics. But he also has a passion for music, he plays in the school band, loves giving concerts and has even been given some financial aid to persue it in grammer school. If he decides to persue that in college in two years time, then I'll be his number one supporter just the same as if he decides to do any other degree.

The idea that I should act in anyway that would prevent him from giving it a go, is beyond me!

What area would you go for?

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