Are you happy about how your career is progressing?

[Deleted User] · 26-05-2020 9:55am

dmn22 wrote: »

...........I want to go to Australia but not sure what to do now with the virus and restrictions on travel. Any advice appreciated.

Do you have savings?
When is the earliest you can go to Oz Visa wise?

dmn22 · 26-05-2020 9:56am

Augeo wrote: »

Do you have savings?
When is the earliest you can go to Oz Visa wise?

Yeah about 12k to date. I am lucky as I have an Oz passport.

Figel Narage · 26-05-2020 10:54am

dmn22 wrote: »

Yeah about 12k to date. I am lucky as I have an Oz passport.

I'm in a some what similar boat. Final round interview after getting approached by a firm in Malta in the current industry I'm in, don't mind the industry but the company I'm with at the moment is hard to take for much longer and the move was put on hold due to Covid 19. Never been to Malta but the great weather and Lower Cost of living is enticing plus I'd like to live abroad for a bit. OZ would be great as well, I'm jealous of anyone with a passport from there haha

CtevenSrowder · 26-05-2020 11:58am

Josuke wrote: »

I'm approaching the midpoint of a PhD and thinking of getting the hell out to save my sanity. I have zero confidence that it will be worth it for my career prospects (social science discipline) and haven't liked it one bit so far. Not fully sure about what I'll do next and know I'll probably have to do a masters down the line, but hoping having a strong first will help me get something, anything in these times..

What's the PhD in?

AlphabetCards · 26-05-2020 12:15pm

PhD student. Mid-thirties. In a pretty hot-topic aspect of Chemistry (sustainability). Working alongside a fairly well-known start-up too which is invaluable experience. Recently single... Barely solvent bachelor seeking future job with good sense of remuneration. Currently paid sum total of **** all but subsidize it with teaching/demonstration work. I wasn't happy where I was in my career until I was very recently made single. It has taken the pressure off to get the PhD done, asap, as we wanted to crack on with marriage/house/babies. Now I am rather happy career-wise, can just enjoy the job without feeling the pressure of having an off-day, minor setback. I think I am content with my career.

bitofabind · 26-05-2020 12:50pm

Not thrilled tbh. Moved from a decade long media career to venture into Sales a few years ago, which is dog eat dog even on a good day. Pay is great, company is uniquely positioned to survive Covid-19, WFH is grand but I wake up most mornings with a knot in my stomach. It's a tough old battle. Ignoring my creative instinct and chasing $$$ is really beginning to take its toll, but alas the global pandemic has kinda thwarted all best laid plans at least for the next few months.

[Deleted User] · 26-05-2020 1:38pm

bitofabind wrote: »

Not thrilled tbh. Moved from a decade long media career to venture into Sales a few years ago, which is dog eat dog even on a good day. Pay is great, company is uniquely positioned to survive Covid-19, WFH is grand but I wake up most mornings with a knot in my stomach. It's a tough old battle. Ignoring my creative instinct and chasing $$$ is really beginning to take its toll, but alas the global pandemic has kinda thwarted all best laid plans at least for the next few months.

My unsolicited and probably useless advice is that there isn't much in life that's worth waking up with a knot in your stomach for. $$$ is less important than happiness (obviously as long as you make enough $$$ to survive on).

Generally my life has changed in the last few months, from just before the apocalypse. I worked from home more and I do more independent work. Because of my field I just had ten days maternity leave before I took on some time sensitive work connected to the pandemic but luckily I can WFH and I get breaks between jobs, and I've learned to say no more. Pandemics aren't a great time to change your way of life/work, I've learned.

When things settle down I'll have a more predictable schedule, which suits me better. I'm fine with how things are going.

AlphabetCards · 26-05-2020 1:47pm

I've really enjoyed reading through this thread. Boards is full of like-minded reprobates who change career at the drop of a hat, like myself.

Anyone considering starting their own business? I have a good idea, but won't have the time 'til the PhD is done and dusted.

bitofabind · 26-05-2020 2:00pm

Candie wrote: »

My unsolicited and probably useless advice is that there isn't much in life that's worth waking up with a knot in your stomach for. $$$ is less important than happiness (obviously as long as you make enough $$$ to survive on).

Generally my life has changed in the last few months, from just before the apocalypse. I worked from home more and I do more independent work. Because of my field I just had ten days maternity leave before I took on some time sensitive work connected to the pandemic but luckily I can WFH and I get breaks between jobs, and I've learned to say no more. Pandemics aren't a great time to change your way of life/work, I've learned.

When things settle down I'll have a more predictable schedule, which suits me better. I'm fine with how things are going.

Dead right Candie! You sound like my mother / therapist :pac: If I could give my younger self any advice, that'd be it. The good news is the pandemic has really given me the space and mental clarity to see the wood for the trees, and I reckon I'll make some proactive steps to change things once the dust has settled.

Change is hard though, and sometimes following your own instinct is harder when it's in the face of 'sensible' advice from well-meaning friends and family.

deh983 · 26-05-2020 2:11pm

Currently waiting to hand in my notice in a job I’ve been in for 13 years. Hate it and this pandemic has made me realise that I want to be at home with my 2 small kids until the youngest starts school. Also with no childcare etc for the whole summer it was going to be a mess trying to get them minded.
We will make ends meet on my husbands salary. We are in a position where we have a small mortgage so that makes the decision a bit easier.
Probably mad to be doing it at this time but it just feels right

Wildly Boaring · 26-05-2020 2:16pm

Construction professionals.

My only advice in this country is to get client side and as far up as possible.

There are people in state and semi state earning 100k for jam. Irish rail, bord gais, Irish water, tii, esb, esbi.

I'm client side but consultancy generally in a Senior Resident Engineer role or similar.

Leave at 5 at the latest. Money is fine. Stress is negligable.

Still cannot recommend the industry at all. As stated before, it's a never ending run of arguments and half assed crap.

Contractor side is full of stress and company owners tend to be half crazy. As for subbie..... Christ almighty.

Seriously backwards industry

onrail · 26-05-2020 2:28pm

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Construction professionals.

My only advice in this country is to get client side and as far up as possible.

There are people in state and semi state earning 100k for jam. Irish rail, bord gais, Irish water, tii.

I'm client side but consultancy generally in a Senior Resident Engineer role or similar.

Leave at 5 at the latest. Money is fine. Stress is negligable.

Still cannot recommend the industry at all. As stated before, it's a never ending run of arguments and half assed crap.

Contractor side is full or stress and company owners tend to be half crazy. As for subbie..... Christ almighty.

Agree completely and that would be my advice to others; however, it follows that there is a very competitive selection process to get a foot in the door.

Speaking personally, I've somehow worked myself into a niche that isn't particularly desirable on the client side; so I'm left with the choice of either shifting focus within the industry, or getting out altogether.

Feisar · 26-05-2020 2:43pm

Wildly Boaring wrote: »

Construction professionals.

My only advice in this country is to get client side and as far up as possible.

There are people in state and semi state earning 100k for jam. Irish rail, bord gais, Irish water, tii, esb, esbi.

I'm client side but consultancy generally in a Senior Resident Engineer role or similar.

Leave at 5 at the latest. Money is fine. Stress is negligable.

Still cannot recommend the industry at all. As stated before, it's a never ending run of arguments and half assed crap.

Contractor side is full or stress and company owners tend to be half crazy. As for subbie..... Christ almighty.

Seriously backwards industry

Yup, that sums it up.

CBear1993 · 26-05-2020 2:50pm

i've worked for the client/developer's PM/QS Consultancies.. - sh*te, crap.
Worked for main contractors - treated like a number generally, you just churn for the big machine for the directors profits at the end of the year.

The above two - I would describe them as the analogy of the poacher and gamekeeper. The consultant QS/PM is really doing all they can to stop the main contractor exploiting the client or poaching their money.

At the minute, I'm actually working for a very small civils/groundworks subcontractor. It's a lot better as I'm my own boss. But things are brutal at the moment. Were getting no tenders in post COVID, and the outlook is very grim for the year ahead. It's all about brown envelopes and very hard to break into the market as a relatively new subbie. We've went around virtually every top 100 contractors in the country since January, priced jobs competitively for them, and still the subbie they usually do work with or "your man's mates with this guy" gets the job above us.

We'll give it to the Winter, but come january 2021 I'd imagine all be looking for a job in a state/semi-state to give it one last roll of the dice. Bound to be better than the above 3 different types of firm.

AlphabetCards · 26-05-2020 2:51pm

CBear1993 wrote: »

We've went around virtually every top 100 contractors in the country since January, priced jobs competitively for them, and still the subbie they usually do work with or "your man's mates with this guy" gets the job above us.

Learn to golf!

Motivator · 26-05-2020 5:33pm

Unfortunately Covid-19 will kill a lot of people’s ambitions to progress in or change their roles. When Covid-19 became a serious issue In Ireland, myself and my wife kicked on with an exit plan we’ve had in the back of our minds for a while now. We always said if things ever went back to 2008 - 2012 levels in the country then we’d bail out.

Considering this whole thing is now global, our exit plan is more or less dead in the water as what we had planned is most likely no longer a runner. People, including me, will now be stuck in a job that they’re not happy in due to opportunities basically evaporating. I would like to move on but it’s now a case of being thankful to be still in a job at the moment and into the foreseeable future. Long term effects of this pandemic will stretch way beyond physical health worries. I would think we will see long term mental health problems really kicking in in the second half of the year. This pandemic is going to damage more people economically than any other recession ever seen due to the fact that it’s global. In the 1980s and late 2000’s people jumped on a plane to UK, USA or Australia and found work immediately. Those days are gone and are never likely to return. Countries will now look after their own and I would think more strict measures surrounding working visas for immigrants will be in place very quickly.

CBear1993 · 26-05-2020 6:57pm

Not sure if I agree to be honest. Australia is still flying? Have a lot of friends and ex colleagues out there. Post Xmas Australia will allow people in again.

And not a chance trump will keep America shut for too long but it will be tough to get visas. Don’t have a clue about Canada. These countries notoriously rely on irish And UK builders to build their infrastructure . Irish and UK qualifications and education standards are regarded around the world also.

But yeah I’d say you’re definitely spot on about some countries visa options tightening up. Would do no harm if Oz tightened up. Sure anybody and their granny can go over and farm for a 2nd year Visa

joe40 · 26-05-2020 8:00pm

Enjoyed reading this thread.
It could be expanded into an "Honest career guidance" section.
The stuff that universities/colleges don't tell you about your course and career prospects.

For example I have two teenage children, one has a definite career in mind so aiming for that. The other one is younger so plenty of time but still hard to get good information from a range of people.
University prospectus are all trying to sell their course so push the success stories.
Reading the posts from lads in construction was quite an eye opener, I would have thought a course like civil engineering might be a good fit for my youngster, likes maths, technical graphics etc but now not so sure.

[Deleted User] · 26-05-2020 8:19pm

joe40 wrote: »

........ I would have thought a course like civil engineering might be a good fit for my youngster, likes maths, technical graphics etc but now not so sure.

Mechanical, electrical, process engineering would all be better options.

24 years ago my applied maths teacher said civil engineers were 'two a penny' when a chap in the class mentioned he wanted to go that route.

funkypumpkins · 26-05-2020 8:27pm

In short, no. Getting nearer to 30. Finished a languages degree (French and Spanish, can speak them fluently). Have gone from retail, customer service, bouts of unemployment then back to retail, English teaching abroad, got a scholarship and moved abroad to train to become a secondary school teacher in languages. But it was tough and everyday was a battle for 2.5 years and I never fit in. So I moved back to Dublin after a mental breakdown. Making the best of covid to calm and rehabilitate but I get anxious about my employment prospects. Trying to see if my qualifications apply here in Ireland but teaching council won't register me (yet). I do miss teaching just not in UK state schools. With people around me in careers, coupled and doing well, I wish I had a bit of that. But hey, I am lucky for what I had left behind in Ireland. Hopeful I'll work it out by trying.

thefasteriwalk · 26-05-2020 8:30pm

funkypumpkins wrote: »

In short, no. Getting nearer to 30. Finished a languages degree (French and Spanish, can speak them fluently). Have gone from retail, customer service, bouts of unemployment then back to retail, English teaching abroad, got a scholarship and moved abroad to train to become a secondary school teacher in languages. But it was tough and everyday was a battle for 2.5 years and I never fit in. So I moved back to Dublin after a mental breakdown. Making the best of covid to calm and rehabilitate but I get anxious about my employment prospects. Trying to see if my qualifications apply here in Ireland but teaching council won't register me (yet). I do miss teaching just not in UK state schools. With people around me in careers, coupled and doing well, I wish I had a bit of that. But hey, I am lucky for what I had left behind in Ireland. Hopeful I'll work it out by trying.

If you really want to teach then cover whatever shortfalls the Teaching Council require. With those subjects I’m sure many Dublin schools would bite your hand off. You would never be out of work.

Even if you can get provisional registration in the mean time you can sub. And such is the shortage in your subjects, there are schools who would happily have you subbing without it.

onrail · 26-05-2020 8:35pm

Augeo wrote: »

Mechanical, electrical, process engineering would all be better options.

24 years ago my applied maths teacher said civil engineers were 'two a penny' when a chap in the class mentioned he wanted to go that route.

Unfortunately, my career guidance teacher didn’t have the same insight! I distinctly remember him saying that there was ‘no limit’ to what a civil engineer could make!!

But to be fair, along with my classmates, I was sucked in my the lure of the riches of the Celtic tiger. Our fault for sticking with it.

joe40 · 26-05-2020 8:52pm

onrail wrote: »

Unfortunately, my career guidance teacher didn’t have the same insight! I distinctly remember him saying that there was ‘no limit’ to what a civil engineer could make!!

But to be fair, along with my classmates, I was sucked in my the lure of the riches of the Celtic tiger. Our fault for sticking with it.

That's the thing the success stories get broadcast the negative ones don't. I am a teacher and we are expected to help with careers. I can help with University requirements, and also trying to kids to assess their own own interests and aptitudes.
But where I and everyone else in education fall down is knowing the exact intricacies of different careers and career progression.
Only a wide range of people in that Industry can provide that insight. People do come in to give talks etc but as usual only positives are highlighted.
I suppose a lot depends on the actual employer. Someone might become an accountant but end up dissatisfied not due to accountancy as a profession but a poor employer.
There is also the problem I have with computer programming/ software I have no idea what is involved. It not taught at any kind of level at school so how are kids expected to know what it is like.
It is very easy to get good news stories about any profession.

Kamu · 26-05-2020 8:55pm

onrail wrote: »

Unfortunately, my career guidance teacher didn’t have the same insight! I distinctly remember him saying that there was ‘no limit’ to what a civil engineer could make!!

But to be fair, along with my classmates, I was sucked in my the lure of the riches of the Celtic tiger. Our fault for sticking with it.

My career guidance teacher was pretty shocking to be fair. I remember I had only one meeting with her, that went something like this;

CGT: "So Kamu, what is it that you're interested in?"
Kamu: "I'm not to sure teacher."
CGT: "Do you want to go to college?"
Kamu: "Well yes i would like."
CGT: "Here is a brochure for Maynooth, do Arts."

She gave that exact advice to anyone who didn't really have a plan for college, which was most people.

onrail · 26-05-2020 9:06pm

joe40 wrote: »

That's the thing the success stories get broadcast the negative ones don't. I am a teacher and we are expected to help with careers. I can help with University requirements, and also trying to kids to assess their own own interests and aptitudes.
But where I and everyone else in education fall down is knowing the exact intricacies of different careers and career progression.
Only a wide range of people in that Industry can provide that insight. People do come in to give talks etc but as usual only positives are highlighted.
I suppose a lot depends on the actual employer. Someone might become an accountant but end up dissatisfied not due to accountancy as a profession but a poor employer.
There is also the problem I have with computer programming/ software I have no idea what is involved. It not taught at any kind of level at school so how are kids expected to know what it is like.
It is very easy to get good news stories about any profession.

This is true (being honest, I barely understood my future career until my second year in college) but something as simple as salary progression and scale should be made available to students.

Now obviously, salary shouldn’t inform a decision in isolation, but it is important and is readily available if a career guidance teacher bothered their hole looking.

mistersifter · 26-05-2020 9:18pm

Josuke wrote: »

I'm approaching the midpoint of a PhD and thinking of getting the hell out to save my sanity. I have zero confidence that it will be worth it for my career prospects (social science discipline) and haven't liked it one bit so far...

WesternZulu wrote: »

However since finishing my PhD I have moved back to Ireland and moved from PostDoc to PostDoc. I've come to accept that the money is terrible in science and research but not having a permanent position is even worse...

I left academia because of this.

I know many post-docs who have spent years struggling from short-term lecturing contract, to funded research, to hourly-paid work without any written contract whatsoever.

The gig economy is alive and well in the third-level sector. It's scandalous some of the tactics universities employ to keep employees in insecure conditions.

I would advise anyone thinking about a postgrad course, postdoc or career in academia to make sure you know where it's leading before going down that road.

joe40 · 26-05-2020 9:18pm

onrail wrote: »

This is true (being honest, I barely understood my future career until my second year in college) but something as simple as salary progression and scale should be made available to students.

Now obviously, salary shouldn’t inform a decision in isolation, but it is important and is readily available if a career guidance teacher bothered their hole looking.

One of the things I have learned from this thread is there is massive variation in salary progression depending on your employer. Obviously public sector jobs are different with clear salary progression.
I work in the north there is reasonable careers guidance I think. I'm not directly involved but would regularly talk to pupils about careers. I help where I can but the only thing worse than no information is the wrong information.

onrail · 26-05-2020 9:35pm

joe40 wrote: »

One of the things I have learned from this thread is there is massive variation in salary progression depending on your employer. Obviously public sector jobs are different with clear salary progression.
I work in the north there is reasonable careers guidance I think. I'm not directly involved but would regularly talk to pupils about careers. I help where I can but the only thing worse than no information is the wrong information.

Ultimately, career choice is much more significant to earning potential/ceiling than your employer. Sorry to harp on about civil engineering (it's all I know!), but Directors in my place, a multi-national corporation, with over 25 years experience, bring in less than a qualified accountant with 8-9 years experience.

joe40 · 26-05-2020 9:53pm

onrail wrote: »

Ultimately, career choice is much more significant to earning potential/ceiling than your employer. Sorry to harp on about civil engineering (it's all I know!), but Directors in my place, a multi-national corporation, with over 25 years experience, bring in less than a qualified accountant with 8-9 years experience.

Interesting point. Accountancy would be a career I would mention to my kids sometimes it seems to me to be well paid job, but at the same time my knowledge of what is exactly involved is lacking.

Any accountants out there, would you recommend the job?

CBear1993 · 26-05-2020 9:58pm

I couldn’t think of anything worse. Aren’t they up their with the most depressed alongside dentists?

I done A-level accounts and by god it was hell. Soul destroying.

Obviously there are many different sectors or roles within the economy you can be a financial accountant in, I wouldn’t have a clue

Are you happy about how your career is progressing?

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