Career change?

[pugsport]

I have been studying for an IT qualification for the last 2.5yrs, distance learning, at 43 I find it harder than I thought it would be, mainly due to working rotating shifts, it's difficult to get into a study routine, the biggest shock I had was that I later found out the sales reps estimation for potential earnings was rather exagerated for someone who will have hardly any practicle experience, I would have to take a 4-6grand paycut to get an entry level job!
I have worked for the same company for the last 12 yrs, started as a loader and gradualy moved into auditing and quality control, and devised and implemented a number of procedures that improved the operational side of the job, it's a young mans game though, I was working 50-60 hrs a week after 7yrs I had enough and transfered to the security dept to assist on a new project with a 6 grand paycut, been there 5 yrs now, the job is no where near to where it is supposed to be, due to gross incompetance and mis-management, I hate it, everyday you walk through the door you know the job is a liability and your necks on the line, alot of bad decisions have been made, I have never been involved in the decision making but have given my input when plans are announced, only to be laughed or scoffed at! Everything that has gone wrong, I predicted, why don't people listen? it is so exhaustive trying to convince people that "I am right", 2 managers, 5 supervisors and 5yrs later, time and time again I have proved to be right. I am sick of the backstabbing beaurocracy, and the narrow minded, single minded morons who think they know what they doing!
Rant Over.....for now!

[steve_earwig]

Your job sounds like ulcer time. Maybe it'd be worth taking a pay cut, just to get out of there, hopefully things pick up quickly enough to make it all worth while.

About 10 years ago I did an aptitude test for IT and scored highest out of everyone that did it, including my mate who'd been playing with the things since he bought a ZX80. With this in mind, I signed myself up to an evening class. I was doing IT and business, the IT part was fascinating and I got on well with it, the second term we were playing with C++ and, while the rest of the class had their machines counting numbers, my screen was flashing different colours, drawing geometric shapes and all sorts of weird stuff. Unfortunatly, the business side seemed the biggest load of incomprehensible gibberish I'd ever come across. SWAT analysis, spider diagrams (you find that mess helps?!) what a load of old bollocks. It seemed like the sort of codswallop dreamed up by people that want to exclude anyone who isn't already a member. The exams were even worse, it was like being asked to describe the modern tubeless tyre while having to mention the history of the spark plug. After about a year I jacked it in and it felt like a huge weight had been lifted.

I hope your's is going a bit better than that!

[teamster1975]

That's the trouble with these courses, they feed you a load of garbage that you're never likely to use in the real world
I did an HND in electrical & electronic engineering at farnborough tech when I left school; now it was a very interesting course but I haven't used any of it. Ironic having spent 3 years of my life doing it The closest we got to computing was assembler programming on an old vax system

[steve_earwig]

The closest we got to computing was assembler programming on an old vax system

[teamster1975]

The closest we got to computing was assembler programming on an old vax system

I was waiting for that!
It was an old mainframe system, very crusty!

[Captain Jack]

Welp, you know that job I said I wouldn't get? I got it!

Problem is it's in Thornbury (north of Bristol), which is even further away that my current job and no easy motorway route to it. So it's all gonna be wiggly B-roads. At least I get to travel a bit with it - off to Atlanta for 2 weeks at the end of March. Hopefully, it will be less boring. And money is not too shabby at all, either!

[steve_earwig]

Anyway, stop that defeatist attitude right now! Go for that job, it's yours if you want it!!

Nah nah ne nah nah

Congratulations yung maaan!

[tux2006]

woohoo well done captain!

Many congratulations

Thornbury is my local stomping ground know it very well...which company will you be working for?

[Captain Jack]

It's in Milbury Heath - company name is Servigistics.

[teamster1975]

Nice one matey! I'm glad it's worked out for you!
You should get yourself a motorbike if there's lots of twisties on your new journey

[Welly]

Well done Cap'n.

2.2 HDi Coupe here....we....come

[Captain Jack]

2.2 HDi Coupe here....we....come

No, no... there are far too many problems with the 2.2 HDi (FAP bollocks, BSI as it will be a D9, blah blah blah). With the extra money, will probably get a V6 For the weekends, of course, and keep my existing work horse (this will get replaced with a Honda Accord 2.2 CDTi exec at some point in the future).

[Welly]

If this job is alright would you consider moving there to be near work and then you would be able to run a V6 around locally no problem.

Or is there something (or someone ) keeping you routed ????

[Captain Jack]

If this job is alright would you consider moving there to be near work and then you would be able to run a V6 around locally no problem.
Or is there something (or someone ) keeping you routed ????

I'd have to move next year anyway. Be it Swindon or Bristol. Personally, I choose Bristol (Swindon is bollocks)

[SteveI]

Hi Jack,

I'm in the IT game myself and have been for the past 20 years.

To be honest, I wouldn't be too quick to knock it on the head, there are so many disciplines and areas that I'm sure you can build on your current experience and try something else.

Seems like you've worked in support and have some language/DB skills, have you thought about switching over into the pure software development track? Trainee/Programmer/Senior Programmer/Project Leader/Project Manager it's a pretty straightforward progression and if you stick to project work and stay away from maintenence/support it can get pretty interesting.

I know that there is still a big demand for anything related to Oracle..and obviously after 2 or 3 years the contract market gets to look interesting..

I went that way, and ended up starting my own wee consultancy 10 years ago and it's still pretty interesting.. no two projects/clients are the same.

Another thing I've just started is a GDL - Graduate Diploma in Law.. takes two years part time, then two years part time for your LPC and you can start off as a trainee solicitor, or if you fancy a bit more risk.. a barrister.

I just started on it to help with the business.. just seems I need to know more to deal with employees and contractual stuff, but met lots of people in mid 30s to mid 40s looking for a serious career change.

Just some ideas.. Good luck with it all anyway..