Career change?

[Welly]

I was discussing careers last week with a client and he described his (and my) position perfectly, he said the job was a very long stick, with no carrott.

I think that just about sums up most careers these days

[gRoberts]

I am pretty much in the same boat as you mate.

I am now classed as the IT Manager for a small company (less than 15 employee's), but I handle everything to do with IT, from turning the printer on and off to buying things.

Prior to June 2006 I was a dogs body for the company. Anything that came up I had to sort out, but most of the time I was writing the in-house software with a colleague. When he left in June 2006 I was left to handle everything on my own, and to add insult to the injury they outsourced the software development to a contractor.

The money is crap, I've never had a payrise and I do sod all, all day.

To cut a long story short, I now fill my day with freelance work. It gives me something to do when I am not busy at work, and I get some pocket money for doing it. Funnily enough, the money paid for my 406

The great thing about IT is that probably only 10% of it is hardware related which means with an internet connection you can pretty much do anything.

I want to leave this place but I will never find a job like it ever again. I have my freedom to do pretty much what ever i want. I have my own office etc. If they paid me more, i'd probably be happier.

Don't let it drag you down though.

[Captain Jack]

Well, I am looking forward to this new job. I've been offered a role of IT supervisor but said no, as it's (as you said) boring as hell. And no progression and career development.

Oh well, we'll see what happens. I am just happy I'll traveling around the world for free

[neildavies]

he said the job was a very long stick, with no carrott.

Very true in many cases. I'm stagnant where I am but was at one time very happy. Changes came about (for the sake of change), that makes you unhappy. Over time, you get yourself used to these changes, then the bastards change things further. It's now at the point of I don't recognise where I work any more.

Someone said to me last year; you either live to work, or you work to live.

I for one definitely Work to Live. This means I leave work on a Friday, don't think the slightest of it and am thoroughly happy until Monday morning comes. (That is until I came across this sodding thread!!!).

[mjb]

I vary with employment. When I'm enjoying my work (I do my life-long hobby for a living), I live to work, although life pretty much always takes priority. When I'm not happy I'm a strict 9-5:30'er.

[TooT]

I was a live to work, but as time has gone by at my current job i feel its been reversed to work to live.

You know, you get a new job and your full of enthusiasm to do well and to empress your new boss so you graft your arse off working weekends, skipping lunch and tea breaks but it doesn't recognised but they still push and push for you to do more.
Then you start to think why am i bothering, they dont care so why should i. So now ive adopted the same as Neildavies, f*ck em when its 5pm im going home and i dont give a sh*t.

[Welly]

Right, It's only five past nine and I've had enough already

Everyone, Welton says take the rest of the day off!

[steve_earwig]

Really? Gee, thanks buddy!

I wish I could, I'm taking a breather from pruning my apple trees. 20 feet up on spindly little branches, wondering if the hospital food is as bad as they say.

[Welly]

20 feet up on spindly little branches, wondering if the hospital food is as bad as they say.

I've noticed the older I get, the less I like heights

[steve_earwig]

Oh yes, shinning up trees like a monkey, out in thunderstorms, playing with fireworks to make them louder, driving like a complete div... We were all immortal when we were young but eventually you get to realise stuff hurts.

I reckon we can consider ourselves lucky we've made it this far, Darwin would be proud

[Welly]

We used to set of mini-rockets DOWN the street instead of up in the air

These days my brain would be saying "what if Mr Brown walks out in front, the firework could hit him, sued, big bills etc"

No wonder my 12 year old Son thinks I'm a Dictator "don't do that lad, because it might........

So in summary, you spend your early years nearly dying every week then your later years worrying about it

[steve_earwig]

Don't, we nearly got one of my mate's neighbours with a modified rocket (complete with metal parts ).

I've not managed to pass on my Levy's so I can only see my nephew doing stuff I once did (he's just turned 10, god help my bother!) although I do try to explain why I now realise stuff is wrong, rather than "because I say so!!" "Yes Robbie, we all know the word, even Grandad Mischief (my dad), but you have to learn when it's ok to say it."

I had my dad out here a couple of times last year (he's an extremely sprightly 74) and he was telling my other half some of the stupid things I used to do Later on I asked him why he hadn't strangled me and he said "I was once a little boy too!". Umm, yeah, he almost got done for looting.

So, finished a morning's pruning (5 hours worth), picked girlfriend up, went shopping, had lunch, had a lie down on the sofa and fell asleep 'til nearly 6. Bugger. And I woke up feeling like crap