OED666 - My Qtr life crisis... What to do

by **OED666** » August 22nd, 2007, 4:35 pm

Well,

I am really unsure what career i want. I am currently working in IT Security for a government department. I have been working in IT for over 7 years, (previously Network/System Admin, Tech Support) and I think if I was to progress much further I would have to do a degree.

BUT...

I dont feel that I want to be in this career forever. I would really prefer to be doing something more hands on.

I would like to do something mechanical, but the $$$ is something that I wouldnt look forward to. Even at the end of doing say a mechanical apprenticeship I could still be around $20k worse off each year.

Do i put up with what i do (or bludge my day away, which frustrates me), or have less money and not go insane...

I spose, with the extra money I get, I could become an official member of BOOSTED E-SERIES!! Not this harry half job, N/A stuff...

by **get_an_ea_today** » August 22nd, 2007, 4:39 pm

If you would enjoy a job with more hands on sort of stuff then I say go for it.

You would be better off doing something you like rather then something you hate. But then again you would have less money

by **Commando** » August 22nd, 2007, 4:43 pm

if you can afford it, go with what your heart says.

by **XRated** » August 22nd, 2007, 4:54 pm

What sort of cash are you on with your role in IT security? I'm contemplating going down that very path after my degree.

I know what you mean about doing something more hands-on and entertaining, but realistically the money blows in mechanics unless you're the owner of a decent workshop. It'd be fun, but would it be really worth it? You'd probably lose the motivation and time to work on your own beast soon after anyway.

by **OED666** » August 22nd, 2007, 4:58 pm

53k then plus 12.7% super on top... the other benefit is flex time...

just had a small pay rise too.. In a few weeks I will be the senior person of the team i work in... so more money... ***sigh***

and then in November i get another pay rise...

by **Gozza** » August 22nd, 2007, 5:02 pm

Go rip a skid - Have an early sleep and see how you feel tomorrow lol

by **-jjM-** » August 22nd, 2007, 5:07 pm

its a bitch, you want to get into more hands on work, but you need the money or its just not worth it at the end of the day even if you enjoy it, that or do what you want and grow/make drugs on the side

by **someLS1** » August 22nd, 2007, 6:28 pm

Have you ever thought of doin somethin in construction i worked a home building company.. and the plumbers and concretors etc used to rake it in.. they actually owned little businesses but im sure they are easier to start up then a mechanics workshop.. ive always thought about this aswell hate sitting in an office, but in the end i think in a few months being a mechanic would turn into a real knt.. working on crap cars you dont like coming home everyday with cut up hands.. im sure you wouldnt wanna play with your car on weekends so yea its a tough call

by **Ef_frmnt** » August 22nd, 2007, 7:47 pm

hmmm.. job option 1. office. internet. payrise. payrise. payrise. small payrise. maybe another payrise.
job option 2. workshop. do adult apprenticeship. get paid sweet feck all. get qualified. get paid tiny bit more.

by **OED666** » August 22nd, 2007, 7:49 pm

SLOLS1 wrote:Have you ever thought of doin somethin in construction i worked a home building company.. and the plumbers and concretors etc used to rake it in.. they actually owned little businesses but im sure they are easier to start up then a mechanics workshop.. ive always thought about this aswell hate sitting in an office, but in the end i think in a few months being a mechanic would turn into a real knt.. working on crap cars you dont like coming home everyday with cut up hands.. im sure you wouldnt wanna play with your car on weekends so yea its a tough call

yea, i have also thought that if i am working on cars etc all the time, then i wouldnt lose interest in my own.

i would also consider working in construction. i friend of mine drives one of those massive cranes (like the 8 wheel truck ones) and he rakes in the dough...

by **TUFED6** » August 22nd, 2007, 8:06 pm

OED666 wrote:...
for a government department.

I see the problem. Go private sector mate, gov isn't renowned for paying the big bucks... all you need to do is get involved with any of the Telstra contracts going around at the moment. Market rate for anyone with any kind of Security/Storage/Unix skills is about $700/day (down here in Melb anyway). And being Telstra its an absolute snooze from what I've heard.

Not many Building/Mechanical jobs can make that kind of cash (at least not without not going to Uni for 10 years).

I'm actually facing a similar question to you, bail out of a job that pays well but is boring as all shit, and risk going backward?

Ideally I want to do some home reno's and try to support myself that way, as I like working on houses, but making it pay the bills is the big unknown.

John

by **Sunboost** » August 22nd, 2007, 8:13 pm

I'm in a similar situation but don't make as much money as any of you bastards lol and aren't shitted enough to quit yet. Maybe in a couple of years. I reckon I'm not doing too badly for a 21 year old though.

I don't do much work either, hence my 700 posts. So I'm not complaining. Just got hit up with 6 weeks of training for a new department that I'll be moving to and going to a higher position in. Will be sick

by **Ef_frmnt** » August 22nd, 2007, 8:16 pm

just cos you work on cars all day doesnt mean you lose interest in your own.. just means you get frustrated with it easier. workshop hoist is king. but if i was rakin in dollars i would have a 2 post hoist at home.

by **OED666** » August 22nd, 2007, 8:39 pm

TUFED6 - Funny you should mention about the house reno's... Thats just what my wife wants to do as well. It sounds great to me.

I used to work for a private company for 5 years, and they paid EXTREMELY poorly for the work that i did.

Ef_frmnt - I would love a 2 poster!!! Just dont have room in the shed... If only my parents built a bigger house.

by **Malakai** » August 22nd, 2007, 9:13 pm

Think twice about a degree, mainly since you have been in the industry for a while now anyway. It will take a massive pay cut for 4 years to do it full time and doing it part time would suck all your after hours up for 8 years. I've been in the same boat recently.

I've decided to go the Vendor Certification route. Microsoft, Cisco, etc, etc,,,

The main advantages to the vendor certifications are more specific expertise and are easily done after hours at your own pace, then you just sit a test to get your bit of paper.

But if you want to get away from IT altogether instead of making IT avenues more interesting for you then vendor certs aren't going to help.

Decisions, decisions...

by **BI6TIM** » August 22nd, 2007, 10:46 pm

IT may be a little boring but I would recomend staying where you can earn the money.
If at some stage you want to have kids, and it seems all women do eventually, you'll be hunting the dollars.
You can trust me on that one!!!

Even when it comes to the property market. To get into anything decent, you'll need a fair income to be comfortable.
You can ask Kel about that one.

by **holmsy** » August 22nd, 2007, 11:19 pm

i say work your way up the pay roll untill your in a job making more money and controlling people.
i know a guy that for ages had crap all money in an IT job. he went up the pay roll. he is now easily pulling in 70 grand or more plus company cars n shit.
there are some very interesting and good IT jobs out there.
use the money to make your car just crazy then ride the joy all the way through the day

by **Bipolar** » August 23rd, 2007, 12:23 am

Lankius skrotumus! Finish that damn thing I sent you and come work in my office! My boss is a sikknt and I can't see it being hard to come across from IT to my team. Then you'll get to access areas the rest of the staff can't, drive the cars, access the system that controls the phones, wander between buildings checking and organising stuff, use a credit card with a huuuuuuuge limit, and heaps of other random shit, plus I can show you where certain people sit

And you can have fun watching the painfully annoying cocksmokers go through hoops to get the shit they want because you're the one they need to get it from and you ain't gonna do them no favours

by **BI6TIM** » August 23rd, 2007, 7:01 am

That sounds a little sedistic Tod.

by **Malakai** » August 23rd, 2007, 8:11 am

Playing the bastard admin from hell is definitely a little sadistic... but rewarding too. 8-)

by **Bipolar** » August 23rd, 2007, 8:14 am

Everyone here does it. Speedy for those that deserve it - policy and procedure for everyone else. After being in Government for a while, you start to see how petty some people get. We have about the best working conditions you could get and people still whinge, day after day, year after year. They sit at their desk all day; want their own printer cuz they couldn't be bothered walking 15 metres; ask for things they don't need because they're bored (because they're not busy enough); don't bother giving you all the info you need the first time and make run around for them, then change or cancel everything at the last minute after you've already organised various contractors (because they didn't find out all the necessary info); try to pull WHS shit on you to get expensive stuff etc etc, and generally cause buttloads of unecessary work for people who provide services like me.

end rant

by **turbodrift** » August 23rd, 2007, 9:53 pm

well i would stick with the money and play with cars on the weekend. u do need alot of money to live paying off a house and having kids. Having said all of that, I earn 70k as Contractor at Energex as a Hydraulic Fitter and with overtime this should be around 85k and im still struggling with money. So i would think real hard about changing jobs to less money if a house and kids are to be involved in the near future.

by **Rollin** » August 24th, 2007, 7:20 pm

Don't be a mechanic - much stress and drama and homo customers and crap pay...very very crap pay.

It might be boring but you are earning better money than any tech at my work already, and some of them have been qualified for 20 years.

I'd love to get into construction (like driving those big-ass cranes etc) but I believe it costs big bucks to get a licence....if you think of a cool job to do let me know! I've had it to the gills with work atm.

by **Walkinshaw** » August 24th, 2007, 7:33 pm

12% super. Thats a rort! You'd have to love that.

Construction, there is money to be had but you either have to (1) have a trade and do lots of OT, (2) Run yourself as a company and subcontract to others. Trust me, degree(s) + construction isn't what its cracked up to be. I'm a Project Engineer for a $50M job (130+guys) and I'm the lowest paid guy on site.

by **snortingboost** » August 24th, 2007, 9:04 pm

DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!

According to the paper, every tradesman/person, is taking 60K on average. Since discovering this fenomena i've been looking everywhere but i just can't seem to find the other 30 grand i'm owed! Being a mechanic licks arse and without doubt is absolutely the worst shit job available to anyone.

I so wish that i could turn back the clock, as most people wouldn't get out of bed for the money i'm being paid. I'd be much happier to have a desk job with comfortable office chair and eye candy, rather than laying beneath an F-series pulling the transmission out, having oil run through my hair, dirt falling into my eyes and smelling like kerosene. Keep cars as your hobby and just think of the dollars you now earn.

I've also found in my recent studies that every arsehole you know thinks they can just lean on you everytime their shitbox has issues. Not only that it almost always ends up with you destroying the weekend to make 50 bucks or a carton of pss. Soo had enough of being an mechanic/idiot, it's time to move on!

by **Rollin** » August 25th, 2007, 10:35 pm

I reckon!!!!! Every son of a mother expects you to fix their car for free* or SFA, but at the same time have a whinge about how much it costs for dealer servicing, and they nearly fall over when you tell them how much you actually get paid!

I think working at a port-a-loo place "Kenny" style would be worse, but there are much much much much much much much much much much better jobs out there!

*Obviously I'm not referring you you OED - working on your car is a privilege!

by **OED666** » August 25th, 2007, 11:27 pm

oh dude... i HATE with a passion asking for help. Thats why i want to be 11ty billion percent confident that i can do anything myself, hence practice makes perfect...

geez, now i am thinking about ALL the times you have helped me, and what have i done in return...

well, i have applied for another IT job last week. I suppose a change is as good as a holiday. I think knowing how skilled all you sik kent mechanics are, makes me really appreciate how bloody smart you are. you can all think outside the square, and definitely have great problem solving skills.

***HAIL, HAIL***

by **lukey039** » August 26th, 2007, 1:27 am

Paul STICK WITH IT.As Dan,Dean and Kelvin have mentioned working as a mechanic is great if you like working on cars but when a person at coles earns more an hour you have to start thinking what am I doing here.Dealerships are the main colprit that is one of the reasons I have left and moved on to actually earn more then 50K for the first time in nearly 9 1/2 years.There is also the dealership bullshit to put up with,only the ass lickers getting the promotion while everyone else cops a fisting.Its not worth it one bit.We have to be mechanics,auto electricans,Be very quick, do the job right and be up to date with whats new in the world of new cars.Its alot of stress for SFA.Start making the trade licensed like plumbers and sparkies.I an kill more people by leaving a wheel loose then other trades out there.

by **Rollin** » August 27th, 2007, 4:15 am

OED666 wrote:oh dude... i HATE with a passion asking for help. Thats why i want to be 11ty billion percent confident that i can do anything myself, hence practice makes perfect...

geez, now i am thinking about ALL the times you have helped me, and what have i done in return...

Dude...did you miss my last line? I'm SO not talking about you in my last post!!

by **Eb Barbie** » August 27th, 2007, 8:55 am

OED666 wrote:well, i have applied for another IT job last week. I suppose a change is as good as a holiday.

Good idea. I was gonna suggest that. Im in a similar vote. Working admin in Human Resources @ Frankston Hospital, coming to the end of my contract. Have been offered to possibly stay but dont see this department as something I wanna do for good. Hard decisions!!
Seein as though your in IT and getting good money, I say stick with it but maybe look at doing it elsewhere

by **OED666** » August 27th, 2007, 11:06 am

Rollin wrote:Dude...did you miss my last line? I'm SO not talking about you in my last post!!

I know skrotum, but i still hate asking, as you are busy enough as it is.

by **OED666** » January 7th, 2008, 4:02 pm

Well, just a little update..

I accepted another IT job before xmas. I start next Monday. My last week as a government employee. I will miss my lunch time stolls with Bipolar. (.)(.)

by **[Sterling]** » January 7th, 2008, 4:06 pm

my theory is , if it aint worth more money then its not worth changing jobs!

by **oneredED** » January 7th, 2008, 4:14 pm

kester94EF wrote:my theory is , if it aint worth more money then its not worth changing jobs!

True to a point, but what would you rather:

1) $60k and fucking bored/angry/pissed off etc etc

2) $60k and HAPPY all day every day.

I know which I'd choose to consume my life.

by **mooseman** » January 7th, 2008, 4:31 pm

Have you thought about something like an Auto-electrician. The money is better there and you will still be getting hands on in cars and stuff.

by **gudgyz** » January 7th, 2008, 4:43 pm

OK, first post on this forum, and i'm not even talking cars so i hope i dont get flamed for offering my 2c worth on your Qtr life crisis!

I turned my back on IT after 20 years, about 5 years ago. Moved country and started a small business in something a world away from what i was doing. You just need to make sure you dont need the cash that IT pays before you turn your back on it. Make your money, and set your self up BEFORE you walk away. Its a tough world out there without the security of the big regular paycheck!

BTW IT security guru's should make easy $100K in the private sector, why not look there for a change before stepping out all together. The Security guy at the last place i worked at in Melb was taking $120k plus!!! and that was 5 years ago.

Kevin

by **Bipolar** » January 7th, 2008, 5:21 pm

OED666 wrote:I will miss my lunch time stolls with Bipolar. (.)(.)

I'll have to ask the master along one last time.

by **Rollin** » January 7th, 2008, 6:57 pm

oneredED wrote:True to a point, but what would you rather:

1) $60k and fucking bored/angry/pissed off etc etc

2) $60k and HAPPY all day every day.

I know which I'd choose to consume my life.

I'll take 60k a year in any way shape or form, thank you very much!

by **sphell** » January 7th, 2008, 10:40 pm

I say stick with the job you've got, like everyone has said, working on cars is not all it's cracked up to be. When it's 35deg outside would you rather be under a dash or in an engine bay or sitting in an air con'd office pretending to do work?

by **Damo** » January 7th, 2008, 11:19 pm

Hands on work is fucked. I'm 24 and feel like I'm about 40. I've had lots of different jobs, Furniture (Home) removals, builders laborer, lawn mower, tree removals, glorified council worker, storeman, storeman doing retail selling (furniture), waste collection and Furniture Salesman most recently (had no storeman so had to do that too). Still wouldn't have the slightest clue what I would like to do long term.

I have also thought about the automotive industry, but I get frustrated just removing over tightened oil/filters on my mums car*, I think I'd smash more cars then I could fix.

*I may or may not have been the last person to do a oil filter change on the car

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