[Chrisoldinho]

Hi all,

After leaving college I decided not to goto uni and get a job straight from college for the quick money. I got into call centre work and slowly moved from job to job. I've found myself 6 years later working in a specialist recoveries department as a team leader for a debt recovery agency.

The problem is that i've chosen the wrong career and now i feel like i'm stuck, I really don't like my job and could seriously do with more money. My employer is pants, I work long hours for relatively little money for what I do (no pay rises in over 2 years - not even an inflation rise), sick pay is discretionary but never really gets paid, there is some kind of school mentality that if your not "in the gang" then your not going to get anywhere. An example of this is that I am the only person in a Senior-ish role that doesn't live under the same roof (bar the MD). The female who is 2nd in command is shagging the 3rd in command and he in turn with all of his flat mates live in the same house and are all mysteriously Team Leaders

I've always been passionate in IT, in particular web design...I can make some really neat web sites and can code in PHP and various other scripting languages. I'd like to get involved in this but have no qualifactions in Web Design (I have various A-Levels), consiquently i've applied for loads of job's all to no avail.

I could go to Uni and get a degree but I cannot afford to do that and with my current working hours i'd struggle to fit in an Open Uni course.

So that's where i'm at currently, stuck in a job I hate with people I hate earning relatively peanuts for the amount of work I do. I don't want to grow old doing the same old **** but because of my commitments I can't do anything else, i'm just stuck.

Can any of you cheer me up

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by Chrisoldinho

Can any of you cheer me up

Life's a bitch and then you die.

[Chrisoldinho]

Originally Posted by Sonic67

Life's a bitch and then you die.

(I did see the funny side to that one really )

[krish]

Team Leaders ...
[youtube]l7nMqvRE3Lk[/youtube]

[Chrisoldinho]

Originally Posted by krish

Team Leaders ...
[youtube]l7nMqvRE3Lk[/youtube]

That's better!

[JohnG]

Most people I know hate their jobs

[Chrisoldinho]

Originally Posted by JohnG

Most people I know hate their jobs

Which is so sad don't you think? You get one shot at life and you spend half of it working so you might as well make the most of it when your there. To do something you hate depresses me immensely.

[pave]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQFD3JatwiI&NR=1




What about this for a job..............

[IAN P]

God,that looks dePRESSING,

[mattrixdesign2]

Originally Posted by Chrisoldinho

I work long hours for relatively little money for what I do (no pay rises in over 2 years - not even an inflation rise), sick pay is discretionary but never really gets paid

Not having a pay rise and no sick pay = TIME TO LEAVE, that is truly shocking - basically you earn less than when you started, and they don't trust you when you are off sick!!! Also I am not sure I could work for "debt recovery agency"... the amount of grief I gave one person because the were chasing me for a debt I didn't owe, was shocking - but I couldn't get them to understand that they had the wrong person.

Do you have family or housing commitments? If not I would seriously consider doing a full time degree, as it could be last chance, I don't doubt your I.T. skills, you are perhaps better than most qualified IT people, but its difficult to prove on your CV. If you are applying for IT/Web based jobs, may be worth on the cover letter explaining your passion for web page design and pointing them to some of your best examples.

So... nothing to cheer you up ... but I would like to motivate you to make a move... go on, GO FOR IT!

[Beetlejuice]

Become a gigolo? Hours are good...

[kav]

Very few people I know enjoy their jobs. Most have found something they hate least and do that. You've mentioned your love of/skills with IT a few times in the past. IMO, it's all about drive and ambition, or the flipside of that coin, desperation. Those ambitious enough, or desperate enough to do well, will do well. I know if I didn't have a family to support, I wouldn't have progressed in my career anywhere near as quickly as I have. I fall into the desperate category.

A friend of mine works a 9-5 as a programmer, and as soon as he gets home in the evenings, spends four or five hours on his laptop working out how to get rich. His aim is to become a millionaire, and I don't doubt he'll do it because he works so damn hard. He has already got himself a second income taking in ~£3k a month on top of his main income, through 98% hard work, a bit of ingenuity, and some shiny balls of brass. He's married with a young kid, but he makes the time to do it because he's so driven. Me, I like my Xbox too much to be bothered about getting rich.

Some people are millionaires, and others spend their time bitching on forums (not a dig at you by the way - I'm as guilty of it as anyone ). If I were you, Step 1 would be CHANGE YOUR JOB! If you're at the point where you think this can't get much worse, then even working in another call centre will provide you with some relief.

Hmm, I seem to remember you asking to be cheered up, not a sermon on empowerment by a hypocrite...oh well.

[pave]

Originally Posted by IAN P

God,that looks dePRESSING,

That was there lunch break, they were having duck.................


Coat on......................

[tomson]

Originally Posted by mattrixdesign2

If you are applying for IT/Web based jobs, may be worth on the cover letter explaining your passion for web page design and pointing them to some of your best examples

If you've not got any decent examples online then you could try contacting some local small businesses, organisations etc etc and offer to build them a site for free. You obviously wont get paid for it but it'll show people you can design/build to a clients specs and to a deadline. Also you could trawl the freelance forums looking for people wanting little sites built - it's all good experience.


edit: btw, I like my job.

[Naqv]

Now's your chance. Either DO SOMETHING NOW, or be a team leader in a ****** job for the rest of your life.

Sure you will encounter hardship, especially, if you do a degree (I would recommend that you do), but you rather suffer for 3 years, than for 30+ years.

You will really regret going to uni as you get older, especially if you hate your job.

[IAN P]

Originally Posted by pave

That was there lunch break, they were having duck.................


Coat on......................

That was worse mate,by a long way.

[pave]

Now your thinking this way,be a good time to move, maybe just get a job where you could have the time to do an OU course and still bring in some money,
Think of it as short term, The OU are very good in my experience and have good support, wish you the best in your decision........

[crimsoneagle]

Originally Posted by Sonic67

Life's a bitch and then you die.

LOL,,,,

Tis a bit harsh Sonic...
Well matey I was in a similar postion a few years ago in a Job I hated with people being promoted on whos bum they been ...
So me an the missus decided to start our own business we went a got a small business and have been working non stop for 2 years no holidays and working a full time job as well as helping out with the biz....
And weve finally put it up for sale at 4 times what weve paid for it
its been tough financially,physically and mentally but its been worth it....
All I can say is be brave and try something the clock is ticking and the more you do nothing the deeper your hole becomes..

[addyb]

Its never too late to change your career if thats whats needed. When i left school i had crap grades etc but got given a chance at a bricklaying apprenticeship. Anyway i hated this with a passion but told my parents i would at least gain my NVQ so stuck at it til i did and promptly quit as it really was effecting me outside of work!

I then spent the next few years just doing factory work and other similar jobs and then thought sod this i will get into IT as i had an interest in it and was quite conversant with most things IT.

After 7 years in IT tho i really really got sick of it, mainly the boredom factor and the lack of support and general appreciation i got from my managers, shovel in the fact that to get anywhere, you had to either sleep with your manager, or just ass kiss them so bad you may as well wiped there ass for them with your bare hands.

I changed my career and it was the best thing ive ever done, i love my job and that has had a great knock on effect to the rest of my life!

[FunkyMunkey]

Ah! Call Centres! they're all the same, eh?

Changing your career is definitely possible, you just have to have the balls to do it! Most people stick in the same job and spend their whole working lives being miserable.

I did a business studies degree, then went straight into a cack office job and felt like a drone. Then I got fired partly becuase I spent so much time on the internet (ahem...) and ended up as a video games journalist. It really wasn't for me, so I worked in sales for 3 years to clear my overdraft then save up to go travelling. While travelling I decided to become a Physio and that's what I'm training as now. It's the first time in my life that I've been truly challenged and engaged in what I'm doing, and I'm absolutely loving it. I get my own patients on placement next year and I'll even be travelling to Vietnam to work with disabled people as part of my course.

Even though I have to pay for the Vietnam trip, the NHS pays for my course and gives me a grant. My wife is basically supporting me, but I have a friend who's supporting herself while she studies with me.

Basically, it can be done. You have to think seriously about what's important for you. Personally, I wanted to do something which involved 'helping people' but where I wouldn't be stuck behind a desk. I'm doing summer work in an office and it's driving me mad!

[Sonic67]

Originally Posted by crimsoneagle

LOL,,,,

Tis a bit harsh Sonic...

That or a quote from Fight Club, "This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."

[crimsoneagle]

Originally Posted by Sonic67

That or a quote from Fight Club, "This is your life and it's ending one minute at a time."

Too true..
Us midlanders know what its about..!

[Chrisoldinho]

Some really good suggestions in this thread, thanks everyone

I especially like the idea of helping people like FunkyMunkey does. I'm a very caring person and like to look after people in need but never really thought about it until now . Not really sure where to begin though...

I suppose that's the problem, where do I begin?

I have a Mortgage which basically takes up 95% of my Salary a month, once we take in to account our Car Loan and the cost of living where only left with about £400 or so a month which sounds like a lot but when your thinking about having a family i'll need every penny.

My goal isn't to earn a fortunate (although that would be nice). I just want to be comfortable doing something that I enjoy, where I can spend time with my family and have a good work-life balance.

[Chrisoldinho]

Ok so I thought it's about time I did something about it...I've been thinking how I can stay in employment yet learn more about a subject and develop in to I.T more. After speaking with my Mum she suggested to look at the Open University.

I've been on the web site and i'm very daunted by it, not least because I was never the best at listening but also because I don't know where to begin.

Ideally i'd do a degree in web design but that doesn't seem to be an option.

Any ideas where I could look and does anyone have any experiences of the OU?

Chris.

[JagoPlasma]

Originally Posted by Chrisoldinho

Some really good suggestions in this thread, thanks everyone

I especially like the idea of helping people like FunkyMunkey does. I'm a very caring person and like to look after people in need but never really thought about it until now . Not really sure where to begin though...

I suppose that's the problem, where do I begin?

I have a Mortgage which basically takes up 95% of my Salary a month, once we take in to account our Car Loan and the cost of living where only left with about £400 or so a month which sounds like a lot but when your thinking about having a family i'll need every penny.

My goal isn't to earn a fortunate (although that would be nice). I just want to be comfortable doing something that I enjoy, where I can spend time with my family and have a good work-life balance.

if your earning over 8 grand a month then quit your bitchin and enjoy it! lol

If however you are exagerating about your income. go work at mcdonalds, it will boost your morale because if your anything like me you will get fed up of working there and quit! quitting a job can be the most morale boosting thing there is.

unfortunately you have a mortgage to pay so quitting is not an option if you cant get money in by the next installment

if your good making websites then make some. come up with a portfolio of designs then approach local gyms and the like and offer to sell or design them a new one. (check their websites first to see if they are any good or any fuction you think will be beneficial for them)

[GBDG1]

Originally Posted by JagoPlasma

if your earning over 8 grand a month then quit your bitchin and enjoy it! lol

If however you are exagerating about your income.

I think his wife/girlfried may work too

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by Chrisoldinho

Ok so I thought it's about time I did something about it...I've been thinking how I can stay in employment yet learn more about a subject and develop in to I.T more.

A career in IT is poo. Full of people who have been promoted to their level of incompetence.

If I had my time again I'd try my hand at gynecology.

[Chrisoldinho]

Originally Posted by JagoPlasma

if your earning over 8 grand a month then quit your bitchin and enjoy it! lol

No, my Mrs works as well, and between us we have £400 a month left. More like £3k a month.

[Chrisoldinho]

Originally Posted by PJTX100

A career in IT is poo. Full of people who have been promoted to their level of incompetence.

If I had my time again I'd try my hand at gynecology.

Pitty if your a bloke you have to have a women supervise you at all times these days, but I suppose there is always an upside to this

[sniffer66]

Originally Posted by PJTX100

A career in IT is poo. Full of people who have been promoted to their level of incompetence.

If I had my time again I'd try my hand at gynecology.

I tried that and made a complete fist of it








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