Thinking About A Career Change.

[qik1]

Well as the title suggests, im thinking of changing careers. I've been in the same job for nearly 4 years & have had good times & tough times. My main reason is its not going anywhere & the oppertunity to earn more of the good stuff is minimal. I work for my family & I'm finding it hard to talk to them about it.

My parents work over in the mines over in WA & are making an absolute insane/wrong amount of dosh as well as 3 of my brothers who never passed a grade in school & it frustrates me that I'm the only one working hard & not goin anywhere fast.

I figure while my wife & I are young & everything is booming that I take the chance & cash in while I can. I guess I need to know that the worlds not gonna end & im not the only one that's ever left a secure job to chase greater things.

In the near future I have might have the chance to leave & between my wife & I earn about 3 times what we are now plus no weekly expenses. Am I greedy or would you jump at the chance? Taking this job if all goes well will allow my wife & I an easier future & we can start thinking of having kids sooner rather than later. Plus I can build the rankist T I could think of. I have a pretty vivid imagination.

what would you do, stay in a job that offers long term security but no real prospect of financial gains or take a punt on earning big cash with abit of a job security risk?

[crazed1]

I guess the first thing I would consider would be, is my skill set usefull with another employer or am I capable to run a business on my own using these skills. A few good years then a decade of not so good years might not make the transition valuable. This might not be the case with your decision but the chances are just as even.

I would say that most of us here have thought about a change in career, I think it shows courage to think outside the box and your already half way there to changing.

If you tell us what you do it may help.

[qik1]

I'm a spare parts manager in a marine business but my position has so many other jobs attached, some days I dont know one end from the other. the job I could be doing will have nothin to do with what im doing with all training provided. I managed bottleshop before that so I've been dealing with customers for a while & if anything I need a change. The money's nice but the change might be the deciding factor.

[crazed1]

I think management is a good starting point to any career change especially if you had to supervise employees.

Id say with the curret financial situation the change to Marine Sales would be a dead end

Whats this new job

Edited 03/11/08 12:18 PM by crazed1

[qik1]

Just a t/a in the mines with the chance to train up & go into other areas but one step at a time. I like the idea of being able to train to do new things with the chance to of coarse earn more money. gives a good incentive to wake up in the morning & be excited about going to work.

[wiresquire]

OK, I guess I'm the 'conservative' or 'hanrahan' here.

If you can earn 3x as much, how long is that guaranteed for? If things go pear-shaped, is it first in, first out - ie you're the newest guy so you get the axe ? The economy (world-wide) ain't too hot at the moment and nobody can say if things are at the bottom or where the bottom is. So the equation goes if I can be employed for, say, a year at 3x, can I be unemployed for 2 years, and get the equivalent of my old job back after that?

It's true it's better to take risks when you are younger, but timing is everything. I could equally argue that time is on your side. Won't you earn even more than 3x when things pick up?

If you do take the new 3x, I'd also be *very* careful about spending. In fact, I reckon the best thing you could do is spend what you do now. It's very easy to spend more because you make more. That is hard to do. It's even more difficult to spend less if things go bad.

Whatever you decide, good luck.

ws

[TornadoJudd]

mate the mining industry isnt a real exciting place to work and remember the more money you earn the more money you spend

[qik1]

I realise theres a risk involved hence the question. my family is well & truly engraved in the future of it all but im goin from a position of security to one of risk. Is it worth it?. Is the chance of earning $250K between my wife a & I a yr worth giving up certainty? I'm torn between loyality & $'s.

[scar]

I realise theres a risk involved hence the question. my family is well & truly engraved in the future of it all but im goin from a position of security to one of risk. Is it worth it?. Is the chance of earning $250K between my wife a & I a yr worth giving up certainty? I'm torn between loyality & $'s.

250k? I think your expectations are a bit high mate, I have worked in the mining industry for a few years now in many different areas, with my current role been a project coordinator/manager and whatever else is needed I earn 165kpa with up to 9months away from home, very difficult on all forms of relationships.

You would enter the industry as a low level TA, largely due to your skill set and Im guessing lack of qualifications on paper(Dogman ticket, EWP, Work at heights etc). There is an abundance of TA with quals in the industry moving from one contarctor to another in the pursuit of the $$$, realistically these guys would be looking at around the 95-115kpa if they can pick up a steady flow of work( shutdowns are where the $$ are, but not constant ).

The cost of living is very high around the mining towns and this is where a lot of the fulltime TA work is and more than likely where you will get a satrt with a reputable Contractor ( there are lot who just chew through the infinite number of people chasing $$$).

Maybe consider taking 3 months off, getting a start in the industry and seeing if its what your expecting before you give up the life you have. Its a very competitive market, lots of people just like you looking for the $$$.

[TornadoJudd]

I think he said he and his misses could earn $250k together