Do you regret your career choice?

[jesus2nd]

Fell into the family business of memorial masonry (10% masonry 90% computer work) after the 'rents split up and I decided that buggering off to uni wasn't the most responsible thing to do with it meaning mother being by herself.

7 years down the line and 2 slipped discs later I resent not pursuing my passion of a career in the forces instead of going along to 6th form to keep my parents happy.

Know that if I leave my job with my old man he'll be on his own and most likely work himself into an early grave.

God damn awful position to be in, currently applying to every reserve force going to see if any will have me since slipping my disc the other year just so I can have both the military career (if you can call it that with I being in the reserves) and help my dad cope with the business he's had since he was my age.

 

[Kamerad]

Fell into the family business of memorial masonry (10% masonry 90% computer work) after the 'rents split up and I decided that buggering off to uni wasn't the most responsible thing to do with it meaning mother being by herself.

7 years down the line and 2 slipped discs later I resent not pursuing my passion of a career in the forces instead of going along to 6th form to keep my parents happy.

Know that if I leave my job with my old man he'll be on his own and most likely work himself into an early grave.

God damn awful position to be in, currently applying to every reserve force going to see if any will have me since slipping my disc the other year just so I can have both the military career (if you can call it that with I being in the reserves) and help my dad cope with the business he's had since he was my age.

A military career is not all that great. Most people in the forces don't enjoy it as the day to day life is mind numbingly boring. It is easy money for 90% of the time not doing a lot.

 

[jesus2nd]

A military career is not all that great. Most people in the forces don't enjoy it as the day to day life is mind numbingly boring. It is easy money for 90% of the time not doing a lot.

Aye, I currently work in a graveyard with my dad who's 25 years my senior and as much as I love him, we don't have a whole lot in common.

Moat days (especially this time of year due to weather) are spent in the windowless attic of our office - an old public toilet in said graveyard - typing up inscriptions for peoples headstones which more than numbs the mind.

Crosses my fingers that they'll have me in the reserves, even if it is boring at least it'll be something new and a chance to socialise with other similar minded folk.

 

[heeeed]

It's very sad to say it, but I'm in agreement with several doctors who have already posted. At times it can still be a great job, but it gets worse each year and I certainly would discourage my kids from entering the profession when they are older. The levels of stress and jumping through hoops and long hours takes its toll. Very few doctors are unable to totally switch off from work when they get home. I expect I'm slightly more jaded from the last couple of years of having toddlers to exhaust me on days off also. Unfortunately I feel I lack the imagination and drive these days to look for something else and it would need to pay as well to cover my mortgage etc.

 

[jkb]

Is this a work stress issue? I have had jobs that I can't switch off from that easily, and it's down to the large demands of the job. There is a lot to be said for having a job you can easily switch off from, but then you might not earn so much.

More a work life balance issue. I'm based in the UK, our European production and offices are in Madrid and head office is California. It isn't unusual for me to still be on a lync call with my American colleagues until 8, 9 or even 10. Answering emails until then is a regular occurrence. In return, you are right the financial rewards are good but I pay a high price.

 

[Xordium]

It's very sad to say it, but I'm in agreement with several doctors who have already posted. At times it can still be a great job, but it gets worse each year and I certainly would discourage my kids from entering the profession when they are older. The levels of stress and jumping through hoops and long hours takes its toll. Very few doctors are unable to totally switch off from work when they get home. I expect I'm slightly more jaded from the last couple of years of having toddlers to exhaust me on days off also. Unfortunately I feel I lack the imagination and drive these days to look for something else and it would need to pay as well to cover my mortgage etc.

I thought I was stuck too and it wasn't until I got into computers that the answer became kind of obvious. None of my peers had a real clue about computers and it was quite clear the people programming medical software didn't have much of a clue and beyond that they knew nothing about the human body. I ended up (with a friend) furthering an idea we had already had taken up Hewlett Packard and ended up starting a small company.

Now I don't have to worry about things I used to. I don't feel as useful as I used but you kind of get wrapped up in it all. I was also in the TA as really you can't get the skills in the army fulltime. That meant I never had any real downtime at all. If you can get out I would say do so it only gets worse the higher up the chain you get. Having a lead post is soul destroying and I've seen many a great consultant fall apart before my eyes and once quitting never becoming the same person they were before. I was a very active and healthy young man and now in my early 40s I feel more like I am in 60s I never sleep well and revisit the past every night seeing stuff no person should see. The funny thing is I was reading an article about how a large proportion of people with sociopathic traits end up in medicine and nursing. It may well be they are the only people who can cope with the more demanding roles.

A lot of the mums at my lad's school are ex and current nurses and I heard them talking to a mum who said she would love to enter that profession. Not one of them recommended it and they all actively were discouraging her. Doesn't bode well for our fellow professionals too.

 

[Kamerad]

Crosses my fingers that they'll have me in the reserves, even if it is boring at least it'll be something new and a chance to socialise with other similar minded folk.

The reserves are really struggling to recruit people at the moment which may help your application.

I've spent the last five years in the Royal Engineers. I don't regret joining as I've done a lot of things I've enjoyed but there are bad times as well as good times. I lived in Germany for 2 years which was in a great location (Hameln) and spent time travelling round the country, I spent 2 months in Kenya on an infantry exercise and 6 months in Cyprus on a UN peacekeeping tour which all have memories I will hold forever.

Joining the reserves I feel gives you the good side of the forces without the bad side as you don't have the day to day grind. I've spent too much time sat around doing nothing for weeks on end which really isn't good for your state of mind.

 

[heeeed]

Oh I'm already as far up the chain and the BS that goes with it as a GP partner and involvement with the CCG. Only further way to gain more "responsibility" would be for medical politics and I would certainly ditch the career before that. The only people who go down that route generally dislike being clinicians.

If any government could actually provide some stability so that I don't see my income drop each year for more and more work and that I could just get on with seeing people which is the only enjoyable part of the job I'm sure I could feel differently again. I used to even enjoy the management parts but these days it gets worse and worse and every new regulation and hoop provides more work for no benefit to patients simply to justify some managers role.

 

[Xordium]

That's not going to happen though is it heeed. True story the best surgeon I ever worked with jacked it in to become a brick layer! Bloke was never happier and therefore richer as a result even if not in pocket.

 

[jesus2nd]

The reserves are really struggling to recruit people at the moment which may help your application.

I've spent the last five years in the Royal Engineers. I don't regret joining as I've done a lot of things I've enjoyed but there are bad times as well as good times. I lived in Germany for 2 years which was in a great location (Hameln) and spent time travelling round the country, I spent 2 months in Kenya on an infantry exercise and 6 months in Cyprus on a UN peacekeeping tour which all have memories I will hold forever.

Joining the reserves I feel gives you the good side of the forces without the bad side as you don't have the day to day grind. I've spent too much time sat around doing nothing for weeks on end which really isn't good for your state of mind.

Cheers fella, it was the travelling opportunities that sort of got me a bit hooked on the idea aswell!

Fingers crossed

 

[Nitefly]

I suppose the collateral question to the OP is 'would you recommend your career choice to someone else'?

 

[Stev]

I suppose the collateral question to the OP is 'would you recommend your career choice to someone else'?

Depends, if your single, have few friends, dont mind standing for 12-14 hours, burning yourself, cutting yourself, being abused by management

The amount of times "it comes with the job" has been said to me -.-

My hours are long - comes with the job
I dont get paid much - comes with the job (or even better, "its about the passion, not the money)
I dont get overtime at all, but am expected to average over 50 hours a week (70+ in "busy" periods) - comes with the job
Holiday is restricted to like 4 months of the year, rest is a red zone and busy! - comes with the job

so I guess...no, i wouldn't recommend it.

 

[Manbatius]

Never completed the intended degree course due to illness, completed a theory based course. Hold a pointless degree.

Been stuck in call centres, reception jobs and low paid admin jobs since 2008. So the answer to OP is yes.

 

[Gavin]

yes.......started working self employed 20 years ago when money was good and things were different.now in debt and need to retrain for something but cant afford to. need something paye really so sick pay holiday pension etc covered but after being self employed so long i have no idea what direction to go in.also have adhd so dont really think id cope with desk job

 

[dowie]

kind of fell into my current role... thinking of changing it and trying something else - but not really made that choice yet... perhaps I should have looked to change role a bit sooner

 

[The_Abyss]

Yes and no. I used to work in Africa and turned down another overseas posting to return home so my wife could give birth to my son (not really safely possible where we lived at the time). We then split up, and in wanting to remain in close regular contact with my son I then turned down another overseas posting. I regret that for the possible advancement in career and remuneration, but I do not at all regret being there whilst my son grew up.

I've changed career a couple of times since, and don't regret those decisions - the last one has left me with a relatively very good well-paid job. But I enjoy it far less then I used to and, at 42, I probably don't have many career changes ahead of me if I want to maintain a consistent income. Now it is more about transferring skills rather than starting a new career, but that's very much a 'first world problem' though as I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have a good position with a good employer and good pay. Many don't.

 

[the_worrier]

I joined the RAF at 22 having originally studied HND Environmental Health at Uni after A-Levels at a boy's grammar. They put me through Uni (3 times so far- 2 Dip HE's and a BSc hons) and 3 yrs later I was a Registered Nurse. Here I am after over 17 yrs Service, 2 tours of Iraq, 1 of Qatar & 3 of Afghanistan, 2 oversea's postings to Cyprus, many UK postings (we are in our 14th property with this being our first 'owned'), specialised many moons ago in theatre & anaesthetics, commissioned after 12.5 yrs in the ranks.

I have loved it but it has been hard with a family. It pays well and a pension from next year- when I leave- will be nice. I'm doing an MSc next which is being 80% funded. I am looking for my next suitable (sector related) challenge; my role in recent years has been about managing teams in and out of an operating theatre. The modern UK Mil is good at exposing its personnel to a broad spectrum of experiences and leadership challenges.

 

[the_worrier]

My only career "regret" is accepting an offer to become permanent at my current job, had originally been contracting there for a year. Still earn a very good wage but it's significantly less than before obviously.. The loss of earnings, whilst completely my fault, is really starting to get to me at the moment.

I work away during the week so can't claim anything against tax anymore as I'm now permanent. I took the offer thinking about career prospects which duely materialised 6 months later. However at the time working away wasn't bothering me, now it is. It's affecting my home life as I don't seem to be able to relax as much and don't have time to do everything I want.. Also definitely effects any relationships I try and have (a pretty decent one currently struggling).

If I could get a similar paid job near home I would take it but I really enjoy what I do and the company/industry I work in is fascinating. Plus there are very few positions available most of the time. Pftttttttt, first world problems. Meh.

I can relate to the working away piece. My last role involved me working 90 miles away from home so I lived in the mess during the week and came home for weekends. The role was an incredible opportunity for me as a predominantly clinical practitioner. Being away all week definately took its toll on the family.