Downsizing your career?

Admiral Huddy said:
Maybe an odd or misleading title, but quite simple, would you give up a job for much less pay (say around half) if the job you were doing had no work? Consider also pension and possibly a redundancy package.

I’ve been in a job now where we’ve not had any project work for years and the only ones we have had is to centralise software back to head office in Germany. So the work gets less and less. Basically, it sounds like an ideal job, getting paid for just sitting around but it gets to you eventually. It’s quite soul destroying.

On the other side, given the job market and my age, I think I could be a lot worse off. I watched a program last week where this chap, who was once management, found himself supporting his family using the food bank because the benefit system failed him. I’m not sure I’d let that happen to be honest. I’d find something to do self employed from the offset.

Is the grass always greener and is money really worth more than your sanity?
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I changed my career at the beginning of this year, my salary is now about 1/5 of what it was, but money isnt everything and I am now doing something I love and my (and by association my families) work/life balance and family life is vastly improved.
 
use idle time in work to start achieving more up to date qualifications so you can move into a more current/busy area of work?

After all if you're just sitting there doing nothing could always start doing some distance learning for certifications.
 
monkeypants said:
Maybe mention to your superiors that you're not feeling challenged or that you could take more on, put some positive spin on it and it might get things moving. Alternatively if you have the opportunity to apply for other postings then take every chance that comes along.
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The former suggestion I'm not doing currently and won't be doing in the future... this place is relaxed in all the wrong ways and uptight in all the wrong ways. It's like they've got everything backwards. The second suggestion I'm very much doing, looking for every opportunity although I've been told the earliest I will be allowed to leave here is June, due to being qualified on the kit here.

No1newts said:
It's guys with either mech or elec backgrounds with experience on the tools. It's in the windpower renewables sector.
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Interesting. How many years experience do you look for? I know a few ex RAF who have found employment working on wind turbine servicing and installation, would someone from a electronics/communications background be suitable for the sort of thing you're talking about? I'm assuming not without some sort of training.

:edit: just noticed your location... was one of the guys you hired a Smoggy called Andy...?
 
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Zefan said:
The former suggestion I'm not doing currently and won't be doing in the future... this place is relaxed in all the wrong ways and uptight in all the wrong ways. It's like they've got everything backwards. The second suggestion I'm very much doing, looking for every opportunity although I've been told the earliest I will be allowed to leave here is June, due to being qualified on the kit here.
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what do you do?
 
Tefal said:
use idle time in work to start achieving more up to date qualifications so you can move into a more current/busy area of work?

After all if you're just sitting there doing nothing could always start doing some distance learning for certifications.
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I did this in my old job, would spend hours on the net, instead I put that to good use and banged out a couple of OU courses, also when you have word open typing an essay it doesnt look as suspect as IE lol
 
Tefal said:
what do you do?
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Electronics/Comms technician. The trade spans from RADAR and airfield navigation aids to installing networks, network admin, helpdesk... the list goes on. Pretty much anything IT or communications based in the RAF really. Although I've done training to cover most of those things, I only really have working experience of air defence RADAR and ground to air radios. So, in answer to your question, RADAR and ground to air radio maintenance :p
 
Dj_Jestar said:
We have many options, and "Sticking with a crap job and lying to myself that I just have to put up with it" is the worst option out there. "I do it because I have to" is not even an extant option.
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And yet many workers in the UK find themselves in exactly that position.

There are many who go to work for one reason and one reason alone.

Money.
 
Admiral Huddy said:
I’ve been in a job now where we’ve not had any project work for years and the only ones we have had is to centralise software back to head office in Germany. So the work gets less and less. Basically, it sounds like an ideal job, getting paid for just sitting around but it gets to you eventually. It’s quite soul destroying.
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KPMG? Probably not but worth a guess

As to answer OP - nope, Id try and find another like minded job

- GP
 
Zefan said:
The former suggestion I'm not doing currently and won't be doing in the future... this place is relaxed in all the wrong ways and uptight in all the wrong ways. It's like they've got everything backwards. The second suggestion I'm very much doing, looking for every opportunity although I've been told the earliest I will be allowed to leave here is June, due to being qualified on the kit here.



Interesting. How many years experience do you look for? I know a few ex RAF who have found employment working on wind turbine servicing and installation, would someone from a electronics/communications background be suitable for the sort of thing you're talking about? I'm assuming not without some sort of training.

:edit: just noticed your location... was one of the guys you hired a Smoggy called Andy...?
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Is he going on Teeside? If so no, but I know of the farm as some of my guys might end up there.

If you have an electrics background you should be laughing. Working with HV is a plus, live systems, lockouts, wiring, fault finding then bingo. Mech, hydraulic and control system experience on top of that is a bonus but not vital. Most turbines in the next 3+!years will end up direct drive rendering the electronics way more important than mech/hydraulics.

Experience wise the business trains people from the ground up as whilst the turbines bear similarities with a lot of kit they are unique in a lot of ways. They are HSE mental so they train from the ground up to ensure its done right. So tldr, as long as you have experience. I've seen guys with 1-2 years and blokes with 20+ attitude matters, that's why there's a load of ex-forces.
 
No1newts said:
Is he going on Teeside? If so no, but I know of the farm as some of my guys might end up there.

If you have an electrics background you should be laughing. Working with HV is a plus, live systems, lockouts, wiring, fault finding then bingo. Mech, hydraulic and control system experience on top of that is a bonus but not vital. Most turbines in the next 3+!years will end up direct drive rendering the electronics way more important than mech/hydraulics.

Experience wise the business trains people from the ground up as whilst the turbines bear similarities with a lot of kit they are unique in a lot of ways. They are HSE mental so they train from the ground up to ensure its done right. So tldr, as long as you have experience. I've seen guys with 1-2 years and blokes with 20+ attitude matters, that's why there's a load of ex-forces.
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Most likely is Teeside yeah, he's an interesting character...

50KV high enough for you :p? Sounds like a bit of a treat, exactly what I did on the old radar here. Is it the same nationwide or does it tend to vary up and down the country? Be
 
Zefan said:
Most likely is Teeside yeah, he's an interesting character...

50KV high enough for you :p? Sounds like a bit of a treat, exactly what I did on the old radar here. Is it the same nationwide or does it tend to vary up and down the country? Be
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My team are home based going up and down the country where the work is, there are sites everywhere but it depends if they are/aren't recruiting. Not too sure about the site based chaps to be fair.

If it does interet you let me know and I'll email my work email to your trust (my trust on here needs updated, don't use the account anymore) and drop me your Cv. I'm potentially recruiting half a dozen or so guys in the next month or two.
 
I just walked away from 4 years of hard work building a buisness up on 45k per year plus 15k commision, high stress usual hours, to 26k plus 24k commision lower stress, no managment

a month in I have no idea if i did the right thing, some days i did, some days i diddnt.

hard times.
 
GhostlyPea said:
KPMG? Probably not but worth a guess
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Sounds like DB to me from the description. I know they're going through a big programme of replacing legacy mainframes at the moment.

I would second the learning stuff while you're at work idea.
I was in a similar situation a while back due to my project getting put on hold and nothing much else to do.
I spent several months learning new skills and technologies and managed to get a better job a short while later.
 
No1newts said:
My team are home based going up and down the country where the work is, there are sites everywhere but it depends if they are/aren't recruiting. Not too sure about the site based chaps to be fair.

If it does interet you let me know and I'll email my work email to your trust (my trust on here needs updated, don't use the account anymore) and drop me your Cv. I'm potentially recruiting half a dozen or so guys in the next month or two.
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I'd certainly be very interested in hearing more details about the conpany and the sort of positions you've got going!

Email in trust and sig.
 
Dj_Jestar said:
Firstly, that's complete rubbish about controlling your thoughts and emotions. Absolutely rubbish. Humans are emotive animals.
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Isn't the ability to control our actions and emotions one of the MAIN things that sets us apart from animals?

Do you just see food and take it?

God forbid if you were to see a young attractive lady bend over to pick her keys up.

Have you ever studied the behaviour of Chimpanzees at the zoo?

They may be incredibly intelligent but they are severly lacking in self control.
 
Cameron has already put me into what is shaping up to be very early retirement. I do not want a downsized career, I just want a job.
 
Zefan said:
Electronics/Comms technician. The trade spans from RADAR and airfield navigation aids to installing networks, network admin, helpdesk... the list goes on. Pretty much anything IT or communications based in the RAF really. Although I've done training to cover most of those things, I only really have working experience of air defence RADAR and ground to air radios. So, in answer to your question, RADAR and ground to air radio maintenance :p
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ah nvm then, if it ahd been aircraft then i'd say come contract at my place one RAF guy is on for 3 weeks, he's on nearly £1k a week for those three weeks doing a very easy job
 
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