Career Advice / Working Life

[Hereiam]

I work 9-5 in a office job during the week, farm in the evenings and lay blocks on weekends for customers who are looking small jobs done. Just do what you gota do.

[Milltown Row2]

My son is only 10 and at that age he's already talking about being a builder or some other trade. Me on the other hand still can't figure out what I want to do and I'm 43!

I'm 54 and would still have a look at things, but currently in my longest role, 12 years same company so they are doing something right.. Still think I could challenge something else, but my wife would be happier for me to stay

My youngest did her law degree and doesn't want to work, period lol! Heading off down under and not interested into getting a 'real' job yet

[clonian]

My son is only 10 and at that age he's already talking about being a builder or some other trade. Me on the other hand still can't figure out what I want to do and I'm 43!

I'm 54 and would still have a look at things, but currently in my longest role, 12 years same company so they are doing something right.. Still think I could challenge something else, but my wife would be happier for me to stay

My youngest did her law degree and doesn't want to work, period lol! Heading off down under and not interested into getting a 'real' job yet

I would encourage young ones to do something like that tbh. You're stuck in work for most of your lift a year or 2 away will do no harm at 21/22.

As far as the best careers go I don't know what is best at the minute and with the changes coming in AI etc. Teaching is such an important job when you see how much a good teacher can help a child through a subject they struggled with. It isn't well enough paid if you want good people to go into it.

I've worked in Civil engineering and carried out QS roles as well. It's a tough industry to work in and very cut throat at times.

I've one interested in teaching/lecturing, one looking at an apprenticeship in Mechanical engineering and the other hasn't a clue but he's very good at maths and sciences so he'll have a few doors open to him.

[Milltown Row2]

Sales, I wish I'd have had a word with 'meself' 30 years ago.. If you have a bitta waffle and confidence then you could do very well, depending on the sector you are in can be very lucrative

Was chatting to a 'drug dealer' not the illegal ones, and she does very well, the rate of people now in the UK and Ireland taking drugs like they do in the states is very high in comparison to back in the day and taking medicine wasn't a thing 'we' did

[trueblue1234]

Done a stint in a few industries. While Sales can look like a quick easy win, it's far from it. At least in other professions if you've shown a history of success, you're generally given the benefit of the doubt. Eaten bread is soon forgotten is a very apt saying for most sales roles. You're only as good as your last month/ year. Not an area you want to aim for, and tends more to be people who fall into it while working out what they want to do imo. Though the right roles can pay serious dividends without having to earn your crust, as you would in other professions.
Trades are where I'd advise my kids to aim. Do your time, learn the trade and then go out on your own. You rarely get rich working for someone else.

[tonto1888]

Taught for 11 years (in England) and would not recommend it. Im in a job I love now but if I was that age again I would get a trade.

[Milltown Row2]

Done a stint in a few industries. While Sales can look like a quick easy win, it's far from it. At least in other professions if you've shown a history of success, you're generally given the benefit of the doubt. Eaten bread is soon forgotten is a very apt saying for most sales roles. You're only as good as your last month/ year. Not an area you want to aim for, and tends more to be people who fall into it while working out what they want to do imo. Though the right roles can pay serious dividends without having to earn your crust, as you would in other professions.
Trades are where I'd advise my kids to aim. Do your time, learn the trade and then go out on your own. You rarely get rich working for someone else.

Working for someone else will always make them richer, the biggest problem with trades is the sustainability of your health and fitness to do that job well into your 60's now, the get out plan needs to be done early doors

[Tony Baloney]

Horses for courses. Trades can be a grind and certainly aren't for everyone - plenty of boys in Armagh leaving for Dublin at 4.30am and some in their 60s still at it. The advantage with a trade is they are generally globally transferable.

Learn while you earn (or vice versa) a good approach for young ones now but you just can't get the same uni experience.

[seafoid]

University isn't as good as it used to be either. You don't get much extra pay.
Working conditions have changed a lot.

I started working in insurance and we had a defined benfit pension and a savings scheme that the company added to
Now it's a defined contribution pension and there is no savings scheme.