Career Change ~ Options/Advice

[JAM]

Guys,

Just after a wide range of opinions/advice on the below career options.

Currently work as an IT Systems Engineer, having worked my way up since leaving school at 16.

Moved from NHS public sector into private and it's just ticking over day after day, yet I still want more. Prospects and of course money.

In terms of career change. Two options I feel I have are:

NDT - Working away in different countries. Have friends who work in this field. Pointed me in direction of local courses I can undertake and then hopefully get out there for some experience.

Health & Safety - My father works in this field. Could complete NEBOSH certs at local college and progress and try to get into this field.

I.T just seems to have hit a brick wall, struggling for progession.

Ideas/opinions/suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks
JAM.

[matt_vtr_15a]

Not too sure about the NDT as a career as I know very little about it, just depends if you wouldn't mind working away or not as it could hinder the prospect of having a family...

H&S is only going to create more and more jobs, with the constant bullshit regulations and legislation that is being amended and created...

I'd say it's a safe and stable sector to get into, just unsure on the job satisfaction you would get from it...

One of the site managers I know recently quit his job and became a H&S supervisor on sites etc.

He prefers his job a lot more now being on the other side of the fence, says it's a lot less stressful etc but he doesn't get the satisfaction of being involved with 'constructing/building' something and seeing it progress...

What area of H&S would you be getting into?

[baker556]

Cisco courses? CCNA etc

.net, java etc they seem to big wages 50-80k etc

[hellonpluto]

become a rent boy

[devilsadvocate]

Generic IT 'systems/computer engineers' are a dime a dozen.

You can't expect progression unless you do something about it yourself.

If you want to stay in IT, decide which path you want to follow.

If you want to become a network engineer, you need to study Cisco and get at least the basic qualification (CCNA) before you have a chance of getting even an junior role in this field.

Progressing in a technology type career such as IT means lots of home study and usually paying for qualifications yourself.

[Barry123]

Wtf is an IT systems engineer?

[Jay_]

Wtf is an IT systems engineer?

"Have you turned it off and on again?"

Is my guess ;)

[MuZiZZle]

"Have you turned it off and on again?"

Is my guess ;)

it's powercycling you bender

[Jay_]

it's powercycling you bender

pardon?

[Jay_T87]

Don't do H&S please!! It is the bane of everyone's life. They are just the fun police, completely spoiling anything that could be considered exciting with all their risk assessments and shit.. Definite no-no from me mate!

[Jay_]

Don't do H&S please!! It is the bane of everyone's life. They are just the fun police, completely spoiling anything that could be considered exciting with all their risk assessments and shit.. Definite no-no from me mate!

True, but it doesn't have to be at all. My dad has been doing H&S for films lately and people choose to take the regs too far. There is actually quite a lot of leniency there, but people are too worried about being sued incase something does go wrong.

[Giraffe]

Don't do H&S please!! It is the bane of everyone's life. They are just the fun police, completely spoiling anything that could be considered exciting with all their risk assessments and shit.. Definite no-no from me mate!

Who gives a fuck about "spoiling people's fun" if it pays well? Some of them are absolutely essential in dangerous trades as well...

[Brettles1986]

it's powercycling you bender

I may have to use this one in the future.

[Jay_T87]

Who gives a fuck about "spoiling people's fun" if it pays well? Some of them are absolutely essential in dangerous trades as well...

Ok I agree that some are essential but I find they just go too far. For example, I'm in the military and have to go into war zones and hostile environments for my job. However whilst I'm in the UK, I'm not allowed to change the lightbulb in my office because of health and safety..

[smiith]

"Have you turned it off and on again?"

Is my guess ;)

hahahahahahaha!

This is exactly what i thought when i read it.. "JAM is the guy telling me to turn my router off and back on when the internet goes off"

[Dom]

If I were you, i'd progress by taking a Part Time 1 day a week university course in Business Systems/Computer Science and working your way up from there.

One of my friends took the course, walked straight into a job with MWH as a IT consultant working alongside the top dogs of National Grid/Anglian Water/Scottish Power and many other domestic energy suppliers of the UK. He seems to love it, plus the £3.5k pay pack a month has a lot to do with it.

If I had my time again, i'd learn more.

[simmo]

Not too sure about the NDT as a career as I know very little about it, just depends if you wouldn't mind working away or not as it could hinder the prospect of having a family...

H&S is only going to create more and more jobs, with the constant bullshit regulations and legislation that is being amended and created...

I'd say it's a safe and stable sector to get into, just unsure on the job satisfaction you would get from it...

One of the site managers I know recently quit his job and became a H&S supervisor on sites etc.

He prefers his job a lot more now being on the other side of the fence, says it's a lot less stressful etc but he doesn't get the satisfaction of being involved with 'constructing/building' something and seeing it progress...

What area of H&S would you be getting into?

Bit off topic but who do you work for?

H&S is a solid way to go but i'd find it boring.

[P_Connor]

I would live to change my job. And as said if I was given another chance to educate for a better job I would do so! There is some telling of how important education is in school, but not enough if you ask me.

[matt_vtr_15a]

Bit off topic but who do you work for?

H&S is a solid way to go but i'd find it boring.

I work for an architects not h&s :y:

Just come across h&s inspectors/ cdm co-ordinators etc on site

[blackie_2k5]

As I'm sure you're well aware it is dead, another one of the fields the government flooded with monkies that had no job, now Everyman and his dog is an it guru

H&s to me is just like enrolling to take the most boring never ending lesson ever, always have to train and learn more, forever filling out paperwork

With the added bonus of being someone most hate, and run the risk of being sued/jailed if you carry out something with poor judgment or not knowing the full consequences

[motocrossjord]

"Have you turned it off and on again?"

Is my guess ;)

Love it.

About as good as our IT Dept lol

[mlawlan69]

i need to change my job too, its genuinely killing me, constantly unhappy etc etc.

good luck with whatever you choose, given my time again i wouldnt have been the class clown.