Lifes crossroads... - Saxperience

Lacey_106 · 13th March 2012, 17:05

Ever get to that point in your life when either your personal life or your career can go one of two ways but it feels almost impossible to make a decision?

I'm there now. Currently work as a staff nurse. Work pretty rubbish shifts dislike my ward and speciality. But the pay is good I get a decent bonus for unsociable hours.

An opportunity has arisen to go back to Uni and become a health visitor. I've worked with HV's before and the job is great. Nice sociable hours, a different kind of stress.

Basically this course would mean that I would have to take approximately a 4k pay cut for a year. But after which i would skip a whole pay scale and would be on at least 5k more than my salary right now.

Personally I don't have anything holding me back, but it seems like a massive decision that I need to make in the next few days.

Anyone been in a similar situation? What did you do?

tillygti6 · 13th March 2012, 17:12

ive missed out a few times for various reasons, but youl always be thinking about it, if you dont take the opportunity.

holdawayt · 13th March 2012, 17:12

Always give way to your right on crossroads. Thank me later.

But seriously, if it wasn't for my current relationship I'd probably be preparing to work in the Olympic village by now then I'd be heading off to Australia. I've made the decision to stay with my friends and girlfriend instead. I'll go one day, but not yet.

Lacey_106 · 13th March 2012, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by holdawayt

Always give way to your right on crossroads. Thank me later.

But seriously, if it wasn't for my current relationship I'd probably be preparing to work in the Olympic village by now then I'd be heading off to Australia. I've made the decision to stay with my friends and girlfriend instead. I'll go one day, but not yet.

The application form is on my right

Do you not sometimes feel like you are resentful because of the fact you can't have both? Or that one is stopping you from the other?

holdawayt · 13th March 2012, 17:17

I dropped out of uni because I preferred fayes company. So that was why I'm not working in the olympics. And I would be teaching sports in aus if it wasnt for her. But these were all my choices. I blame her occasionally and I suppose i do resent it. But I'm happy.

Carl-h · 13th March 2012, 17:21

Take away anything to do with pay and which would you rather do? If you can afford to, then take that job. There's much more to a job than what you earn.

sharpy24 · 13th March 2012, 17:21

You gotta balance the fact you will be loosing a few grand for 12 months against the pay rise you will get from jumping im guessing from band 5 to 6, and the fact you had less for a year will be made better by the fact you have worked to improve yourself and will improve your future prospects as employers will see you as someone who wants to better themselves and their cpd

Go for it I say, yeah you are going to have to make some cutbacks for 12 months but after that you can reap the rewards. You could always do bank work if you got desperate for the money during the 12 months

Even if you change your mind at the end of it, its still something good to have on your cv. In the grand scheme of your life 12 months isnt long

0rang3peel · 13th March 2012, 17:21

After qualifying and becoming a HV would you be financially better off than you are now & also is it deemed to be a 'step up' from your current role?

if so then definitely go back

edit - didn't read your whole post before.... have had chance now... deffo go back imo

nicole_ · 13th March 2012, 17:22

i LOVE my health visitor, i think its such a great job. obviously im not a nurse, but id easily choose that over it, i think youre so much more valued.

smiith · 13th March 2012, 17:22

Go back to uni, do it while you can, then if all goes wrong, you can fall back into the old career

Mochachino · 13th March 2012, 17:22

I had one, well two I guess.

First one was when I was 17 I got excluded from school for a fight, wasn't allowed to complete my AS level into an A level. Still got B's. But I had an interview to be an apprentice mortgage broker, shit wage to start off with like £100 a week or something daft, I did a day or 2 there before I quit. My option was to either carry on this office job and eventually be earning around 60k a year or the option I went for, quit the job and focus on moving to Spain to be with the girl I wanted to live my life with.

Second one was quitting my job and selling my assets in England to move to spain or stay in England. Alot of people have been in this one I guess with the amount of people that go to Oz these days.

My mate is in a similar position, hes a tree surgeon and has the opportunity to go to oz for forever how long he likes and per annum earn the equivalent to 38k of UK money. He asked me what he should do, stay here work on his own business or go to OZ for 6 months at a minimum and then come back with saved dollar. I told him to go OZ for the experience mainly, and the financial gain.

If I was in your position I would take the 4k and do this course, if you will enjoy it more afterwards. I guess the only thing on your mind is losing the money for the duration of this course? I cant see anything else that would hold you back?

Mochachino · 13th March 2012, 17:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by holdawayt

I dropped out of uni because I preferred fayes company. So that was why I'm not working in the olympics. And I would be teaching sports in aus if it wasnt for her. But these were all my choices. I blame her occasionally and I suppose i do resent it. But I'm happy.

The stuff us guys do for girls. We follow our hearts rather than brains lol

KamRacing · 13th March 2012, 17:25

quality of life is far better than a few £k in the bank.

ha_x3 · 13th March 2012, 17:25

I personaly would go for it, you may regret it later on in life otherwise

smiith · 13th March 2012, 17:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mochachino

The stuff us guys do for girls. We follow our hearts rather than brains lol

I follow my cock, like a real man.

Carl-h · 13th March 2012, 17:29

If you can afford to take the cut, I honestly wouldn't look at the money side at all. I really think the job your doing and how much you enjoy it is worth twice as much as the money you earn.

I'd rather look forward to work and earn 20k than dread work and earn 30k. I even turn down overtime at work to detail a friends car for £50. Loosing out money wise but I enjoy doing it much more.

lyndon · 13th March 2012, 17:34

I'm there myself at the moment. Just follow your heart. You're good at your job and you're liked by your peers so you'll always have a back up plan if it doesn't work out.

Lacey_106 · 13th March 2012, 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by sharpy24

You gotta balance the fact you will be loosing a few grand for 12 months against the pay rise you will get from jumping im guessing from band 5 to 6, and the fact you had less for a year will be made better by the fact you have worked to improve yourself and will improve your future prospects as employers will see you as someone who wants to better themselves and their cpd

Go for it I say, yeah you are going to have to make some cutbacks for 12 months but after that you can reap the rewards. You could always do bank work if you got desperate for the money during the 12 months

Even if you change your mind at the end of it, its still something good to have on your cv. In the grand scheme of your life 12 months isnt long

Yeah that's it. I'd drop to the bottom of band 5 for 12 months September to September. So I have a bit of time to crack on with saving some cash. Yeah I'd definitely have to subsidise with some bank shifts to afford to do it. I think I'd do bank shifts anyway on a ward just to keep my skills up.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0rang3peel

After qualifying and becoming a HV would you be financially better off than you are now & also is it deemed to be a 'step up' from your current role?

if so then definitely go back

edit - didn't read your whole post before.... have had chance now... deffo go back imo

Back to Uni... God this is depressing! I has hoped it would be a few years til I had to go back.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicole_

i LOVE my health visitor, i think its such a great job. obviously im not a nurse, but id easily choose that over it, i think youre so much more valued.

Ahhh that's lovely. Yeah it's a really nice job. I'd want to focus more on young mums as I did when I was doing my training, I think it's a bit easier to talk to someone your own age. Just made me so broody that's the only thing!

Quote:

Originally Posted by smiith

Go back to uni, do it while you can, then if all goes wrong, you can fall back into the old career

Yeah, basically it's 2 days a week Uni, 2 days placement and 1 day 'personal study' it could be viable to just throw in a night shift on an acute ward every couple of weeks to make sure I can pay all my bills.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mochachino

The stuff us guys do for girls. We follow our hearts rather than brains lol

And what girls do for guys!!

You lot are all soppy bastards anyway

Lacey_106 · 13th March 2012, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carl-h

If you can afford to take the cut, I honestly wouldn't look at the money side at all. I really think the job your doing and how much you enjoy it is worth twice as much as the money you earn.

I'd rather look forward to work and earn 20k than dread work and earn 30k. I even turn down overtime at work to detail a friends car for £50. Loosing out money wise but I enjoy doing it much more.

Yeah I mean I made a decision like this before, I took a massive pay cut (about 15k) to be a nurse. I struggled like mad, but it was the best decision I've ever made.

It's not all about the money but I've got myself back to a position where I can treat myself occassionally, I'm just worried I'll struggle to afford London living 4k down.

lyndon · 13th March 2012, 17:42

You just need to make a few lifestyle changes. I'm gonna be doing it on 16k a year. Working on Oxford street. I've priced up and it's do-able. Go for it. You'll only wonder 'what if' for the forseeable future and that's worse than risking it for a biscuit. Could be the best decision you ever make.