im nearly 30.. have a decent job and career opportunities.. but honestly I don't love what I do.. I'm fairly miserable at work and it has only gotten worse since I can only surf on weekends now I'm back in the suburbs. the morning and afternoon surf made working a job that was only OK very doable..

My problem is, I have a mortgage, a wife.. kids are on the horizon in the near future.. I cant exactly take up a trade and be on apprentice wages even though being a sparky sort of appeals to me.

I have no idea what other options I have.. and all the jobs that I am qualified for and have the experience for don't interest me anymore. its fairly depressing..

Anyone have any advice or been in a similar situation?

advice and/or flaming accepted

I was once told 'Do a job you like and you will never work another day in your life!!!'
I have passed that thought along to my (now grown up) kids and told them make sure you enjoy the work you do otherwise getting your feet out of bed each morning can be hell.

But in your case it seem you have your testicles in a vice, a change of career can be done but it's hard... good luck.

Just sing this little ditty to keep your mind active... I owe, I owe, It's off to work I go, I owe, I owe, I owe.....

Rex said..

Sham1984 said..



My problem is, I have a mortgage, a wife.. kids are on the horizon in the near future.

This ones a goner, move it along folks, nothing to see here.

haha thanks for the vote on confidence. surely people change careers in their life. I cant be the only idiot who jumped head first into a career they knew nothing about only to get a decade down the road and want to turn back

Get out of there.
If your not happy and miserable at work that will soon start creeping into your personal life as well.
I was in pretty much exactly the same boat. I was 32, in job i didn't enjoy and ended up over time dreaded going to work and started losing sleep.
Although it paid well, company car, fuel card etc the hours were long and the stress was high.
I'd find myself getting home from work and just sitting there fried not even talking to the Mrs.
A job came up, 10k less per year, no car but better hours and an RDO every two weeks. I too had a fresh mortgage and was getting married in 6 months. Got the job. It was a hard decision to leave as I always told myself I'd never take a step backwards financially but I did.
It was the best choice i ever made! Been doing it now for 1.5 years and I'm so much happier in every aspect of life.
Work takes up a large portion of your life so it's important to be happy in what you are doing.
Money isn't everything (although plenty would disagree)
Make the change and find something that you enjoy. It will really make a difference in your life.

Ever considered working 'odd hours' I know of guys working VERY early morning hours approx 4-5 hrs / day - 5 days / week earning more than a standard 37 hr week..... finished by 7am then all day for your own enjoyment.

I was same boat, did uni then worked my way into niche IT (computer forensics), worked in London at swanky corporate investigations firm, then offered lead role in sydney big 5 company on big bucks.

Turned it down - had just met my wife (to be), didn't want to move to s!ithole big city, and hated the job anyway.

Started at bottom again. Bar work, labourer, foundry, making hearing aids (electrical soldering), box factory, etc. Got a contract as power line inspector for an energex project, then got into project drafting/sap role. Converted that into Drafting, with TAFE, into refinery role.

Now I'm in mining drafting, and actually look forward to going to work to get some peace. Listen to tunes all day, speak with boss once a week (he's in office next door), they bought me 2 new software packages this year (rhino & sketchup) and I get paid to expand my skills, and I get to be acting boss when he's away. I do a 4 day week by choice, 30hrs when quiet and up to 50 when busy. Plenty of time with my son etc.

So - big financial sacrifice but it worked out for me. I vote do it. But do it smartly - try to get some idea of whether you'd really enjoy being a sparky. Try to find a way to cross-skill without starting at the bottom like I did - I didn't have a mortgage then or a child. eg Take 2 weeks leave and organise to do 2 weeks unpaid work experience with a local sparky - some would jump at free help, and in that 2 weeks you might make contacts to help the transition. If you studied up first (not clueless) you might even impress enough to get a job offer.

Hey mate all is not lost at age age 40 with a mortgage , two kids I left Sydney where I worked for Sydney water for 15 years fixing major water main breaks in Sydney CBD, living where I am now i did a cert3 age care did that for a few years and am just about to graduate from uni as a registered nurse best thing I ever did with my life big secret was my very supportive wife

One of my sons-in-law was in precisely your quandary about 18mths ago. Mortgage, other bills and child #1 on the way. He and his wife crunched the numbers and 18mths ago he started an apprenticeship as a heavy diesel fitter. He loves it to death!! They're on their collective arze bones, but just scraping through with family help. The future result however will be well worth the sacrifice. Better income for a start, but more importantly, something he wants to get out of bed for.

Do some numbers, then "do what enchants you".

I pulled out of a crap job with 4 kids and a mortgage at 36 and worked for myself, some years I dont make enough to even pay tax, but havent regretted any of itbest part is seeing the kids before and after school. after 14 years as my "own boss" I cant imagine having a real job again

suck it up girlfriend. At least you are not in prison.

Make the best of your situation, change the little things, take time out to smell the roses. Starting a family is really hard work, you need time out for yourself. Just remember: you are dead a long time - make the most of what you have now.

The mother of all recessions is approaching rapidly, and things are likely to get a lot worse.

Sham1984 said..

im nearly 30.. have a decent job and career opportunities.. but honestly I don't love what I do.. I'm fairly miserable at work and it has only gotten worse since I can only surf on weekends now I'm back in the suburbs. the morning and afternoon surf made working a job that was only OK very doable..

If you hate your job but love surfing, Become a pro surfer.

They make lots of money....................don't they?????

adolf said..

The mother of all recessions is approaching rapidly, and things are likely to get a lot worse.

Well we don't actually know that but it is well worth the consideration. There may indeed be a significant change in the labour markets over the next five years, and having a career change may be a romantic idea but far from practical!

adolf said..
The mother of all recessions is approaching rapidly, and things are likely to get a lot worse.

Adolf has of course been saying this since at least 2007, possibly earlier with one of his previous accounts, but that was when I first told him he was wrong. Still waiting for it to happen Adolf...

Awesome thread. I'm in an inverse situation, Doing what i love with no money or jobs on seek! There must be 6 Industrial design companies in Victoria...
I have to look seriously about financial goals and how to realistically achieve them.
Was being an inner city designer who kites every arvo too good to be true? I've been put on part-time at my job as work has slowed down, I get paid terribly to begin with!. Going to read this thread again in the morning and have a think.

stuk said..

landyacht said..

I pulled out of a crap job with 4 kids and a mortgage at 36 and worked for myself, some years I dont make enough to even pay tax, but havent regretted any of itbest part is seeing the kids before and after school. after 14 years as my "own boss" I cant imagine having a real job again

Second this one. Another thing is that if you buy into a business ie: buy yourself a job, dependant on what the business is you dont necessarily have to have any qualifications. Think of a lot of the franchised business' and this is the case.

just dont be fooled into buying a J**s M**wing area as you can start your own ,get happier customers and dont have to hand over the cream of your efforts to a smiley faced man

^^^ Depends on what you call a "pay cut"? The pay's better IMO The money might not be though, but "money's not everything".