Decisions Decisions

Decisions Decisions

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Discussion

Rico

Original Poster:

7,916 posts

262 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
Ok peeps,

How did you decide on your career??

My head is constantly spinning with career ideas... basically got 3 totally different ideas that i like.

1)journalism... crap pay but good fun
2)MOD... slightly better pay and i get to research interesting topics
3)Investment banking.. hugely long hours, hard to get into but MUCHO paypacket...

All three are very possible from my current position.

Any tips on deciding what to do? I'm a firm believer in trying everything before going into it, and i've had work experience but nothing compares to the real job at the end of the day.


PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
1) Fun but pay is poor
2) Don't know
3) Good money but never any time to spend it

I'd suggest doing 3 for a few years then jacking it in and doing 1.

If you've had money and had to work your knackers off to get it then you appreciate having a fun job all the more and can still fall back on the good times.

If you are motivated by money then you can spend your life chasing it at the expense of fun.

gemini

11,352 posts

271 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
He's back

The Zen Master!

JamieBeeston

9,294 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
PetrolTed said:

If you are motivated by money then you can spend your life chasing it at the expense of fun.


And you couldn't have told me this 4 yrs ago :|



I take an opposing view.

Slog your guts out for the next 15 yrs, then retire to your yacht at 35 and be a Father to your children.

shadowninja

77,494 posts

289 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
Journalism can pay if you work for a national... esp if you make it to editor level.

JamieBeeston

9,294 posts

272 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
shadowninja said:
Journalism can pay if you work for a national... esp if you make it to editor level.


Until your made the scape goat, or silenced

noone really likes the press, its just a given.

We all like to hear the press, but never deal with the press.

I dont see Journalism as a money spinner personally, thats not to say it isnt, but only when you make it big.

but thats a given for any industry!

crb1

922 posts

249 months

Thursday 6th May 2004
quotequote all
Noble test driver should do it.

maddog[uk]

2,392 posts

253 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Rico said:

1)journalism... crap pay but good fun
2)MOD... slightly better pay and i get to research interesting topics
3)Investment banking.. hugely long hours, hard to get into but MUCHO paypacket...



1) Can not comment on this one...sorry
2) MOD...joined the Royal Navy, and left, glad I did not stay in, and to be honest, my friends who went down the defence analyst are not exactly enthralled with there jobs!
3) The City is an interesting place! I have worked in it for 17 years. In that time I have been an Equities Trader, a Market Maker, a Reseach Analyst and now an IT bod. That kind of career diversity is rare in the city now-a-days but shows you what doors open when you arrive. Is it a tough environment yes. Is it harder than ever, definately, are the rewards good, well you can not complain but trust me I think you do have to earn the money and people outside of the city (other than doctors) would rarely get the hours worked, ie 70-90 hours weeks are common!

The city is a great place to work and remember within an investment house there are many areas you can look at.

PetrolTed is right a lot of people are now saying its a place to work until 40 and then get out whilst you can still enjoy life!

Hope that helps, so pick 3!



>> Edited by maddog[uk] on Friday 7th May 00:57

Laingy

676 posts

248 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Dont think that it is always easy to turn your back on the money and do what you originally 'wanted' to do.

PetrolTed

34,443 posts

310 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Agreed. My boss had a heart attack at the age of 38 and I was very concious of not following in his career footsteps. Wasn't until I got shafted via some internal politics and ended up in a dead end role, that I had the courage to take a 100% pay cut

Plotloss

67,280 posts

277 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Worked out in the end though, eh Ted?

With regards to investment banking, careful.

You make good money, but know deep down its not really what you WANT to do.

But by then its too late, you are wearing the golden handcuffs.

Same goes for IT, you find yourself going to work absolutely despising to your very core every single minute of the commute and every single minute of the job. Just because of the money.

Or maybe thats just me

Rico

Original Poster:

7,916 posts

262 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Plotloss said:

Same goes for IT, you find yourself going to work absolutely despising to your very core every single minute of the commute and every single minute of the job. Just because of the money.


But the drive can be fun

It's a real dilemma... half of me says i'd quite enjoy being surrounded by well motivated intelligent people (aka city) but the other half says 'stuff that... write about what you love'...

Rico

Original Poster:

7,916 posts

262 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
JamieBeeston said:

Slog your guts out for the next 15 yrs, then retire to your yacht at 35 and be a Father to your children.


That does sound bloody amazing...

any way i can skip the 15 years??

dick dastardly

8,319 posts

270 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
Ted, just out of curiosity what did you do before PH?

Rico - apply for jobs in all of them. The interviews will give you a good insight into what each is about

JonRB

76,108 posts

279 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
dick dastardly said:
Ted, just out of curiosity what did you do before PH?
He did number 3 and then number 1. Duh.

Rico

Original Poster:

7,916 posts

262 months

Friday 7th May 2004
quotequote all
dick dastardly said:

Rico - apply for jobs in all of them. The interviews will give you a good insight into what each is about


Yup. Thats what i've been planning to do

911nutter

1,916 posts

258 months

Wednesday 12th May 2004
quotequote all
Plotloss said:


Same goes for IT, you find yourself going to work absolutely despising to your very core every single minute of the commute and every single minute of the job. Just because of the money.


that is sooooo true...