should i stay or should i go?

[old mate]

ok heres a dilemma.

i just finished my first year of university majoring in accounting, and i have a job at an accounting firm, they took me on as a cadet (similar to a trainee i guess), so it all seems sweet and as soon as i finish uni i get 2 years of guaranteed full time work. it would be a great position to be in if you loved accounting...

but the issue is i am not enjoying the university content, and the job that i do doesn't interest me that much either (even what the fully trained acc's do doesn't seem that good), and it seems like i am wasting my time if i am not 100% committed to this career choice. at the end of last year (year 12) i was unsure what i wanted to do, and just put in for the job at the acc firm just to see how i go, and if i was to take that career choice it would show what i am getting myself into.

over the semester break they didnt have any work for me at the firm so i went to work in the workshop at the family transport company for the 5 weeks, and i absolutely loved it. i'm not sure that it was just because of the change of scenery but i really got into it, and didn't even mind working until 10 or 11pm getting things right to roll for the truck to roll out at 2am.

i've always been a hands on kinda guy, always out in the shed playing with something. so as i haven't enroled into uni next year yet (got until the end of the month to do so without late fines) so now is the time for me to decide.

i would either love to get into the heavy vehicle strand of automotive,car mechanics or even motorbikes. i know i could easily get an app. at the family business but i don't want to, i want to go and do my own thing and not have it seem like 'oh daddy is looking after you' etc etc. i know whats involved on the heavy vehicle side (have been working after school, holidays, weekends since about 13) but unsure what the car side would be like.

is there a way to get into the performance car side of things, or does that just happen by co-incidence as i would think that heaps of people would love to get into this area with only limited positions.

i would think my experience in working in the heavy vehicle side would be helpful in getting an apprentiship in that field, as well as i have a forklift licence and will be going for my heavy rigid in the next month or so.

it would be awesome if you work in these areas if you could give me an idea of what you do day to day, what qualifications you needed to do what you do etc, or even a comment on what you think of my situation.

its so tough making the right choice when you are straight out of school when so many things are of interest. i know that life can take many directions and many different careers but i would like to get off on the right foot.

haha

[Jesterarts]

My only advice is to get into a career that you enjoy.

Nothing worse than getting up in the morning to go to a job you don't like.

Having said that, if you're already in uni you may aswell get through the degree and then you will always have another job to fall back on whatever happens through your life.

Good luck mate!

[ClairBear]

My honest opinion is you could appear flakey to a potential employer, given you changed your mind half way through studying accounting. Some may be hesitant to take you on and find in a year you just want to drop out if you decide it's not for you especially as the careers are so diverse.

Another issue is the older you get, the harder it is to get an apprenticeship, most employees like the younger ones as the wages are often cheaper. Most target 16 - 18 year olds.

[Holdfast]

You have a good brain.

What you have achieved at Uni will be beneficial; its been good experience.

Don't do what you think others want you to do. Don't do what others expect you to do.

You have many years ahead to work and do what you want.

You can always take up studies at some other time.

Study what you are passionate about. If you like hands on work then do that.

You'll find that your good brain for theoretical skills plus your love for hands on things in the industry that you already know you want to be in will combine together to give you the edge over others.

You do what is right for you.

We all get one shot at life! To get out of bed and going to work, to enjoy the day, is the best feeling in life.

Live your dream!

[Grennan]

I would stick it out, atleast down the track if you go and pursue something you love you have accounting to fall back on if it ****s up

[nemesis_adrasteia]

why not engineering at uni? if you interested in automotive engineering that might have some interest for you fair bit more money in it that being a motor mechanic.

having said that, if you want to work on cars and/or trucks go for it i reckon it'd be an interesting job, problem is being a mechanic might seem good in your head you know doing all the interesting stuff, rebuilds and preformance stuff.
i can garuntee the vast majority of mechanics dont do that kinda thing day to day unless your in the right place at the right time you might get the job you really want but other than that your probably gunna be stuck doing the regular mechanic jobs, untill your start your own workshop or whatever.

[StealthCalais]

Well who wouldve thought!! I'm actually a cadet too... if your not enjoying the work thats always tough - I have the occasional day where i get over it. But I wouldnt say I dont enjoy being there. That being said I know exactly what your feeling - unsure if you can see yourself doing this is years to come.

Im doing Commerce (majoring in accounting) I did my first year of uni full-time, got the cadetship and then have done this year's study part time. Yeah some of its pretty rough, and the driest content on the planet... but you've just got to put you head down get through it, I think thats just uni generally - everyone would rather be outside with better things to do!

Personally, I'd stick with uni no matter what - finish the degree. Because when it comes time for decent position down the line (in any industry) - and you haven't got that bit of paper, it could severly affect your chances. It could only benefit you. A degree says more than 'I'm qualified to do your books' it shows dedication, commitment and a bit of initiative + some positions require the applicant to at least have a degree of some form. As for the job - thats your call! Hope this helps

[Chris E]

I'm in a similar situation, majoring in accounting/business law, and its not exactly something I'm passionate about.

I'm working with an incineration company (got into it because of dad) and I love my job there 100x more than anything university related.

But I'm sticking it out with my degree, because I'm already part way through it and its only a 3-4 year course and I can always fall back on it if things don't go well.

If I was in your shoes, I would complete my degree and once I'd got it, I would go back to the transport company and apply the skills and knowledge to the business.

But it comes down to what you want to do all day

[DevilDRake]

I had this dilemma, but the thing is it was at yr 10, i had no idea what i wanted to do but i was getting top marks. I left and worked full time at KFC for a while until i figured out what i wanted to do, it was hell; Stupid bosses, stupid team members, the whole blow.

Having said that, at this current moment I'm doing an apprenticeship in Motorbike spare parts at Peter Stevens. Have been for the last 4 weeks now, and it's pretty good.

Honestly, I would say stick it out so you can go back and land on it if you ever got bored of the other job, and wanted to go back to accounting. But that's me saying it not doing it. If i was doing it, I'd be saying "**** that", leave the accounting and do something I wanted to do. It all depends on the person in the situation. Good luck dude.

[cewing]

Go with the apprenticeship for sure. Just judging by what you've said about your character, the trade ur passionate about will make u happy. You're not a suit, dont pretend to be if you love the workshop.
I know im going by stereotypes here, but i dont know any suits who have their forklift and (soon) truck licence

[VKCOMMO]

if you hate the work then dont do it. even if your getting shitloads of money, its not worth it if your hating it. you only live once, better make good use of it. if you want to be in mechanics then go for it, just leave the accounting on the back burner so when cars phase out (i hope im dead by then) or you get sick of it, or your too old or anything, you still have something to fall back on..

do whats in your heart.

"If it feels good then do it"

-The Great George W. Bush

[ClairBear]

but i dont know any suits who have their forklift and (soon) truck licence

Well you need to get out more lol. Lots of Managers in manufacturing, construction, production etc. have those licences as they worked their way up from labouring positions to the office.

We have just employed a guy who has worked hands on as a Supervisor in the construction industry for years and turned him into a white collar worker. He has those licences and many more relating to his labouring back ground. Hardest thing for him in the last three months has been wearing a shirt and tie, he finds it restricting after 25 years in singlets and T Shirts.

[VKCOMMO]

I'm in a similar situation, majoring in accounting/business law, and its not exactly something I'm passionate about.

I'm working with an incineration company (got into it because of dad) and I love my job there 100x more than anything university related.

But I'm sticking it out with my degree, because I'm already part way through it and its only a 3-4 year course and I can always fall back on it if things don't go well.

If I was in your shoes, I would complete my degree and once I'd got it, I would go back to the transport company and apply the skills and knowledge to the business.

But it comes down to what you want to do all day

its like high school, there is no point dropping out in year 10 because there is a very limited number of jobs that require the school certificare alone so you'll end up back at TAFE doing 11&12, if there is a bit more left in your course then do it..

[cewing]

Well you need to get out more lol. Lots of Managers in manufacturing, construction, production etc. have those licences as they worked their way up from labouring positions to the office.

Sure, my boss is the same, i guess i was secretly refering to the more generic stereotype of high flying business men who work in the city, drive their porche boxtaas to 'power lunches' and practice their slick personality in front of the mirror to remind them how great they are :P

[HamaTime™]

Follow your heart mate, there is no point working in an industry that you don't enjoy. Work and your career is going to take up alot of your life, make sure it's doing something you enjoy! If your passionate about it, then you will make money. (I.e. no one thought there was big money to be made in being a truckie, look at Lindsay Fox)

[Lano]

Another thing to consider is that people with degree's can normally ask for, and get, higher wages in whatever industry they are in; even totally unrelated fields. Having a degree shows commitment, and that you're smart enough to make it even though it was hard work.

Some totally random jobs require some form of degree. For example, (last time I checked) teaching English in Japan required a degree. Didn't matter what sort of degree, just mattered that you had one!

[MikesCalais]

hmm.. well.. on the one hand, its always good to have a uni degree. Down the track it may come in handy. If you do end up deciding you want to be an accountant, you'll have the degree.

On the other hand, im a firm beliver in doing what you want to do and what you enjoy. I suppose its one of those decisions that only you can make... I'd usually say stay at uni, but it doesnt seem like youre enjoying it.. I'm not going to say leave though... But its something to think about - and try and think long term (where will i be in 10 years and what how will the decisions i make now impact on that)

Im facing a similar issue myself... not sure what next year holds for me either, until i hear back from my prospective uni

[danja]

You're 19, you've got a ****load of time left to try different jobs. My advice is finish your degree, get that bit of paper (regardless of what you end up doing, the degree looks good on your CV), do the professional accreditation - Chartered Accountant or whatever - then if you still don't enjoy it by then (who knows, you might) then quit and get a job with cars or whatever.

If you do that you have a much better CV, so you're more likely to get the jobs you DO want later, and you haven't wasted time/money chasing half a degree. You quit now, you're just as likely to decide you don't like your new job, then you're left with nothing. Stick it out, it's an investment.

[Cúl-Báire]

Having studied both a Degree in Information Technology, and an Advanced Diploma in Building I guess I am proof that it's not too late to change your mind. After three and a half years of Information Technology, I decided that wasn’t the career for me.

If I were in your position I would look at changing course, perhaps to an engineering stream, think mechanical or automotive OR I would complete the degree and then go after obtaining other qualifications. Although you might not think it now, employers look favorably on those that have completed a degree regardless of whether or not it realted to your career choice. It will also give you a good base knowledge in something else.

Although I work in construction and project management, I used the skills I learnt in my IT degree on at least a weekly basis, whether it be arguing with the network admin guys, or implementing and managing a $3.5 Mil IT Infrastructure project for one of our clients. There is no reason the skills learnt in your degree won’t be used, and I can imagine they will come in handy should you wish to run your own business one day.

[VKCOMMO]

Another thing to consider is that people with degree's can normally ask for, and get, higher wages in whatever industry they are in; even totally unrelated fields. Having a degree shows commitment, and that you're smart enough to make it even though it was hard work.

a first aid certificate always gets you more pay. i get about 3 bucks more an hour just because im a first aid officer and packer.

[minux]

Go with the apprenticeship for sure. Just judging by what you've said about your character, the trade ur passionate about will make u happy. You're not a suit, dont pretend to be if you love the workshop.
I know im going by stereotypes here, but i dont know any suits who have their forklift and (soon) truck licence

Hate to break your stereotype, I wear suit, I have forklift, MC, DG ticket, Fatigue management, list goes on. Your stereotype rang true in 1980, nowadays many good managers have the skills to do what everyone below them does. For me, being able to drive a b-double on the odd occasion to Adelaide has helped understand the best way to setup processes through a business. Trying to alter a business without understanding every area of a business will rarely work.

[MasterOfReality]

I reckon an engineering degree would be the go if you like hands on stuff, and the pay is heaps better than accounting too.

Mining engineering has the greatest amount of hands on, as you have to satisfy a statutory requirement that says you need to spend 9-12 months on crew working as a miner. And it never stops either. Driving trucks, roof bolting, supervising drill rigs etc etc is all part of it.

I'm probably a bit biased as its what I do for a living, but you should be able to drag yourself through the 4 year bachelors without any dramas if you have a good grasp of maths and physics.

Also, mining graduates consistently top the list of highest paid university graduates in australia. My sister is a mining grad and started on a base salary of $100k. Sure beats earning the average aussie salary.

[minux]

You're 19, you've got a ****load of time left to try different jobs. My advice is finish your degree, get that bit of paper (regardless of what you end up doing, the degree looks good on your CV), do the professional accreditation - Chartered Accountant or whatever - then if you still don't enjoy it by then (who knows, you might) then quit and get a job with cars or whatever.

If you do that you have a much better CV, so you're more likely to get the jobs you DO want later, and you haven't wasted time/money chasing half a degree. You quit now, you're just as likely to decide you don't like your new job, then you're left with nothing. Stick it out, it's an investment.

Dont you need to be within a business to do your CA? I know the mrs sister did it, gave her a bucketload more money, but on top of that she rarely does under a 12 hour day. Hardly worth the stress from the course.

[Tsunamix]

I had a similair dilemma.

Was a bit of a brain at school. Wanted to do Aeronautical Engineering, only 8 Poistions available nationwide - through the RAAF. Didn't get in, was offered a pilot officer traineeship - and nknocked it back to try for a double degree in engineering / applied science. Which I also mised out on.

Ended up taking Electronic systems engineering and being bored out of my skull.

The problem with beiong bored is that I did not finish the degree. This was bad. With those few letters after my name I could have been a major player. Now I'm a bit of a shit kicker. Engineering Administration.

I'm doing another degree now at age 40, and I'm still bored with study but not with the course.

[coolngroovy]

I was no different when i was younger.
I had absolutley no idea what career path i was going down.

I think my father explained it to me the best.....he said "get a trade son!, it's only 4years & it is something to fall back on if you need to." "You can always do what you want to after that."

Guess what? He was right! I can travel the country with my trade cert, picking up a bit here & a bit there if i need to.

The most sucessfull [not richest] people are those who can combine their job with their hobby.

If you are genuinely enjoying working in the family business; but dont want to be seen as a 'cling on'; then my suggestion would be to sit down with your father & explain the situation to him. I bet it wont be new to him.
2 heads are better than one.