Career Choices - your experiences

[EYY]

About 12 months ago I graduated from uni with a commerce degree (accounting and management majors), and I've since been working in a small office in that field. I'm incredibly underwhelmed and I'm thinking that I'm in the wrong industry altogether. I can't see myself ever finding happiness in a similar role - or maybe even in this industry. The fact that I have to travel 2 hours each way every day doesn't exactly inspire me either.

I've figured that sitting at a desk looking at numbers, receipts and reports isn't for me, and I'm even thinking about going back to uni. I have a strong mechanical interest (as many of have probably already gathered), and like to work with my hands. My main concern is career progression.

I thought it'd be worth asking you guys, what fields do you work in or have you worked in and what qualifications did you need to be considered for your position? Did you know somebody in your place of work prior to your employment?

And finally given my circumstances, any recommendations based on your experiences?

 

[greenacc]

Why work so far from home? The best thing about your field is there are accountant jobs all over the place so surely you can get a job much closer to home.
If your really bored then think about changing.
What about a sales role, are a good salesman? There are plenty of jobs around like account managers, so you would use your commerce skills but also learn about whatever it is your selling.
What else would you study at uni?

 

[Sandman]

Eyy already knows my story, but to get the ball rolling I'll chime in.

I'm currently doing a 12 month internship (for lack of better terminology) in as a Mechanical Engineer at a large automotive company after 3 years of study at Swinburne doing a bachelor degree. I hated every moment of the degree but am loving working, not sure what I'll be doing next year depends if there is an opening for me at the end of this year or if not if I can find a similar position elsewhere. Ultimately as much as I don't want to, I will go back to study the last 18 months somehow as not to compromise myself down the track.

Before this I started as a casual at Supercheap Auto at 16 whilst still at school, still work a couple of shifts a month just for a bit of extra cash. Done a couple of small jobs in the meantime but nothing significant in general. But having a reasonable work ethic/attitude and a genuine interest in cars/anything mechanical has gotten me far further than anything else.

Also Green, he lives in the middle of bumfk nowhere. About the only thing that's close to him is cows.

 

[greenacc]

Ah **** maybe become an Ag salesman then, selling **** for sheep and cows

 

[Towcar]

About 12 months ago I graduated from uni with a commerce degree (accounting and management majors), and I've since been working in a small office in that field. I'm incredibly underwhelmed and I'm thinking that I'm in the wrong industry altogether. I can't see myself ever finding happiness in a similar role - or maybe even in this industry. The fact that I have to travel 2 hours each way every day doesn't exactly inspire me either.

I've figured that sitting at a desk looking at numbers, receipts and reports isn't for me, and I'm even thinking about going back to uni. I have a strong mechanical interest (as many of have probably already gathered), and like to work with my hands. My main concern is career progression.

I thought it'd be worth asking you guys, what fields do you work in or have you worked in and what qualifications did you need to be considered for your position? Did you know somebody in your place of work prior to your employment?

And finally given my circumstances, any recommendations based on your experiences?

Could you combine your job with your interests, for example could you do accounts for an automotive company. I work in IT with business software, that in itself is boring but pays well. I have a number of different clients in different industries so that makes it more interesting, they often look to me for process guidance so I get to start to work in their business and get into the nitty gritty.

Maybe either of these is an option for you? I know getting a consultant who knows financials in our game is difficult.

The 2 hours each way is going to be getting you down too, I was able to change my hours so I miss a lot of traffic, that alone makes a huge difference.

Also remember you are 12 months into the workforce, you need to gain experience and have time under your belt, these days when an employer looks at your CV and sees a year at each place they are going to put you in the too hard basket and getting an employee up and running takes a lot of time and money on their behalf.

 

[harrop.senator]

I did a lot of truck driving and machinery operating due to not finishing school to work join the automotive community while also having a severe ankle injury and was deemed unsuitable to work on my feet and didnt finish my painting traineeship.

Thats was 7 years ago as of the last three months i took a job through a mate out of desperation after doing my shoulder in and not being able to find driving work.

Im now looking at a mature aged apprenticeship after spending last few months as a labiurer. The bosses at work think will take me about 18 months due to prior learning as I'll be tested in competency through tafe and jumped ahead. I've had two friends do this one took 8 weeks to become qualified one 16 months if you're as mechanically minded as you think may be an option.

In saying that though indepth theory and doing things once doesnt help much a lot of to jump ahead is full left alone solo sorting it out within an expectable trained time set. Just because you can do it in your own time with patience doesnt mean theyll pass you on that unit.

 

[c2105026]

Mechanical engineering FTW

It's technical, and you get to work with your hands.

But I am a maths teacher. If you can learn to deal with your more insolent students it can be enjoyable most days....

 

[Sabbath']

Im a qualified Mechanic by trade, before that i did a bit of IT at TAFE but sitting at a desk wasnt for me.
I did close to 10 years as a mechanic, did a bit of everything including managment and sales but the career progression is fairly limited. You either specialise or go out on you own and try to make a client base and money off $99 services.

So quit that but stayed in the industry, working for a company that creates a service solution for the dealerships, requires technical knowledge and a bit of IT so was perfect. But that only lasted 15 months.

 

[EYY]

I'd look engineering if I were to go back to uni. Something that combines commerce/automotive/mechanical would be awesome; it's just hard to find an opportunity that'll offer that at an entry level position.

I've applied for quite a few jobs, and the problem is that everywhere wants to hire people with experience in the relevant industry. I've even considered beginning an apprenticeship. I'm very interested in machining and engine building, but that's really two apprenticeships - mechanical and fitting and turning as far as I can gather. Ultimate goal would be to have my own business, but it seems that it's a dying industry with cars and their parts becoming more disposable as time goes on.

Selling is something that comes naturally and I don't have any drama's working with the public. Like Sandman, I work in a customer service position on weekends and work in an office during the week. I'm currently employed as a casual and have been offered a full time position at the office job which I'm not keen to take for obvious reasons.

It'd be nice to work only 5 days a week and get my weekends back though - I'd like to have my own home in the next couple of years too, which is why I'm really trying to get my career sorted!

 

[gtrboyy]

4 hours of travel each working day is killer...that would have to have large impact when you think of it as time lost...it did for me 1 hour each way peak hours.

Only thing can say is if cars are your hobby don't do it as a job...learnt that doing mechanic apprenticeship,left trade when qualified to chase highly paid shiftwork to get a house.

Starting all over again after recent redundancy so in similar boat.