Another "career" thread

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  • CloudNineCloudNine Frets: 4254
    p90fool said:
    Firstly, if your income is even slightly stretched because of alcohol you need to stop. Now.

    I know you know this and it can feel like the only way to wind down after a long hard day, but you need to find a healthy alternative. 

    Next, you need to find time for your wife and child, these are years you won't ever get back. 

    Career-wise only you can know really, but it is possible to breeze your way through a stressful job by emotionally prioritising other areas of your life - work is not everything, or shouldn't be. 

    If you feel unappreciated just cut your hours back to your contracted hours and spend more time with your family.

    If you don't have full creative control then you also don't have sole responsibility for deadlines, let some other mug take the strain unless they reward you for your efforts. 

    All this is very easy to type, but you need to start changing how work affects your emotions. 
    Muchos sagacity.
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  • BudgieBudgie Frets: 2099
    edited July 2019
    Are there.
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  • I remember watching a documentary on porn stars. There was this guy who in his prime was fucking left, right, and centre, and getting his end away as much as he wanted. Girls on both arms all the time, money flowing free, not a care in the world. But then he got older and left the industry, or at the least stopped performing as I recall. He was mid 50's and had NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING going on in his life. He was lonely, wasn't married, didn't have a girlfriend, didn't have kids, none of it.

    You could tell he was ready to end it all. Quite sad.

    On the flipside though, he got as much Asian beaver as he wanted. So silver lining and all that.
     :s 

    Bye!

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  • PhilW1PhilW1 Frets: 941
    edited July 2019
    If your on crap money doing a crap job that you don't enjoy and doing far more unpaid hours than you need, you really need to re-evaluate your career before it starts affecting your health and private life. I would look at a total career change,(guitar tutor?) there must be a lot of jobs for similar crap money but better conditions and maybe overtime for any extra hours.
    You really must put yourself first because if anything happened to your health the company's main concern will be how to replace you ,so fuck em and move on.
    Dont forget work to live not live to work.
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  • tony99tony99 Frets: 7076
    I remember watching a documentary on porn stars. There was this guy who in his prime was fucking left, right, and centre, and getting his end away as much as he wanted. Girls on both arms all the time, money flowing free, not a care in the world. But then he got older and left the industry, or at the least stopped performing as I recall. He was mid 50's and had NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING going on in his life. He was lonely, wasn't married, didn't have a girlfriend, didn't have kids, none of it.

    You could tell he was ready to end it all. Quite sad.

    On the flipside though, he got as much Asian beaver as he wanted. So silver lining and all that.
     :s 

    It's not a viable option, I can see the appeal and widening your horizons is always good as it shows ambition, but you need to re-evaluate, really.
    Bollocks you don't know Bono !!
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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1079
    Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm experiencing something similar in terms of what I'm doing. Someone mentioned transitioning to being a guitar tutor which is what I did 11 years ago (not worked full time since 2007) and studied at ACM for 4 years til 2011).

    Was a struggle to get going and even cash flow was hard. Now its going ok, I can pay myself a monthly wage at least, and cashflow is a lot better. But the hours are very unsociable. Alot of evening weekday work and weekends at the moment seem to be rather empty due to many people wanting to keep those free to do other things.

    Running costs are going up and up and some months I struggle to cover them all comfortably. 

    I know I will need some form of side/day-job but any applications for any schools have been unfruitful largely due to the fact I have no experience teaching young children in a classroom environment. Had one application last year fall through because of this. I find it hard to find any retail work as again, not much experience, and many supermarkets will wonder why someone with a music degree and self-employed will be wanting to work for them.

    Main issue with daytime hours which need to be filled with something as only 1 day in the week anyone comes in before 5pm.
    Even 3 days per week somewhere just to keep the bills and overheads covered then I can focus on my lessons in the evenings whilst still having a bit of time to myself. Work flow dips seasonally so summer holiday and Christmas periods are pretty bad as maintaining student numbers.

    What other options have I got? Can I leave off my CV/application the fact I have a degree when I apply for any retail work? What about the self-employed tutor bit?
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 18376
    I remember watching a documentary on porn stars. There was this guy who in his prime was fucking left, right, and centre, and getting his end away as much as he wanted. Girls on both arms all the time, money flowing free, not a care in the world. But then he got older and left the industry, or at the least stopped performing as I recall. He was mid 50's and had NOTHING. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING going on in his life. He was lonely, wasn't married, didn't have a girlfriend, didn't have kids, none of it.

    You could tell he was ready to end it all. Quite sad.

    On the flipside though, he got as much Asian beaver as he wanted. So silver lining and all that.
     :s 

    I don't reckon a pornstar moustache would help much...
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  • TTonyTTony Frets: 27343
    Well, yes... I have friends. lol. I even have some who will tell me I'm totally full of shit when indeed I am! So yes, I do have this. But could I pick a specific individual? Maybe not. A good friend who used to work with me is very good at this, but we don't see each other regularly.
    Sounds like that person is worth talking to.
    "is very good at this":  sounds like you respect their capability
    "a good friend":  so, I'm assuming they know you fairly well
    "but we don't see each other regularly":  means that (a) you'll have to make the effort so your time will be focused and (b) you wont be bumping into them every day.

    The coaching/mentoring/criticalfriend/soundingboard/etc role isn't something that happens by  chance.  You should ask them whether they'd be happy to play that role for you and - if they are - agree that you'll set aside meaningful time with them every X weeks. 

    It would need commitment from both of you - ie both of you being able to make and stick to that commitment - and being free to say if it's not working.
    :)

    Having trouble posting images here?  This might help.
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  • p90foolp90fool Frets: 31367
    Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm experiencing something similar in terms of what I'm doing. Someone mentioned transitioning to being a guitar tutor which is what I did 11 years ago (not worked full time since 2007) and studied at ACM for 4 years til 2011).

    Was a struggle to get going and even cash flow was hard. Now its going ok, I can pay myself a monthly wage at least, and cashflow is a lot better. But the hours are very unsociable. Alot of evening weekday work and weekends at the moment seem to be rather empty due to many people wanting to keep those free to do other things.

    Running costs are going up and up and some months I struggle to cover them all comfortably. 

    I know I will need some form of side/day-job but any applications for any schools have been unfruitful largely due to the fact I have no experience teaching young children in a classroom environment. Had one application last year fall through because of this. I find it hard to find any retail work as again, not much experience, and many supermarkets will wonder why someone with a music degree and self-employed will be wanting to work for them.

    Main issue with daytime hours which need to be filled with something as only 1 day in the week anyone comes in before 5pm.
    Even 3 days per week somewhere just to keep the bills and overheads covered then I can focus on my lessons in the evenings whilst still having a bit of time to myself. Work flow dips seasonally so summer holiday and Christmas periods are pretty bad as maintaining student numbers.

    What other options have I got? Can I leave off my CV/application the fact I have a degree when I apply for any retail work? What about the self-employed tutor bit?
    Really? I work as a stock controller in a supermarket alongside an ordained priest, two ex lawyers, a retired airline pilot and literally dozens of people with degrees of various types. 

    I've had a pretty varied career myself in engineering, meteorological instrument design, as a full time musician and many different roles in the motor industry, and none of us have had to hide any of that for fear of being "overqualified". 

    Some are winding down towards retirement, some are still deciding what to do as a career, and some, like me, simply don't have time among all life's fun stuff to waste it on an all-consuming job. 

    Go for it, you might be surprised. 
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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1079
    p90fool said:
    Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm experiencing something similar in terms of what I'm doing. Someone mentioned transitioning to being a guitar tutor which is what I did 11 years ago (not worked full time since 2007) and studied at ACM for 4 years til 2011).

    Was a struggle to get going and even cash flow was hard. Now its going ok, I can pay myself a monthly wage at least, and cashflow is a lot better. But the hours are very unsociable. Alot of evening weekday work and weekends at the moment seem to be rather empty due to many people wanting to keep those free to do other things.

    Running costs are going up and up and some months I struggle to cover them all comfortably. 

    I know I will need some form of side/day-job but any applications for any schools have been unfruitful largely due to the fact I have no experience teaching young children in a classroom environment. Had one application last year fall through because of this. I find it hard to find any retail work as again, not much experience, and many supermarkets will wonder why someone with a music degree and self-employed will be wanting to work for them.

    Main issue with daytime hours which need to be filled with something as only 1 day in the week anyone comes in before 5pm.
    Even 3 days per week somewhere just to keep the bills and overheads covered then I can focus on my lessons in the evenings whilst still having a bit of time to myself. Work flow dips seasonally so summer holiday and Christmas periods are pretty bad as maintaining student numbers.

    What other options have I got? Can I leave off my CV/application the fact I have a degree when I apply for any retail work? What about the self-employed tutor bit?
    Really? I work as a stock controller in a supermarket alongside an ordained priest, two ex lawyers, a retired airline pilot and literally dozens of people with degrees of various types. 

    I've had a pretty varied career myself in engineering, meteorological instrument design, as a full time musician and many different roles in the motor industry, and none of us have had to hide any of that for fear of being "overqualified". 

    Some are winding down towards retirement, some are still deciding what to do as a career, and some, like me, simply don't have time among all life's fun stuff to waste it on an all-consuming job. 

    Go for it, you might be surprised. 
    I've had several rejections from supermarkets, they didn't say why though but I can only assume they saw I have a music degree. Its pretty clear to them I won't be working for them to progress from a checkout assistant to a duty manager!
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  • KittyfriskKittyfrisk Frets: 18376
    p90fool said:
    Sorry to hijack this thread, but I'm experiencing something similar in terms of what I'm doing. Someone mentioned transitioning to being a guitar tutor which is what I did 11 years ago (not worked full time since 2007) and studied at ACM for 4 years til 2011).

    Was a struggle to get going and even cash flow was hard. Now its going ok, I can pay myself a monthly wage at least, and cashflow is a lot better. But the hours are very unsociable. Alot of evening weekday work and weekends at the moment seem to be rather empty due to many people wanting to keep those free to do other things.

    Running costs are going up and up and some months I struggle to cover them all comfortably. 

    I know I will need some form of side/day-job but any applications for any schools have been unfruitful largely due to the fact I have no experience teaching young children in a classroom environment. Had one application last year fall through because of this. I find it hard to find any retail work as again, not much experience, and many supermarkets will wonder why someone with a music degree and self-employed will be wanting to work for them.

    Main issue with daytime hours which need to be filled with something as only 1 day in the week anyone comes in before 5pm.
    Even 3 days per week somewhere just to keep the bills and overheads covered then I can focus on my lessons in the evenings whilst still having a bit of time to myself. Work flow dips seasonally so summer holiday and Christmas periods are pretty bad as maintaining student numbers.

    What other options have I got? Can I leave off my CV/application the fact I have a degree when I apply for any retail work? What about the self-employed tutor bit?
    Really? I work as a stock controller in a supermarket alongside an ordained priest, two ex lawyers, a retired airline pilot and literally dozens of people with degrees of various types. 

    I've had a pretty varied career myself in engineering, meteorological instrument design, as a full time musician and many different roles in the motor industry, and none of us have had to hide any of that for fear of being "overqualified". 

    Some are winding down towards retirement, some are still deciding what to do as a career, and some, like me, simply don't have time among all life's fun stuff to waste it on an all-consuming job. 

    Go for it, you might be surprised. 
    Too right.
    Far too many people seem to have their sense of 'self' indivisibly woven into their CV's, jobs or perceived life roles.

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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1079
    Going for a role at a supermarket, if I leave out info about music degree and the private lessons they will want to know why I've not worked for 10 years? To be fair I don't think they're relevant to the job I'm applying for anyway, the more relevant experience is the fact I have worked for a supermarket before but that was almost 20 years ago....
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  • VimFuegoVimFuego Frets: 15475
    Going for a role at a supermarket, if I leave out info about music degree and the private lessons they will want to know why I've not worked for 10 years? To be fair I don't think they're relevant to the job I'm applying for anyway, the more relevant experience is the fact I have worked for a supermarket before but that was almost 20 years ago....
    my position is somewhat similar to yours in that I've been self employed for 9 years now, I've had some success getting interviews (and some job offers) in jobs not too dissimilar to retail work by saying things that I've been self employed for x number of years which I have really enjoyed, but I found myself missing working as part of a team and add some blah blah. I'm sure they don't believe it, but IME, for that level of job, employers are looking to make sure they can safely tick HR boxes. Make it easy for them to employ you. 

    I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.

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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1079
    Should I just bring that up at a potential interview stage? Or put it in from the off? 
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  • VimFuegoVimFuego Frets: 15475
    I put it in the personal statement of my CV or if there's a box like that on the application form. 

    I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.

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  • LestratcasterLestratcaster Frets: 1079
    I clicked through to the end of the application and its telling me I haven't met some minimum criteria required for automated online screening. A few boxes I didn't fill out straight away as I was thinking what to write! Due to this my "application has been unsuccessful"!
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  • TimmyOTimmyO Frets: 7349
    Fuck me. I don't want to write this, but I feel I need to, even just to get it out of my head. I can't get too specific due to slander clauses in my contract. But let's say this - I have zero idea where I am going these days. I used to have a game plan. Bits of which I can't talk about, but effectively I was being groomed to be a product owner. So I would finally have full creative control over the vision of a product - let's pretend it's a drum product for musicians. I would have successfully moved sideways into a position that I actually wanted at the time, and it would've been great for my CV and my future.

    Alas, that ship has sailed now I feel. I've been demoted to what I can only call a content developer. And it sucks. Long hours and boring progress bar watching jobs, for a meagre wage which doesn't go far enough each month due to outgoings and alcohol (a terrible way to deal with stress and anxiety about the future, I know that) and I look at my developer friends who do half the hours I do for twice the pay... and I'm thinking ... what the actual fuck? Why am I doing this? No-one even cares about it.

    I do audio and video production mainly. I'm better at the former, but getting better at the later. But when I look around at the jobs market for this kind of thing, it looks awful. Simply awful. And because these things are my job, I find it difficult to get hyped for the audio and video production stuff that I need to do in my personal life (band, Youtube, etc) and nearly every day I feel burnt out.

    I'm moving across to doing four 10 hour days instead of five 8 hour days, but I can't do that until the end of July. I'm hoping the extra day will allow me to actually invest in myself instead of being the wage-slave patriarch that I have become, and always told myself I would never become, and feel entirely bitter over the whole thing.

    I should add that even though I'm contracted to do 8 hour days, I regularly do 13-14 hour days. Two weeks ago I did an 18 hour day followed by two 12 hour days back to back too. You wouldn't know it if you only went on my posting rate on here, but I work my ass off most weeks. Dropping a day and fixing my hours to 4 feels like a step in the right direction - in the short term anyway.

    As I say - some specifics I can't get into ... but where I am in life and career right now is so utterly miserable, and I don't see a way out. I truly don't. And I have zero support from anyone.

    I've said things on here in the past relating to this, but simply put - how the hell do I get out of this spider web?!
    completely different industry/skills but I can completely identify with all of this and have had 2 pinch-points in my working life where I took a massive left turn and changed things. Your phrase "how the hell do I get out of this spider web" puts how I felt, perfectly. 

    My experience of that was to simply get out of it. By which I mean to not have a perfect alternative worked out, but to feel like getting out of it was important enough to my whole life that that realisation had to be acted on in isolation. After that move (and the additional panic deciding to do it generates) the way forward looks entirely different. It's hard to describe, but it does. More things feel like they are options - the decks felt totally clear. (and other shit analogies) 

    Shout if you want to talk about it. 
    Red ones are better. 
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