|
3Faze
Joined: 26 Jun 2004
Posts: 99
Location: Lincolnshire, UK
|
Let's just say there's no such thing as a straight line that is your career.
Left school at 16 to train as a chef, and that didn't work out (1st career mistake!). So I went back to college half way through the first year, doing Maths, Technology and Physics, struggled to catch up, never truely managed it.
Got bored so started fixing computers on the side, 18 months later, we had a very profitable 2 man firm making, mending and fixing puters. Somehow got the college grades I needed to go to University, and made my second career mistake and sold out to my business partner (he's damn near a millionaire now) and went to do a BSc in Computing.
Did several sidejobs at University including working on the door of the student bar (I'm only average size, but have the air of a psychopath according to the bar manager), helpdesk and overnight cashier for a city centre supermarket, working 9pm to 5am Friday night and Saturday night. - interesting job
Took a temp job working in a supermarket (Spar) in my first summer away from uni (it paid and was near home). Made supervisor in 4.5 weeks.
In my second summer I worked in IT support for a government department that you've propbably seen in the movies. Did well and was offered a permanent job after I graduated.
Went back to uni for the 3rd year, worked for Spar over xmas, graduated with a 2:1 honours degree, 3rd highest in my year and specialism.
Was offered a cable installers job with IFS Networks in Hull, UK, who I did a final year project for (basically, turned around the order and quotations side of their firm). Failed the medical (don't ask).
Went home to sort things out a bit, went back to Spar to help them out temporary and ended up working as a floating manager for them (coverring 8 shops, just generally helping things run smoothly, coverring the store manager's leave, etc).
There was a reshuffle at the top, and I realised I'd made my third career mistake, and missed my chance with the govt. Transferred to a head supervisor's job with Spar to keep out of the way of the managerial heads rolling. I did some IT work on the side, but my heart wasn't in it anymore (though I do still have breakfix contracts with a few local firms, which is a nice little earner), so I started fixing up and dealing cars on the side.
And that pretty much takes me to my current position. Just getting fixed to leave Spar and go work for Tesco's as a team leader on nights, and contemplating a business plan....
|
Fri Oct 08, 2004 12:12 am |
|
|
|
|
aeldric
Joined: 08 Oct 2004
Posts: 100
Location: Melbourne
|
quote:
Originally posted by Timothy Forde:
Well thanks for all the advice and stories guys
I'm doing a apprenticeship (with apprenticeships Victoria) as a fitter and turner for 4 years while studying a diploma/advanced diploma of mechanical engineering at night classes at box hill tafe and I may use it to go onto uni later lol
Took a while but it’s worked out thanks guys, if only they showed me this stuff at school
There are no limits. Let me tell you a true story about a dear friend:
John wasn't very motivated at school and left part way through year ten. He finished a trade course (Electrician) before I finished my first degree. He had earned a bucket of money by the time I finished my first year at work (as a first year out graduate I was working for a pittance).
At that point he already had a few years of experience behind him (and some money saved), so he used his TAFE qualifications to get into a CAE, got exemption from first year (because of the good TAFE marks), then got great marks at the CAE. He had a diploma by the end of the year. With those good marks behind him he got into University of Queensland (the top Uni in Qld). He got exemptions for all of first year and part of second year in two different degrees.
He worked nights as a Gymnastics coach, so he had enough money to get by while he studied a dual-degree course.
Three years later he had a dual degree (degrees in psychology and science if memory serves) with Honours in Psychology.
By then he had a HECS debt to worry about so he decided to go back to work. With a dual degree and Honours in Psychology, the police offered him a job. His Psychology degree meant that he moved straight into a Hostage Negotiation kind of role with the Qld police force, then into Counter-Terrorism and VIP protection a year later.
A few years later he quit the police and got into politics. With his diverse background and his multiple diplomas and degrees he was very popular in the party. He was nominated by the party, ran for a seat in Qld parliament and won. He won again recently.
To the best of my knowledge, John has never passed year ten, but he has two diplomas, two degrees (one with Honours), and I think he may also have a Masters Degree by now..... and he can wire your house.
In addition he has served as a bodyguard for Bill Clinton (amongst many others), done things that neither of us can talk about, and he is a Member of Parliament.
His name is John English. He is an MP in Qld, and this is a true story.
Your teachers don't tell you this, so I'll say it again:
Chose what you enjoy - then take it where you want to go. There are no limits.
|
Thu Oct 28, 2004 10:17 pm |
|
|
|
Spockie-Tech
Site Admin
Joined: 31 May 2004
Posts: 3160
Location: Melbourne, Australia
|
Ajax is probably the person you want to talk to..
unfortunately he's recently got himself both a new girlfriend and a new business, so hes vanished back into RL (Real Life) for a while.. Try sending him an email at ajax@robowars.org and see if you can prod him to come to the forum and answer a few questions for you..
My experience of TAFE vs Uni is pretty much in agreeance with your assesment. If you're the sort of person that likes getting your hands dirty and are looking for a more "trade" sort of work, go with TAFE.
If you like "engineering" things that *should* work, only to have the gritty real-world not agree with your theoretical analysis of phase/vector relationships in your circuit and have some grimy TAFE techie say "Dude ! dont you know you need to allow for the <insert obscure kludge> effect ?", and bung an extra cap in apparently at random which brings things to life, then go to uni..
Actually, its not that bad, and in all fairness, you probably have a better shot at some higher paid jobs with a uni degree than a tafe one, but you can upgrade the TAFE degree with some extra theory later on if you need it and be a far more valuable engineer than some fresh-outta-3-years-of-uni "engineer" with a head full of equations and burnt fingers from holding the soldering iron at the wrong end.. _________________ Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people
|
Fri Aug 19, 2005 2:57 am |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|