career advice

Hey guys

I need some career advice. As yall know Ive been asking a lot of stuff about side businesses. Here is my situation.

The issue I have is I really like my job. I like the company most of the people the schedule. But the pay sucks.....bad.

My wife and I both have full time jobs so that makes it easier. But I want to make more money.

I thought about just looking for another job. But most of what I find either pays just as bad or is not stable. Or I just dont enjoy as much.

I can get a raise this fall. And after that be eligible for promotion (I'm in my first year). Ive thought about starting a side business but not sure what. And Ive thought about getting a two year degree in marketing or graphics then doing a side business.

And advice? college? side business?

Mike

I had a similar job previous to the one I have now. Fine work, great coworkers, crap pay. I put in a few years, and when I found that I would never be promoted I bailed. If you really like the job I would suggest doing the same, and maybe try a side business to supplement your income in the meantime.

Step one- worry less about money. If you're paying the bills and you can crack a beer once in a while you're golden. Step two, take more satisfaction in what you do. You say you like it but if you hate the pay you're not 100% happy. Step 3? I have no idea . my wife makes all the money. I make barely enough to buy beer and put gas in my car. I couldn't be happier. I find a career to be the most asinine thing possible. Why someone would dedicate their lives to...work is beyond me. I do what I have to so I can do what I want to. I'm pretty happy right now.

my wife makes all the money. I make barely enough to buy beer and put gas in my car. I couldn't be happier. I find a career to be the most asinine thing possible. Why someone would dedicate their lives to...work is beyond me. I do what I have to so I can do what I want to. I'm pretty happy right now.

i dont know how old you are but a 2 year degree in the IT or Medical field is what i would go with, that is unless i could get in the Airforce. i am in my fiftys, they say my generation had "Goals" and my kids generation has "passions" which i find alot of times my goals are paying for their passions.....if it is money you are looking for IT/Medical, if it is peice of mind then do what you like......if some folks did not have "careers" some other folks could not sit on their butts being "happy", no offence.

The wrote:

my wife makes all the money. I make barely enough to buy beer and put gas in my car. I couldn't be happier. I find a career to be the most asinine thing possible. Why someone would dedicate their lives to...work is beyond me. I do what I have to so I can do what I want to. I'm pretty happy right now.

i dont know how old you are but a 2 year degree in the IT or Medical field is what i would go with, that is unless i could get in the Airforce. i am in my fiftys, they say my generation had "Goals" and my kids generation has "passions" which i find alot of times my goals are paying for their passions.....if it is money you are looking for IT/Medical, if it is peice of mind then do what you like......if some folks did not have "careers" some other folks could not sit on their butts being "happy", no offence.

None taken. Its not to say I'm a lazy bitch, far from. I'm probably one of the best medical claims people you'll ever see. I got the projects no one else wanted and made decent cash, enough to sock some away while the wife was on bed rest for our kid and still keep up with two car payments and rent. But I hated it. There was room to move, but I had an epiphany. I realized instead of being driven by money and that whole brass ring I need to be happy pure and simple. Dilute it down to the core elements. What I realized was, I didn't need a career and a big pile to make my life. I went back to square one. It actually worked out better. It forced the wife out of her safe zone into a career that uses the degree I spent 40k on. She loves it. So as it turns out, I don't need a career. I need a support gig to keep my kid out of day care. And as I got that support gig and applied for things I wanted instead of my regular skill set, I realized I was excited, genuinely enthused for the first time in my life, and I was looking at taking something like a 75% pay cut. Thats more what I'm saying. You need to find your slot and be happy with it rather than jamming for the status quo as it were. Be happy.

I need a support gig to keep my kid out of day care.

a better career does not exist.

Silverbrick27 wrote: Hey guys I need some career advice. As yall know Ive been asking a lot of stuff about side businesses. Here is my situation. The issue I have is I really like my job. I like the company most of the people the schedule. But the pay sucks.....bad.

Possibly silly question, but have you talked to your boss about that? Is it that you are in a field that's generally paid badly, or is that a feature of your particular employer?

Also, is it your first year at this particular employer or is it your first job?

Silverbrick27 wrote: I can get a raise this fall. And after that be eligible for promotion (I'm in my first year). Ive thought about starting a side business but not sure what. And Ive thought about getting a two year degree in marketing or graphics then doing a side business. And advice? college? side business?

What do you have so far? Any college or any vocational training?

The problem with running a side business in addition to a full time job is that you'll always be working. It'll berkeley up your family life something royal. One option is to start a side business and see if you can grow it into a full time business, or if it's something you'd do anyway, only that you now get paid for it.

A very wise man said that richer just means things that you cannot afford are nicer. Took me 20 some years to understand that.

slow's right. At some point it's time to quit chasing 'nicer stuff' and just get on with living. I see people every day who have put themselves in terrible spots trying to look like something they aren't. The last was a warehouse guy who bought a 2004 Mercedes E320 with 140,000 miles... naw, nothing wrong with that plan.

I'm going to have to disagree with the people who are suggesting that it's not all about the money.

It IS all about the money. Money is the only reason we go to work. If we had enough of it, few of us would be looking for a job. My advice? If you truly think there will be more opportunity (read money) with your current employer, and you really like it there, stay. If not, start planning an exit right now. There is more satisfaction in making good money than having an otherwise good job. More money gave me the ability to do things for my family that I otherwise would not have been able to.

A side business is fine if you have the time an energy for it, but I don't know if going to school for a few years to will give you the expertise you're going to need. IMO, it should be something you're already proficient in, preferably something you're doing now, or have done for a long time.

My experience? I left a job of 13 years, where I was somebody. It had excellent benefits, working conditions, good people and lot's of fringe benefits, but pay that was on the very low end for my skill level. I went to a dirty, E36 M3ty job on straight nights, in a big plant where I was just a number, for 50% more money. It was the single best decision I've ever made in my life. That was 15 years ago, and I'm still there.

Side business: I've been running one for the last 10 years. I had more energy then, and less business. It's now become so busy that I've had to take on a partner in order to keep up. It can take up ALL your spare time, if you let it. I would say that unless you're working a schedule that gives you a lot of time off (like 12hr shifts), a side business is going to be tough, if you're successful.

If pay really sucks bad, then you need a different job. That or to drastically lower your standards of living, which I wouldn't generally recommend.

But, does it suck only as an intro pay? You said you're new, and eligible for a raise after a year. That rather sounds like a probationary period. If this is just a weeding out period, it may well be worth riding out. Talking to your boss for clarification would probably help your understanding.

yes, money is great, but it souunds like he (mndsm) put his child first which is the single most important thing a man can do.

If you're not even through your first year, give it a minute and see how things settle out especially after your review in the fall. Merchandising isn't a bad gig (going off of your profile), and if the company you merch for has sales people it can lead to a sales job pretty easily and quickly, either with your company or a competitors, depending on turnover or even a job with the retailers you merch for. It all depends on how you connect with the people you work with, for, and around. Best thing you can do in your position is bust your hump and get known for doing a great job; make yourself valuable. If you have display-building competitions or incentives, get creative and show off and try to win every one that comes out.

How bad is the pay? Is it "we can't afford car payments but the rent is on time, we're putting a little money away, and food on the table" bad, or "we're not eating this month if something breaks or I get a parking ticket" bad? I've been both and while neither is fun, the latter makes getting a better paying job and lot more important than the former. If its the former, wait it out. If it's the latter, start searching.

As an art school graduate with lots of starving artist friends, getting a 2yr degree in graphics is not a great way to get a stable high(er) paying income.

In reply to skierd:

My spot in general doesnt pay great. But the next level up (superviser) does pay better which mu superviser has been training me for.

We are tight as in bills are paid and food is on the table but no extras.

Ive heard that about graphics thats why i will do the marketing degree plus its a degree that my comp will pay for i beleave.

Have you thought about transitioning into a hands-on trade?

Stuff will always need to be built and fixed. Zomby Woof obviously found a great paying gig as a millwright/machinist and I started in the machining trade at $13/hour with zero experience and worked my way up to $17. I left that job for $18/hour then left that job for $21/hour and worked my way up to $25/hour, 100% scale is $28+/hour. The E36 M3ty local and national economy put that company on it's heels and it has yet to recover.

I was laid off from that job for 7 months then I found my current job at $26/hour as a maintenance machinist, where I plan to stay until I'm a shriveled little old man.

If I were in your shoes and I had the time for school, I'd study either welding or machining. Visit some local union (no flounder) machine/fabrication shops and ask around about what degrees would best prepare you for that field.

If you really want to make the big bucks and don't mind travel look into joining a boilermaker's union.

thanks for the advice guys