Useless....

[Apache]

Well BDT, it seems we may have been a cross-purposes here.

I applaud your attitude of doing whatever it takes. Not back-peddling at all, as I said, poorly phrased, BUT... if it came to the point where I had to kiss ar5e to keep a roof over my families head / put food on the table, BRING IT ON.

Hopefully , it wont happen, but who knows these days? I'd rather swallow my pride than let my family go without, and I'd rather kiss ar5e than admit defeat and spout the tired old excuse 'I'm not getting out of bed for that kind of money' and join some of the work shy tw@ts sponging off me and you, the taxpayer.

[Apache]

on a side note has anyone here tried OU,are the qualifications actually worth anything?

Keep meaning to, but never seem to find the time. Dont see why the qualifications wouldn't mean anything as plenty of employers (my own last two for instance) are happy to fund their employees to do them.

[Sancho]

on a side note has anyone here tried OU,are the qualifications actually worth anything?

Never tried it, but the qualifications are as recognised and well-rated as from any other university.

[darkdezigns]

Well BDT, it seems we may have been a cross-purposes here.

I applaud your attitude of doing whatever it takes. Not back-peddling at all, as I said, poorly phrased, BUT... if it came to the point where I had to kiss ar5e to keep a roof over my families head / put food on the table, BRING IT ON.

Hopefully , it wont happen, but who knows these days? I'd rather swallow my pride than let my family go without, and I'd rather kiss ar5e than admit defeat and spout the tired old excuse 'I'm not getting out of bed for that kind of money' and join some of the work shy tw@ts sponging off me and you, the taxpayer.

ah ok(takes a breath) i'm talkin more the kiss arse to get up the work ladder type,the "i saw such n such doing this/saying this boss",the ones who get taken out to lunch with boss,get special treats etc etc
i'm just really really frustrated at the mo,,it seems at the mo its doin run of the mill job or jobs i wont get cause of lack of qualifications,just really gettin to me now,lolol ive got an interview tomorow for a job which is picking and packing watch and clock parts!!!!!,won't cover bills but working families tax will hopefully make up the downfall,thats why i mentioned OU,if i'm gonna do a job like that i have to know there is "light at the end of the tunnel",and also that job would make OU courses free

[POPEYE]

Been there a few times Rod, dont know what the answer is mate, working for someone else or running your own business, both have pros and cons, done both and still dont know, you've more enthusism when it's your "baby" but loads of worry goes with it, and the sodding government only makes it harder,
working for a "govenor"!! you can useually switch off when you've finished but no matter how well you do or how hard you work for em you'll still get the $hit end when push comes to shove,

As for job centers!! forget it, their only there to masarge the numbers, f##k you off on some bullshoit course or other, any half decent job that finds it's way on their boards are useually already taken by some c##ts relative or friend, the rest are short term or low pay,
your still young enough to do whatever you want, qualify and move out of this country if it comes to it, thats definatly what i'd do, qualify in your chosen field and get TF out to aus, canada,

my son and his mate started their computor networking business a year ago and you would'nt believe to cr@p they have to do and pay out to the govenment, it's like they want to make it as difficult as possible for anyone starting up, most of it beyond me as i was a "sole trader" when i was plumbing, and the paperwork side if that was bad enough,
hang in there Rod, and BD you'll find arse creepers and back stabbers in every workplace i'm afraid,

[Apache]

Shit no!!!

I've never trod on anyone to get where I've been, and I couldn't live with myself if I had.

I actually took a step down in responsibilty when I took my latest job. The stress / hours / pressure of my other job (where I was the UK's Technical Lead for a certain something) was doing me in even though the job gave me opportunities to do stuff not many people get to do. The last straw was my employer's impending relocation south, so I took what I'm doing now as one of a small team of engineers. New challenges, fresh goals (much less pressure!) and all that - and oddly enough, for more money!

What OU do you fancy? Might inspire me to find the time...

[darkdezigns]

Shit no!!!

I've never trod on anyone to get where I've been, and I couldn't live with myself if I had.

I actually took a step down in responsibilty when I took my latest job. The stress / hours / pressure of my other job (where I was the UK's Technical Lead for a certain something) was doing me in even though the job gave me opportunities to do stuff not many people get to do. The last straw was my employer's impending relocation south, so I took what I'm doing now as one of a small team of engineers. New challenges, fresh goals (much less pressure!) and all that - and oddly enough, for more money!

What OU do you fancy? Might inspire me to find the time...

somthin along the lines of business management i think

[Apache]

Vicki's doing nightschool for accountancy, which leaves me babysitting on weds and thurs night - she'd better be home by 9 for me to go to the pub!

I thought I might fancy doing some sort of programming, one of the technology biased languages, but I just cant get interested. Also fancied psychology for a while too, but these days I'm thinking more along the lines of some sort of engineering (may as well stick to what I know) such as structural analysis / FEA etc, though I'm sure I'd struggle with the maths!

Maybe I'll just learn to weld at nightschool

[gwh200]

plentyof people i know and have worked with,have ou qualifications...engineering, maths,physics,process engineering etc.
as sancho said its widely recognised as a "proper" qualification...go for it.

[MattF]

i realy do understand where your comin from,time and time again ive worked my guts out for diffrent companies and watch the arse kissers fly to the top of the ladder,call it stubborn/old fashioned but i refuse to do it,i always give 100% to my job,and tbh it's got me nowhere

Top man. Only thing worse than an arse kisser is someone who ignores their morals and arse kisses. I'd rather scrub floors than egotise some arsewipe.

[MattF]

Rod, going against the grain of what most are saying, don't settle for a cr@p job that you know you'll hate. Getting what some might class as a menial job or 'below them' is fine, if it keeps money coming in whilst needed, but never settle for second best. You'll regret it in years to come. Some people can settle quite easily into mundane and repetitive work and some can't for love nor money. Don't ever let anyone tell you that's the way things work, so suck it up. Do what you know you'll be happy with and no less.

[joker??]

Rod, going against the grain of what most are saying, don't settle for a cr@p job that you know you'll hate. Getting what some might class as a menial job or 'below them' is fine, if it keeps money coming in whilst needed, but never settle for second best. You'll regret it in years to come. Some people can settle quite easily into mundane and repetitive work and some can't for love nor money. Don't ever let anyone tell you that's the way things work, so suck it up. Do what you know you'll be happy with and no less.

[Apache]

Rod's young enough to take that route. Still has mum and dad to fall back on for a while.

What if you have a mortgage to pay? What if you're gonna lose your house if you dont 'take second best'?

Real world means some people HAVE to do what they dont want to do if they want to keep a roof over their head. God I would LOVE to just sit back and wait for my ideal job to come to me. Unfortunately, for those of us who aren't independently wealthy, we have to do what we have to do.

[MattF]

Rod's young enough to take that route. Still has mum and dad to fall back on for a while.

What if you have a mortgage to pay? What if you're gonna lose your house if you dont 'take second best'?

Real world means some people HAVE to do what they dont want to do if they want to keep a roof over their head. God I would LOVE to just sit back and wait for my ideal job to come to me. Unfortunately, for those of us who aren't independently wealthy, we have to do what we have to do.

I already catered for that interim argument:

Getting what some might class as a menial job or 'below them' is fine, if it keeps money coming in whilst needed, but never settle for second best.

Nobody ever mentioned being jobless whilst the ideal opportunity arises. Unlike people mentioning that he would have to settle for sh1t to get what he wants. That's complete bullsh1t. If he needs to arse kiss his way up the ladder, he's working at the wrong place.

[Apache]

What is this ######## about arse kissing?

You play 'them' at their own game. You play by their rules. You suck it up until one day 'whoaaah!' you have the upper hand. You need to be smart but you dont get owt for nowt.

I just get the overriding impression (and I could be very wrong) that some people round these parts want things to arrive for them on a plate all wrapped and ready. It doesn't work like that. If you think its gonna work then you're living in some sort of fairyland.