When opportunities present - a contemplative thread

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As some of you probably already know, I'm about to take a large redundancy package from my current job. I'll have been there 5 1/2 years by the time I finish up which is meant to be around Oct-Nov this year.

The amount of money I'll get, and the end of year timing, have me thinking I should have a few-months break and I should DO SOMETHING with this opportunity (lets just say its close to six months of living money).

I have some ideas of my own (buying a new PC, a new flash digital camera), but I'm stumped as to how best to use the bit of spare time, and most importantly - what the hell to do about a new job. It's been too long!

Any suggestions would be an interesting read. Also, what would you do if you were in my situation? Would love to see how other people would use this kind of chance.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 00:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Have you ever been thinking about a career change? This'd be a good time, right?

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 26 July 2004 00:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I was anyway, for sure - so this is a real karmic boot in the arse, I suppose.

The thing is, my current job , while technical (ISP related), doesn't require a huge amount of skills. I also have no degrees or proper training apart from my professional writing diploma (and really - a bit of paper that says I can write poetry and do DTP is a bit naff).

I want out of the ISP/helpdesk roundabout. I hate being in huge corporate environs. I want a quiet, fulfiling, simple job in a small company. Some kind of writing/layout/designy/adminy job. I dont really know...

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 00:22 (twenty-one years ago)

travel? invest in some new qualifications?

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 26 July 2004 00:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Get a new job. And if you can't [like me], you've got the money to keep going for a few months.

I know what you mean about small companies. No way I'm working for a leviathan multinational conglomerate ever again.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 26 July 2004 00:58 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd also say save at least a good chunk of that money and invest it in something steady and relatively unrisky. You might need that money on a rainy (rainier?) day, ya know!

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 26 July 2004 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)

New quals would be great, but short courses are a waste of money aren't they? And at this stage of my life I'm buggered if I'm going to get a HECS debt. Mind you, self-training is one thing I am thinking on. Just buying up a shitload of O'Reilly and suchlike books (mainly on current web specs and CSS), and doing some work for myself. Which reminds me I must get my webhosting sorted out.

Andrew suggested travel as well. Its a possibility. My other 'alf will probably be attenting the GDC in San Francisco next year (games dev conference), and its just occurred to me I could afford to tag along. Hmm *thoughtful face*.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Adam - oh a new job is a cert at this stage. Er, I mean as in, I am NOT staying here. This place has become a joke. Its a pity because we used to be such a cool, independant, open source kind of place before we were Borginated into the Effie-monster.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:02 (twenty-one years ago)

travel trayce, travel!

― The Lady Ms Lurex (lucylurex), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Its suprising that travel didnt occur to me at all til this morning. If Nick really does go to San Fran, well dangit I might just have to go with him.

Man I really want to go to Montreal too... why they gots to be on opposite sides of the continent!?

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:23 (twenty-one years ago)

http://www.roadtripusa.com/index.html, Trace! It's one of the best things I've ever done.

― j e r e m y (x Jeremy), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:24 (twenty-one years ago)

Nice site Jeremy, thanks :)

Girolamo has a good point too - and yes, am thinking of putting at least a small portion (maybe 5 grand or so) into some stable savings - a managed fund, or term deposit type thing. So I've at least got some emergency funds. It has been a long long time since I had any savings whatsoever. The weird thing is, this is the second time Ive had a chance like this - and last time round I wanted to run screaming from the job I had as well (public service hellhole). Someone up there likes me thats for sure.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:50 (twenty-one years ago)

how do redundancy payouts work...its based on the amount of time you've been there? approx how much ya gettin Trayce?

― gaz (gaz), Monday, 26 July 2004 01:55 (twenty-one years ago)

Follow your heart, of course.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:13 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah its based on years of service. Usually 2-4 weels pay per year of svce, plus in my case a pro-rata amount of long service leave too.

I dont know the exact amount as they cant give exact figures seeing as we might get payrises soon or something... but about 15k I think?

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:15 (twenty-one years ago)

And much of that is low tax or tax free too... woohoo.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Col - my heart is standing on the cliff edge, refusing to jump. So to speak. I want to do this, but I'm rather scared as well! I havent had to look for a new job in almost 6 years. Gahhhh.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Well if your heart says, don't make a decision yet, then that's your heart's decision.

― the music mole (colin s barrow), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Ah well I dont think I get to chose the being fired bit sadly. There was a chance to apply for other jobs here but Ive decided to eschew that, as I really am hating this company now, so why stay here even if it is just so I have a job.

I'm gonna miss my workmates though - some of them are close friends, this is gonna weird out our friendship dynamics, as I'm lazy, and having been able to catch up each day by dint of working together was easy. Heh.

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 02:25 (twenty-one years ago)

My other 'alf will probably be attenting the GDC in San Francisco next year (games dev conference)

Hasn't got a vacancy, has he? ;)

Adam - oh a new job is a cert at this stage. Er, I mean as in, I am NOT staying here.

GOOD.

I want to do this, but I'm rather scared as well! I havent had to look for a new job in almost 6 years. Gahhhh.

It's sooo hard. I hate the job market. Unfortunately I've become a regular.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 26 July 2004 23:03 (twenty-one years ago)

...that doesn't help you much, does it?

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 26 July 2004 23:03 (twenty-one years ago)

It helps knowing youre in pretty much the exact same boat as I am (haha you dont work for a telco too do you? That would be hilarious).

Hey, as a matter of fact - me and Jim are going to Pause tomorrow after work, if you wanted to come along & meet us. We can bitch shop (is that a phrase? It is now!).

― Trayce (trayce), Monday, 26 July 2004 23:49 (twenty-one years ago)

Argh, uni night tomorrow innit. Thanks though.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Damn! Ahwell... soon, gadget!

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:18 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Um, that was a bit glib. Sorry.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:21 (twenty-one years ago)

ah good luck Trayce! I'm hitting ye olde job market for the first time, well, really ever (since my pt uni job evolved into my full-time career y'know) but have a similar cushy situation in that I've saved up a year's salary and also mr teeny has a good job starting in a month. I don't really have any motivation to get a job immediately other than my own boredom eating at me. If I were single, I'd rent an apartment somewhere for just a month or two and get to know that city--I'm talking like NYC, Rome, London, Moscow, Berlin, something like that. I'm not sure what I want to do just staying in my own city...I don't particularly want to go back to school other than learning a new language or two. Actually I'm pretty sure I'm going to volunteer for political campaigns, since I'm in a swing state and all.

― teeny (teeny), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd sleep a lot and spend too much money in restaurants but I think teeny's plan sounds better.

― Tracer Hand (tracerhand), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Well travellings a nice idea but not living elsewhere - I just love Melbourne way too much :) (this isnt my home town, so I still love it here because I've only been here 12 years or so).

To be honest I'm reluctant to spend too much of the money as I'm terrified I wont get a new job! The dole, while doable after some time, is demoralising and wont even cover my rent let alone anything else.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 00:53 (twenty-one years ago)

Jesus Christ Trayce, you'll get a new job! I think you should bankroll my research trip to the Deep South to perfect my Preacher act.

― Michael Stuchbery (Mikey Bidness), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 01:49 (twenty-one years ago)

(is that a phrase? It is now!)

Lummee, I just got the reference.

ot: WHERE THE FUCK IS THE REST OF 'EM.

― That's the Way (uh huh uh huh) I Almanac (Autumn Almanac), Tuesday, 27 July 2004 02:02 (twenty-one years ago)

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