MarkO

Hmmm. Had an interesting proposition today.

Since we moved to Scotland, I've not had any joy finding an IT development contract so far (although this still appears to be a nationwide problem, rather than just a Scottish one, as I've been looking in London too and there's bu66er all there too).

Anyway, I was up at the local Mountain-Biking centre today, having just finished a long ride, and chatting to one of the two girls who run it (two ex-pro downhill racers). They need a full-time specialised mountain-bike mechanic for the bike shop and bike hire centre, and haven't found anyone yet. They ideally want somebody who doesn't have any serious mechanical experience, so they can be trained up specifically in the likes of disc brakes, suspension tuning, and so on.

Money wouldn't be great (in fact, it'd be less than I was earning when I graduated 10 years ago) but on the upside I'd get to work outdoors, it would be relaxed, there'd be no office politics, and I'd involved with mountain-biking day in, day out. I'd be able to commute to work on the bike (about 3 miles at the moment) and get out on the trails most days. Oh, and there'd probably be discounted bike bits and a lunch included at the cafe too.

It would be a bit of a committment, 'cos they'd be looking to invest time/money in the training, so it wouldn't be fair just leave after a few months if I didn't enjoy it.

The biggest problem I see is that if after a couple of years I decided I wanted to get back into IT, it might be more difficult (you can imagine the conversation: "So, Mr. Otway, what technologies have you been developing with recently?", and me replying "Erm, I've been working in a bike shop..." ).

There is a certain attraction at the idea of not working in an office, and doing something completely different. But it would also be a risky venture, and would make things financially tighter than they might otherwise be (assuming I get a development job anytime soon).

So, what are the Scoobynet thoughts and opinions on the subject?

beemerboy

whos to say you are not keeping your hand in IT????

do what everyone else does and lie through your teeth about what you've been recently doing.
blimey, if its that hard, tell them you've been writing an application for me, for the last year.!!!

always here to help.

BB

IWatkins

Get to ride the trails everyday ?

Take the job, money isn't everything and you have but one life.

Cheers

Ian

sexy wrx69

if you can financially afford to take the pay cut...then go for it.

you should work in a job you love and have a happier life, than be miserable and stressed ina job with good money.

Life IS too short.

go for it

MarkO

Well, in actual fact I would probably do some IT work out of hours anyway. So it wouldn't be a lie. In fact, just looking at RentACoder which looks an interesting idea.

Badger Stuffer

MarkO,

I am currently in the process of joining the Police Force. The money is allot less than I get now but money isn't everything.

If you have a better quality of life from it, a more stimulating and rewarding job and can afford to live on the wage then why not.

You will feel much better for it and it will give you more time to spend on the things that are important to you.

Good luck.

Jason.

Drunken Bungle Whore

**Warning - I have Hippy Dropout Tendancies**

Can you live on the money or is it just plain silly? If you can live on it then I'd say go for it. Can you really put a price on stress...?

You're at work longer than you're anywhere else so you may as well enjoy it. I've just changed jobs 'cos I loathe working in central London.

If I were you I'd def go for it - I'd love an opportunity like that!!



Good luck!!



[Edited by Drunken Bungle ***** - 04/08/2003 14:43:48]

MarkO

I'm getting a subconscious vibe that I should consider it.

The main issue that worries me is that I can't see much potential for payrises or improvement. Even in the police force you'll get an annual review, but I suspect that a bike mechanic, no matter how specialised, will have a pretty solid glass ceiling, remuneration-wise, which doesn't leave a lot of room for maneuvre when kids come along, etc.

As you say DBW, quality of life is everything, and getting out of London was the best thing I ever did. It's just a question now, really, of quite how 'native' I go.

Drunken Bungle Whore

Draw a line at Kilts!!

TheCarpetCleaner

be a rent boy, plenty of cash in that

Numptie

Remember, you've also got the jam profits to rely on.

Seriously though, I'm intrigued.

You appear to have a bit of a decision to make here. A decision which, I imagine, the majority of SN visitors would love to be in the position of having to make.

Now, from experience of your posting history on here, I believe you to be a; single minded, decisive and successful chap.

I'm wondering, therefore, why you would ever think about taking time to publicly ask such a question on an Internet bulletin board.

I've had a think about what the answer might be … choose one of the following:

• Arrogance
• Egotism
• Smugness
• Self-importance
• Conceit

No offence intended !

blueE9

In the last year I made a similar (sort of) choice and sacrificed a lot of money for lifestyle and haven't regretted it for a second. Keep your hand in with the IT if you can but DEFINITELY take the job!

Drunken Bungle Whore

...and IIR you said the shop was run by 2 girls. Can one assume they would be fairly fit to be working in such an establishment...?

And you're sure there's no ulterior motive...?

MarkO

Numptie: 'No offence intended'? Sorry, but every offence taken.

I posted on here 'cos
a) I've got plenty of spare time at the moment (that's something being unemployed gives you...),
b) I wanted to hear about other peoples' experiences like this.
c) I thought it'd make for an interesting topic.

Sure, I'm decisive, and SN probably won't really affect my decision directly. But it's still interesting to hear what people have to say. I don't think that makes me any more self-important or arrogant than anyone else who posts questions on here about their jobs, etc.

Any particular reason why you're having a pop at me today? [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

Is it 'cos you didn't get to try any of our fabulous jam?

Edited to say: BTW, if other SNers "would love to be in a position to make this decision", then all they have to do is sell their house in the South-East, rent a place in Scotland, have their employment terminated, and spend the next 8 months looking for work, and lastly consider whether to take a low-paid (but albeit potentially enjoyable) job, or continue searching for something which might be more financially suitable.

There's really nothing stopping them doing what we did...

[Edited by MarkO - 04/08/2003 15:07:53]

Tiggs

its a daft idea. classic grass is green rubish.

pull yourself together.

a bike shop for gods sake????? get cheap lunch???? listen to yourself, your not grizzly bloody adams living of the mountain in idealisticvile.

tramps dont work in offices either...why not be one of them?

Tiggs

MarkO

Good ol' Tiggs. The voice of conformist middle-class money-oriented reason.

Drunken Bungle Whore

No hippy tendencies there then!

How about tossing a coin. Heads you take it, tails you don't. If you flip it once and decide you'd prefer 'best of three' then you have your answer!

Sometimes you just have to do what you know to be right and screw what everyone else thinks. There is definitely life outside the office....

ozzy

Mark,

Why not, if you're doing nothing right now. Afterall the worst that can happens is you get bored or find a higher paid job and have to work 4 weeks notice.

Stefan

Hanslow

MarkO, take the bike job, quality over quantity.

I jacked my job in, well took a redundancy package, and like you am having trouble finding another IT job. However, I don't regret at all leaving the job I was in as it was doing my head in.

Wouldn't mind still working in IT if I can find a job that suits, but the time off has certainly made me realise that if the job pays less but satisfaction is 100% more, then the satisfaction wins for me

Numptie

No, just a whimsical waving of wee red rag to recognised bull - that's all

P.S. - ootcha ! - that hit a nerve ! - not like you at all, I'm disappointed

BTW - you may not remember but you and I had a bit of a kerfuffle on a certain mailing list a couple of years ago. We exchanged off-list emails and apologised to each other.

MarkO

Was that the scanners list....?

deanimus

If you do a lot of web development you could always go freelance and develop your portfolio which you can show to potential employers in the future.

Dean

Scoobychick

iTrader: (1)

Difficault one. On the surface it would seem a good idea to take the job as it's something you are interested in and would probably get a lot of enjoyment from. The fact that you have no other full time employment at the mo probably swings the balance in favour of the bike shop job too, however I can understand (and respect) the ethics involved in that you don't want to undergo training at the shop's expense only to jack it all in the minute a better paid IT job comes up.

I guess if it were me I'd take it, you never know what it may lead to and what could be just around the corner, whether that be financial or emotional gains. As has already been said you are in the position of being able to keep your IT hand in so it would seem that the potential positives do outweigh the negatives.

A question I would be asking myself is how would I feel if in 3 months time I was still unemployed and someone else had got the job in the bike shop?

Sal

what would scooby do

It's a good idea to stay in Scotland as the population there is on the decline. More deaths than births + people migrating out.

Numptie

.

[Edited by Numptie - 04/08/2003 16:32:37]

daiscooby

Take the bike shop job mate.

Switch off unwind and relax doing something you want to rather than something you have to do.

Best of luck what ever you do.

Sean

Tiggs

problem solved, there is some rubbsih in my office here. £5 plus a free coffee if you come and clean it up. i will include your 9 day bike ride down for free

Andy Mid.

Mark, seeing as you've got a fair amount of spare time at the moment, before you make a decision try doing this for the next few days....

a. Dismantle your mountain bike right down to the last nut and bolt
b. put everything back together using the correct lubrication and torques etc
c. Dismantle your mountain bike right down to the last nut and bolt
d. put everything back together using the correct lubrication and torques etc
e. Dismantle your mountain bike right down to the last nut and bolt
f. put everything back together using the correct lubrication and torques etc

then watch as reality sets in....

seriously, I love mountain biking but there's a massive difference between riding for pleasure in your spare time and working on someone's rusty bottom bracket with only Radio Borders for company

Andy Hall

If I was in your position, I would take the job, if in the future an IT job comes along, you could always take it, but you otherwise could be out of work for some time.
If you have a conscience problem with the training expenses that the shop will have forked out, you can always reimburse them with your new megga bucks IT bod salary.
You could even discuss your concerns with them prior to starting (as it sounds like they want you to do the job) maybe draw up some kind of "pre-nuptial" agreement.

Good luck
Andy

Listy

So......

In this Hand I have an IT Office Job...

In this hand I have the great outdoors and the chance to service to Birds every Day..... PLUS... Cheap Bike bits....

Geez man I can't believe you're even asking..