Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Some people who I went to college with over 6 years ago and studied GNVQ Advanced Business (and passed), are still stacking shelves at the supermarket and and working at the checkouts.

Cant understand why?

Bob

T4molie

Perhaps they don't have any "goals" in life and are happy doing just that? :-)

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Must be. Or they dont have any feeling of 'worth'?

Cant undertstand why one would want an education and then stack shelves forever.

PCatWork

Perhaps they enjoy stacking shelves. I'm looking for a career change myself. Any idea what the overtime's like?

DarkStar66

Maybe because they've got a qualification that says 'I want your job' to any prospective boss? But I assume you've got the same qualification AND a good job?

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Cant see that 'A' level qualifications would do that.

I took my education further and I've never had trouble getting 'good' jobs which require higher education

Apparition

I feel that by saying "good" you are saying "better". Forgive me if this is wrong, but what makes you think they are not happy doing what they are doing ?
Having been in both situations, ie working for someone and running my own business, I for one would opt for doing a day job, and walking away at the end of each day with no worries or responsibilities. Its fine being your own boss and/or doing a responsible job, but it can come a price and its a price, I for one, am not willing to pay again. Everyone has their own rule to live by.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

I just feel sad when I see people I studied with going nowhere with their careers....living with parents...pissing paycheck up the wall on a Friday night etc etc

Apparition

But do they feel they are going nowhere? Very admirable caring attitude BTW. Wish I had friends like you

suprabeast

nothing wrong with getting pissed on a friday old chap!

T4molie

Absolutely and in fact I can confirm that I was REALLY pissed Friday just gone

God bless the beer scooter

suprabeast

just the same as i will be pissed this friday! oh yes, god bless pubs !!

ALi-B

iTrader: (1)

Its not all about the wage and your jobsworth is it though? A long time ago I learnt that working your **** off to achieve your "goals" is futile and ends up undermining yourself and everyone around you. Plus it didn't suit me.

There is a general work always comes first attitude in the UK. There are more important things in life than work.

I can't see a shelf stacker being high stressed, or worked to death - Flexible work hours, and enough money to buy your petrol and beer - and more time for the more important things in life.

Do you want to live or do you want to work? - you shouldn't let a job get in the way of the more important things in life. I know alot of friends who seemed to have forgoton this.

Some people have different priorities in life.

TaviaRS

Work to live not the other way round is my motto

davegtt

if they can get by and enjoy their social life on the wages they earn doing shelf stacking then why not.... i know I wouldnt grumble at shelf stacking if I thought the wages would pay my morgage and socialising.... unfortunately they wont. so Ive found a job that keeps my current lifestyle good enough for me...

T4molie

I agree with this

I commute into London and back every day - get up 6:30am and don't get home until 7:45pm (give or take train times)

By the time you've eaten and chilled for a short while there doesn't leave much time for anything else - so I always make sure that I make full use of the weekends

I used to work for a company where whatever hours were required (and by this I mean putting in more at the weekend) they would be done - and that was without getting paid O/T

B0ll0x to that now - if they want me to work any extra then they either pay me for it or I get the equivalent pay as time off in lieu

Yeah things still aren't ideal Mon - Fri but am currently awaiting agreement from the big cheese to let me have some days "working from home"

EDITED TO ADD: Just read Davegtt's response and this is what drives me I live in a nice house, in a good area, have a Scoob and a er missus (although she's not that expensive ) Local salaries would not pay for what I have

fatherpierre

Someone's got to stack the shelves and clean toilets etc. No shame in jobs like that.

I'm just glad it's not me LOL.

Drunken Bungle Whore

It's interesting that many of the 'olg gits' on here (myself included) advocate quality of life over jobs and money - we probably didn't listen to anyone telling us this when we were younger either, we found it out for ourselves, just like everyone has to.

Of course people can be really happy in lower paid jobs - but there are some who don't aim higher because they don't think they can, or maybe they haven't had the opportunities, or a dozen other reasons - I'm lucky enough to be able to help out people like that sometimes, and that's what makes me love my job.

It's like the discussion in another thread right now - you really don't know what's going to happen in the next hour, never mind the next year, be happy today and enjoy what you're doing. Aim for things in the future - but enjoy the journey as well as the end goal.

Oh - and daisies and bubbles for everyone!

Recaro

This was the reason I got a job and didnt go to Uni.

I worked for sainsburys when I was at college and I was amazed how many poeple who were working there had degrees but yet couldnt get a job after a degree. Most of them work there during uni and then end up staying there after uni as they struggle to find a good job.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

I can see the 'live-by-the-day' and some merits of a stress free job. But I cant help but feel that it's maybe a little short-sighted as its not planning for the future....ie steady career job with steady income to support family and pay the mortgage/home.

I dont really see the value in having very little security, little prospects, pi$$ing the pay-packet up the wall every weekend, living one pay-packet to another. Dont understand that the many of my friends in the mid-20s are still living at home with very little overheads and they still manage to be constantly 'broke'.

I understand that some people like to keep things simple, but also feel that most sell themselves short and with encouragement and direction would be able to achieve so much more and be happier.

Dream Weaver

A full on corporate career is very over rated.

I used to live for furthering my career, and had some very good jobs along the way but as I got older the "corporate" thing really started to **** me off. Office politics, bull**** managers, in-fighting, manging people out, office gossops etc etc, it all means bugger all in the grand scheme of things.

I work for myself now and love it. I am the shelf stacker compared to my other business owning friends. They ask why I dont expand the business, get new premises, more staff and make more money....

...my reply is because I am happy where I am and have enough money to do what I want to do in life.

Aztec Performance Ltd

iTrader: (234)

Working for yourself is hardly shelf-stacking. You get to take it as far as you like, make as much as you like (within limitations of course) and most importantly its yours and has a future.

noxid

If we were all the same the world wouldn't move on much. I would love to be able to be content with my lot and not strive to better myself, but feel that the next challenge is somehow worth the stress and hassle. Some people don't and are happy with what they have.
So who is happier? The person with a nice house, nice cars, nice holidays, loads of toys and has the stress to go with it by holding a job that requires long hours and dedication? Or the person who stacks shelves, goes home, doesn't worry if they will be in line for the promotion and an extra few grand, and who is happy with they have? I don't have the answer but I bet if you swapped their lifestyles around both would hate the others life.
If everyone was a high achiever, who would stack the shelves in the supermarket and who would complain when they empty? Most people provide a service and are needed. We shouldn't criticise others when they provide a service to us and we shouldn't put our beliefs and ambitions ("....achieve so much more and be happier") on to them.

juicy1

Agree with Recaro. I had a mate who got a degree in Physics and then had to go back to the supermarket i was in because he couldn't get a job he didn't stay there forever but quite a few months.

Even i'm beginning to think that being the big businesswoman type is overrated. Rather stay at home making my baby Son giggle

Dream Weaver

That wasn't my point.

My point was that although I work for myself and am happy with my lot I have friends that run huge businesses with 50 plus staff.

Those friends will look upon me in the same way as you look upon the shelf stacker. They will ask why I dont expand so i can make even more money and buy a Porsche/Ferrari etc, but thats not what I want.

Quality of life is more important than money for me these days, though it wasnt when I was younger - back then it was all about money, and career status, striving to have the best company car, mobile, laptop etc Oh, how glad I am to be out of all that now

Brendan Hughes

IIRC the issue is rarely about money, it's usually about job satisfaction, and that is often linked to your brainpower, the level of mental stimulation. A-level graduates (?!) should be able to handle a bit more than stacking shelves - if they're just stuck with monkey work like that, they could get bored and restless after a while. I got into various low-level jobs for the money (early 90s, recession) - boxshifter in a warehouse, 7.5 tonne truck driving, "assistant" (glorified secretary) - but looking back I realised that I became a troublemaker in each one after six months to a year - because I was bored.

Just because DW doesn't earn as much as his mates doesn't mean that he hasn't got a challenging day-to-day job, meeting different people, solving problems, learning new things. Just means he's not paid so well for it That's his choice.

I certainly don't have a career at 36 (though I can vaguely see one where I am), but I'm very happy with what I do and happy to stay here for the next 5 years. I've absolutely no intention of gathering a team of people to manage, or a much bigger budget, or the ear of Ministers. OTOH a colleague of mine who's been here already for 8 years wants up and out, he feels he's not moving fast enough. Each to their own.

I'd have thought A-level passers could do something a bit more stimulating than stacking shelves though.

A&E

Some people use work to pay the bills leaving plenty of room for the other areas of their lives to stimulate their minds - each to their own

Dream Weaver

I'm probably not the best example tbh as I do earn more than most of my mates, its just my business colleagues/customers that earn the millions.

I also work for myself so the meeting different people thing is non existant But you are right on the challenging work aspect, working til about 10pm tonight

I've been high and low regarding jobs and money over the past 10 years, and in that time you definately learn whats important to you.

Stueyb

I think i'll chip in here. I currently have a day job, IT bs you know Windows n crap but of an evening I have several ventures that ok arent making huge money yet but are paying for themselves. I also aint rich yet!. People think starting up your own company is easy and just sit back and watch the cash roll in. Its very rarely that simple. But eventually I will be able to pack in the day job and be able to set my own hours to suit. To me that is worth an awful lot and the fact that all the work you do is for your benefit not some half assed firm with tw@ts at the helm.

Its an interesting fact that most people that get into owning their own business have siblings or parents that owned there own business.

I think people that get somewhere in this life have a) drive b) ambition c) dedication and hardwork and a bit of a ruthless streak. Most chavs detest hard work so excludes them for the most part

My 2ps worth anyhow

Dream Weaver

Well said Stuey, and good luck. You will never forget the day you pack the day job in, best feeling in the world.

There is probably some truth in your statement about owning a business as well. My dad and uncle both have a business each, and both of my parents dads had their own businesses.