My Job: Oh Bugger!
Wednesday, October 6th, 2004 - 9:18am
Hey guys!!
Just found out that I'm to be made redundant!! On the 30th of november! Strange how these things always happen before christmas!!
Anyway, I was just thinking that maybe I'd like to get out of the software development business and into something else.
So my question to you guys ..... are any of you paramedics (the civilian abulance driving kind, not the military jump out of a plane variety) If you are whats it like?
Not sure If i'd be able to look at someones mashed up limbs without losing my lunch, but i guess you'd get used to that.
Sorry to hear that Monkey. I hope you land on your feet, bud!
I know/work with a few Paramedics. The FD ones have the best compensation. Buty you can make a living in the private companies. Sign up for classes ASAP, at least here they are tough to get into / arrange. As for the gross factor, thanks to movies, the visuals are nothing. It''s the smells that get me. Except for stuff with kids. I have a hard time with that, still. But there is a switch that develops in your brain that will click. You do your thing and think about it later on.
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Plus I believe you need to do some schooling to be a paramedic, correct?
Do you have the background to jump from Software to that?
I have some friends also, and you do have to have switch in your head.
You might wanna think about it before you see your first banged up child.
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Man, that sucks Shaolin, good luck with finding new work!
My condolences Shaolin_Monkey. Best of luck in finding a new job.
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Good luck on the job hunt. And better luck on the career change. Such things can be painful, but ultimately fulfilling, if you land in a profession that you really like.
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When I was working my former job as a general assignments reporter at daily paper, I often had the unfortuanate task of monitoring the police scanner, which led to a lot of rushing to accident scenes and the like for coverage. It was the really unpleasant part of the job (primarily because I felt like a vulture) and one of the reasons I''m no longer involved in that end of the business.
But, for the paramedics, it seemed to me like it could be a very rewarding career. I don''t think there are any illusions about the pay being less than wonderful, (I think all of our emergency responders are woefully underpaid), but the emotional rewards would seem, to me at least, worthwhile. Some of the actions I witnessed by the police, fire and paramedics, were nothing short of heroic and inspiring. It also looked like an extremely difficult job.
At any rate, you could probably contact a local fire/EMS department and tell them you''re interested in a career in the field. They might be able to arrange for a ride-along one day or night and you''d get a first-hand view of what the job would be like. I think most public agencies will offer the occasional ride-along to a citizen. I don''t know if it''s different in the UK though.
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Man, this is definitely rude to dish out a termination notice practically before Christmas. I wish you luck and hope that finding your next job will not be too onerous.
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Its actually Better to be laid off BEFORE christmas... I know several people who got the axe after only to have just spent way way way too much on presents for their kids and were SOL with the bills etc. That''s mot much of a condolence but it may help.... unless you don''t have kids or a wife who you would have spent the cash on. Either way good luck with the search... and I''d recommend starting today.... and use company time to do it
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Brutal. Good luck in the career change.
Side note: I once worked for a guy in a small brokerage firm that got laid off on Cristmas Eve, right before the office party. The primary owner was pretty much a ''satan''s pocket tool''.
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Ugh - that stinks, man. FWIW, I got out of the software development business a while back to take some time off, and it''s done me a world of good. If you''ve got the savings to burn, give some thought to relaxing and getting some perspective before you go back into dev work or start a new career.
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That definitely does suck... sorry to hear it. I''d tell you my ""been there, done that"" story, except I know how little consolation those are
I''d also suggest maybe going for a tech job, radiology tech in particular. I may be messing up the job title, but it''s the folks that take care of medical imaging. Need a two year degree which you can apparently get some hospitals to agree to pay for assuming you commit to a period of time working for them and also pick up a job as what amounts to a ""tech, junior"" job while earning the degree. Not as exciting, rewarding or stressful as a paramedic, perhaps, but probably a better foot in the door scenario.
You might also try surgical tech, which is a position usually in demand and could get you used to the gross stuff. I *think* you can do that in less than a year with mostly hands-on training. Just throwing it out. There''s no way I could ever be an EMT.
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Cheers for all the advice guys. Not sure what I''m doing yet. The guy from our HR department is pretty good, he''s going through my CV and letting me know what should/shouldnt be in it, which is helpful as he looks at about 10 - 20 a week from people looking for work.
Also found out my boss has authorised ANY training i need to help get another job. Being made redundant sucks, but at least my employers seem concerned about helping me find a new job.
Looked into the Paramedic situation. Over here (UK) they take you on as an Abulance technician, they then teach you all the basics as quickly as possible and send you out with an experienced partner, so it looks like it''s pretty much on the job training. Cant apply anytime soon though as there is a dugs test and I''ve got a holiday to Amsterdam booked for the beginning of december!
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I was trying to figure out why your employer was being so kind and understanding, Shaolin.
Then I realized you were in the UK. I''m too used to the way they do business here in the states.
I''m working on trying to get set on a paramedic career path myself. Still working my current job (tech support) while I try to get the education I need to make the jump.
It''ll be a pretty serious pay cut to go from being someone who resets passwords to someone who saves lives and throws themself in the face of danger. Go figure.
That said, I''d rather take a paycut and be more satisfied with my life than stay at my well-paying job and despise a sizable portion of my life.
Employers over here are usually pretty good about supporting their employees. I''m just lucky that I work for a local government agency. They treat their staff extremely well.
Although I''m not happy about getting laid off, I can''t really complain that they''ve left me hanging.