u/IrishMx-5

I'm in quite a fortunate position and a weird one at that.
I just signed a contract for a role in Europe. It's a 3:1 rotation for Data Center Construction. I'll be taking home little over a grand a week between salary and allowances. Accommodation covered, company car, flights, airport parking and mileage to and from the airport expensed too.

So I'm going to be in a great position to save money, I'm single, nearer to 30 than I'd like and haven't got much else to be at other than working.

But, and maybe more so a single person.. it feels like everything is on hold until I've got the house sorted, from big purchases - I like my cars, my watches.. even big holidays there's always the lingering thought of 'good chunk of a deposit there'..

Maybe I just need to become one of those people who love just seeing the money in their account rather than the things you can buy with money!

If I can stay going with work, I'm on track to earn great money and progress with them, a lot of those roles don't even require me to live in Ireland and I'm starting to question why I'm even considering buying here! But then you realise it's the same everywhere and that goes back to my question; ever get the feeling you're putting life on hold until you can buy a house?

I'm an Apprentice Electrical Instrumentation Technician, unfortunately that means crap money and going where the work is.. So for me that means commuting the hour and 20 minutes each way.
I had an E60 520D, it cost me a fortune in the year I owned it with wear and tear.

As cheap as possible but I mean my 6k budget won't get much.. What are you going for?

I have an old NB Mx-5, 1.8 with a 6 speed.. Owned it for years and it's surprisingly reliable, I'd hate to part with it but I think I'll go insane daily driving that.

Octavia/Superb is probably the right call surely?

I'm currently interviewing for roles within the Construction industry and there seems to be a great opportunity to make a few quid, so I'm wondering if anyone here has gone that route?

Rotation work so Fly in Fly Out 17/4 (Over for 17, home for 4) seems to be the most common.
I've heard it's a lot of work, long hours, 5 days of 10 hour days and a half day Saturday..
But the salaries are quite good - 50k with 2 years experience is what I've been told.
Then the tax free allowance, so that seems to be about €1400 a month on top of your salary and to top it off - accommodation is provided when you're over there, company car and flights covered too.

It seems like a good opportunity for me to save a good chunk of my salary towards a Deposit and possibly buy something where I can keep a room for myself and rent out the rest since I'd only be using it for a long weekend once a month.

So I'm just wondering if anyone here has gone down that route?

Hi folks,

I was a Planner for a M&E Contractor for close to 2 years. Got on very well both within the company and in the role so I progressed quite quickly.
I left to go learn a trade, had it in my head for a long time and after a year I've realised I'd rather go back to Planning than continue on the tools.

Most of the roles out there seem to be Data Center projects, rotations in Europe (17, 4), and the money is decent. But what is the career progression like within Planning/Project Controls?

Also, what's the day-to-day like for you?
I was run off my feet, working to very tight deadlines week on week trying to get reports out, it lead to late evenings and quite a bit of stress, I'm guessing that just gets worse as you progress upwards?

Hi folks, long and short of it is I'm currently out of a job.
Awhile back I was a Planner for a large Construction firm, but that job came with insane workload, undue stress and eventual burnout.

I'm currently looking at Product Builder roles in Med Devices - I know that's not Pharma.
I don't like the idea of staying on the line long term, but I'm hoping to use it as a stepping stone to get into a better Industry and hopefully upwards from there.

I've experience in Supply Chain, I'm hoping to go back into that remit or possibly Operations Management.. I know Pharma pays better than Medical Devices so I'd be keeping eyes open for possibly moving over but that's not looking likely.

Any one have any anecdotes or advice for someone starting on the floor and looking to work their way up?

I'm Irish but there's nothing specific for us so I said I'd ask here (my mother is English if that helps!).

I'm a Uni graduate -Business degree, worked in Supply Chain, Sales and as a Planner for a Construction company. Office jobs just aren't really for me.
Most recently I've been an apprentice Plumber and I'm just not cut out for it.

So if not an office and not Construction.. I'm running light on ideas.

Trucking has always interested me.
I love machines of all sorts - Particularly cars but also Diggers, Dumpers, Lorries etc.. Scania V8's are popular around my way.

I'm single and living at home - I honestly don't know what else to go at if not professional driving.
Would you lot recommend it?

I'm a college grad who felt disenfranchised and left my Scheduling Job (Office job) to go out and learn a trade (Plumbing) all I've learnt is that this is not for me and at the ripe age of 29 my back and knees are already in shambles.

So I'm very lost.
I left Scheduling hating it, but I was also burnt out. And now I'm thinking of going back into it because frankly my feasible options are quite limited.

I didn't like it for 2 very different reasons at first, I was doing the donkey work - chasing for updates, pestering site management to update a portion of the schedule or give me bullet points of works completed.. Constant chasing for updates.
But that changed quite quickly when I got landed the Senior role after the Senior guy left.
Boss admitted it was a big ask and a bit of a shitshow but he had faith in me..
On the surface, I did well. Exceeded all expectations, really excelled in the role - fast tracked off the Graduate programme, significant early pay rise, managed 2 other planners on the day to day, got a lot of positive feedback from Senior Management/Directors.

But I was working evenings and weekends to do that, and I didn't have the best support in my 2 helpers (both of whom were very green).

It's about the only job I could jump into that has solid career progression, great pay and frankly that I was actually quite good at.

Beyond going back to Scheduling I am shit out of ideas!
I'm a Business grad with mediocre results from a mediocre University.
Realistically I'd be looking at joining a Medical Device Factory with the aim of working my way up internally as they take on quite a few people and train them into Operations, Quality etc..

And yeah,

Shit out of ideas after that..
All I can think of is driving - Bus, or Truck.. Becoming a Driving Instructor - I've always wanted to start my own Business... Those are all relatively quick careers I could jump into now.
I mean, I don't even know how much I fancy going back to an office job let alone Planning!

I was an apprentice Plumber and I got let go. Bit shitty, just got a text.. He basically said he didn't want a first year so I was getting the boot. But it's probably for the best, it really wasn't for me.

I have a Business degree. I've worked Sales, Supply Chain and as a Scheduler for a Construction company. The latter of which I could probably go back to, it pays well and theres a real demand for Planners at the moment.. But it's also niche, and it's niche within a niche - Only really in Construction in my region and only on big jobs - Data Centres and Pharma projects.
It was also insanely stressful.

I honestly don't know if I want another desk job! But I know I don't want to go back to Construction.. So I don't know what is really out there for me.

Office jobs in general I'm just not sure.. but I also know I don't want to be out on a building site doing back breaking work again.

I'm shit out of ideas..
All that comes to mind is:
Retail management - not stuck at a desk? But also working odd hours, weekend etc..
Truck Driver - I like the idea of it, but again long hours, odd hours, weekends etc - not entirely against it though..
Driving Instructor? Flexible, odd hours, opportunity to start your own Business, the latter really appeals to me..

Any suggestions?

How do the 2 careers stand up? I know Planning is quite lucrative but I'd imagine QS is too?
Seems to be a big demand for Planners, but (like most jobs) it's quite stressful and a bit thankless..

Was a Planner/Scheduler for a construction company, got on great, was good at it I was progressing quickly.
Arguably too quickly, senior guy left and I was left to take over.
I just worked and tried to manage without asking for support and burnt myself out.

Left and went into a trade, been on site for a year now currently an apprentice Plumber.
It’s going grand but it’s hard going and I knew that, but I didn’t realise just how taxing it was on your back and knees, stuff that just gets worse and isn’t just physical tiredness.

Debating going back to Planning/Scheduling as a better long term career plan vs Plumbing.
Had notions of learning a trade to work for myself/grow a Business but reality is I’ll be at this a long time before I’m able to go out on my own let alone have enough lads working for me to get off the tools.

Am I mad?
Lot to be said for learning a trade and all that.

To cut a long story short. I went to college and got a Business degree. Ended up in Scheduling for a large firm.
I was good at it, got promotions, pay rises and what not.
Senior guy I worked with left and I had to pick up the pieces, bit off more than I could chew and struggled but just worked longer hours to make it happen.. I burnt out.

Left to learn a trade. I’m just under a year into Plumbing now (domestic).
There was a period of just being sore, office to site will do that. But now I’m also realising just how much of a toll it takes on you..
Sore knees, sore back, strains and pains that don’t go away with some rest and I’m questioning how long I can keep that up for (I’m already nearly 30).

I had notions of learning a trade and starting my own Business but now I’m thinking I’ll be so physically broken by the time I can start working for myself let along get to a point where I’m no longer on the tools.. is it worth it?
Or would I be better off going back to Planning/Scheduling. Something I was good at, progressing in and got on well doing, but just try to manage better and not let myself take on too much and burn out again?

I’ve a lot of respect for the guys on site, already did and that’s why I wanted to do it myself but now I’ve even more respect..

I went to college and eventually ended up in Planning/Scheduling for a large Construction firm.
I was good at it, actually good at it.. I got pay rises, promotions and praise from my boss, his boss and the director.
But I also bit off more than I could chew and burnt out after months of late nights and weekend to keep up with the workload after my old Senior left and I picked up his workload.. I just didn’t have the support, didn’t really ask for it and just kept everything a float at my own expense.

I since left to learn a trade, Plumbing.
It’s going fine, but it’s so physically hard. Not just in the ‘I’m tired and not used to physical work’ but lifting head pumps up onto the gable end of a house. Carrying a 50kg roll of pipe up a ladder, lugging generators about the place..
and then just being on your knees constantly at sinks, taps, radiators, toilets.

I don’t hate it, I don’t enjoy some of it - insane heat in attics, inhaling concrete dust, back strains etc..

I went into this with the aim of self employment and growing a business but I’ve sort of realised just how hard it is physically and I’ll be in bits by the time I can start my own business let alone get to a point of getting off the tools.

There was quite a bit I didn’t like with the scheduling job but not all of it, I was also good at it, saw progression, wasn’t broken up doing it, got on well with the company etc..
So I’m thinking about going back. Am I mad?

For reference I’m 29, a 1st year apprentice Plumber on very little money living at home.
My employer noted that I was opted in as in my previous role I earned over the threshold, I no longer do but it’s still being deducted, think it’s only a tenner a week.
Should I leave that as is or opt out?
I’m thinking just leave it as I don’t really notice it at the end of the week as is.

Silly question I know, but I'm wondering if anyone has any experience with doing so?

I'll be ringing them tomorrow to ask regardless.

I have a Renault Sport Clio, 2001 and I'm wondering if a Main Dealer would possibly do the Cambelt/Tensioner, I know it's a expensive job, but it's also a common theme on Renaults, so maybe they would?

https://reddit.com/link/1uodalf/video/nu13rv6u5hbh1/player

Doesn't happen when revving at standstill only noticeable at lower rpm in first and second. No idea what it is, any ideas?

I had a BMW 5 Series (E60), sold it as I was no longer doing a lot of mileage so didn't need a Diesel.
Thought I'd buy some cheap Petrol runabout - I have my 1998 Mx-5 as my fun weekend car, so I'd just get something sensible, maybe even a Van as I'm an apprentice Plumber.

But nope.
I bought an old Renault Sport Clio 172 ph1. It's great. Love it. So fun to drive and marginally more sensible than the Mx-5.

It was however more money than I had initially said I'd spend, more expensive to run and given it's 20 odd years old now, possibly not as sensible.

One surprising concern however is that it's a little too nice.

I come home from work most days covered in concrete dust, potentially also having bits of glue or expanding foam stuck to me.
So I have stuck in Seat Covers, but even with small things like the drivers door, theres alcantara. There are bits and pieces that would be hard to replace.
Not to mention I can/do drive into site, I've bottomed out in the Mx-5 a couple of times, Clio might too.

I know cars are meant to be driven, but I don't think that includes PVC glue setting into the armrest as you forgot it was on your elbow.

I can afford it, I do enjoy driving it and if something happens and I can't drive it, I can just drive the Mx-5 so there's the 'sensible' box ticked..

I also don't want to sell the Mx-5 even though that's a logical conclusion. I enjoy it, I know the car and all the work that's gone into it and it's cheap RWD fun.

https://preview.redd.it/17vnn4s97n8h1.jpg?width=2160&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0673f6d67dd2af339482be50ceae04a939cc5627

Great fun to drive but the decat exhaust is headache inducing, I have the original Cat but it was cut before the lower flange.
I'm thinking of either buying a new catback system and just getting a flange welded onto the original Cat, or getting a custom Catback exhaust made up..
Any suggestions, I have heard BS Exhaust Works does good work.

Hi folks, looking at a 172 Clio and know the Cambelt will need doing on it, heard they're an awkward job and quite costly, any idea how much it'll run me and any suggestions on where to get it done?

I’m an Apprentice E&I Tech, but really working more Industrial Electrical than E&I.
I think I’d prefer plumbing and I’ve been offered an apprenticeship in it. I’m just second guessing it because virtually everyone has told me Plumbing will be so much more physically demanding, it’s horrible work and that you’re so much better off doing what you’re already at. But I think I’d prefer Plumbing.
It’s mainly Domestic and Commercial work rather than Industrial Plumbing so probably a sizeable difference there.