FTO AUSTRALIA

I have been contemplating adding to my skill set by doing a degree. I am thinking either bachelor of business or bachelor of I.T.

I will be doing distance learning (online) so it will take probably about 20 years to complete it so I better not waste anymore time.

Have any of you guys done either?
Did you enjoy it.
What is your role now?
How much do you earn?
Do enjoy your job now?
Was it hard to find work in your field?

Any help would be much appreciated.


For everyone else, if you would like to put down what you do for a living and answer any of the above questions I would be more than interested to know.

Well, im not sure if this is relevant or not, but I am a software architect working for an information management company. We mostly do software integration work. Have a degree in Forestry though. I enjoy the work. Very challenging, always changing. I get 110K per year.

I just completed my degree in Business management.. I'm only 21, and I have an interview for a project officer role tomorrow. *fingers crossed* haha.
Degree was a bit boring.. hoping the career prospects are not so.

I'm in my final year of my Bachelor of Construction Management degree, I've also just secured a full-time position working in my industry as a junior project manager/site engineer while I study so I have some experience before I graduate, it's a great industry to be in, except when you have to deal with contractors/tradies twice your age who don't like taking your advice

Working on site is fun, can be stressful at times but being directly involved in a project that starts off as drawings on a plan and eventuates to a functional structure is quite rewarding. Once I graduate I'll be on a graduates salary, about 70k in a project manager/contract admin/quantity surveyor role. After a few years of experience that'll increase to the 100k mark and most senior project managers with 15 years or more experience are getting 250k+ so it's quite a rewarding industry to be in if you stick with it.

Experience is HIGHLY regarded in this line of work and as long as people need buildings to live/work/play in, there'll be jobs in construction. I went down this path because I've always had an interest in the way things were built, the engineering and architecture that goes into building these massive structures really interested me and I knew it would be a pretty secure industry in regards to the availability of jobs.

Glad to be finishing uni this year though, have a thesis to write and I'm mentally all over the place.

Whether it's right for you depends on if you can see yourself enjoy this line of work which involves the management of time, people, money and resources.

I am in the electronics industry (sh*t pay), but I am also studying for an IT bachelor through Open University htpp://www.open.edu.au

You need a lot of motivation do get off your arse and actually study, keep that in mind.

Thanks guys for all of your responses.

Supplanter wrote:I am in the electronics industry (sh*t pay), but I am also studying for an IT bachelor through Open University htpp://www.open.edu.au

You need a lot of motivation do get off your arse and actually study, keep that in mind.

This is exactly what I have been looking at, did you go computer science or information technology? What are you looking at doing when you finish. How long will take you to complete. Feel free to pm me if you don't want to discuss it here.

Koolio, how long did it take you to do your degree?

Twitch, keeps us posted. Any idea on how much you will start on?

Dwayne, how did you pull that gig if you have no qualifications in IT? I would like to do that for a job.

@koolie, i graduated last year as bachelor/degree in quantity surveying and worked for just over a year, and i'm on 35k as Assistant QS.
You mentioned fresh graduates for 70k. For real? That's double of what i'm getting.

@Simon, 4yrs on full time for degree courses in either construction management, construction economics or quantity surveying.
If you're venturing into construction field, Project Manager (construction management) seems to suit you more. As it's more on gaining experience and being capable of handling everything in order to deliver the expected results. (mostly working on site, lots of meetings/calls, everything is hands-on approach)
One can be a sole PM for a project even if he's only in the field for 3 yrs, provided he's capable of managing every required aspects to deliver the results.
I encountered quite a few PMs without any qualifications at all. Their experiences and capabilities alone entitled them to big salary.

Dwayne, how did you pull that gig if you have no qualifications in IT? I would like to do that for a job.

Im a natural of sorts. And experience counts for quite a bit in the industry as well as the qualifications. I specialise in breaking concepts and coming up with new ideas. Not having any fixed way of doing things sort of helps as it is easier to think outside the square if you havent been taught how things should be done.

As to how I got here:

1. Got into public service in Defence in the publishing area. Was doing markup on Word and Wordperfect documents for the publishing system (1991)
2. Started writing macros in word to automate the process (im lazy....). Ended up running the publishing R&D section for a number of years
3. Took on Role as manager of SGML standards for Defence. Did a bit of presenting at international conferences on SGML (Precursor to XML).
4. Got head hunted by private enterprise to join software integration company specialising in information management (1999).
5. The manager that initially head hunted me formed his own company and asked me to go with him (2003). Have been there ever since.

We now have a team of coders and we design our own products as well as integrate into other products. I mostly design and prototype the new functionality. We specialise in the information management space and most of our clients are federal government.

We pick up new developers from time to time. The work is forever changing and is very challenging. You end up being very good at thinking on your feet and coming up with innovative solutions to problems.

I8A4RE wrote: Twitch, keeps us posted. Any idea on how much you will start on?.

Interview was today, I feel it went well. Will keep you all updated as to whether I get the position or not. Starting salary would be 58k - 63k, with a total package of around 70k. Not bad really.

Geez.. 70k for fresh grads. That's 5-6g per month.
I must be living in a well for all these times.

I'm finishing my IT degree remotely that I started several years ago.
Working full time whilst doing two subjects a term generally means that I study at night and on the train with any catching up + assignments on the weekends. Half way through my first term back at it and I'm coping okay, just not much free time.

Not IT per se but if your not a laterally minded person like myself and enjoy using the creating side of your brain more then maybe graphics (corporate identity), web and digital design is something which could be for you.

Web and especially digital design is absolutely huuuugggee these days as nobody wants print anymore. If you work as a freelancer and have a good 'business head' then f**k, the opportunities are endless.

Im currently doing a 1 year course at a design college with these three incorporated and really enjoying it.

When i walk past the business classes i cant help myself but

@Simon.

My degree took me exactly 4 years full time, provided I pass all my subjects this year, I'll graduate after I finish this year. Time goes by so quickly after the first year, once you get into the habit of doing assessments, studying for exams, etc each year seems to get easier and you're abilities to research, analyse and write seem to sharpen. After you get into it, exams and assessments seem much more easier to handle on your own, and you rely less on others. There is a lot of group work involved in assessments which makes it easier as you spread the work out and don't have all the risk and responsibility placed on yourself.





@phunkydude.

Yeah there are graduates being offered 60-70k once they graduate but bear in mind it depends on this:

- You're applying to work for a mid to high tier construction firm who handle medium to large commercial projects.
- you're already working in this construction firm in a junior role while you study.
- In working with them or others you've had at least 1-2years experience working in the industry (which is what most construction management students achieve before they graduate anyway)

Worst case scenario, starting with minimal experience (about 6 months) as a graduate, you'll still be offered around the 45k mark. So as you can see, they really value experience and if you find a nice big construction firm to take you on, you'll definitely be on your way to make the big bucks.

studying mathematics and statistics at UTS, hoping to transfer into bachelor of business and law next sem or year which is another 6 years..

dstocks wrote:

Dwayne, how did you pull that gig if you have no qualifications in IT? I would like to do that for a job.

Im a natural of sorts. And experience counts for quite a bit in the industry as well as the qualifications. I specialise in breaking concepts and coming up with new ideas. Not having any fixed way of doing things sort of helps as it is easier to think outside the square if you havent been taught how things should be done.

As to how I got here:

1. Got into public service in Defence in the publishing area. Was doing markup on Word and Wordperfect documents for the publishing system (1991)
2. Started writing macros in word to automate the process (im lazy....). Ended up running the publishing R&D section for a number of years
3. Took on Role as manager of SGML standards for Defence. Did a bit of presenting at international conferences on SGML (Precursor to XML).
4. Got head hunted by private enterprise to join software integration company specialising in information management (1999).
5. The manager that initially head hunted me formed his own company and asked me to go with him (2003). Have been there ever since.

We now have a team of coders and we design our own products as well as integrate into other products. I mostly design and prototype the new functionality. We specialise in the information management space and most of our clients are federal government.

We pick up new developers from time to time. The work is forever changing and is very challenging. You end up being very good at thinking on your feet and coming up with innovative solutions to problems.

Wow, I am impressed mate. That sounds awesome. My biggest problem I have now is there are just zero challengers where I work now (I am in procurement) and I am just going stale here. I have huge amounts of freedom and flexibility so I could easily do a degree during work hours and need a challenge.

^
Whenever I find I'm not getting any exposure to help me progress in my career path, find that there's no prospects of achievement and I'm just getting comfortable, I leave. Not sure what you're exact situation is like but if there's nothing more for you to learn / progress into in your current role, you're wasting your own potential and dulling your skills and motivation to climb up.

Good thing is you wanna study, change jobs and learn more at the new job while you're at it

bass_twitch wrote:

I8A4RE wrote: Twitch, keeps us posted. Any idea on how much you will start on?.

Interview was today, I feel it went well. Will keep you all updated as to whether I get the position or not. Starting salary would be 58k - 63k, with a total package of around 70k. Not bad really.

Quick update - I got it start early may! Finally my Fto can get some more loving...

Score!

bass_twitch wrote:

bass_twitch wrote:

I8A4RE wrote: Twitch, keeps us posted. Any idea on how much you will start on?.

Interview was today, I feel it went well. Will keep you all updated as to whether I get the position or not. Starting salary would be 58k - 63k, with a total package of around 70k. Not bad really.

Quick update - I got it start early may! Finally my Fto can get some more loving...

congrats

Well done!