Super Duper Off Duty Thread - 2.0

Magill

the recovery disks you have to create for laptops without a recovery partition you mean ? If so, yes.

Thomasheen

Magill wrote: »

the recovery disks you have to create for laptops without a recovery partition you mean ? If so, yes.

Yeah I dont have the windows disk I used to install windows on my laptop after the first time it crashed. I want to cmpletely wipe the hard drive since it's gone so slow lately

Leeg17

Was looking for some safety things today in college, and came across this gem..




..Now where can I buy some?

Headshot

You can get that in Winterhold

Leeg17

Headshot wrote: »

You can get that in Winterhold

In my private garden so

GEasy

Thomasheen wrote: »

Anyone know if i create backup disks from the windows backup thingy and wipe my hard drive will the disks reinstall windows fresh?

Not quite fresh, you'll get all the muck that manufacturers put on windows also.

Headshot

Lads Im thinking of going back to college to do an IT course (not sure which type). Iv a big interest in computers and I did a IT course before (few years ago) but what was my biggest problem (besides the course having useless teachers) was Java/programming. I just couldnt wrap my head around that stuff

Are employers specially looking for Java stuff or what

Mr. Rager

On the topic of "school days are the best days of your life" a few pages back, my accounting teacher has an absolutely glorious rack. So go figure #justsayin

Leeg17

fjsanchez wrote: »

On the topic of "school days are the best days of your life", my accounting teacher has an absolutely glorious rack. So go figure #justsayin

Take some pics. Challenge accepted?

We had some fine ass teachers, 3 of them knew it and flaunted, you'd want to see some struts down the corridor Bumped into one in Galway during the Summer, still had it :pac:

GEasy

Headshot wrote: »

Lads Im thinking of going back to college to do an IT course (not sure which type). Iv a big interest in computers and I did a IT course before (few years ago) but what was my biggest problem (besides the course having useless teachers) was Java/programming. I just couldnt wrap my head around that stuff

Are employers specially looking for Java stuff or what

Probably not specific languages as there's so many of them. Depends on what IT course you do but alot of them are programming intensive! Ask magill, he's doing one now

Magill

Headshot wrote: »

Lads Im thinking of going back to college to do an IT course (not sure which type). Iv a big interest in computers and I did a IT course before (few years ago) but what was my biggest problem (besides the course having useless teachers) was Java/programming. I just couldnt wrap my head around that stuff

Are employers specially looking for Java stuff or what

I mightn't be the best person to ask on this because im still at uni and haven't really got any experience working in the field.. but from what i can tell and from talking to a few people i know who work in IT... programming is a good way to go. Java is a big plus i'd imagine because its a language that is relevant to a lot of different languages and is a really good starting language.

Its really not that bad once you get the hang of it and as long as you find it interesting you should pick it up no bother.. but like you said having awful teachers won't help at all.

I did a foundation degree in computing and network systems which i thought was really good. Covered a good bit of OOP in Java and a bit of VB.Net in the programming modules and then there were modules in networking (Cisco) and computer architecture.. along with some ****ty math and business modules. So theres a bit of everything there and nothing too stressful or hard as long as you don't slack off. I'd really recommend doing something like this as it'll let you get a taste of it all. Was a 2 year full time course which let me go onto uni to finish the full honours degree in either ICT, Computer Science or Software Engineering (I choose SoftwareEng), which I only have to do 2nd and 4th year of... so it works out the same length of time to complete a full honours degree.

Living with 6 of the guys from that course now, 5 of them are doing ICT and think its grand enough, it seems to be mostly projects/networking and some web-development. One of the lads went straight into employment, working full time as a programming and earning a decent wage... more impressive that he got it with only a foundation degree and 3 months work experience.

It's really a good sign for jobs in the field i think, he says his company and most of the other big software companies around belfast are hiring flat out at the moment, but theres a big shortage in good programming graduates so they've had to look out of the country aswel.

Really tho, coding and general software development is something you like or don't. I'd give it another shot, but its not the only route you can go with computing and something like that foundation degree is ideal if your not sure whats right for you.

Headshot

Where did you do the foundation degree?

Magill

Headshot wrote: »

Where did you do the foundation degree?

Newry Southern Regional College. I'd imagine most IT's do something similar tho.

CORaven

If you were offered a job. Your dream job even if it has starting pay less than expected, would you take it?
What if you were offered another job for the same length of time, but double the pay, but it would be a risk as you do not know as much as it as option 1. Would you set your dreams aside for the extra money?

I have two job offers and a little over 24 hours to decide the next three years of my life. Option 1 is the start to a career and will mean getting a pants pay to start with but good pay in 5 years time if I continue on.
Option two's starting pay is double the starting pay of option one and is still higher than I would get after the 5 years. However, it requires moving to Dublin with costs that I do not have to endure with option one, is in a field that I know little about, and I could be let go at the end of the contract with no professional development.

How much are your dreams worth?

Leeg17

That's a toughie CO, I'd take the **** money happy job personally. 3 years is a long time to be stuck in a job you don't like, the extra money would soften it a little bit but not enough..

Best of luck either way.

Headshot

You have to consider the expensive of living in Dublin too

Nuri Sahin

CORaven wrote: »

If you were offered a job. Your dream job even if it had crap starting pay, would you take it?

In a heartbeat.

Magill

CORaven wrote: »

If you were offered a job. Your dream job even if it had crap starting pay, would you take it?
What if you were offered another job for the same length of time, but double the pay, but it would be a risk as you do not know as much as it as option 1. Would you set your dreams aside for the extra money?

I have two job offers and a little over 24 hours to decide the next three years of my life. Option 1 is the start to a career and will mean getting a pants pay to start with but good pay in 5 years time if I continue on.
Option two's starting pay is double the starting pay of option one and is still higher than I would get after the 5 years. However, it requires moving to Dublin with costs that I do not have to endure with option one, is in a field that I know little about, and I could be let go at the end of the contract with no professional development.

How much are your dreams worth?

Depends really on the second job and your current situation doesn't it.. im sure most people would say option one if they werent actually making the decision !

Never that simple tho, if it was say option 1 being a programmer for a decent games studio and option 2 being something more ordinary but still work as a coder.... right now i'd choose option one... if i was slightly older + had more commitments then it'd defo be a much harder choice and i'd probably go with option 2 if i had a family to support !

Working in your dream job would be class tho i'd imagine, and a lot of career jobs start on ****ty wages anyway !

Double the pay is massive. As headshot says tho... dublin is expensive, at least for me it is !

CORaven

Well I am not just looking for advice, I am interested if people were given the opportunity in their current state of affairs, how would they lean?

Personally I am currently leaning to the career as I have but so much effort, money and study into my advancement to this point. That and I calculate the cost of living at home for the time being Vs moving to Dublin on the higher wage I end up with the same in the end after accom expenses and tax.

However I am in a position where I can take option one and be still comfortable. Others may not be so lucky.

Magill

Dream job for sure then. Pornstar.

Thomasheen

Magill wrote: »

Dream job for sure then. Pornstar.

Even they have to start at the bottom :pac:

AdamD

What is the career in as a matter of interest?

CORaven

#1 Accountant. It may not be everyone's' cup of tea, but it is mine. I have a degree and a masters in it so far and a varied experience relating to it. The job will give me exp in book keeping, audit, tax, insolvency and business recovery and various financial services. The company has a good rep and a good work attitude.

#2 is working for a bank assessing when ether or not people can pay their mortgages, and how much money we can get out of them.

GEasy

CORaven wrote: »

#1 Accountant. It may not be everyone's' cup of tea, but it is mine. I have a degree and a masters in it so far and a varied experience relating to it. The job will give me exp in book keeping, audit, tax, insolvency and business recovery and various financial services. The company has a good rep and a good work attitude.

#2 is working for a bank assessing when ether or not people can pay their mortgages, and how much money we can get out of them.

What I would do is play one off the other. Go to the accountant saying that the bank is offering me so and so, you'll have to do better blah blah.

AdamD

CORaven wrote: »

#1 Accountant. It may not be everyone's' cup of tea, but it is mine. I have a degree and a masters in it so far and a varied experience relating to it. The job will give me exp in book keeping, audit, tax, insolvency and business recovery and various financial services. The company has a good rep and a good work attitude.

#2 is working for a bank assessing when ether or not people can pay their mortgages, and how much money we can get out of them.

I'm half considering accountancy myself so no judgement here :P, what did you study in college?

CORaven

LakesKeane wrote: »

What I would do is play one off the other. Go to the accountant saying that the bank is offering me so and so, you'll have to do better blah blah.

Not an option. If I reject, they could if they wanted to, find someone who would work for peanuts. And they are aware of my alternative offer, one of the first things I told them.

CORaven

AdamD wrote: »

I'm half considering accountancy myself so no judgement here :P, what did you study in college?

Finance and Accountancy in Maynooth and a Masters in Accountancy.
Both I would really recommend the degree as I really enjoyed all aspects of it. You study accounting, finance, economics, law and maths and the lecturers were over all good. The course would not change too much in many other colleges, just the levels of hours undertaken in Maynooth were nothing compared to other Universities (18 per week).

Masters was interesting, but was a step up and (for me, in the wrong direction). If you are going for it, understand that the Big4 accounting firms are over rated as I am told by past employees. My own masters was designed to get you into the Big 4 or have the mentality that multinationals and large companies are the be all and end all in business.

I personally would recommend accounting as you learn business skills applicable to any organisation. Plus knowing how to do a tax return always helps.

AdamD

CORaven wrote: »

Finance and Accountancy in Maynooth and a Masters in Accountancy.
Both I would really recommend the degree as I really enjoyed all aspects of it. You study accounting, finance, economics, law and maths and the lecturers were over all good. The course would not change too much in many other colleges, just the levels of hours undertaken in Maynooth were nothing compared to other Universities (18 per week).

Masters was interesting, but was a step up and (for me, in the wrong direction). If you are going for it, understand that the Big4 accounting firms are over rated as I am told by past employees. My own masters was designed to get you into the Big 4 or have the mentality that multinationals and large companies are the be all and end all in business.

I personally would recommend accounting as you learn business skills applicable to any organisation. Plus knowing how to do a tax return always helps.

I'm currently studying Commerce in UCD, I'm able to go into accounting in 3rd year but at the moment im undecided between that and 'Banking and Finance'. My brother is currently in that area in London and although it looks very interesting, the hours are insane, (6 30am - 6pm+ everyday), so I've gone from really wanting to do that, to considering accounting :P. From what I've been told the 'Big 4' doesn't sound great, but is good for getting you future jobs afterwards.

gcgirl

Thomasheen wrote: »

Magill wrote: »

Dream job for sure then. Pornstar.

Even they have to start AS A bottom :pac:

Fixed that for yah

CORaven

AdamD wrote: »

I'm currently studying Commerce in UCD, I'm able to go into accounting in 3rd year but at the moment im undecided between that and 'Banking and Finance'. My brother is currently in that area in London and although it looks very interesting, the hours are insane, (6 30am - 6pm+ everyday), so I've gone from really wanting to do that, to considering accounting :P. From what I've been told the 'Big 4' doesn't sound great, but is good for getting you future jobs afterwards.

I am not an expert, but I have yet to hear anything positive about the big 4 bar the reputation for hard work at the end of it all. People tend to be only capable of one or two things in accounting even though they have studied it for so long. If you get in a smaller firm, you could get a better experience and improve your skill set and be more of an asset to any future employer than any Big 4 former worker could be.