View Full Version : bit of a dilemma...
Just after some other points of view as am kind of blinkered.
As most will know i live and work in Belguim, basically i came out here about 2 years ago to learn a new trade and now i have, hold all required qualifications and enough experience to move on, problem is since i came here the world economy has crashed and jobs in this industry are as fragile as any other.
I have a couple of choices, i can either sit out here on my own bored to **** spending nigh on 18hours a day sat on my own then go to work and then return to my flat for the next 18 hours but do have the luxury of a pretty stable job here and a very good wage
or
I can return to the uk and try and find a job, there are a few about but the wage will likely to be 1/4 of what im on now but will be able to live with my wife and see my mates etc
Just cant decide what to do!
I'd stick it out mate! As you say, the UK jobs market is very unstable. What is you couldn't get a job in your current field, let alone as well paid?
Can understand you being sick as fcukl though. :(
Been offered a couple of jobs doing what i do but the money is awful compared to what i get here. Am quite out of touch with uk salaries etc so dont know if they are that bad for back home.
I think almost all jobs excluding 'professional' ones have took a huge dive in pay mate.
Did you only plan it to be a short term thing and then return to the UK with skills and experience and work here/live with your family mate or was it a look for something more permanent?
If you like it out there maybe try and move them out too?
No the industry where i work is very much need experience but no one will give it so got a chance to get qualified and earn good money with the intention of returning home when that was achieved but as said the job market has gone tits up in the meantime.
Problem with briging her out here is she dosent speak the language so couldnt work out here and she has a relatively decent job in the uk so we would sacrafice her wage.
andrew1988
08-12-09, 02:42 PM
What do you do?
NDT (non destructive testing)
Nova_Tek
08-12-09, 02:45 PM
I'd stay there mate, 18 hours bored and a good wage sounds pretty good tbh. If you are gonna get 1/4 of the pay over in the UK then you'll be losing a lot. Obviously family is important but to support a family you need Moola/Guap/Cashmoney/Cheese/Reddies and so fourth.
I'm curently trying to secure a position outside of the UK as my skills are more in demand.
well youve managed it for 21months longer than I did!!!
I got bored senseless being in Germany when I wasnt at work,sure the money was good, the bars wer ace but one and the other would cancel it all out if not careful etc lol.
Did manage to get rid of the GF while out there though so all wasnt lost :d
Some jobs have taken a pay cut, new starts however have taken a bigger cut as they simply can be picky now due to the numbers unemployed/looking to jumpship.
Sounds silly but do you 'NEED' 3/4 of your pay to enjoy life? if not then it might not be the end of the world to come back and see the mrs/mates etc.
Sounds silly but do you 'NEED' 3/4 of your pay to enjoy life? if not then it might not be the end of the world to come back and see the mrs/mates etc.
Thats the thing, i dont think i do, easy to say that when earnin g it but when it goes it will be a shock to the system.
Just spoke to a proper bellcheese on the phone about a job in a fab shop near where i grew up got mates who work there etc so could be intresting only problem is the recruitment agency there using are cocks of the highest order.
Pistol Pete
08-12-09, 04:18 PM
Stick it out till middle of next year IMO. Job situaton is abit unsteady here ATM. Maybe save abit of cash up, so if you do move back you have a cushion?
you only live once dude, and money doesnt always make people happy.
if it as me i would stay out there. and come back at a "safe" time.
craig green
08-12-09, 04:23 PM
Just spoke to a proper bellcheese on the phone, could be intresting only problem is the recruitment agency there using are cocks of the highest order.
Simples. Stay where you are.
But in all seriousness. I was going to say stay where you are. Just for the sake of sticking it out a bit longer. The other option is try & sort something on the better end of your pay scale here in the Uk whilst you still have the job overseas. Currently any job advertised here in the UK is massively over applied for & employers literally are taking on THE best candidates.
I think the temptation to come home and see my wife and friends would overpower the money factor, but I don't earn much money so don't have many luxuries and I'm not married.
You may prefer to be away from the wife lol.
You know the age old saying thought dont ya...
"I'd rather do nothing then something I dont love"
Your obviously not happy being out there an bored for 18hrs a day, Id come back home if i was in the situation.
blue_peg_16v
08-12-09, 05:22 PM
id come back mate, more to life that money imo
Well maybe a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, just managed to speak to my mate who says its at least couple years work at his place and the wages are better than i anticipated, not excellent but better and tbf i am over qualified for the job but am more than willing toi go down a level or two.
And by the sounds of it they have been really struggling to find anyone who even knows what the job involves. NDT is big business in the north east and scotland but down round bristol etc its a very very limited field so good when a job does come up but there few and far between.
he has given me the boss's direct line so can cut the ****y agency out as well.
Well maybe a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, just managed to speak to my mate who says its at least couple years work at his place and the wages are better than i anticipated, not excellent but better and tbf i am over qualified for the job but am more than willing toi go down a level or two.
And by the sounds of it they have been really struggling to find anyone who even knows what the job involves. NDT is big business in the north east and scotland but down round bristol etc its a very very limited field so good when a job does come up but there few and far between.
he has given me the boss's direct line so can cut the ****y agency out as well.
best option then :)
unless you are trying to buy a gaff, how about LTD company contracting if they will offer it?
best option then :)
unless you are trying to buy a gaff, how about LTD company contracting if they will offer it?
No got two properties atm so no rush for more.
Will speak to the guy and see how he wants to run it, got a few mates who are ltd companies working, they do well out of it for sure.
sparkie1401
08-12-09, 08:10 PM
its a tough one ben, know i know how bored you are next time im in town you me an guin will go for beer and ribs
chin up, i vote stick it out
Dont get me wrong Antwerp is an amazing place but the novelty is wearing off now!
Ah well payday next week that will shut me up for another few weeks lol
sparkie1401
08-12-09, 08:28 PM
i love my job and the pay is exceleent but i have days when i miss the norm but counting my money often helps
ribs are on you then, guin said so
Logical Improvement
08-12-09, 08:35 PM
How often do you come home ?
I'm in Telford 4 nights a week doing Lean Consultancy at the MOD, the money is 50% more than when I last had a full time job as a manufacturing engineer/production manager/6 sigma black belt.
(and because I'm a limited company it's quite Tax efficient)
Anyway I'm dreading the end of the contract as I quite like being on my own in the evening and just seeing the wife and kids at the weekend.
I'd be asking the wife to learn to speak French ? is it ? and move to join you.
No its dutch in the north half which is a difficult language to learn and the unemployment is very high round here so she would be competing with thousands of belgians with better language skills (they all speak at least 3)
In 2008 i went home about 3-4 times and this year have been back 6-7 times.
i would come home mate i know the pays not as good but its home your wife etc :) the good times and memorys will make up for the money!
By Limited you mean self employed/sub contract? As its not worth going Limited unless you have a mass outlay/a lot at stake, hence why I didnt bother lol
for normal officey/engineeringy jobs ltd company is a good way to make a feck load of money. There is nothing in the wya of tools to outlay for and all that so its very lucrative.
By Limited you mean self employed/sub contract? As its not worth going Limited unless you have a mass outlay/a lot at stake, hence why I didnt bother lol
No as Stu said go PLC and charge 3x the price and claim all the tax back, is a mnahhoosive fiddlely area.
They think the goverment are bad should see what my mates get away with lol
How did you get into NDT?
my stepdad has done it for 40yrs and my brother for about 10
you just wanted me to come over and play with you.
it's ok ben. i know you missed us.
you can come home.
but dont forget my curry ketchup this time.
If it's not what you know but who you know...
Gizza job in Belgium :d
you got any tickets, we cant get anyone who knows what there doing.
The only thing I know about NDT is what the acronym stands for... because of your earlier post.
I wouldn't mind 'stepping out' for a bit. What qualifications do you have for the job?
The two main one are Rt and Ut which are radioraphy and ultrasonic testing, then you get mt and pt which is penetrant and magnetic testing.
I havn't got the faintest idea about any of that.
I'm still a prospect though; put in a good word lol
scott.parker
09-12-09, 12:11 AM
Well Ben, im not going to pretend i know you much (think i did meet you once) BUT if it was me i would rather enjoy "LIFE" and life is not just money, it who's with you to help enjoy the times we have NOW.
doing Lean Consultancy at the MOD
ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHH
I'd be inclined to sit in what you're doing at the moment - its a safe option, the money is good, you can use it to ride out the crap job situation in the UK. Build up some funds, then use that time to keep an eye out for jobs back in blighty. In a few months or a year there may be better options around for better money.
The two main one are Rt and Ut which are radioraphy and ultrasonic testing, then you get mt and pt which is penetrant and magnetic testing.
*snigger* penetrant
Spoke to the guy at the job in bristol today, he has asked me to go in for an interview/show me around.
Am really stuck as what to do now, its a mahoosive paycut, have worked out will be 1/2 my wage worse off.
better than 3/4 worse off lol
Its nigh on 1/2 my wages that im on now but obviously wont have the added extras of running two homes and trips home etc. Will get holiday/sick pay which i dont get here etc.
SR-Rally
09-12-09, 02:51 PM
Go home :)
My head is buzzing with thoughts and figures at the moment,
I dont want to sound like a greedy pr!ck but in all honesty is £25k a year enough to live on comfortably? I am quite of touch with reality but dont want to be scrimping and saving, the other benifit of being back in the uk is i can also part time motortrade again which could boost the coffers if i was struggling.
a 'walk' through schipperskwartier solves all youre problems ben :) and there's a place with good french fries too lol
i'm just a single guy living with his mom, so i'd stay in belgium if i was in youre position.
but with a wife and all... hard choice.
ow, and if you stay here, it's easyer for me to get parts from the uk that the dont want to post lol
As has been said before money aint everything but youve got the wife at home, you got any savings since beening out of the UK. Least you be coming home with something.
My head is buzzing with thoughts and figures at the moment,
I dont want to sound like a greedy pr!ck but in all honesty is £25k a year enough to live on comfortably? I am quite of touch with reality but dont want to be scrimping and saving, the other benifit of being back in the uk is i can also part time motortrade again which could boost the coffers if i was struggling.
given that I'd move more towards brizzle with a hefty pay cut due to the cost of living being much lower, I'd say £25K is bareable... plus the only way should be up lol. Is that ltd or paye? if the former, then the rate is dog turd lol
scott.parker
09-12-09, 04:40 PM
My head is buzzing with thoughts and figures at the moment,
I dont want to sound like a greedy pr!ck but in all honesty is £25k a year enough to live on comfortably? I am quite of touch with reality but dont want to be scrimping and saving, the other benifit of being back in the uk is i can also part time motortrade again which could boost the coffers if i was struggling.
Really depends on what out goings you have as to if the 25K is enough?
But i would say yes, as i was on a bit more then that per year as self-employed, and i lived quite happily (at home) could do what ever i wanted etc.
But after the recession hit i had 6 months with no work, only been working on the books now for just under 6 months, it's so nice to have a steady income with regular pattern (no working 24hrs, or nights) OK so im on just above half of what i use to earn, but it's regular and i have more free time now and less stress..
The end of the day mate i think you want to come back, or els you would not be looking for the jobs, so take it, and then if something better comes up once your back you can always take that.
Scott
we have alot of our stock at work NDT and destructive tested.
come home :D im plodding along quite nicely on 12k a year and i dont live at home
given that I'd move more towards brizzle with a hefty pay cut due to the cost of living being much lower, I'd say £25K is bareable... plus the only way should be up lol. Is that ltd or paye? if the former, then the rate is dog turd lol
Its paye mate.
after listening to you whinge constintly the other night.
shut up and get over here for the interview.
atleast be happy and with your wife and friends (if you have any you miserable git)
the hours your doing are a joke and you are not happy (unhappier then normal)
you know the answer is what it is. you just dont want to move all your stuff.
but when you do "CURRY KETCHUP"
I found european curry ketchup in the center parcs shop when we went lol.
Ben is clearly not busy as his FB "Bens done this gay game and got this gay prize" status stuff is rife lol
£25k is doable, thats pretty much what I'm on with paying £450 a month bills & rent all in. I'd say I'm comfortable.
Ben is clearly not busy as his FB "Bens done this gay game and got this gay prize" status stuff is rife lol
I need a proper job to ween me off it!
Logical Improvement
10-12-09, 06:55 PM
Is £25k a year enough to live on comfortably? I am quite of touch with reality but dont want to be scrimping and saving.
You can survive on £25K If you don't have kids. Depends on how you cut your cloth. When my wife got ill with ME (Chronic Post Viral Fatigue) and had to give up work in 2006 we went from £50K to £32K overnight. We were struggling on £50K but £32K was easy to live on. Basically you never spend any money on anything ever apart from No frills basic food stuff. With 2 kids and a mortgage £25K would have required selling both cars, never going on holiday, and making our own clothes from sack cloth.
In Telford you can rent a one bed flat for £350 a month, add council tax and heat and light etc and food, you are looking at £1000 a month. £25K is what ? £1600 a month ?
If you have your own place and family then 25k will get you by, but I don't reckon you would have alot of cash to splash at the end of each month. I was on about 25k once and I had a girl and a baby to feed. I rented a flat and we could just about afford a car and food each month.
Why not move the wife out with you and ditch this POS country?
Matt Pickering
10-12-09, 08:18 PM
could you not do a survival course for offshore work?? Ndt is used on oil riggs ect, money would be good plus you would be month on, month off rota!!??
could you not do a survival course for offshore work?? Ndt is used on oil riggs ect, money would be good plus you would be month on, month off rota!!??
Got lots of mates on the rigs and know all about it and tbh its not my style, been looking at month on month work all over though.
Obv my wage would be £25k and my mrs earns about £20kish so would be about £45-50k pa household income with overtime.
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