kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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Hi...
I started working in radiation physics as a technician just before christmas. Now I'm getting used to the place they've told me I should take advantage of the NHS and come september, get day release for a college course. Now they got me because I have an IT background (BND in networking and ICT support) and it's moving more away from electronics. The three options for me basically is medical physics, further IT knowledge, or electronics.
Which do you think would be most useful if I ever wanted to change job again? I do really enjoy IT and it's a hobby as much as a job, I wouldn't mind going down the A+/N+ route possibly even MCSE, although that's overkill for my job. Thing is with that a lot of people have better knowledge than me... although they're also a lot of jobs to go for.
With medical physics I find it quite interesting, although it really limits me to working in hospitals, and there's not even that many with radiotherapy departments, for instance only three in the whole of essex! Electronics...
Is my last choice really, I find it quite boring! Although, to go on some courses for the machines they say I need a basic understanding. Although if I'm there long enough I may have time to take all courses, but if it was you what would you go for? Not just to do with interests, but also job prospects for the future.
Cheers 
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P1CK4D
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Registered: 19th Jun 06
Location: Around Essex Somewhere
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The one you would feel most comfortable doing day in day out. Asking someone, let alone people on a forum to decide your future is a joke.
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kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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 thanks for the input, I'm not going to just go for what comes out on top lol...
Just wondering people that have taken the above paths how they've got and what they would recommend basically!
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P1CK4D
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Registered: 19th Jun 06
Location: Around Essex Somewhere
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quote:
Originally posted by kz
Just wondering what they would recommend basically!
quote:
Originally posted by P1CK4D
The one you would feel most comfortable doing day in day out.
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Faye_2003
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Registered: 5th May 03
Location: the gutter :(
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kz I don't think it's a bad idea you want advice from people, from a personal viewpoint I think the medical profession is one where you're constantly needed all the time, so although certain job vacancies may get cut, other ones appear quickly so that's just my thinking, but like P1 suggested, you've also gotta love the job and be happy doing it.
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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IT is sh1te IMHO, I wouldnt reccomend it to anyone. In the 90`s it was the area to be in and even IT support paid reasonably well.
With the advent of ITIL it really has become too much process and customer service and is a pain in the ass.
I spent 6 years as techie and over the last 3 years IT project management and Service Delivery and cant say ive enjoyed it at all, well save maybe for the money especially when I was contracting.
It is a huge arena though and I cant comment on developer jobs but stay away from anything support or service related IMO.
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16vKarlos
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Registered: 27th Oct 07
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in my honesty, i would go for the most payinng and most enjoyable..
my 2p's worth
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ed
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Registered: 10th Sep 03
User status: Offline
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So long as you choose something that you don't need a degree to do you'll earn £50k doing anything straight out of school with an O Level.
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kz
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Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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I never even thought about working for the NHS before applying for my current job... but I'm always getting told it's a good company to work for. First time I've had a pension scheme I would even possibly look to becoming a radiographer seeing as though that's who I work with every day. Plus they're on the next pay band to me! I'm going to carry on what I'm doing for around seven years until I get to the top of my band and take it from there.
Like you say Faye my job is always going to be needed, and although there will be much less available jobs than IT, it's also a lot more specialised and if I have the knowledge by then, it's got to be a good look 
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SetH
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Registered: 15th Jul 01
User status: Offline
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It's going to take 7 years to work to the top of your band?
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Brett
Premium Member
Registered: 16th Dec 02
Location: Manchester
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Seth is spot on about IT tbh.
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by SetH
It's going to take 7 years to work to the top of your band?
Yup there's 7 levels and you go up one per year... although it is possible to go up 2 if you're the bollocks, yet to be seen if I am or not though 
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J da Silva
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Registered: 10th Apr 03
Location: The FACTory
User status: Offline
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No, that isn't true about the banding of nursing by the way, if you qualify as a nurse with a degree or diploma you start on band 5 and if your highly regarded in the job, then whoever is responsible for you could throw you upto band 7,8,9 if they so wish.
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Faye_2003
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Registered: 5th May 03
Location: the gutter :(
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JDS is right, I started on band 5 on 22k per year straight out of uni.
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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I'm not saying that, I started out on band 4... but I'm on the bottom of band 4, each year I'll move up until I get to the top of band 4.
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Tom J
Organiser: South Wales
Premium Member
Registered: 8th Sep 03
Location: Bridgend
User status: Offline
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hes on about the increments within each band. i would say stick with med phys, theres always sick people, and plenty of opportunities to move up
[Edited on 08-03-2010 by Tom J]
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Tom G
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Registered: 4th Aug 08
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by J da Silva
No, that isn't true about the banding of nursing by the way, if you qualify as a nurse with a degree or diploma you start on band 5 and if your highly regarded in the job, then whoever is responsible for you could throw you upto band 7,8,9 if they so wish.
There is no 9 Jizz 8A is the top i believe then it is spot pay.
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P1CK4D
Member
Registered: 19th Jun 06
Location: Around Essex Somewhere
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Faye_2003
JDS is right, I started on band 5 on 22k per year straight out of uni.
I started on band 4, 19k per year straight from school
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Mike GSi
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Registered: 3rd Jan 07
Location: Ipswich, Suffolk Drives:Astra VXR
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I have an interview coming up to be a Health Physic GDA, then progress onto 1 day a week collage course to become a Health Physic Monitor! there is lots of money in this area for very little qualification etc.
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Carl
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Registered: 9th May 04
Location: Jimmy Bennett's la la land.
User status: Offline
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Go down the one you enjoy most.
I work for the NHS, to be honest public sector work pisses me off, find it frustrating that there is a majority of useless cunts for staff and it is public money that is being wasted.
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J da Silva
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Registered: 10th Apr 03
Location: The FACTory
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Tom G
quote:
Originally posted by J da Silva
No, that isn't true about the banding of nursing by the way, if you qualify as a nurse with a degree or diploma you start on band 5 and if your highly regarded in the job, then whoever is responsible for you could throw you upto band 7,8,9 if they so wish.
There is no 9 Jizz 8A is the top i believe then it is spot pay.
Well yes there is band A-C which is consultation, But don't cross Faye in work, she ends careers. 
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kz
Member
Registered: 9th Aug 02
Location: Southend, Essex Drives: Mini Cooper S
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by P1CK4D
quote:
Originally posted by Faye_2003
JDS is right, I started on band 5 on 22k per year straight out of uni.
I started on band 4, 19k per year straight from school
Has it gone down then  I've just started on band 4, £18k.
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Tom G
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Registered: 4th Aug 08
Location: Cheshire
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by kz
quote:
Originally posted by P1CK4D
quote:
Originally posted by Faye_2003
JDS is right, I started on band 5 on 22k per year straight out of uni.
I started on band 4, 19k per year straight from school
Has it gone down then I've just started on band 4, £18k.
I think it different ares it may be more?
Band 2 - 13-15 roughly
Band 3 - 15-18
Band 4 - 18-21
Band 5 -21-24
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Faye_2003
Member
Registered: 5th May 03
Location: the gutter :(
User status: Offline
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What do you do Tom?
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J da Silva
Member
Registered: 10th Apr 03
Location: The FACTory
User status: Offline
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Scrap that Tom, just got off the phone to my Mum, she's band 9 point 55, she's a heart valve consultant by speciality. Band 8 is now A-D, the new agenda came into place this year.
Faye, Mum says ring her.
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