I have a choice of two jobs to choose from. One is a painting apprenticeship the other a well paid call centre
Asked by P T
relevant point I am 40years old. The call centre is meant to be a high stress job but the pay is very good. I'm not the type to stress easily, it also has lots of incentives to keep employees such as free gym, tennis, superannuation, sick leave, holiday pay. The painting apprenticeship means 4years of low pay in a booming industry yet uncertainty as to how super, holiday pay etc works if any. I don't have a passion to be a painter nor a work at a call centre but both were very competitive to enter and now I don't know which to choose. I have to answer in 6 days! I would like to travel around Australia in the future, something I may be able to do with a trade? The call centre is for Centrelink. I can't go with my heart because it's not answering, neither are dream jobs but I need to work. Any thoughts greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

Best Answer:
Since you are 40 I would go with the call centre job. Apprenticeships are a young persons game and as you say there are no guarantees with that job either regarding the perks and low pay sucks. There are also the physical aspects of painting. I have known a few painters and their backs are almost always shot...it's hot dirty work. You have to lug around ladders...climb...stand in one spot for ages...it's for younger people and unfortunately physically at least you are on the way down after 40. You may be just as stressed as a painter...doing the job and going to school for it....so you might as well be doing the call centre job and getting paid well for it.

Go for the painting apprenticeship. It's always good to have a trade under your belt, and with economies booming, there's lots of construction and always need for qualified painters. You will have more variety. You would be really bored in the call centre.
Answered by nanny

Follow your heart. Don't listen to your brain about the money. What do you love more? THATS what you need to do
Answered by You only live once... so live

go with the trade sweety, i've been in the trades for years and where ever you go you can take your trade with you, not like the other job.
Answered by lois c

Personaly I'd go for the Government job, ( have applied myself ) many of the people I have worked with in retail have gone to the Centreling call centre and are quite happy with their jobs, yes it is high stress but if you have had past experience in the retail sector you will find that the call centre is not as stressfull, good on you for getting a position in this field, you can transfer also with this position so will be able to travel somewhat with it. Wish I had been luckier.
Answered by polynesiachick