Hey guys, I need some advice, or rather opinions. I know people on here sometimes dont like to give me advice because I am responsible for my own decision but it helps to get another opinion. Feel free to comment or not comment as you like.
**********Bit of back story, you skip this if you like**********
Im at a crossroads
I'm finishing up my master degree (postgraduate) at the end of this year (December, due to school year timing in Australia). It is in Urban Planning and Political Economics. I have an undergraduate degree in Architecture. I love studying and would not have changed a thing, but.... I now need to decide what I am going to do after
I am 25 and live with my parents. I half own a cafe with my parents where I rarely work now, it gives me minimal income that can get me through until the end of the year. After that we will probably sell, and the sale money will be used to pay back the debt invested. We will most likely approximately break even, not including income consumed. So I may or may not have some small amount of cash when we sell. I will have no income and no job this time next year. Unless I do something now that is.
*********End of back story*********
I am in a position where I can look for a job,or not. Australia has a lot of Grad positions at large corporations that everyone seems to be applying to (I believe that the United States has similar programs). All my peers are talking about how they applied to this or that firm, and how that got this or that great job after graduation. Thing is, these position require me to apply and go through rigorous testing now (9 months before), and if I accept one then I am practically locked in for 12-24 months. I not too keen on that for obvious reasons.
But, if I focus my attention on business and forget the job road I have no idea if it will succeed and whether I will have money by next year. The main reason that I am considering this job is because there is a position at a global construction firm (they build skyscrapers) that is about 18 months. this could give me time to work on more business in my spare time and help me learn the ropes. Reason being that the building industry in Australia is exploding at the moment. Many Chinese investors want to buy properties in Australian large cities and there is a lot of business in construction, this is potentially something that I could get into and it fits because it is something I already have skills in.
The downside that I see in going into business is that all my ideas revolve around specific skill sets that I have and I cant really outsource until it gets bigger (mostly regarding building and architectural services). Others, I lack skills and if I outsource what's to stop the person doing the work just taking the idea (eg. website construction or software programming)? The reason that I see construction as so appealing is because I have two really good examples - My dad owns a construction management company that does about 15 projects a year, at a value of about $5 million. He could expand a lot more but he refuses to delegate anything and give up control so he still oversees all his projects personally and he simply cant fit anymore into his schedule. The other example is a friend that studied with me, who owns 20% of a company that gives out building/residency permits; they have a turnover of about $2 million per year but that is mostly profit, since they have low costs. He is going solo this year.
and if you didnt read all that, basic question is; should I look for and lock myself into graduate position and internships now or not?
Thanks for input.
**********Bit of back story, you skip this if you like**********
Im at a crossroads
I'm finishing up my master degree (postgraduate) at the end of this year (December, due to school year timing in Australia). It is in Urban Planning and Political Economics. I have an undergraduate degree in Architecture. I love studying and would not have changed a thing, but.... I now need to decide what I am going to do after
I am 25 and live with my parents. I half own a cafe with my parents where I rarely work now, it gives me minimal income that can get me through until the end of the year. After that we will probably sell, and the sale money will be used to pay back the debt invested. We will most likely approximately break even, not including income consumed. So I may or may not have some small amount of cash when we sell. I will have no income and no job this time next year. Unless I do something now that is.
*********End of back story*********
I am in a position where I can look for a job,or not. Australia has a lot of Grad positions at large corporations that everyone seems to be applying to (I believe that the United States has similar programs). All my peers are talking about how they applied to this or that firm, and how that got this or that great job after graduation. Thing is, these position require me to apply and go through rigorous testing now (9 months before), and if I accept one then I am practically locked in for 12-24 months. I not too keen on that for obvious reasons.
But, if I focus my attention on business and forget the job road I have no idea if it will succeed and whether I will have money by next year. The main reason that I am considering this job is because there is a position at a global construction firm (they build skyscrapers) that is about 18 months. this could give me time to work on more business in my spare time and help me learn the ropes. Reason being that the building industry in Australia is exploding at the moment. Many Chinese investors want to buy properties in Australian large cities and there is a lot of business in construction, this is potentially something that I could get into and it fits because it is something I already have skills in.
The downside that I see in going into business is that all my ideas revolve around specific skill sets that I have and I cant really outsource until it gets bigger (mostly regarding building and architectural services). Others, I lack skills and if I outsource what's to stop the person doing the work just taking the idea (eg. website construction or software programming)? The reason that I see construction as so appealing is because I have two really good examples - My dad owns a construction management company that does about 15 projects a year, at a value of about $5 million. He could expand a lot more but he refuses to delegate anything and give up control so he still oversees all his projects personally and he simply cant fit anymore into his schedule. The other example is a friend that studied with me, who owns 20% of a company that gives out building/residency permits; they have a turnover of about $2 million per year but that is mostly profit, since they have low costs. He is going solo this year.
and if you didnt read all that, basic question is; should I look for and lock myself into graduate position and internships now or not?
Thanks for input.
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