Is it really this tough?
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free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:10 am

Hey all

When as most of you know, I passed my exams a couple of weeks ago now and im now a practising doc. Ive been working for 2 weeks now, and all I can say is that im absolutely exhausted. Ive didnt know that having a full-time, professional job was going to be this tough. I have to get to work for 8am. 8-sodding-am!!

Of course this also means I have to get to bed mega early. Thats so depressing. Im quite the night owl - I love surfing the net, browsing EDS, loads of skincare websites, and my one vice - Ebay. All of this is slowly being taken away from me. Its actually quite depressing Crying or Very sad

.

When I passed my exams I was really looking forward to starting work - no more exams, no more living in debt (due to my skincare habit!) and being able to afford all the skincare I want. Now I dont even think the latter will hold true - my colleagues tell me im going to be taxed a ridiculous amount of money every month.

Anyway. The reason for this post was that I want to know - what was it like for all of you when you started full-time work. Did you think it was that tough? Or am I over-reacting? Does it get better? Please dont feel like you have to encourge me, just be honest!

Thanks for listening folks,

Farouk.

P.s. I just had a thought - do these feelings change once your fist paycheck arrives? Wink

!

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:15 am

dunno love, but I have my first graduate interview (for connexions Laughing

) in 10 days, so if I get the job I'll let you know.

Welcome to the real world Very Happy

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:39 am

guapagirl wrote:

dunno love, but I have my first graduate interview (for connexions Laughing

) in 10 days, so if I get the job I'll let you know.

Welcome to the real world Very Happy

Oh honey, I really hope you get it. With your good looks and wit im sure youll breeze through it.

The real world truly does suck. I want to be 5 again when mummy looked after me Very Happy

.

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 10:53 am

When I first started work after graduating I did find the early morning starts really hard. I still do. I'm not an early bird. Getting up before 9.30am is always really tough for me.
Your body will probably adjust to getting up early but I imagine you will continue to feel exhausted as newly qualified doctors do tend to put in a lot of hours.
The salary does help but most of that is eaten up by bills, tax, NI and day-to-day living expenses. I cannot stress enough how important I think it is to find a job that you really love. We spend so much of our time in the workplace that you really need to enjoy what you are doing and like the people you are working with. If you don't it can really start to have a negative effect on other aspects of your life.
It's not always about the money. If I had to make the choice between a job that pays a ridiculous amount of money but I know that I wouldn't enjoy the work or a job that I would love that doesn't pay much - I would choose the job that doesn't pay much. Smile

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 11:00 am

Toe wrote:

When I first started work after graduating I did find the early morning starts really hard. I still do. I'm not an early bird. Getting up before 9.30am is always really tough for me.
Your body will probably adjust to getting up early but I imagine you will continue to feel exhausted as newly qualified doctors do tend to put in a lot of hours.
The salary does help but most of that is eaten up by bills, tax, NI and day-to-day living expenses. I cannot stress enough how important I think it is to find a job that you really love. We spend so much of our time in the workplace that you really need to enjoy what you are doing and like the people you are working with. If you don't it can really start to have a negative effect on other aspects of your life.
It's not always about the money. If I had to make the choice between a job that pays a ridiculous amount of money but I know that I wouldn't enjoy the work or a job that I would love that doesn't pay much - I would choose the job that doesn't pay much. Smile

Your definetly right. I actually really enjoy what Im doing at the moment. Im doing a job in paediatrics and the kids make it all worth it. I think paeds may actually be my calling.

I just hate all the circumstances (if thats the right word) of my job - I mean the hours, the shifts etc. Why cant people get ill between 9am and 5pm! Laughing

.

I think I may adjust - primarily because I enjoy the kids so much. I think if I didnt have that then it would be ten times as hard.

I suppose it is too early to feel deeply depressed about work - ill give it a year before deciding exactly how I feel.

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:33 pm

Oh Farouk my heart bleeds for you.
Try this one work 3 nights a week from 9.45pm to 7.15am. Do a college course 1 day a week plus homework,study for exams oh and practise practical parts at home.
Then do your real job washing, ironing,shopping cleaning,cooking, taxi service
you get the picture. Then moan.
No seriously I know hospital/doctor work is hard going physically and mentally. You stick at it. It will get easier.

Liz
Good luck

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 12:47 pm

You haven't even gotten your first paycheck! You are a doctor for pete's sake, you will be rich and be able to set your own hours in a few years time! Smile

Seriously, I think you will get used to the hours. It's not the same, I know but my little guy is the opposite of myself, I'm a night owl and he's an early bird. After 4 years of getting up at 6 am, even if he sleeps until 6:30 or 7, I'm wide awake at six.

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 1:19 pm

Doc, I'm sure you're just overwhelmed right now. We had a friend visiting last weekend who is an OB/GYN surgeon. I told her I'd been watching Grey's Anatomy and I wondered what a real doctor thought of that show. I was thinking there was no way interns could possibly have the time or energy to have so much drama in their lives. She said she LOVES the show (when she has time to see it) and it was that crazy and fun when she was an intern.

We have another friend who is a neonatologist in Florida and his liability insurance costs him half a million a year. You have to love your work or you'd just run screaming from that kind of insanity.

I wish doctors, teachers, police, firefighters all made way more money. In a world that made sense they'd be making big bucks and movie stars would be eating ramen noodles and working on their "craft" because they love it.

free skin care · Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:13 pm

Farouk-
It is always difficult adjusting to huge lifestyle change like that, getting used to a whole new workplace will be difficult. I always hate any new work I start for the first few weeks- as a student my whole life so far, have only been in casual work, not sure how I will cope when uni finishes- but grow to like it if it is something that suits me and is worthwhile. I agree with toe, that being happy is better than being rich- but as you say you love working with the kids i am sure you will soon adjust to the new hours.

Hope this helps a little and is not just crazy talk.

maddy

ps- loopylori, sound very busy- hope all is well
Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Jun 05, 2005 12:08 am

Maddy,
I am very busy but I am studying to do something I enjoy, that will hopefully get me out of a job that I am fed up with.
I am fine honest, just a bit overwhelmed as are 99% of the female population in the world. I just sometimes wish there were 9 or 10 days in a week so I could do everything that I need to do.I just have my little moany moments. Best to ignore me really. I appreciate you concern. Thank you for asking.

Sun Jun 05, 2005 1:06 am

I found the initial period of starting to work (and still doing my PhD) to be very tough - very draining. Mind you, if you're a Dr and you're complaining about 8am starts then you'll be in for a surprise. My best friend is a Dr in one of the London hospitals (I'm going to London for a month this year to visit him Very Happy

) and he's doing A&E at the moment. His hours are all over the place - he does night shifts, or day shifts and spends nights on call. He loves his job but the one thing he complains about most is the range of hours and the long shifts.

I'm sure you'll get used to it Farouk and I am definitely sure that you'll feel better after your first paycheck Smile

free skin care · Sun Jun 05, 2005 2:48 am

Dear guys

Mabsy - I know about A+E - and im completely dreading this rotation. Every week its a different set of 10 hour shifts!! So your coming to London - thats going to be mightily expensive! I say that because compared to Oz London is very expensive. When your looking to buy anything you have to multipy the price by around 2.5!

Liz - I certainly feel bad for ranting hearing your daily work - it sounds exhausting. Still, at least you wont have to join a gym with that lot to do! Laughing

. Stick at what your doing though - if it gets you the job you want its worth it. Ever since I was 11 Ive had a vision - and even though ive been through some incredibly tough times both academically and personally ive stuck with it - and Ive finally made it. I cannot tell you how good it feels to have accomplished something so great - youll feel exactly the same once your studying is finished with.

Maddy - Of course your right - change is always hard to adjust to. Im going to stick with it. It is really important to be doing what you love - and I should be utterly grateful I have at least this.

Once again, thanks a lot for your words of encouragement and advice. It helpful to see others who were/are in similar situations and how you guys dealt with it.

Farouk

Sun Jun 05, 2005 3:17 am

farouk wrote:

Mabsy - I know about A+E - and im completely dreading this rotation. Every week its a different set of 10 hour shifts!! So your coming to London - thats going to be mightily expensive! I say that because compared to Oz London is very expensive. When your looking to buy anything you have to multipy the price by around 2.5!

I'm sure you'll be fine with the A&E Farouk - after all think of all the long nights you spent studying and made it through Smile

I'm also told that once you go through the A&E you appreciate the other rotations more so maybe it's a good thing? Smile

The London stay will definitely be interesting given that I'm there for five weeks and I won't be earning any money and will be converting everything back to Au$ (and having a mini heart attack each time). I've got free accommodation though Very Happy

free skin care · Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:13 pm

Hi Farouk

I've always found work totally, totally exhausting and especially shift work and new work so it should improve for you once those are over, if they ever are in medicine. I ran away to China to work less hours, but I'm more totally shagged than I've ever been in my life.

I think the important thing is (unlike me) not obsess about work outside of work. I know some people who can completely switch off and relax outside of working hours despite considerable work pressures and I think that's the way to go. I understand men (I think you're a man, aren't you?) are much better at this than woman. My advice would be learn how to do that early in your career. (and then tell me how! Laughing

)
Molly

free skin care · Fri Jun 10, 2005 7:42 pm

Sorry for the lateness of my reply, have only just checked this-

Loopylori- glad all is well, will be worth it then to get out of horrible work. am doing work and uni too and is pretty insane- house is terrible shambles

Farouk- hope everything is going well with new work now. See, you'll be fine! am glad you love what you're doing.

Hope the english convention works out. would love to attend. maybe next time Very Happy

take care

maddy

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