To all the working class

I was just wondering how many of you end up spending time on your jobs at home. I'm not asking this to the students or the part-timers. If you're now out of the education portion of your career and making a living, does any of that overflow into your homelife?

This came up because I was talking to some friends about after high school/college. We all hear from all the adults that once you're working it's sooo much harder. From my perspective I've never had problems working while at school, and I figure that transfers over to when I have a job. But it's the extras that I have to do at home that bug the hell out of me. And I was curious as to how many of you end up working at home.

Obviously people who work from home and those without jobs are discluded.

I'm not asking this to the students or the part-timers.

And I already voted too. I don't have a job.

I put that option in so your people wouldn't fuck up my poll.

Sweet! Good thinking.

Thanks for bringing society down CG.

i think if you work hard at school, it should transfer over to your job.
i was never the best student in high school, and it spilled over to my part time jobs after my second semester of college. i pretty much didn't care, i just wanted money and i didn't give a shit if they fired me. i remember one job where i worked for 4 days, and that was that.

i think when it comes to working hard at your job you gotta love it too. i did warehouse work, and i absolutely hated it. the environment was dull, everything was fucking dull. you gotta find something you love and stick with it.

i wanna get a job, 9-5, no extra hours, no out of hours work. I want free time, i don;t even give a shit about the money, just want enough for food, bills and some spending money. Being an accountant i'll get all that.

I know my parents work at least 2 hours at home though. That's normal days, but some days they gotta bring their record books home since they own the private company. With that, they sometimes spend the whole night checking the books.

i wanna get a job, 9-5, no extra hours, no out of hours work. I want free time, i don;t even give a shit about the money, just want enough for food, bills and some spending money. Being an accountant i'll get all that.

no you won't

my work history as an Accountant....
late 2002 - 40 hours per week, lots of drinking
2003 - 32 hours per week (4 days per week), full-time study (4 subjects/4 nights per week) at uni for my Masters (you won't have to do that as I didn't have right degree in 1st place)
2004 - 40 hours per week, part-time study (2 subjects/2 nights per week)

& now the part that applies to you....

2005-Feb 2006 - 40 hours per week on average....during peak times, about 45-50 hours per week....

Now - Have just started my CA which will require at least 10 hours study per week, not including assignments, etc, etc....so it looks like 2 hours study per day....my new job will probably be on average 40-43 hours per week, probably 45-50 hours per week during peak times....then I will have 10 hours per week of study, which is essentially for work....so in a normal week I'll have a 50-60 hour week....

btw, hours are 8 to 5, 1 hour for lunch, some places 8.30 to 5, 30mins for lunch....

your hopes depend on where you work....if you work for a Big 4, you are routinely expected to do 50-60 hours per week, & then do your CA/Professional Qualifications on top of that....you are just another sausage in a sausage fest....I avoided those firms as I like my leisure time too....if I was you, avoid them too....a small to mid-tier firm will suit you more....maybe a suburban one actually with a good boss....

when interviewing, ask about life-work balances (I did)....the job I've taken only requires about 75% productivity after write-offs....the bigger firms require at least 85-90% productivity after write-offs....these can't be made in a normal 40 hour week....during peak times, you will be required to work extra, but that's just a fact of life....although, if career advancement does not bother you, then you can stick to the 40 hour week....

also, almost all accounting jobs you take will eventually end up with you having to do Professional Qualifications (CA or CPA)....

thinking about it & your desires, I think you might want to keep clear of public practise & go into Commercial Accounting....your hours will be steady, probably 40-45 hours per week....there may be the occasional travel, who knows....the money isn't as good & it doesn't increase much over time, but if money isn't a concern, then this should be an option for you....

any more questions, just PM me


EDIT: In the poll, I chose 60-90 minutes....I figure, I'll be working 8.5 hour days (only take 30mins for lunch), & I'll do at least 60-90 minutes professional development per day....granted, that is while watching TV or a bball game, but that's irrelvant, it's how I learn

I don't spend any work time at home.

My hours are pretty fucked though... Like tonight i worked from 11am til 10:45pm... And sometimes on rare days that aren't busy it's like 1pm until 4pm, which is a waste of a day yo.

my ideal situation would be to work a 40 hour week, collect my pay, do no additional study, & over time get gradual pay increases commensurate to experience & responsibilities & the occasional promotion....

unfortunately it doesn't work that way

I voted before I read that this doesn't apply to students but I do actually work about 2 hours a week on average with a small contract to maintain a website. After graduation, if I have a successful freelancing job going, then I'll work from home most of the time

whether or not work carries over to your home depends on what of line of work you do. and there's being "on call" which can be a bitch

plus as the X wisely said, most college grads go back to school to get their masters/some form of higher education in their respective job field for job advancement.

i think once you start working full time in your career field- it does become a bit more stressful since it's, well, your job... especially if you have rent/mortgage, college loans, car, credit cards, etc to pay off

Colin, are you sure you didn't get a school assignment in which you had to poll some opinions / take a survey?

Yeah, I don't take any courses like that.

I put in around 45-50 hours a week at my job, but hardly anything outside. Since I'm salaried, I go in early sometimes to get stuff done so I don't have to come in on my days off, or I'll stay later. My free time is my free time...I spose I do spend a little bit of time on my computer looking at reports and what not, and then I talk to the owners quite a bit as well...but I don't think of that stuff as work, nor is it really time consuming.

The bottom line is, if you like your job, it doesn't really matter how much time it takes. And, when you're young, you don't need as much sleep so you can work more and play more without adverse effects on your work...it also will get you ahead in the future.