What preparations are you making to peak-proof your job?

mtb · Post by **mtb** » 31 May 2006, 17:07

Will your job weather the peak?

Modern medicine has become virtually an off shoot of the petrochemical industry- can you imagine an anaesthetist or a GP without resort to modern drugs? Or syringes?

I tend to the view of the 'long emergency' where medicine will be initially prioritised with a winding back of very expensive drugs with marginal clinical significance (we cannot afford herceptin even now)

I predict a gradual reliance on alternative medicines that are very economical- acupuncture for instance.

The future emphasis may well put more emphasis on prevention (a lot cheaper than cure) were we become very much more responsible for our own health. People who are seen to be complicit in their own illness may not be prioritised as much. IV drug abusers please go to the back of the queue. Some doctors are already a bit sniffy about operating on obese people and smokers.

My own experience as a nurse is in neurosurgery- very dependent on the petrochemical industry, with IV drug users, who I think will get short changed in the future and in health visiting. I think health visiting may have some sort of future as we come to place more emphasis on prevention but I'm also thinking of getting some acupuncture/ herbology experience under my belt.

I' d be really interested to hear what preparations other people are making and how you are trying to peak-proof your occupation.

Totally_Baffled · Post by **Totally_Baffled** » 31 May 2006, 19:08

I have already accepted my job is toast post peak, but on the bright side at least I have had experience in the horticultural industy and therefore hope somebody will give me a job post peak.

Dont expect to earn much - Im just hoping I can get out of debt and earn enough to keep myself in food and water.

Doing without the luxuries is all psychological, if you can manage your own expectations of the future then being happy with a lot less will be easier?

Im hoping to acquire a house with a large garden within 10 years or so - maybe when the housing market takes the tumble - then I can use half of my occupation in growing me own veg (and its very enjoyable!)

Maybe it will happen, or maybe I will get eaten by a group of starving zombies

Pippa · Post by **Pippa** » 31 May 2006, 20:18

We have come along way from the truth and along way from our past. Alot of it is not for the better, but more for the sake of "comfort" and "convenience.

On the subject of heath (I mean life and death) when our first son was born he had Downs Syndrome. We had no idea before hand that this would be the case. When I first set eyes on him I was over whelmed with emotion. Anyone who has been a parent (especially a mother) for the first time will know just how that feels - a real "one off". When I was told of his condition I had an overwhelming desire to kill him - just smother him with a pillow. The desire was as real as passion, vomitting, love or motherhood. If I had "gone" with it, I would have been a murderer. These days such actions would be unforgiveable. However, I am not an out of the ordinary sort of person and I believe my "feelings" were inate. Life has not been a stroll for the most part of our evolution. For the shortest time life has been a bowl of cherries, I fear that shortly the daily struggle for survival will surface once more and we will not be immune from difficult choices.

These days, because we can afford it, we allow so many parts of our lives to become complicated. Often, we are not able to express our thoughts, or live out truth and honestly say how we feel. What will happen, for instance, to all the young women who have got pregnant (yes I know you are going to say its not their fault - where are the fathers) and their children when the state benefit system can no longer help?

As far as my job goes,
A) what does happen to mothers post peak

SILVERHARP2 · Post by **SILVERHARP2** » 01 Jun 2006, 13:09

I remember reading an article that the vast majority of improvements in health are down to impoved diet, public and private hygene and general medical advancements, the role of drugs is overststed to some extent. As ever the 3rd world will feel the effects long before west does.

On the Job front, tried to get a position in an international wind farm company based here just recently but no dice.

brasso · Post by **brasso** » 22 Jun 2006, 12:11

I'm a programmer, so my job is history. 9/11 caused mass redundancies, let alone a hard oil crash!

Thing is, most jobs around now would be gone as well. The flip side of this, is that there will be plenty of agricultural jobs around!

But while we're all sat round in our oil-reliant jobs, we always have the option of using the dosh we earn to make preparations. Whether it's investing in oil, or gold, or land, or your house! If you buy plenty of gold, and there's hyper-inflation - you won't need a job. Your mortgage payments will be just as redundant as your job.

It all depends on what you think will happen post-crash. Take those predictions - then take what money you have (even ?100) and put it where you think it will be most useful.

If I had to pick a post-crash profession I'd probably retrain for plumbing. Alot of houses will need solid fuel heating installing, possibly hot water solar panels, maybe even coal gas! Who knows...

RevdTess · Post by **RevdTess** » 22 Jun 2006, 13:16

It's quite hard to give up an oil-reliant job that pays well, even though I feel the strong need to prepare. Once I make the jump to a more sustainable lifestyle I lose the income that allows me to smooth the transition. So the question is always, when to make the leap. Conscience demands that it's asap. Pragmatism says wait as long as you can stand it.

GD · Post by GD » 22 Jun 2006, 13:32

brasso wrote:I'm a programmer, so my job is history.

Ditto.
I've moved from a large company in decline to a small one that's growing. So small indeed that despite their expectations of the market shrinking, there's still masses of headroom to grow into.

brasso wrote:9/11 caused mass redundancies, ...

True - to a point. The dot-com crash was well underway when that happened.

Post by **mikepepler** » 22 Jun 2006, 13:43

GD wrote:
brasso wrote:I'm a programmer, so my job is history.
Ditto.
I've moved from a large company in decline to a small one that's growing. So small indeed that despite their expectations of the market shrinking, there's still masses of headroom to grow into.

Me too (well, electronics & SW), but I've made the break and am retraining in renewable energy.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 22 Jun 2006, 13:51

I work in IT as well. Toast as soon as the ramifications of PO sink in.

I am interested in domestic Wind turbines and would be keen to have a small business revolving around this area.

Tess - I agree - stay pragmatic. We don't "need" to give up our day jobs unless we want too or until, of course, TSHTF.

isenhand · Post by **isenhand** » 22 Jun 2006, 14:06

Why do ppl think IT would become dead as we go down the down slope? I could be a boom industry as companies encourage teleworking to cut down of ppls fuel costs. More computer and new software would be required, thus more jobs.

brasso · Post by **brasso** » 22 Jun 2006, 14:13

Alot of worried IT people out there it seems!

I'd like to retrain, or start up in a renewables business - the issue here is the practicalities of it. Retraining takes alot of time, and passing of exams. And starting up a business ... well, alot of risk.

I might start evening classes in a practical skill like metalworking in the next year or two.

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 22 Jun 2006, 14:16

I think joinary/carpentry seems like a good skill to have....

GD · Post by GD » 22 Jun 2006, 14:20

mikepepler wrote:Me too (well, electronics & SW), but I've made the break and am retraining in renewable energy.

Yeah, & good on you too!

I was looking at that RE MSc too a couple of years ago (before I found out about peak oil!) but now is not a good time to do it because 1) the Mrs is doing Nursing in Plymouth Uni and 2) we've got a wee nipper to look after also, meaning we're tied up geographically and financially for at least another year.

I was also looking at more direct routes, writing to RE companies in the vicinity (again before finding out about peak oil). I was disheartened with the responses, typical of:

"The "industry" is still in the chicken/egg stage of evolution - not enough contracts or people to do the work. But on the other hand there's many potential clients out there, and lot's of people who would love to work in the industry... Unless you can get in with someone like BP solar, don't give up your day job."

When I found out about PO, it has paradoxically put me off - because now I want to stay out of debt!

But to be honest, I'm not simpy making excuses here, I've looked at the course content and thought that pretty much most of it I have already covered in my Elec Eng, and I am wondering whether I need a shedload of debt for a certificate to say that I can do something I've probably got plenty of specific + transferrable skills to do anyway. If a man on the moon program for renewables eventually gets underway I'll jump in with both feet.

GD · Post by GD » 22 Jun 2006, 14:36

isenhand wrote:Why do ppl think IT would become dead as we go down the down slope? I could be a boom industry as companies encourage teleworking to cut down of ppls fuel costs. More computer and new software would be required, thus more jobs.

I doubt that IT will disappear in the near future. Just less demand. Less demand for turnover of new PC's, less demand for the latest + greatest networking hardware... Overall less demand for IT personnell (sorry is that Human Resource or Livestock or something?). Open source is the way forward with software (man I love open source!).

I guess, following the bust 6 yrs ago, it has put a bearish mindset on people in the industry.

Pippa · Post by **Pippa** » 22 Jun 2006, 15:03

Don't give up your day job but start another one at the same time.

Start small. Don't risk too much. I have started 3 businesses. We started our building business without spending a single penny before our first contract!

Keep to your principles without screwing others or yourself. Aim to have recommendations as your primary advertisement.

Also don't worry too much about formal qualifications; who's going to ask for them? These days people are far more worried about conforming to regulations - just satisfy them as far as you need to whether thats tax and vat regs or legislation surrounding your chosen profession. If you need a certificate get it (in the least possible time you can). Work out what the rules are and you're off! Customers want to know how to get what they want for the best price, understand that and you can make a living - at least for now anyhow! Who can predict the future?