Oh dear!! Time for a change of career methinks. Is it any different elsewhere though. Yes, this industry is for the most part pretty poo, but do you think that nursing, teaching, reatail, plumbing or plastering is any better or more financially lucrative?? There is money to be made in IT but there is also money to be made in Aircraft Engineering. I do agree that blokes in overalls are downtrodden but that is only because we allow it to happen. Aircraft Engineering is the only industry I know of where rolling up for work a couple of minutes late or taking a lunch break is frowned upon. Why? Because most engineers are not bolshy enough to tell managers, 'Sorry, it's lunch time'. Be more forthright my friend, don't take the cr@p, and you'll be a lot happier within!!