Been in the civvie side of the industry for 12 years and have loved every minute of it!
So the management sometimes have total brain f...s - that happens everywhere!
So you sometimes have to work out in s... weather and the dark. So do plenty other of people! What about the times when the sun is splitting the tarmac. Ooops, forgotten about them?
So you sometimes don't get the respect you think you deserve. Go ask doctors, nurses, policemen, firemen, waiters/waitresses, bar staff, baggage handlers, ground handlers, check-in staff, etc.... how much respect they get from US!
So you think the money is not good enough. Well, it never is, is it. For me I earn more than enough and am well chuffed with what I get. Take a look at the AirMech salary survey and ask yourself if the money is that bad compared to other professions.
So you don't get think jobs are secure enough. What are the stats? 23% shortage of avionics LAME's and 15% shortage of mechanical LAME's - something like that. That sounds like pretty good job prospects to me.
So they've changed the licencing system. How long have we known it was going to happen? Only three sure things in life - nurses, death and change! Deal with it!
So you don't get any satisfaction out of your work. Personally I get a buzz every time I fix a tricky wee snag or fix a defect during a turn-round and get it away on time.
Mate, if I had my time again I wouldn't change a thing. If you are into aircraft and are interested in the job - DO IT! There IS job security. There IS good money to be made. There IS self satisfaction to be had doing it. There IS a fun to be had.
EVERY job has its down sides but I reckon you will find they are pretty much the same wherever you go to work.
The money is good, the perks are good if you get into a good airline and you get to lech at pretty girls getting off the charters from Ibiza and the like wearing close to nothing on a cold night.