How long did it take you to decide on a career?

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

And, how did you decide? Was it $$ based? Based on what you really wanted to do?

I'm feeling so confused. I'm going into my 3rd year of 2 year college I work full time in Computer Operations. First I wanted to become a programmer, then I wanted to do pharmacy.. Now, I don't know where i'm going. I'm still studying pre-pharmacy, but i'm not sure it is what I want to do. The $$ will be good, but the work itself isn't really appealing to me. So, now i'm considering going into Chemistry, also like the thought of Psychiatry, but all these things take so long, and pharm school is only 4 yrs.

How did you make your decision?
Hellp! I don't want to be a computer operator anymore:( I'm SO bored!!

Angela.

[Vertifly 0]

Advice...

Go for the dollars AND something you enjoy. When I say enjoy, I mean truly enjoy. You should love it so much that you know you'll be an expert in it.

I got into Information Systems about 10 years ago. Dollars are great! Atmosphere is my worst nightmare. Computer systems and I do NOT get along well - there isn't much dialogue - and that is what I'm all about.

Think long and hard about your inner passion and take it from there.

[Cornholio 0]

You mean I have to make up my mind ?? NOW ???

I'm still deciding. I'll let you know when I find that career which completes me.

Butthead: Whoa! Burritos for breakfast!
Beavis: Yeah! Yeah! Cool!
bellyflier on the dz.com hybrid record jump

[wmw999 2,165]

You're right about not wanting to be a computer operator. I've been a systems support programmer, and operations is only good if you have a very active imagination!

That said, I decided on a career because my job went away and I took an aptitude test. I did a whole lot of different things before that, and thoroughly enjoyed almost all of them. I strongly suggest that you take a variety of classes that you enjoy, with some "useful" ones thrown in for good measure.

You'll always have your education; you can always augment it with job skills, but the intellectual skills and insights you get from picking challenging classes are more easily developed when you're young.

I have a degree in sociology, with a minor in romance languages. I'm a programming manager now. It wasn't the easiest way to get there, and I still hope to go back into social work someday, but I sure don't regret getting a degree in something that's given me insight and pleasure all of my life.

If you've settled on something vaguely career-like by the time you're 30 that's not bad -- before hten, they might just be jobs. And it might take less time, and it might take more time.

If you're goal-oriented, you'll figure out a goal. That comes naturally. But if you're not sure, don't just pick a career out of a hat and hope it works -- education is far too big an investment to spend on something you won't enjoy knowing.

And yes, you might not get a good job out of college. You might not get a decent job out of college. But you might not with that engineering (or whatever) degree, either. I'm not necessarily advocating that you throw it all over to major in fine arts, but if fine arts really turn you on, then yes, you should include them. It'll enrich your life as long as you live.

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[TheAnvil 0]

There is both $$ and job security in pharmacy. I'd do something I liked. If you don't like your job, you'll never be happy doing it. Duh.

Vinny the Anvil
Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL
JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

[lawrocket 3]

It took about two minutes. I had just graduated college. I expected to go Active Duty in the Army, but since it was the era of defense cutbacks, I got a Reserve Commission. Having a political science degree did not open vast expanses of the workplace for me.

So I contacted a Secret Service recruiter. he told me I "meet the minimum qualifications for being a Secret Service Agent." When I told him that I knew what he meant, he recommended I try law school. I hung up with him, and made the next phone call to sign up for the LSAT.

The rest is history.

My wife is hotter than your wife.

[PhreeZone 15]

I have to decide? I knew I got ripped off by me college counslors...

I'm looking to get out of my field of computers in another 5 years at this rate. Working in computers took somethnig I loved and sucked the joy out of it.

Yesterday is history
And tomorrow is a mystery

Parachutemanuals.com

[SkydiveNFlorida 0]

Quote

I have to decide? I knew I got ripped off by me college counslors...

I'm looking to get out of my field of computers in another 5 years at this rate. Working in computers took somethnig I loved and sucked the joy out of it.

I feel the same way. I've been here for 4 years now. I used to love playing in VB and even started writing cobol a bit when I got in here, just for kicks. . had a blast! I started under a director that loved to teach things, and i'm always wanting to learn, so it worked great! Now, people here keep to themselves, the less you know, the better off they are... and to be honest, I don't really care anymore. I spend 8 hours here doing about 1 hr worth of work, I feel to unmotivated!


Yeah, pharmacy is $$ and job security and all. But, i'm not sure I can really see myself as a pharmacist. I'm trying to picture it. I like chemistry and the sciences a lot. I'm not a big fan of calculus, tho. I used to work at a title ins company and helped examine titles, I actually enjoyed that more than this, and seemingly it would be boring to most people. I really like editing, but not my own writing. haha. I am trying to imagine Angela the chemist, or Angela the doctor... but i'm not sure I see it. I always wanted to study Marine Biology, but I think the $$ is pretty limited in that field, and I don't do well being broke!

Ahhhh! The frustration!
Angela.

[DivaSkyChick 0]

Angela,

Listen to this career track - it's long but it will make a point.

Just after I graduated from high school, I moved from bumfuck to Hollywood to do "something" in entertainment. Got a job waiting tables, of course.

Met a lady whose boyfriend knew a guy who was the business manager for a hotshot photographer. What I knew about photography: ZERO

Got the job. Saved up money, met some cool people, moved to Europe to backpack around and learn French. Came home broke.
Got job waiting tables.

Found out from a friend that another friend's parents were hiring at their stock photography company. What I knew about photography? Quite a bit more than zero. They wanted a receptionist. I took the job. Worked my ass off, kissed appropriate butts, was promoted step by step to coordinating production for all the celebrity photo shoots.
Left after a couple of years to backpack around Central & South America.

Met a guy who knew a guy and ended up first learning then teaching SCUBA Diving in Honduras. Ran out of money in Brazil, flew home to go back to college (the deal I had to make with Mom to get a ticket home!)

Studied Peace & Conflict Studies at UC Berkeley. Qualified to do: ZERO. Upon graduation, my mom knew this lady.... you get the picture. So I'm a jr. publicist, representing the BART workers in San Francisco and janitor's union. good, honest stuff. not a lot of cash.

Met a chick who worked at a temp firm, told me about this impossible job working for this impossible guy from Sri Lanka that paid a bunch and let you travel the world. What I knew by now about traveling the world? well, quite a bit. what I had learned about dealing with people from different cultures? a lot. got the job.

Coordinated meetings for an international board of directors who sent me to Thailand, Nepal, Russia and (LOL) Maui. Learned a whole bunch about highly placed government "celebrities" and being detail oriented.

Got a call one day from that guy who was my friend's dad who owned a little stock photo agency. They were now a multi million dollar company and he invited me to come back and run the production division. Paid a lot. I took the job.

Seven years later, I can now say that I know what I want to be when I grow up. At 37 years old, I just started a new job. I love it and I can't think of anything I'd rather do, except maybe work with wild animals. What I know about doing that? Who cares?

Every door opens more doors! Make your decisions like this: When they write your biography, which decision will make for a better chapter?

---
www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

[racer42 0]

Being a known dead beat and liberal arts major I took the first job offered to me. Looking back 22 years I guess it was the right decision.
I work for pretty good people, money's not bad and now I run the department. Most Friday afternoons you'll find me at the DZ enjoying those cheap jumps.

L.A.S.T. #24
Co-Founder Biscuit Brothers Freefly Team
Electric Toaster #3
Co-Founder Team Non Sequitor
Co-Founder Team Happy Sock

[wmw999 2,165]

That's a great post, Mandy!

Wendy W.

There is nothing more dangerous than breaking a basic safety rule and getting away with it. It removes fear of the consequences and builds false confidence. (tbrown)

[DivaSkyChick 0]

Thanks, Wendy!

---
www.facebook.com/mandyhamptonfitch

[aero04 0]

I decided when I was 18 I wanted to be an engineer. I've always loved aircraft, aviation, so aerospace engineering seemed perfect. I was right. I graduate in May and hopefully graduate school after that. I didn't pick engineering for the $$, but because I knew I'd love it. I heard once if you love your job, enjoy waking up in the morning and can't wait to do it all again the next day, your rich. And it has nothing to do with money.

[sunman 0]

Here's what has worked for me.

Do something you LIKE. Forget about the money and start asking yourself what you like doing. Stay in school or don't stay in school... whichever you like. It probably doesn't really matter. I stayed in school when I was going through the exact same thing as you, and it was pretty much a waste of time. But do something that you want to do NOW. Stay in school if that's what you want. Stop thinking about the future so much in terms of having a huge retirement when you're too damn old to enjoy it anyway. I only had the courage to do what I really wanted to do when I got laid off from my "normal" job. Now I live in paradise, I only work three hours a day doing what I love to do anyway. I'm a full-time skydiver, by the way, but that's beside the point. The point is, I'm not rich as far as money goes, but my life is about as easy and fun as life can get, which means I live very richly. I get to skydive, wakeboard, scuba dive, bar-hop, cruise around on my boat, everything I would do if I had tons of money anyway. I wouldn't trade it for the world. Meanwhile, I save what I can of my salary and try to do smart things with it. Someday I plan to have enough money to just travel around the world on my boat.

Like I said, it worked for me.

Meanwhile, if you want to accomplish #2 on your skydive agenda, come on down to skydive key west.

[Deuce 1]

Yes. Really great story Mandy!

Mine's much more like LawRockets, though. Did ROTC in College, Air Force. My Advisor, Major Marion McCurdy (from Texas, any of you zoomies know him?) told me one day in his very twangy accent "Kelly. I do believe your nature would be better served in the Marine Corps" I spent a summer in Virginia, and the nice folks there told me a reserve officer with a degree in PoliSci would be lucky to get four years out of them. Well, with the egotism of youth I declined that offer, framed my Honorable Discharge, and became a Deputy Sheriff. I had also just gotten married and didn't relish the idea of being on a ship for six month or longer at a time. Going without sex for that long still seems like a death sentence

Anyhow, did the Deputy thing for 3 years, then became a municipal cop for 10, earned my Master's in Public Administration, pissed off a lot of people in the process (it's a skill) and when I got hurt I was medically retired in the shortest amount of time ever recorded in the State of California. Chief: "He's got a permanent and stable rated disability? YEAH! Retire that pain in my ass!"

Now I am like a farmer who gets paid to not grow crops. I get paid to not be a cop.

Totally unprepared for that one. And NOBODY hires broken cops. I applied for jobs for two months and ended up doing administrative temporary work (marginally more than a secretary ) and ended up working for one of my graduate professors who was now in County Government. It's no coincidence that I was retired on April 1. Well, with my Prof's help, three years later I'm a senior analyst in the County and I'm making more between my retirement and my salary than a Commander in my old PD. Who's laughing now, Chief?

I will always miss police work. But, while money can't buy happiness, it can buy airplane tickets to Happiness. I dunno, you gotta make a living, and I pretty much live for my kids. I'm glad we don't have to think twice about sending them to different camps and stuff.

Get that degree. In something. Mine's in PoliSci, Mandy's is in Peace and Conflict, they both tell an employer that you can get assignments done on time, and having a bunch of units is different than having a degree in that the person with the degree filed all the papers and took the classes they hated in order to accomplish their goal.

Seeing the finish line is not the same as finishing.

Suck it up and finish. In my life I have never been right when I predicted where I would be in five years.

• Quote

[LouDiamond 1]

After listening to your Spanish version automated phone recording I think you have missed your calling Deuce. That is the all time best automated voice machine do bob I have heard. You should go talk to the people at THE PRICE IS RIGHT, you could steal that mans job in a heart beat.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Deuce 1]

Quote

After listening to your Spanish version automated phone recording I think you have missed your calling Deuce. That is the all time best automated voice machine do bob I have heard. You should go talk to the people at THE PRICE IS RIGHT, you could steal that mans job in a heart beat.

Scott is dogging me because now that they don't let me choke people out on occasion, I have to do things like program automated phone trunks.

Have lots of tools in the tool box. You NEVER know when you might need them.

"Para informacion in Espanol, marque numero cuatro, ahora".

It was much more fun shouting "Necesito a ver sus manos AHORA!"

But like I said, you gotta make a living.

[LouDiamond 1]

DOOOODE, I am way serious. That little recording rocked. i bet you could also give the movie preview guy a run for his money as well. I can hear it now(in deuces voice) They said it couldn't be done...., they said it was too dangerous,....they didn't know JP. JP Kelly is The Cameranator.Coming this summer to a theatre near you.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Tonto 1]

Mmm. I'm 41 now - and I'll let you know when I deciede!

One rule in life.

Get Happy.

(Addendum to rule one. - Try not to piss anyone else off getting happy.)

You don't choose a career. A career chooses you.

t

It's the year of the Pig.

[wingnut 0]

well i decided in highschool thati wanted to join the military and well last december i reenlisted so that will put me at 10 years and well at 10 i'm halfway to retirment and i'm working twards my dream job in the military of teaching sport skydivng to airforce academy cadets, only a few more ratings and a few hundred jumps and a lot of luck i'll be there.. with the military the cool thing i've found is that there is some veriaty in it to an extent.... if you want to change it up you can..... good luck in finding your "calling"

______________________________________
"i have no reader's digest version"

[metalslug 31]

The IT (Information Technology) job market, although becoming somewhat saturated in places, still offers great oppertunities for those with ability. The nature of IT is such that a person can specialise in many different areas; programming languages, operating systems, products... and even adapt to learn whatever skills are required to meet a demand in the market as time goes by and the the technolgy evolves.

The '$$ vs Training time' equation for IT is more favourable than for most other careers... and $$ will buy you quality skydiving gear, jump tickets and sort out many of life's little complications.

And job satisfaction? Some hard (but not long) study hours, troublesome clients, irregular working hours and late nights.. but I mostly get to manage my own work hours, complete my own project plans, have an airconditioned office, unlimited internet usage and filter coffee on tap.
It's not a bad deal

[Dumpster 0]

I've been pulling wrenches and chasing wires ever since I was old enough to hold a screwdriver in my hand. While all my buddies were off playing football and baseball, I was building chopped bicycles, jumping ramps, and working on mini-bikes and go-carts. I rebuilt my first lawnmower engine (with help from Dad-) at the tender age of eight. I already understood the difference between two-and four-stroke engines, carbs, deisel engines. Learned how to drive a nail before I was in first grade. Understood electricity and motors by the age of 10. - the rest goes on---

Here's a peice of advice I got from an old country doctor -

I was in the doc's office, being treated for an injury sustained while working at the local steel foundry. Doc Kolisch patched me up and asked me "Lenny, Do you like what you're doing for a living?"
"Not only no, but fuck no, Doc."

Doc says, "Quit that fucking death trap and do what you want to do."

This came from an old country doctor who did nothing else but live the Hippcratic oath to the letter. A doctor who loved what he did, and did nothing else. He didn't care if you could pay or not. When I had no insurance, he asked me how much cash I had.
"Twenty bucks, Doc"
" I'll split it with ya, and we'll call it good?" he says.
It was agreed.

The next day the the foundry was short one rat (me) And I was raising my right hand to join the Air Force. I wasn't sure what I would be doing, but I was gauranteed I would be pulling wrenches.

To make a long story short, I still pull wrenches and chase wires, at the age of 40. I love what I do.
I have three techs under me and $25 million in equipment we take care of.
Coming to work in the morning is like going to Shop class high school.

Do you like what you do?

Easy Does It

[feuergnom 22]

Quote

How did you make your decision?

sometimes it's just like you notice a door you have't seen before. something opens up and your path changes to a direction you never thought it would it wouild turn to. happend to me since i started working some 20 years ago. Worked inb a bookstore till i was literally fed up - ladafreind mentioned a job in a bar/restaurant. they didn't need a barman though so i found myself running the kitchen for two years. went back to the books only to realise that train had definitely left, ran across a guy doing massages and decided to learn it. became o professional therapist.
met my girlfriend there. she started writing for a magazine and asked if i could help a friend with writing. i wanted. that was sic years ago and right now i run a magazine myself. and this is definitely not the last choice i will make or have to make.

my adivice: do what you want to do, give it a try and see if it's satisfying. if not be open for everything that comes. and for sure it will turn out allright.

The universal aptitude for ineptitude makes any human accomplishment an incredible miracle

dudeist skydiver # 666

[Luv2Fall 0]

During high school and after graduation, I had no earthly idea what I wanted to do. After obtaining a degree with a major in accounting, I was still "lost". I finally decided to work for the State Police and was put on a nine month waiting list. A few weeks later I said "fuck it", enlisted in the Army and made a career out of it. Now I enjoy the Eagle depositing a little something into my account each month .

[mccordia 73]

I saw Jurassic Parc, and as I watched those dinosaurs roam across the screen (the brachiosaurus scene) I just instantly knew THAT was what I wanted to do, so I went to graphic school, studied hard at home, and found a good job as an animator.

People pay me to hobby....how great is that :)

JC
FlyLikeBrick
I'm an Athlete?