So what do you do for a living? - Page 2 - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

NJSPEEDER · 10-15-2006, 02:19 PM

i woudl suggest worrying less about job stability or salary than what you think will make you happy.
i have a business/finance degree that i got because i thought it would be a great way to make money. once i got out in business career fields i realized it wasn't the place for me.
i am sure there are many careers i coudl have followed that would make me more money, but there is no way to promise that more money will make you happier. i get more gratification out of one day of physical labor than i got out of the entire 6 years i worked in offices doing the accounting/cost control work taht my degree set me up for.
the other unfortunate side effect of life decisions is that you don't know how they are goign to work out until after they are made. so don't try to pick one thing that you will absolutely do for the rest of your life, because life changes and you will always have to change with it.

79CamaroDiva · 10-15-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

i woudl suggest worrying less about job stability or salary than what you think will make you happy.
i have a business/finance degree that i got because i thought it would be a great way to make money. once i got out in business career fields i realized it wasn't the place for me.
i am sure there are many careers i coudl have followed that would make me more money, but there is no way to promise that more money will make you happier. i get more gratification out of one day of physical labor than i got out of the entire 6 years i worked in offices doing the accounting/cost control work taht my degree set me up for.
the other unfortunate side effect of life decisions is that you don't know how they are goign to work out until after they are made. so don't try to pick one thing that you will absolutely do for the rest of your life, because life changes and you will always have to change with it.

the real question here should be "who actually does with their degree what they thought they would?" so far i think jimmy might be the only one. boon sure isnt using that bio degree at MB.

ShitOnWheels · 10-15-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJSPEEDER

i woudl suggest worrying less about job stability or salary than what you think will make you happy.
i have a business/finance degree that i got because i thought it would be a great way to make money. once i got out in business career fields i realized it wasn't the place for me.
i am sure there are many careers i coudl have followed that would make me more money, but there is no way to promise that more money will make you happier. i get more gratification out of one day of physical labor than i got out of the entire 6 years i worked in offices doing the accounting/cost control work taht my degree set me up for.
the other unfortunate side effect of life decisions is that you don't know how they are goign to work out until after they are made. so don't try to pick one thing that you will absolutely do for the rest of your life, because life changes and you will always have to change with it.

Yep. True in every respect.

FOr example...in HS I wanted to be a teacher, then I took a psychology course and wanted to be a child psychologist specializing in ADHD. I also wanted to do computer programming (I figured I could make good money programming while going back for my masters/PhD in psych, and then do that for the rest of my life). Comp Sci was difficult because of all of the math, so I dropped it. Figured I'd do psych all my life. Graduated with a BA in psych, minor in philosophy (something I had no interest in until taking a general requirement course) and did social work...couldn't stand it. So I got my current job as a teacher's aide for special ed working with kids with autism. Now I"m in grad school for school psych, but I'm thinking of stopping and doing teaching for a few years, then finish my school psych program. And now I want to specialize in autism.

In just 7 years, that's how many changes I've gone through. For some they know right away...for others, they don't have a clue until they are retired or near retirement.

Your best bet, honestly, is to go to college and take a lot of survey courses (sociology, psych, philosophy, buisness, computers etc etc) and see what interests you the most. Take a higher level course the next semester. By your second or third year you'll have finished most of your general education requirements with all the survey courses, you can focus on what interests you the most. It's really the best way to really figure out what you want to do.

And if, after your graduate and get a job and you find you don't really like it as a career, it is not all that difficult to get a graduate degree in something else despite not having the background from undergrad. I know of ppl in my school psych program who came from comp sci, law school, business and random other areas and are now in a school psych program. It may not be true for all areas (hard sciences often want a heavy undergrad background), but for many, you could do it.

There is no rush right now to figure out what you want to do. Hell, if you really want to research now tho, go see if you can take a night class at the local community college, and take some survey courses. Many HSs will give credit if you go that route as well.

qwikz28 · 10-15-2006, 02:45 PM

i think the biggest mistake i made was worrying about undergrad. undergrad is about as useful as a high school degree was a couple decades ago. its all about grad school nowadays.

firehawk1120 · 10-15-2006, 04:04 PM

Just as an fyi while you were in school if you decide to go that route you can get a real estate license as long as you are over 18. During the time you are in school you can make a little extra loot if you have friends parents or something looking to sell their homes. You can also luck out and just meet people looking to buy a home. Even if you don't actively sell you can just do referrals with an agent in your area and still earn 30% of a commission check.

chevyt454 · 10-15-2006, 04:29 PM

True. Do what makes you happy. Work is torture if you don't like what you're doing no matter how much you make. On the other hand nowadays you must go to school in order to make some decent money. I work for the local sheriff's department but I would love to own my own car dealership.

Bandit · 10-15-2006, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

the real question here should be "who actually does with their degree what they thought they would?" so far i think jimmy might be the only one. boon sure isnt using that bio degree at MB.

Kim has a degree in sports med, also went to Chubb for IT school years ago. Now she is Mgt of R&D of Loreal.

Nothing to due with her degree, she is almost done with her Masters in Business Mgt.

CamaroGirlie · 10-15-2006, 04:48 PM

I have a Bachelors Degree in Political Science and Mathematics, and I'm back in school now for my Bachelors Degree in Secondary Education. I'v been Assistant Director and Pre-k teacher at a Preschool for six years and make $35,000 per year. Not very impressive and has nothing to do with my degree. But I do plan on heading to Law School next year. I definately do suggest a 4 year college though.

deadtrend1 · 10-15-2006, 04:50 PM

I was going to school for computer science, but walked out one class not enjoying what I was doing and never went back.

Now I work at a union sign company, and moonlight selling drugs ... ....... j/k

NJSPEEDER · 10-15-2006, 05:12 PM

is that selling or using the drugs timmy?

baddest434 · 10-15-2006, 05:37 PM

i work for a nursery installing plants in corporate offices , malls and such.

misterjuice · 10-15-2006, 07:26 PM

sure i'm using my Biology degree at my job.....................I evaluate the anatomy of my co-workers

then I analyze their body liquids and eventually I escape their house/apartment via osmosis when their parents or significant other get home.

lol

jin1481 · 10-15-2006, 07:40 PM

im a marine computer networking specialist, i set up windows networks to provide internet and email services. i love the field and ive gotten top of the line trainin for free thanks the marines. im not suggesting the marines but its a good way to learn a trade, get experience, and grow up. it aint easy though. the marines will also pay 100% tution for 12 credits a year, ive been in for three years and have around 35 credits that i have never paid for.

Mike · 10-15-2006, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79CamaroDiva

the real question here should be "who actually does with their degree what they thought they would?" so far i think jimmy might be the only one. boon sure isnt using that bio degree at MB.

i have a cj degree.....

BonzoHansen · 10-15-2006, 09:27 PM

I do. I have a BS in Management & and MBA. I am a business systems analyst and project manager. I do the business end (specs, project planning, test coordination) and then work with programmer/technical (like Jeff).

Before that I managed an STS.

Knipps · 10-15-2006, 09:27 PM

Im currently in Mass. school of Pharmacy
its 6 years of school but..
i finish with a doctorate &
currently the demand is so great that companies will pay off my student loans, give me a huge signing bonus and make 100k a year right out of school

my roommates were talking about the demand in some places [Alaska] where the demand is so insane they offer up to 300%

ChickenLittle · 10-16-2006, 09:01 AM

Firefighter, 15th year in...hate working in offices, just ain't for me...almost got certified as a cop working with the arson squad, but I had a motorcycle accident that keeps me from running....got bounced out of DCJ Academy...but that's another story.

but that's ok, #7 on the captain's list with 2 years left to go and about 12 more guys slated to leave in that time. also do bodyguard work and plain clothes store security (licensed to carry)...

I love both jobs, not gonna get rich doing them (about 100~110k a year between the 2) but I ain't poor either, lol.

bottom line is like some of the others said....it's all in what's good for you. you don't wanna great job (to some) that makes you miserable, but you don't wanna starve, either. I've been working for 22 years and there was a time when you only needed a HSD or GED to land a good job with a big company or public service to live comfortably. Times have changed...now, you need more. I would say give yourself the option of doing whatever you want to do and get as much education as possible. vo-tech is a good idea to learn a skill...I regret not finishing Lincoln Tech. If you have your 4-year, that also leaves a door open in the corporate world for you to go that route if you decide you don't want to get your hands dirty, yanno?

either way, good luck with whatever path(s) you choose to travel.

hardline_42 · 10-16-2006, 09:57 AM

Hey WayFast, I'm gonna have to agree with Bonzo's a post on the previous page and say that you need to focus on keeping the grades up in HS right now. I was a slacker in HS (I got by on my test taking skills but I never did any work or studying) and it took me 6 years to get my degree in architecture. Not to mention that I lost my scholarship after my second semester because I had crappy study habits and time management issues, which led me to have to pay for all of my schooling from that point on. My little bro, on the other hand, didn't do so well on his SATs but still graduated at the top of his class and now his college tuition is paid all the way through. Plus he's majoring in mechanical engineering which opens the door to all kinds of applications (including automotive). In hindsight, I would have to say that college doesn't do a whole lot to prepare you for your career (only experience will make you proficient at what you do) but it opens the doors to a lot more opportunities and much higher salaries. And, in response to your original qestions, I'm a project coordinator at an architectural firm in AC that does the design work for most of the casinos down here.

camaroracer1992 · 10-16-2006, 10:56 AM

network administrator here, i make out ok i guess

misterjuice · 10-16-2006, 11:00 AM

oh yeah....I also whore myself out on the side.....quick cash

the code name is Slut Puppy

Untamed · 10-16-2006, 11:10 AM

Account Manager / Project Manager here for a software company. Make a good salary but looking to move to southern NJ or out of state, so currently on the job hunt.

Teds89IROC · 10-16-2006, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by misterjuice

sure i'm using my Biology degree at my job.....................I evaluate the anatomy of my co-workers

then I analyze their body liquids and eventually I escape their house/apartment via osmosis when their parents or significant other get home.

lol

As for me I worked full time over the summer and now part time at an auto body shop (1RawTA's family's place) and I go to Willy P full time working towards a degree in accounting.

WayFast84 · 10-16-2006, 05:32 PM

cool, thanks for keeping it civil.

I would like to be a firefighter, my cusins where firefighters(vol.) body shop would be cool to, but i dont want to risk my health..

Id like to be a teacher..

maybe i can go in for social studys and automotive teaching degrees? and then work at a shop durring the summer or somethin..

Lt1_8U · 10-16-2006, 05:38 PM

Criminal justice..thats what im gunna do...nicer start out salary, sick pension, and you get crazy raises

plus u can do what you want pretty much

lolol

Teds89IROC · 10-16-2006, 05:58 PM

eh depends what you do at a body shop and the size of it. I assemble/disassemble cars, so I'm not around the paint/bondo/primer etc. For a profession in auto body you could specialize in frame work/welding and stuff like that.