Career Choices

[A_Whelan]

A bit of background is required for this post and I'll star by saying that I am 5 courses, one term (4 months) away from completing a Bachelor of Business Administration. My university isn't anything fancy and not that prestigious, it was close and it was cheap so I went there. I choose this path because I didn't know what to do and kinda had a bit a pressure from my parents to attend a university. I've managed to come out debt free with some help, hard work and long nights studying.

Today it seems a BBA can't really get you that far in live in terms of pay scale and maybe even a job that won't want to make you hang yourself from the rafters. One choice I have been thinking about is heading back to school and getting another degree or a diploma in some sort of events managing. Another option was getting a trade and not really using my BBA for anything. A few things that I want to be able to do are travel, enjoy my job, interact with people and have a position that isn't the same bs day in and day out.

I'm not tooting my own horn when I say this but when I accept a position I'm dedicated to it; if I wasn't I wouldn't accept a position I didn't think I would like. I'm not fond of jobs where I am constantly being watched every move I make, I like freedom and creativity to come in to play. I'm a people person, I'm creative, I have a background in marketing, I enjoy a challenge (check back in a month to see how well my M50 swap goes), I'll learn new skills for a job if required and I'm willing to put overtime into every job I do to go above and beyond. This may seem like bullshit but I have a good work initiative.

With this bit of background about myself I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions. Right now I'm in a rut and I'm not sure what I want but once I find something and set my eyes on it I'll go for it 110% Open to suggestions of serious career choices. I know this might draw some flak but I'm looking for honest opinions. Much appreciated.

Cheers,
Aaron

[Eecen]

Didn't read any of that, but I vote for male stripper.

[Bimmerman325i]

Good friend of mine graduated with a degree in communications. She worked for 5 years or so, and decided she hated it, so she went back and got a mechanical engineering degree and is working on her masters.

Honestly though, it sounds like you don't know what you want to do. Kinda hard to suggest careers if you don't even know what sounds good.

So to narrow it down, what kinds of things do you LIKE to do? What do you HATE? What can you see yourself doing for decades?

[Adrian_Visser]

Think about what you want to do... Do that. Just remember there will always be things you don't like about what you end up doing, sometimes you just have to live with it. It's called work not skipidity doo fun time.

[BrownBeanE30]

Didn't read any of that, but I vote for male stripper.

+1 on that bro

[davem]

Think about what you want to do... Do that. Just remember there will always be things you don't like about what you end up doing, sometimes you just have to live with it. It's called work not skipidity doo fun time.

Yeah I agree, you will always think "I should have become an X" but there are downsides to all jobs. Only a tiny % of people have dream jobs.

[A_Whelan]

I've read studies saying that new generations don't really have careers, they have jobs. This is because the turnover rate today is beyond what it has ever been. I've had people ask the question "What would you do if there was no money or time limitations" and it is a tricky question. After seeing you use the word "decades" that was another wake up call. This is going to be long term.

I guess my first question is directed to the people out there with business degrees of some sort; What do you do now and how did you get there beyond having a degree?

I know a lot of the positions they might have involve working up the corporate ladder but that is something I'm willing to do. I feel naive in saying this but I think I might enjoy working with an automotive company, be it a dealership, a small tuning company or a garage that services bmw's or other European cars. I've always been fixated on cars ever since I was young, as most people are. However this fixation has grown on me and I've been cutting costs on everything in my life to scrounge up money for my car. And I feel working for a garage that does restorations, upgrades, tuning, etc would be something that has a changing scene daily (new customers, new cars, new visions) while at the same time sometime stable that I can do for decades.

Another thing that always intrigued me is piloting, either planes or helicopters. The only problem with this plan is the massive amount of money that is required and the thousands of hours of air time. I don't know how people do it.

Thinking about it now here are some goals I would like:

1. The ability to travel. Preferably travel that is involved with the job but if a job allows for some flexibility that would mean I could use my own money and travel for a month out of a year.

2. Interaction with people. I don't want to sit in an office and type shit or punch numbers all day. I like meeting people, hearing their stories and helping them out however I can. I think a part of this passion is going to push me to travel once I finish my degree. I'm looking at a few different websites where people offer up accommodations and food in exchange for work. They have spots all over the world and my only costs would be getting there. I hope this will help my learn more about the type of person I am.

3. An income around 60,000 a year. This is flexible, but I think this would allow me to travel (roughing it a bit), save for retirement down the road, and live a decent life. I'm flexible with this because if I find something I really love I'd be willing to take a pay hit.

4. Benefits. Mainly health and dental to help cut down on payments. Other benefits like corporate discounts are good to have but something that is related directly to me (and a spouse down the road...maybe?).

[A_Whelan]

I understand the fact that regardless of a job, 98% of the time there will be things you wish you didn't have to do. I'm find with that. I have a good work ethic and I took a shitty job this summer to help pay for my car, university and some living costs. I'm looking for another job now so I can spend a bit more on my car because my current budget isn't going to help me achieve what I want.

And I know this decision is weighted a lot on what I want to do. I just tossed up this thread as a rant I guess and a way to hear what other people thought. R3V is a great forum and most people on here seem sensible and there is a really diverse background of people and careers. Thanks for the input too. Keep the comments coming.

[A_Whelan]

Didn't read any of that, but I vote for male stripper.

I hope you choke on a dick.

[SkiFree]

A_Whelan - It seems you could use an extreme job to clear your head. A job that requires you to think on your feet and give you a better perspective on life.

After highschool I took 2 "fun" years to explore what I wanted to do in life. In those 2 years I lived in Montana and maintained 20 winter cabins at the Yellowstone Club. It was hard work (think lots of wood chopping and shoveling) but alot of fun (snowmobiling and skiing), gave me a clear outlook.

Using the money earned in Montana I moved to Italy and studied automotive design and now I'm in California working on a mechanical engineering degree with the goal of working for BMW.


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If your in Canada look into being a smokejumper (60k easy), work on a fishing boat, or on a mountain. Something, anything, that provides a "real world" education to compliment your college education. Then again this is just my opinion based on nothing but my own experience so take it with a grain of salt.

Good thread here http://www.bmw2002faq.com/component/...view,/start,0/

[A Sucked Orange]

Duh. Be an entrepreneur.

[z31maniac]

My wife has her bachelors in Business with a double minor in Marketing/Management.

She's a hairstylist and her salary destroys my pretty good one. She works less and sets her own schedule as well.

I've got a Journalism degree with a specialization in Public Relations, I'm a Technical Writer.


My only advice would be, if you aren't sure what you want to do yet, and you can swing it, go ahead and knock out your Master's. I wish I could get the motivation to go back to school to get mine.

[Turf1600]

I stumbled into the medical field and love it. You can use your degree on the business end of medical and do well.

[samiam3356]

My wife has her bachelors in Business with a double minor in Marketing/Management.

She's a hairstylist and her salary destroys my pretty good one. She works less and sets her own schedule as well.

I've got a Journalism degree with a specialization in Public Relations, I'm a Technical Writer.


My only advice would be, if you aren't sure what you want to do yet, and you can swing it, go ahead and knock out your Master's. I wish I could get the motivation to go back to school to get mine.

Good hairstylist fucking kill it. They must as much money as my wife spends going to them! lol

I was 10 classes away from a Masters and just couldn't stomach school anymore. After already graduating with a Finance degree I found the MBA program to be a bit watered down for the non business degree folks. Felt it was a waste of time and money. My 1st employer agreed when I told them that in the interview. :) We all have different paths however, and what works for one...well you know the rest

[Acehye559]

Im in the same boat as you, I graduated last year and got my BS in Business Admin. However, I opened up my own business as I was going to school and been doing that since but Im still looking to get a career going as well. What I learned this whole time is that you just have to be patient, something will come along your way. Also one more thing, your location makes a big difference too. Maybe you moving to a different city or town will help you find what your looking for.