Career Choices

[Butler]

Do what you love, the money will follow.



I'm in a similar boat as you. Think of ways to make your self more marketable and start networking with professionals in your area. Check for local internships and job openings even if your not really interested. I'd suggest making contact with those people because they know people and most should be very willing to help out a soon to be graduate.

Its all about who you know. If someone can give you a solid recommendation youre in the door. :D

[mamzak]

OP

I am currently completing my BBA, as well as apprenticing as a Heavy Duty Mechanic. Having my journeyman ticket is an easy way to guarantee myself $110K-$250K a year depending on if I suck it up and work in Fort Mac or stay in Edmonton, and with a BBA I will likely get moved into a foreman/supervisor/managerial position where you make a journeymans salary as a quarterly bonus. Heavy Duty is the way to go in my opinion... Not only is the work really, really cool and exciting to do, but the money is fantastic. You should think about it! PM me if you have any questions.

Edit: You will have to move to Alberta to make the good dollaz, but it's worth it. Fuck living in Newfoundland. Come on down to the praries! Yeeehaaawww.

[Kershaw]

i dont know how it is in canada, but in the US OF A you can go through OCS (officer candidate school) and you are not locked in a contract. the recruiter told me it was like an internship with the Marines (lies, lol) but it does get you a feel. it's the equivalent of basic training.

i graduated from OCS, USMC, in summer of 09. i did not accept my commission. however, it was truly a life changing experience and i'd recommend it to anyone. at the very basic level, if you get nothing else out of it (and you should) you're being paid pretty well to work out for an entire summer. fuck yeah.

[Ral]

military.

become an officer. become a pilot. get paid pretty decently.

I'm doing this right now. And I'm definitely one of the small % of people with their dream jobs. I used to spend thousands (that I made working summers in HS) flying for fun. The military is definitely a different kind of flying, but I've had experiences in the air that are indescribable.

I'll continue more later, but I would go to your local airport and ask for a $99 introductory flight. it'll be between a half hour and an hour, an instructor will take you up so you can get a feel for it no harm no foul, and most likely he is working his way to the airlines or is retired and doing it for fun and should have valuable insight into flying as a career. For some people, it gets in their blood. Others, not so much.

If you've got good ideas, try using your business sense to start a business if you're inclined.



A good idea aligning with one of his interests.

You're about to get your degree = becoming an officer would be pretty easy for you.

Air Force Pilots when they retire can always fly commercial/private.

Call up your local recruiter and ask him/her some questions.

You won't always get shot at- to be honest, very few flying jobs are "tip of the spear"-type flying like jets, forward deployed helicopters, etc. (I'm in the Navy, so most of my thoughts are geared towards that service.) With that said, if you're not a fan of being shot at, it may not be the right profession for you. There's a few of us on the boards here. I've been commissioned for 3 years, got my wings last October. gkurey is just getting started in the initial 6 week Preflight school. FreedS4 is an air force C-130 pilot, and hoveringuy is a retired Helicopter squadron commander. (CO, in navy-speak.) Whatever you do, ask one of us before you talk to a recruiter, or use us to fact-check whatever a recruiter says.

[b*saint]

Lulz.

But seriously, if you are young get out there and try every possible job that seams interesting to you. More people stumble into their jobs by accident more than by planning.

When you are 18 years old and start university, you plan your schooling based on what you think sounds interesting at that point in your life. No offense to young folks but at 18 you know nothing about life now, how do you plan your future based on the knowledge gained from 13 years living under mommys roof having mommy make your lunch, and being in a school that caters to the lowest common denomenator in the class. Get out there and experience life and learn about yourself, and your carreer will find you.

Next.........get off the rock unless you want an oil job.

Yea I got my best job by applying for it by accident. True story. Im actually trying to get it back before July 4th.

[Todd Black 88]

Lulz.

But seriously, if you are young get out there and try every possible job that seams interesting to you. More people stumble into their jobs by accident more than by planning.

When you are 18 years old and start university, you plan your schooling based on what you think sounds interesting at that point in your life. No offense to young folks but at 18 you know nothing about life now, how do you plan your future based on the knowledge gained from 13 years living under mommys roof having mommy make your lunch, and being in a school that caters to the lowest common denomenator in the class. Get out there and experience life and learn about yourself, and your carreer will find you.

Next.........get off the rock unless you want an oil job.

[b*saint]

2nd, what are you wearing?

[Todd Black 88]

1st, how old are you?

[b*saint]

Start your own business full time.

[A_Whelan]

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

I do need a bit of an eye opener. I was born and raised in Eastern Canada, live on an island, and have only really been far away a handful of times. I am saving money now to travel as soon as possible. I'm about to start an M50 swap and I think once that is done I'll have a few months to enjoy it and I might sell the car for funds to get out. Thank you for the advice, I'm actually looking into smoke jumping now, I miss having adrenaline in my life.

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 heard at a nice salon in big cities people can rake in the money. Unfortunately here hair styling is what the dumb people fall back on because there is a shitty styling school they all go to ahah. Not that I want to do that, just saying. Thanks though.

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

A few people have said medical fields now. I once knew a guy that was in sales with the medical field and he would travel around a lot, made a lot of money and had a flexible schedule because he was representing a company for a lot of different hospitals. I'll write it down and look into it, thank you.

...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.

Agreed. To put into perspective of where I grew up I'll give you guys a bit of background. The province I live in is an island, with a population around 500,000 for the entire province. To get off you either have to fly which is 2 hours to the nearest spot or drive and take an 8 hour ferry ride which is like $200 for one car and a person. Expensive and annoying to leave for a trip.

to the op

i graduated from college with a finance and got my mba and out of just shear interest i took some biology and chemistry classes. i was able to stumble into the medical field and love it everyday. it has its challenges and but its rewarding and i have autonomy somewhat. best advice i can give you is find something your passionate about and enjoy doing because if you do it for the money you will burn out eventually. and make yourself the most marketable. due to my finance and business background i am more marketable and have more doors opened to me that my other cronies don't have. good luck

Thanks for the post, medical seems like a good thing. I'll look into it.

military.

become an officer. become a pilot. get paid pretty decently.

I'm not too fond of being shot at. Especially with the world the way it is, small conflict popping up all the time. Add that to having to climb the ranks and take orders from someone all the time, I'm not so sure I'd like it. But thank you for the suggestion, I still might look into it.

......here) for the last 20 years and not only has it proven to be extremely lucrative for him but he also loves his work; which for me is almost more important since you spend so much time working these days. The best advice he gave me, which I have transcribed onto a sticky note that hangs in front of me at all times at my desk, is "Be patient and pay your dues."

Thats the truth of it. With a BBA you have the basic skills required to understand the higher functions of a business but you're never going to get to a point...

Good points. I understand it will all start from the bottom, I just don't want to go in blind and get in a bigger rut without knowing what to do. I've talked to some friends who have been graduated for a few years and they took the first thing that came along and they seem to hate life. Thanks for the post.

I have been working the same job for the last 13 years. I love being a contractor SO MUCH. I don't know how hard it is to get into though. I just got lucky being born into it. Father is my boss I make over 60k a year when I have full time work(winter can be hard). And I have never gone to college. I will never be out of a job since houses need to be fixed or remodeled.

I have thought about going to college, but nothing really beats building people's dreams. I also would hate taking orders from someone else =) I could never have a job where I get ordered around by some tard that has worked there longer.

My job title is site foreman and I can do everything involved with building a house from the foundation to the roof caps.

Ever think about a union of sorts? VERY good pay and benefits.

Awesome that you found a job you love. I've helped build a few houses before, I've shingled more than I care to remember, I've drywalled, plastered, painted, laid concrete, laid flooring, etc. I've done a lot of it besides electrical and any extensive plumbing. I've thought about construction before and have it written down to consider.

As for unions, I'm not a fan of them. I know they are inevitable but in general I find 80% of unions take advantage of their situations. It's great to have a collective voice for everyone that keeps people from being drowned out but I've worked in situations where I've wanted to smack every person that worked in the union for being lazy s.o.b's and not doing a simple job like printing a design just because it's outside their duties. HIT THE FUCKING PRINT BUTTON, DONE. /endrant

Thanks for the posts! So far I have:
1. Smoke jumper
2. Medical Sales
3. Any sales job
4. Airforce, maybe.
5. Investment Consultant (heard about it from a friend)
6. My own business
7. Male stripper

I have a course I need to study for today, exam this weekend, but I'm going to take a bit of time and research these positions and see what pops up.

[F34R]

I have been working the same job for the last 13 years. I love being a contractor SO MUCH. I don't know how hard it is to get into though. I just got lucky being born into it. Father is my boss I make over 60k a year when I have full time work(winter can be hard). And I have never gone to college. I will never be out of a job since houses need to be fixed or remodeled.

I have thought about going to college, but nothing really beats building people's dreams. I also would hate taking orders from someone else =) I could never have a job where I get ordered around by some tard that has worked there longer.

My job title is site foreman and I can do everything involved with building a house from the foundation to the roof caps.

Ever think about a union of sorts? VERY good pay and benefits.

[1mz]

I graduated last year with a BBA as well - I didn't read the whole thread but I would suggest the possibility of a sales position. Thats where I am at now. Nearly every aspect of business invloves selling at some level or another therefore it is a worthy skill to acquire, and there are always sales positions open. You might not love it, but you can develop some contacts, learn some new skills, and move your way from a sales organization into an industry you might be far more interested in after a year or two.

My girlfriend's father is somewhat of a business guru in the greater DC metropolitan area - he has been an influential figure in government contracting (read big business around here) for the last 20 years and not only has it proven to be extremely lucrative for him but he also loves his work; which for me is almost more important since you spend so much time working these days. The best advice he gave me, which I have transcribed onto a sticky note that hangs in front of me at all times at my desk, is "Be patient and pay your dues."

Thats the truth of it. With a BBA you have the basic skills required to understand the higher functions of a business but you're never going to get to a point to use them without starting out somewhere lower and patiently and diligently working your way up.

Best of luck to you and if you would like to discuss anything further feel free to shoot me a PM.

[DEV0 E30]

If you've got good ideas, try using your business sense to start a business if you're inclined.

military.

become an officer. become a pilot. get paid pretty decently.

A good idea aligning with one of his interests.

You're about to get your degree = becoming an officer would be pretty easy for you.

Air Force Pilots when they retire can always fly commercial/private.

Call up your local recruiter and ask him/her some questions.

[z31maniac]

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

She averages out somewhere around $40/hr before taxes/expenses I think.

If you're a straight guy, it's an excellent way to pick up the wimminz as well.

That sounds awesome, how did you get into technical writing? (I'm not being sarcastic either, I have BA in English so it's something I'd like to do).

I actually kind of lucked into it. I had applied at MerCruiser for an unrelated position, HR said they'd like to have me but in a different capacity and passed my resume around.

The Tech Writing manager called me (I had working on cars, riding motorcycles as interests on my resume) and asked if I knew what the job was. He explained it, I went in for an interview, and luckily was hired.

English degrees will get you considered for a Tech Writing job. Since you don't have any experience doing it yet, you need to put together a couple of documents.

For example, document doing an E30 related task with pictures/steps/tools needed. You can do it in Word, convert to PDF and have a writing sample that shows you understand the thought process behind putting together a useable document.

I would make at least two, good docs on one of the following subjects:
1. How to change pads/rotors
2. How to rear suspension refresh
3. How to change clutch/CSB/flex disc
4. How to headgasket swap or timing belt/water pump
5. Or anything similar, but nothing cheezy like an oil change or something. You want to display your ability to analyze the whole situation, think critically and explain a complex/technical process to someone who has never done it before.

If you're really brave, or know someone doing it, how to complete a 24v swap would be an AWESOME document to demonstrate your skills.

Tech Writing is a double-edged sword. There aren't a lot of Tech Writers compared to say, IT or Business Administration, but there aren't a lot of jobs either.

However, if you're good, you can make a pretty comfortable living for yourself. Especially depending on your industry.


If you're serious about it, send me a PM, I'd be happy to help out with suggestions/edit/etc.

[chadthestampede]

Have you considered teaching? Sure the hours are long, the pay sucks and it's mostly a thankless job but every now and then you get to be somebodies hero. Plus you can get summers off since you say you want to travel.

The problem is the demand for teachers isn't very high right now. I'm certified to teach in NYS and they are laying people off left and right. Doesn't help that the education system is down the shitter either.