how did you choose your career?

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

I'm in a bit of a state of flux now personally. I just spent the last 10 years at Verizon, 7 of them in the Computer Support area. I took their severance package back in nov/dec. I have always been a bit of a computer geek and figured why not turn a hobby into a career. Not always a bad idea, but it pretty much ruins the hobby side of everything. Still, I like interacting with users and having to figure out complex problems. Fun times. Still, you always wonder "what if". If you can find a career you like doing, at a comapny you enjoy working for then you are set. Job enjoyment is so much more important than pay, I have found out. I currently work for a data center in tampa, but recently got a job offer about 30-40 miles closer to home, and it seems to be a more enjoyable environment to boot. Its about 2g less per year, but has a better shift, closer, seems like a better place to work. Well worth the loss of 2g. The only downside is that I don't think I will learn as much technical stuff there as I would here. Still, I can see being there for the next 10-20 years, I can't really picture that where I am at now. So those are my thoughts, as badly put together as they may be. Find something you *like* doing, then find a company that works out for you. Then hopefully stick with them and move up the ranks! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

 

[nosaj070 10+ year member]

Tried out a bunch of things...My suggestion to you is to take any class that seems interesting in college even it is supposed to be harder. I went in as an MIS major because I was always into computers, picked up systems analysis because I liked my first programming course, took a micro-bio class and it almost convinced me to pursue med school, took a finance course and I was hooked but it was too late to major in it. I ended up minoring in finance, and now have a job as an investment analyst in chicago, and its something that I think I"ll really enjoy, but time will tell.

Basically take advantage of what college offers, and figure out what you really like while you still can.

 

[nosaj070 10+ year member]

Tried out a bunch of things...My suggestion to you is to take any class that seems interesting in college even it is supposed to be harder. I went in as an MIS major because I was always into computers, picked up systems analysis because I liked my first programming course, took a micro-bio class and it almost convinced me to pursue med school, took a finance course and I was hooked but it was too late to major in it. I ended up minoring in finance, and now have a job as an investment analyst in chicago, and its something that I think I"ll really enjoy, but time will tell.

Basically take advantage of what college offers, and figure out what you really like while you still can.

 

[swaptrex 10+ year member]

I'm in a bit of a state of flux now personally. I just spent the last 10 years at Verizon, 7 of them in the Computer Support area. I took their severance package back in nov/dec. I have always been a bit of a computer geek and figured why not turn a hobby into a career. Not always a bad idea, but it pretty much ruins the hobby side of everything. Still, I like interacting with users and having to figure out complex problems. Fun times. Still, you always wonder "what if". If you can find a career you like doing, at a comapny you enjoy working for then you are set. Job enjoyment is so much more important than pay, I have found out. I currently work for a data center in tampa, but recently got a job offer about 30-40 miles closer to home, and it seems to be a more enjoyable environment to boot. Its about 2g less per year, but has a better shift, closer, seems like a better place to work. Well worth the loss of 2g. The only downside is that I don't think I will learn as much technical stuff there as I would here. Still, I can see being there for the next 10-20 years, I can't really picture that where I am at now. So those are my thoughts, as badly put together as they may be. Find something you *like* doing, then find a company that works out for you. Then hopefully stick with them and move up the ranks! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

interesting, i am moving to Tampa in June. i figure that the employment market will at least be somewhat better than here in Michigan.

 

[SocMunky 10+ year member]

Eh...depends on the field you are looking for a job in. Entry to mid level tech kinda blows atm, unless you take a contract job...which isn't a bad option if you can swing it...

 

[tothemax1984]

i woke up showered walked to walmart and i got a job. 4 years later 1.75 more a hour. same position. yea

 

[Jeremy M 10+ year member]

well, after bouncing around for a bit, doing diff jobs....not really a career but it did tell me what i did not want to do. i knew i didn't want to sit at a desk all day, nor did i want to break my back all day either. i wanted to be functional later in life for my kids.

so worked my way up....i'm currently a beer salesman. i am responsible for selling/decorating roughly 50 major stores in my area in a week. I have to decide how much beer, wine, and non-alcoholics they need to make it to the next delivery.

since having this job(on my 3rd year) i found that i love to work with the public and the competitiveness of the business. so i guess it boils down to what u don't want to do, and what u would tolerate doing.

 

[MyFartsStink 10+ year member]

I got plans for self employment, it is a secret, so no one can take my idea.

 

[DDeitz 10+ year member]

i took that test in elementary school and went for the job the computer matched me up for. i sell womans shoes.