Job/Career...what do YOU do?

[warlord 73]

I went to college for Communication Studies, switched my major to Geography after 3 years, graduated with a B.A. and then did what every other Windsor student did after graduation did. Worked at the freaking auto plants. Did that for 3 years, got a job offer after years of trying and hired to do my geography stuff.

Did a lot of digital ortho photos (the type you see on Google Earth), 3-D building modelling, airforce mapping and utilities etc. Now for the past many years, I make maps, eat maps, sleep maps, cross my eyes at maps all about transportation. So transportation mapper person...

[jundp 191]

Amanda didn't you say you could go to school for free as long as your working there? I mean I would try doing that. Turn that negative into a positive.

I can. But any masters is at least 2 years if you do it full time. I'd be looking at being in school for the next 4 or 5 years. I'm not sure if I want to stay here for that long as of now, you know?

Plus, I've still would have to write a bunch of tests to get in at this school too.

Does your uni not offer grad classes at night? I worked full time during the day and attended grad school at night. I finished in 2 years with my MA in English literature and a secondary focus in linguistics. You should see about that possibility.

Plus, you should only have to take the GRE for grad school, unless you want to do a significantly different degree from your BA, I would think.

I am a high school Creative Writing, Film, and Mass Media teacher now. I taught college for a year and it wasn't for me. I love love love love love my job and wouldn't trade it for anything.

[KarenCee 3]

I'm a high school guidance counselor (master's degree) and it drives me nuts telling the students about amazing careers when I feel stuck in mine!

I want to be an OB/GYN or a nurse practitioner.

I'm a mom of 2 young girls so who knows when/if I will ever have the chance to go back to school.

Well, have you considered online classes? There are some very good, reputable colleges that offer online classes. I mean, I have a daughter who has special needs and this is what I'm doing. I log into class when she's sleeping, or when she's with her father every other weekend. Sometimes when she's watching a movie or napping I log in. It's very flexible. Even technical colleges offer online classes. My husband is doing that here, taking online classes for an associates in computer information systems. I'm finishing up an education degree that I've been working on for a loooooong time. I would check to make sure the college is an accredited school should you decide to look into this.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Right now... I'm unemployed. Have been since I moved here. Originally I was in school to become a psychologist, but had to give that up in order to immigrate. Since I didn't finish that undergrad degree, I'll lost most of my credits if I want to go to a school here. I simply don't have the time nor the money to go back to school now and redo my undergrad and then move onto graduate school.

I do have a degree in Graphic Design including photography and audio/video editing. Unfortunately, that's just about useless nowadays. Everyone and their dog thinks they're a graphic designer. Most employers feel there's no reason to hire a professional graphic designer when their 13 year-old kid can doodle in MS Paint. If they do hire you, expect hourly pay of $10/hr if you're lucky.

If I try freelance work, it's even worse. I've seen ads that want you to work for free (they claim it'll be a "great learning experience" and "something to add to your resume") to $60 per week. Yes, that's $60 PER WEEK. I even saw an airline offering a job where you don't receive monetary compensation, but you can acquire "free airline tickets." Well, that's great but... airline tickets won't pay the bills.

Since both graphic design and psychology aren't viable at this point, I'm scrounging for whatever jobs I can find. I tried retail, but I can't deal with using lies in order to get customers to purchase products. Even worse is commission sales, since every employee is out for themselves and thinks nothing of stabbing someone else in the back.

I've applied for all sorts of positions, including retail, office clerk, warehouse stocker, delivery man, construction (and other trade jobs) and even janitor. No bites at all.

That doesn't really surprise me, though. I've always been the "black sheep" of the family. My family consists of doctors and lawyers (even my brother is in law school right now) and what I am doing? Struggling to find a job as a cashier.

Edited July 25, 2009 by DeadPoolX

[moni_calla 0]

I'm a high school guidance counselor (master's degree) and it drives me nuts telling the students about amazing careers when I feel stuck in mine!

I want to be an OB/GYN or a nurse practitioner.

I'm a mom of 2 young girls so who knows when/if I will ever have the chance to go back to school.

Well, have you considered online classes? There are some very good, reputable colleges that offer online classes. I mean, I have a daughter who has special needs and this is what I'm doing. I log into class when she's sleeping, or when she's with her father every other weekend. Sometimes when she's watching a movie or napping I log in. It's very flexible. Even technical colleges offer online classes. My husband is doing that here, taking online classes for an associates in computer information systems. I'm finishing up an education degree that I've been working on for a loooooong time. I would check to make sure the college is an accredited school should you decide to look into this.

I absolutely love online classes!! they are so convenient and nowadays everything is offered online even degrees!!

[moni_calla 0]

Right now... I'm unemployed. Have been since I moved here. Originally I was in school to become a psychologist, but had to give that up in order to immigrate. Since I didn't finish that undergrad degree, I'll lost most of my credits if I want to go to a school here. I simply don't have the time nor the money to go back to school now and redo my undergrad and then move onto graduate school.

I do have a degree in Graphic Design including photography and audio/video editing. Unfortunately, that's just about useless nowadays. Everyone and their dog thinks they're a graphic designer. Most employers feel there's no reason to hire a professional graphic designer when their 13 year-old kid can doodle in MS Paint. If they do hire you, expect hourly pay of $10/hr if you're lucky.

If I try freelance work, it's even worse. I've seen ads that want you to work for free (they claim it'll be a "great learning experience" and "something to add to your resume") to $60 per week. Yes, that's $60 PER WEEK. I even saw an airline offering a job where you don't receive monetary compensation, but you can acquire "free airline tickets." Well, that's great but... airline tickets won't pay the bills.

Since both graphic design and psychology aren't viable at this point, I'm scrounging for whatever jobs I can find. I tried retail, but I can't deal with using lies in order to get customers to purchase products. Even worse is commission sales, since every employee is out for themselves and thinks nothing of stabbing someone else in the back.

I've applied for all sorts of positions, including retail, office clerk, warehouse stocker, delivery man, construction (and other trade jobs) and even janitor. No bites at all.

That doesn't really surprise me, though. I've always been the "black sheep" of the family. My family consists of doctors and lawyers (even my brother is in law school right now) and what I am doing? Struggling to find a job as a cashier.

Try call centre jobs, they will pay about 15 or so to start but you do have the opportunity to move around and most times they hire from within. Also if you decide to pursue education that is related to something you can do in the company they will reimburse you for education.

While I was in college I worked at Bell Mobility and they gave me $1500 per year towards tuition and I didn't complain at all!!