Career ideas...

Guurn

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I know that some VAs offer radiological tech certificate courses. It is what got me started on the path away from professional bum. From there you can go a myriad of directions, from CT or MRI to Ultrasound or Radiation therapy, even Dosimetry or Hospital Administration. I ended up in Dosimetry and refuse to go into Administration because of the heavy nursing favoritism. A good friend of mine did my path and continued to Radiation Physicist. The point is options. I have no idea what x-ray makes now, when I quit in 1998 I made 20/hour.
 

eVasiege_sl

shitlord
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I still can't understand how anyone could see accounting as a desirable profession for reasons other than money. Accounting was the worst, most boring subject I've ever had to endure. I'm pretty bad at math, but I can still appreciate the concepts taught in Calculus and Trigonometry, and the impact they have on the real world. Engineering is different, but thankfully, not everyone that has the mind for it studies it. Imagining a world where everyone pursued engineering or a business degree because it was the quickest road to money, hurts my brain to think about.

I can't believe the approach to work of some people, though. If I'm going to be doing something 40+ hours a week, the first thing on my mind is how I could make those 40+ hours somewhat enjoyable. Do what you think fits your personality and interestsandallows you to live comfortably. If that happens to be engineering, then so be it. If you're going to do something you don't feel strongly for because it pays more, you'd better make sure you have enough free time for the things you actually like to do or you will go insane. And you will probably be a depressed, boring person.
 

Fifey

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I can't believe the approach to work of some people, though. If I'm going to be doing something 40+ hours a week, the first thing on my mind is how I could make those 40+ hours somewhat enjoyable. Do what you think fits your personality and interestsandallows you to live comfortably. If that happens to be engineering, then so be it. If you're going to do something you don't feel strongly for because it pays more, you'd better make sure you have enough free time for the things you actually like to do or you will go insane. And you will probably be a depressed, boring person.
This a million times, people who say "go to school for X degree because it pays 120G a year, bro" are stupid. You have to actually enjoy your job to some extent for it to even be worthwhile. Really give it a good it a good look into as what you want, like office work or actual trade/field work. You'll make less when doing a trade/field(Unless you own your own shop, but someone went over that earlier) but if you are like me, you will actually be happy with your life instead of just grinding a paycheck.
 

Gravel

Mr. Poopybutthole
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Is everyone on this board like a former army guy? Jesus christ, did you faggots just play EQ all through high school and had no other life options?

I'm genuinely curious.
That's actually not far from the truth for me. I had straight A's my freshman year. Sophomore I found EQ, failed half my classes, and almost dropped out. Junior and senior years were just doing the bare minimum to graduate while playing EQ. At that point I was like, fuck, I really screwed that up. But I aced the shit out of the ASVAB so the military seemed like a good option.

Also, this whole "do something you enjoy" is a load of shit. The vast majority of people will either hate their job or just tolerate it. The people that actually enjoy their jobs are pretty rare.
 

McCheese

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I still can't understand how anyone could see accounting as a desirable profession for reasons other than money. Accounting was the worst, most boring subject I've ever had to endure.
My uncle loves accounting. He has a full-time day job but he moonlights doing accounting shit because for him it's more of a fun hobby than a job. He loves crunching numbers and doing other accountant stuff. No matter how boring you think something is, there issomeoneout there who thinks it's the most exciting shit in the world. To give a personal example, I'm an English (as a second language) teacher by profession and I get my jollies by reading grammar books. I've been reading and analyzing aspects of English grammar all morning and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I doubt most people would be able to tolerate more than a few minutes.

Also, this whole "do something you enjoy" is a load of shit. The vast majority of people will either hate their job or just tolerate it. The people that actually enjoy their jobs are pretty rare.
Just because it's rare doesn't mean it's a "load of shit". The problem is that more often than not doing something you enjoy != doing something that has a good salary. I think most people aren't willing to sacrifice the money for a more enjoyable job. To be fair, a lot of people don't have any choice in the matter due to having to support a family or other obligations that necessitate a decent salary.

My personal belief is that if you go to college it should be for something that you'll enjoy doing the rest of your life. Even if you don't (or can't, for whatever reason) get a job in your "enjoyable" field, virtually any college degree will be enough to get you into some sort of generic office work.
 

Nester

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I still can't understand how anyone could see accounting as a desirable profession for reasons other than money.
Smart accountants are no longer accountants, they are Controllers and CFO's that is the sweetest plumb, You basicly run a business with your COO and control all the cash.
 

Burnesto

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Smart accountants are no longer accountants, they are Controllers and CFO's that is the sweetest plumb, You basicly run a business with your COO and control all the cash.
This works out real well if you start out for a public firm. Many times clients will offer you jobs.
 

Zodiac

Lord Nagafen Raider
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If you have outdoor hobbies look for any job that's not 9-5. I'd give up much of my current salary to have the schedule of a RN / fireman or whatever. Fucking sucks when a couple of my friends who are RNs get to take off in the middle of the week for ski trips, mounting biking etc and I can't go. 3 12 hour shifts seems godly to me.
 

Khane

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Really give it a good it a good look into as what you want, like office work or actual trade/field work. You'll make less when doing a trade/field(Unless you own your own shop, but someone went over that earlier) but if you are like me, you will actually be happy with your life instead of just grinding a paycheck.
Hire a plumber or electrician to do some work at your house and then tell me they don't make good money... It doesn't matter if over half of the money I get charged goes to "the shop" they are still making damn good money per hour.
 

Ortega

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Really shocked people are talking about accounting, but not CS or IT. CS is a bit harder to get into, but if you're good at it you'll make great pay and have a super flexible work schedule with an awesome skill. IT is super flexible as well, but generally a bit less pay than CS unless you're an all star.
 

Khane

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Really shocked people are talking about accounting, but not CS or IT. CS is a bit harder to get into, but if you're good at it you'll make great pay and have a super flexible work schedule with an awesome skill. IT is super flexible as well, but generally a bit less pay than CS unless you're an all star.
IT and super flexible work schedule in the same sentence? Is that some sick joke, trying to troll the kid into thinking he isn't going to have to work late at night and on the weekends? Software Developers can have some flexible work schedules though, that's true.
 

Friday

Lord Nagafen Raider
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I know. Most people in America are out of shape pieces of shit. But the problem is blood pressure. I talked to my dads wife (nurse), my dad (doctor) and a few other docs. Basically, my blood pressure has always been 150+ (actually went up thanks to the Corps, go figure). I could get on meds, but I'm not a fan of the pharmaceuticals. If I want EMT/Paramedics, it will always be there (plus there are better options in terms of training available). Just lost in life right now, but whatever.
Listen. I was a NAVY FMF Corpsman from 2002 until 2010.

Go to your Batallion Aid Station or Clinic or whatever. If you have a Doc buddy, even better. You have the right to check out your medical record for up to 72 hours(?) for a Doctor visit off base. You don't even need a slip. You get that record and tear out everything that you don't want in it. Then enjoy your life.

Me? I'm color blind as fuck and it was in my medical record and it could have jeopardized some parts of my career. Guess who's not color blind anymore. If you ever get asked about high blood pressure or a murmer then shrug it off and grunt like all Marines do.

When you transfer to a civilian you will be screened by your hiring companies and your medical records wont (or don't) have to play any part in your civilian health. Then laugh as you get civilian health insurance that covers it because it wasn't a reported pre-existing condition.

HOWEVER

If you are wanting to claim HBP and Murmers(lol) as a direct result of your time in the Military then you need to leave them in there and I highly suggest speaking with a DOD authorized specialist about what that can net you in %disability and then weigh the pros and cons yourself.

PM me if you want more info. Been out for 3 years now.

[EDIT]

IF your immediate family suffers from shit like stroke=>death or stroke=>retarded from a direct result of high blood pressure (keep in mind that shit is like 250+ systolic) then you should consult a doctor. Taking blood pressure medications at your age has a side effect of causing sterility. You're 25 with a slightly leaky heart valve and above normal blood pressure. Far from a failing healthy individual.

Unless of course your sat% is like constant 80 then don't listen to me.
 

BrutulTM

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Also, this whole "do something you enjoy" is a load of shit. The vast majority of people will either hate their job or just tolerate it. The people that actually enjoy their jobs are pretty rare.
Translation: I hate my job and should have chosen something different but I'm secure in my misery and don't have the balls to try something different.

I haven't had a job I didn't like since I was a security guard in college and wouldn't stay at one that I disliked.
 

Falstaff

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Is everyone on this board like a former army guy? Jesus christ, did you faggots just play EQ all through high school and had no other life options?

I'm genuinely curious.
Nah man, some of us got a Masters in Social Work because they wanted to change the world and are now miserable and doing everything and anything they can to get out of the non-profit world.
 

Khane

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How is a kid in their teens supposed to know what they are or are not going to enjoy doing? At least if you pick a major that generally pays well you can use your disposable income to buy some happiness rather than just taking a risk on "doing something you'll love".

I don't honestly think most people hate their jobs, hate is a strong word. Just because you don't "love" your job doesn't mean it's a soul sucking abyss sending you to an early grave. I mean... it's a job. I love to golf, but if I golfed for a living it would soon become a job rather than something I just love doing, I'd have to invest more time into practicing, doing drills, it would be a lot less fun. I'd probably still enjoy it enough to not quit but it wouldn't be the same.
 

Gravel

Mr. Poopybutthole
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Translation: I hate my job and should have chosen something different but I'm secure in my misery and don't have the balls to try something different.

I haven't had a job I didn't like since I was a security guard in college and wouldn't stay at one that I disliked.
I've actually tried several things, and they all sucked. I'm on my third "career field."
 

Fifey

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Hire a plumber or electrician to do some work at your house and then tell me they don't make good money... It doesn't matter if over half of the money I get charged goes to "the shop" they are still making damn good money per hour.
When I say good money, I mean like 120k a year and up type money, you still make good money you just aren't going to be driving a Ferrari.
 

Itlan

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Don't go to college unless you want to do something very specific where the degree is required, or you plan on getting a masters. Having a bachelor's is absolutely worthless... in fact it's worse than worthless.
 

Khane

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When I say good money, I mean like 120k a year and up type money, you still make good money you just aren't going to be driving a Ferrari.
There are 3 master plumber who are members at my golf club. They are most certainly making well over 120k a year. Somewhere along the line parents in America became convinced their kids were too good for trade school. As a result there is an influx of kids going to college who will never be able to pay off their debt because they just simply don't belong there and are flooding the job market in their respective fields, while there is a shortage of trained, skilled trade workers. This drives up demand for trade workers and inflates their salaries.

2 months ago I had a plumber doing work at my house. He charged something like $225/hr. And that's typical around here.