What do you do?
- Thread starter Alkorin
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Noodleface
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Grats man, good luck. You're in Atlanta, right? I've only been gone a few months and I would still move back there in a heartbeat, but alas there are no semiconductor jobs.
Noodleface
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I dropped out of college at 18 and went back at 24, basically built up a shitload of credit card debt, was insanely depressed, got really fat, diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, no girlfriend, raided all night in my moms basement. At 24 I decided I had enough and went back to community college for 2 years and then went back to my old University (and kept my old 0.67 GPA, yep 0.67). Raised it up to a 3.3 over the years. I got into moderate shape, lost all sleep (4AM then up at 6AM), somehow got married. My success came at great personal costs and sacrifices. I went back to school for what I loved, so that helped. Like people said, do what you love and you'll be happy - it just so happens that I have always loved computer hardware and programming.
I will say most of my colleagues in school got jobs upon graduation that started around 40-60k for most of them. Only one other friend got a job paying as much as me (same company - go figure) and another started at 70k.
Like I said it's really humbling to be offered something so generous. I've always had confidence in my abilities in engineering, but when it's laid out on paper like that it's crazy.
Sorry for the long post, I've been drinking some wine and I'm feeling fruity.
I will say most of my colleagues in school got jobs upon graduation that started around 40-60k for most of them. Only one other friend got a job paying as much as me (same company - go figure) and another started at 70k.
Like I said it's really humbling to be offered something so generous. I've always had confidence in my abilities in engineering, but when it's laid out on paper like that it's crazy.
Sorry for the long post, I've been drinking some wine and I'm feeling fruity.
Noodleface
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Tarrant
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Grumpus
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EMC is a great place to transition towards technical sales (SolutionArchitect, SalesEngineer). Go that way for the big $$$! I compete directly with the pivotal wing/spinoff.
My story was that I went to college with lots of credits and no work ethic. EQ came out the year I started at the dorm with a wide open 100mbit connection in 1999 and you all know that story, ended up going back home after 2 semesters or so and getting back on my feet at a CC. Transferred to the local university and graduated a semester late at 22ish. Couldn't find a job since I had no internship/coop so did crap web work on the side to get by and went back for a masters which I slacked at bigtime but graduated in 06 or 07. Was 26 by the time I broke into a development job, but rose fast once there making Lead Software Engineer by the time I was 29. I finally got the drive to get my shit in order and lost 140lbs, met a girl who I love and become engaged. This gave me more confidence in work life especially with the soft skills. Now I am 32 and making almost 200k after bonus as a Big Data Solutions Architect doing pre-sales and proof of concepts for fortune 500 companies. Getting married in 9 days, have no doubts about it at all (she has a PHD in her field, amazingly smart) and life is fucking good!
Went from depressingly shy and fat basement dweller to successful technical sales specialist getting married. Never lose hope!
Go figure eh? Not every path is linear.
My story was that I went to college with lots of credits and no work ethic. EQ came out the year I started at the dorm with a wide open 100mbit connection in 1999 and you all know that story, ended up going back home after 2 semesters or so and getting back on my feet at a CC. Transferred to the local university and graduated a semester late at 22ish. Couldn't find a job since I had no internship/coop so did crap web work on the side to get by and went back for a masters which I slacked at bigtime but graduated in 06 or 07. Was 26 by the time I broke into a development job, but rose fast once there making Lead Software Engineer by the time I was 29. I finally got the drive to get my shit in order and lost 140lbs, met a girl who I love and become engaged. This gave me more confidence in work life especially with the soft skills. Now I am 32 and making almost 200k after bonus as a Big Data Solutions Architect doing pre-sales and proof of concepts for fortune 500 companies. Getting married in 9 days, have no doubts about it at all (she has a PHD in her field, amazingly smart) and life is fucking good!
Went from depressingly shy and fat basement dweller to successful technical sales specialist getting married. Never lose hope!
Go figure eh? Not every path is linear.
My cousin's husband does IT sales and wants to kill himself since he is travelling all the fucking time and working like 80 hours a week. He makes insane bank because he supports the family mostly on his own salary and they have 2 kids and a gigantic home in a prestigious housing development. Not for me. Maybe I'm too lazy but I've never defined myself by my career nor do I like it taking over my life.
This happens to a lot of people if they let it. Sure I travel 1-3 nights a week and that isn't always great... but I don't actually work 80 hours or even 50 to be honest. Work life balance isn't given to a worker, it is taken by them. A lot of people in my same job at the same company fall into the work all the time trap giving up weekends etc, I just refuse and get by fine. You have to have the strength of will to say no to 9am meetings on Mondays, chew out your AE when they try and make them etc. Learning the right way to say no is 90% of the battle... and the thing most people fail to learn. Just always have a story/spin on why you can't do something and people get it. There will always be the people who work 80 because they love it not understanding why you don't but you just have to spin things so that they have a perception of you being retardedly busy all the time. Perception control can give you the reality you want.
Falstaff
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Noodleface
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Originally I planned on pursuing software engineering, but I found the solutions work to be a bit more 'big picture' and more intriguing. I'm hoping it works out. I am trying to get on a path towards solution architect
krysanth
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I work as a paramedic for the chicago fire dept. I work 24 hours on and 72 off. I make about 80k a year and overtime if i get it. After 20 years I get a 50% pension, if I do 29 + 1 day I get 75%
Its busy but of we have downtime at the firehouse I might even be able to boot up the laptop for some gaming. Currently 7 years in, not sure if I'll do 29 or just 20 years.
I also work part time at a local ER making 22 bucks an hour. Shitty but a little extra here and there for toys.
I'm 31, have some college + paramedic associates, 2 kids, another one on the way. Wife is an BSN.
Its busy but of we have downtime at the firehouse I might even be able to boot up the laptop for some gaming. Currently 7 years in, not sure if I'll do 29 or just 20 years.
I also work part time at a local ER making 22 bucks an hour. Shitty but a little extra here and there for toys.
I'm 31, have some college + paramedic associates, 2 kids, another one on the way. Wife is an BSN.