Career change

UKcats06 · 03-25-2007, 01:51 AM

I graduated from school last year and I, unfortunatly, don't like what I am doing. I am a dental lab technician, and the pay sucks, and from what I have seen, so do (some) small businesses, and it is a small field so it is difficult to get a job (no advertising).

So the *point* of this post is what is your career? I am looking for ideas on what I want to do. I only have an associates degree and I plan to go back for a bachelors (once kenny is done with school) so I am looking for ideas to concider.

I want a career that is aviation-friendly. I want to be able to have time to travel and see him as much as I can when he is home. So I guess flexibility is what I mean?

I thought about being a teacher, since you get such long vacations with that, but I would like to hear other options. I also thought about going to dental school since I am already in the field, but for 1, its kinda gross, 2 its a long time going to school, and 3 its a whole lot of money. I also don't was a huge degree hanging over my head. When we have kids I would like to stay at home, but if I have an $80k+ degree hanging over my head I don't think I would allow myself to not use it. So let me know what you do and how much you like it!

Kristie · 03-26-2007, 12:08 PM

I'm a transportation engineer/planner....I help design roads, intersections, signal design/timing and do transportation studies that are 20 years out, planning for the future.

you don't want my job. I sit at a desk all day working on the computer doing basic design/drafting (autocad/microstation/arcview etc)... sometimes i work so hard that my eyes will start to hurt or i'll get claustrophobic sitting in my office but nobody appreciates my effort as my company no longer gives bonuses and deducts our vacations and sick time out of our "utilization".. so say i have to be 90% billable, i'll never reach it because i take vacation and/or sick time when i need to....automatically screwed!

yea, you don't want civil engineering, unless you like boring business meetings and politics....there's really no money in it anymore or prestige...you have to have a certain element of nerdism to want to be an engineer now a days...you can tell what kids in school will be great at it where it'd be very worthy for them, it's just not for me anymore. it's one of those types of jobs where certification is everything (if you don't have it, you will not move up) and it's not an easy cirriculum to get through either...really, the best engineering jobs right now are electrical, mechanical and environmental (in certain states). aerospace engineers are having a lot of difficulty in finding jobs...computer engineering has tooo many people competing for the same job (too many IT types out there).

luckily, the only thing my company does give me (which is primarily why i stay) is flexibility...you can probably find that in any type of desk job as long as you have a supervisor that works with you...but the day they decide to take that from us too is the day i leave.

in fact, i'm looking to change careers as well if it tells you anything about how much i like my career.. hahaha

Bigsweetie · 03-26-2007, 12:45 PM

Kristie- I didn't know you worked with AutoCAD and Microstation? I used both of those programs when I was a designer! I actually like Microstation better (easier to do 3D's). Of course, that was WAY back when... LOL! What version of CAD do you use?

Kristie · 03-26-2007, 02:58 PM

I'm up to Acad 2007 and MS V8 now...I'm much more proficient with Acad than MS. All of our stuff is 2D, so the MS 3D isn't even needed, just that the the major agencies like DOT's prefer Microstation.

Adreamer's_wfe · 03-26-2007, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKcats06

When we have kids I would like to stay at home, but if I have an $80k+ degree hanging over my head I don't think I would allow myself to not use it. So let me know what you do and how much you like it!

If you want to work and be a mom, teaching is the best. I am home with my kids all summer, and Christmas break, and Spring Break, but I also have an income and a retirement. Actually, my income supports my husbands pilot dreams. I do like spending my day with 14 year olds too... yes, I am a little nuts, which makes me able to do the job.

Teaching is also very challenging, there is a large portion of teachers that never make it to their fifth year, it is more than summer vacations and good insurance.

UKcats06 · 03-26-2007, 07:59 PM

I think I am going to check out getting a teaching degree. Its so frustrating to not know what I want to do. I think of what I would do if I had a $1,000,000, and I think I would sit at home and do nothing! Dh wants me to look into being an aircraft dispacher. I don't want to have a bunch of associates degrees that are only good for one thing. I think I will see how long it will take me for a teaching degree though. I was actually in school for 4 years, but I dont have a bachelors. Hopefully it wont take much longer to finish it up.

laralen02 · 03-26-2007, 08:34 PM

You could always do nursing. It would take 2-4 years of school, depending. You can be an RN with an associates degree and make very good money and have a VERY flexible job. You work when you want, pretty much! Of course, they're always calling you ASKING you to work, but you always have the luxury of saying no. Also, you have alot of options, not just hospital nursing. It's good for pretty much every stage of your life. I highly recommend it, and I LOVE IT! Please ask if you want to know more!

UKcats06 · 03-26-2007, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laralen02

You could always do nursing. It would take 2-4 years of school, depending. You can be an RN with an associates degree and make very good money and have a VERY flexible job. You work when you want, pretty much! Of course, they're always calling you ASKING you to work, but you always have the luxury of saying no. Also, you have alot of options, not just hospital nursing. It's good for pretty much every stage of your life. I highly recommend it, and I LOVE IT! Please ask if you want to know more!

What kind of nursing do you do? I don't think I could give babies shots. I don't like to make people hurt and I don't like to see them die either. Those may be issues in some areas of nursing, but I will keep it on my list. Thanks!

roz · 03-26-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UKcats06

I don't like to make people hurt and I don't like to see them die either.

Well, I can't offer you much here as we have the highest morbidity rate. But our nurses do stay as they get to form relationships and feel that they are doing meaningful and important work.

UKcats06 · 03-27-2007, 02:39 AM

Well, I know I could never work in NICU, pediatric oncology, or in a nursing home. There are other parts of nursing though, right? what about plastic surgery? dermatology? People dont die in those too much, right?

By the way, I hate my job even more now. I had to work late late tonight (i just got off, its 3:30am) by myself and i do not like it at all. I was in Jax all day so I had to go in when I got back instead of going in at like 2 or 3. I just about peed my pants every time I heard a noise. I hate being alone at night in a place that is not my house. I'm not really even crazy about it in my house either. How can people watch scary movies and sleep at night? I'm such a scaredy cat.

03-25-2007, 01:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
UKcats06 Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Erlanger, KY Posts: 657 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Career change I graduated from school last year and I, unfortunatly, don't like what I am doing. I am a dental lab technician, and the pay sucks, and from what I have seen, so do (some) small businesses, and it is a small field so it is difficult to get a job (no advertising). So the point of this post is what is your career? I am looking for ideas on what I want to do. I only have an associates degree and I plan to go back for a bachelors (once kenny is done with school) so I am looking for ideas to concider. I want a career that is aviation-friendly. I want to be able to have time to travel and see him as much as I can when he is home. So I guess flexibility is what I mean? I thought about being a teacher, since you get such long vacations with that, but I would like to hear other options. I also thought about going to dental school since I am already in the field, but for 1, its kinda gross, 2 its a long time going to school, and 3 its a whole lot of money. I also don't was a huge degree hanging over my head. When we have kids I would like to stay at home, but if I have an $80k+ degree hanging over my head I don't think I would allow myself to not use it. So let me know what you do and how much you like it!

03-26-2007, 12:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,576 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Career change I'm a transportation engineer/planner....I help design roads, intersections, signal design/timing and do transportation studies that are 20 years out, planning for the future. you don't want my job. I sit at a desk all day working on the computer doing basic design/drafting (autocad/microstation/arcview etc)... sometimes i work so hard that my eyes will start to hurt or i'll get claustrophobic sitting in my office but nobody appreciates my effort as my company no longer gives bonuses and deducts our vacations and sick time out of our "utilization".. so say i have to be 90% billable, i'll never reach it because i take vacation and/or sick time when i need to....automatically screwed! yea, you don't want civil engineering, unless you like boring business meetings and politics....there's really no money in it anymore or prestige...you have to have a certain element of nerdism to want to be an engineer now a days...you can tell what kids in school will be great at it where it'd be very worthy for them, it's just not for me anymore. it's one of those types of jobs where certification is everything (if you don't have it, you will not move up) and it's not an easy cirriculum to get through either...really, the best engineering jobs right now are electrical, mechanical and environmental (in certain states). aerospace engineers are having a lot of difficulty in finding jobs...computer engineering has tooo many people competing for the same job (too many IT types out there). luckily, the only thing my company does give me (which is primarily why i stay) is flexibility...you can probably find that in any type of desk job as long as you have a supervisor that works with you...but the day they decide to take that from us too is the day i leave. in fact, i'm looking to change careers as well if it tells you anything about how much i like my career.. hahaha __________________ www.jetcareers.com Last edited by Kristie; 03-26-2007 at 12:14 PM.

03-26-2007, 12:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Bigsweetie Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Clinton Township, Michigan Posts: 1,506 Recipes: Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Career change Kristie- I didn't know you worked with AutoCAD and Microstation? I used both of those programs when I was a designer! I actually like Microstation better (easier to do 3D's). Of course, that was WAY back when... LOL! What version of CAD do you use?

03-26-2007, 02:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kristie Admin/Owner Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Posts: 6,576 Recipes: Thanks: 7 Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts	Re: Career change I'm up to Acad 2007 and MS V8 now...I'm much more proficient with Acad than MS. All of our stuff is 2D, so the MS 3D isn't even needed, just that the the major agencies like DOT's prefer Microstation. __________________ www.jetcareers.com

03-26-2007, 07:59 PM	#6 (permalink)
UKcats06 Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Erlanger, KY Posts: 657 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Career change I think I am going to check out getting a teaching degree. Its so frustrating to not know what I want to do. I think of what I would do if I had a $1,000,000, and I think I would sit at home and do nothing! Dh wants me to look into being an aircraft dispacher. I don't want to have a bunch of associates degrees that are only good for one thing. I think I will see how long it will take me for a teaching degree though. I was actually in school for 4 years, but I dont have a bachelors. Hopefully it wont take much longer to finish it up.

03-26-2007, 08:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
laralen02 Jetgirls Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 489 Recipes: Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Career change You could always do nursing. It would take 2-4 years of school, depending. You can be an RN with an associates degree and make very good money and have a VERY flexible job. You work when you want, pretty much! Of course, they're always calling you ASKING you to work, but you always have the luxury of saying no. Also, you have alot of options, not just hospital nursing. It's good for pretty much every stage of your life. I highly recommend it, and I LOVE IT! Please ask if you want to know more!

03-27-2007, 02:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
UKcats06 Jetgirls Ol' School Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Erlanger, KY Posts: 657 Recipes: Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Career change Well, I know I could never work in NICU, pediatric oncology, or in a nursing home. There are other parts of nursing though, right? what about plastic surgery? dermatology? People dont die in those too much, right? By the way, I hate my job even more now. I had to work late late tonight (i just got off, its 3:30am) by myself and i do not like it at all. I was in Jax all day so I had to go in when I got back instead of going in at like 2 or 3. I just about peed my pants every time I heard a noise. I hate being alone at night in a place that is not my house. I'm not really even crazy about it in my house either. How can people watch scary movies and sleep at night? I'm such a scaredy cat.

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