Minimal training for maximum pay-off

[toonia]

What types of training requires a minimum time investment to greatest financial return? I'm looking into developing an avocation, and thought I should research it. I'm most interested in training programs which take 1-2 years resulting in 20-30K yearly income. These can post-baccalaureate programs. What options do you know about?

[white]

what are you good at, and where do your passions lie? Also, what do you understand by vocation? Career or a calling?

In terms of career (folks, please disagree): short of starting your own business and becoming wildly successful, finance, consulting, law, medicine typically pay the best. Of course, you could also try do what this girl does: 25 Year-Old Beauty Seeks Rich Banker - The Comeback :: Business News :: Here Is The City News :: The Latest Business & Financial Markets News And Views

if you need more info on finance and consulting, check out www.vault.com or :: Here Is The City :: - they'll give indicative starting salaries, interview tips, insights into firm culture etc too.

In terms of vocation, I'd think teaching is one profession immune to economic cycles, and should give that minimum are looking for?

Some words from an old birdie in the workforce. . If you're interested in something, learning it would likely come easier, hence reduce the time. And passion for something and discipline to do well would keep you going through the hard times.

In the short term, learning something and getting into the workforce quickly may seem to bring the greater reward, but in the longer term, that is an open question? Things of value do take time to build, methinks. .

Money is one motivator for working, definitely, but if you do not like what you're doing, it could become golden handcuffs at the end of the day. Keep in mind this'll be something you'd spend half your life on, so choose wisely, yea?

hope that helps.

[Ivy]

Could you get an MFA and teach music appreciation in a community college setting? I really loved being at a community college and for a time planned to teach English in one. (Might still.) You get much of the payoff of teaching at the college level, without the pressure to publish and stuff like that.

[toonia]

Originally Posted by aelan

what are you good at, and where do your passions lie? Also, what do you understand by vocation? Career or a calling?

I have training out the wazoo, but the most i have ever made in a year is 20K when i was fortunate enough to be a half-time professor for a couple of years. I have been wracking my brain since graduation from my professional vantage point, so i started these threads in an attempt to glean info from a blank slate to see if there are options i can't see from where i stand.

I did teach Music Appreciation at a community college for a few years. I was close to half time in that load as well earning a whopping 5K a year. Even those jobs are scarce. Some community college jobs pay very well. It's the luck of the draw.

[runvardh]

All I can think of is trades, you start working pretty much from day one and your pay tends to go up after each term of schoo you do (usually 1-2 months each). But I don't thing that would interest you.

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by toonia

I did teach Music Appreciation at a community college for a few years. I was close to half time in that load as well earning a whopping 5K a year. Even those jobs are scarce. Some community college jobs pay very well. It's the luck of the draw.

Well, that blows. Now I'm mad.

My mother keeps trying to get my brother to enter this program at a local school that teaches people to craft dental crowns and such. It is supposed to be a pretty lucrative trade, although it sounds super-boring to me.

[toonia]

Originally Posted by Ivy

Well, that blows. Now I'm mad.

There are some community college gigs that pay very well. You may be in a better position than me. In music they usually hire a band person, choir person and piano person. I'm an odd-ball in that respect.

[Ivy]

Originally Posted by toonia

There are some community college gigs that pay very well. You may be in a better position than me. In music they usually hire a band person, choir person and piano person. I'm an odd-ball in that respect.

I'm mad for you! And for the awesome music appreciation teacher I had who may not have made as much as he deserved.

[cafe]

I've heard being a hair stylist can pay pretty well. The training doesn't take a real long time and it doesn't have to be super expensive. I don't like touching people and I have poor dexterity or I would seriously consider doing it myself.

[The_Liquid_Laser]

Heh the job that comes to mind is professional truck driver. I don't think it requires too much training and you can make a ton of money. As an added bonus you can live in your truck to cut down on expenses. There are several truckers who have retired in their 40's doing this.