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Help me pick a career

The Third Rider

New member
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
763
MBTI Type
ENFj
Ok so I am 23 and for the past 3-4 years I have been doing IT Destop Support. The issue is that I don't see a future for me in that field. I guess my skills are about average in the field and I just don't have the interest that I wish I had to further purse it. I never really finished college because I couldn't afford it and after one job to another I managed to end up doing IT support but now I want to go back and finish/start over but I am having a hard time just picking a major. I don't want to play around, I want to find a area that I can be good at, enjoy it and make enough cash at. So basically I need suggestions from you fine people.
 

JocktheMotie

Habitual Fi LineStepper
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
8,491
Would need to know more about your interests and other activities that you enjoy in order to set you in a good direction.
 

Moiety

New member
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
5,996
MBTI Type
ISFJ
I don't know about America but around here computer engineering is still a sure-fire way to make good money with minimal required expertise (the majors overeducate you for the reality of the corporate scene;maybe it's like that everywhere, I dunno).


But I urge you to consider doing something that you actually like doing. I chose this major for pragmatic reasons and now I'm having a hard time finishing it. Not because it's that hard, but because, on top of being lazy, I hate most subjects. If it were today, I'd probably go to art school or something. Dunno.
 

d@v3

Perfect Gentleman! =D
Joined
Nov 20, 2008
Messages
2,830
MBTI Type
ISTJ
Ok so I am 23 and for the past 3-4 years I have been doing IT Destop Support. The issue is that I don't see a future for me in that field. I guess my skills are about average in the field and I just don't have the interest that I wish I had to further purse it. I never really finished college because I couldn't afford it and after one job to another I managed to end up doing IT support but now I want to go back and finish/start over but I am having a hard time just picking a major. I don't want to play around, I want to find a area that I can be good at, enjoy it and make enough cash at. So basically I need suggestions from you fine people.

If you are into computers and are up to the challenge, maybe you would be interested in a career working on military intelligence?:huh: I don't know much about it or what the requirements are, but just a suggestion.
 

ThatsWhatHeSaid

Well-known member
Joined
May 11, 2007
Messages
7,263
MBTI Type
INTP
Enneagram
5w4
I see you like swords.

Have you ever considered a career in the lucrative field of pet grooming?
 

Udog

Seriously Delirious
Joined
Aug 2, 2008
Messages
5,290
MBTI Type
INfp
Enneagram
9w1
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
Third Rider, you are young enough that focusing on learning different skills that you'll be able to use in any career is likely a good start. What do you enjoy? What would you like to learn about?

If you are going back to a 4 year college degree, there is no harm in picking a major that will allow you to focus on important skills, and as you fine tune your career choices, switch your major.
 

Grayscale

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 20, 2007
Messages
1,965
MBTI Type
ISTP
what are some memorable activities you enjoyed as a kid and why do they seem notable to you?
 

professor goodstain

New member
Joined
Feb 14, 2009
Messages
1,785
MBTI Type
ENFP
Enneagram
7~7
E- something where you're around others. N- something fun, which no job provides. NF- be around animals maybe. Pilot a hoarse drawn carriage? Seriously, doing something vaguely parallel. J- no clue over here but perhaps organizing atire prior to attending work. i got it. care and maintnance of the bomb sniffing dogs in Iraq under a civilian contract. Your F compells me to state that this is not a bunch of bs. That occupation recomendation is ONLY something like a guide. It is by no means litteral:)
 

The Third Rider

New member
Joined
Sep 12, 2007
Messages
763
MBTI Type
ENFj
Would need to know more about your interests and other activities that you enjoy in order to set you in a good direction.

Thats the thing, I don't see how any of the things that I do can possibly help me get a career. Anyways here it is:

-Sports
-Excersice/Gym
-Music
-Video Games
-Movies
-Reading
-hanging out?

Well, me and some friends have tried to do a BUNCH of stuff on the side as well. We did some photography, modeling/Promoting, even DJed at Club but I recently found out that I am extremely senstive to loud noises so I stopped. There were many other things but it seems like we werent anywhere so I just decided to finish a career instead.

I don't know about America but around here computer engineering is still a sure-fire way to make good money with minimal required expertise (the majors overeducate you for the reality of the corporate scene;maybe it's like that everywhere, I dunno).


But I urge you to consider doing something that you actually like doing. I chose this major for pragmatic reasons and now I'm having a hard time finishing it. Not because it's that hard, but because, on top of being lazy, I hate most subjects. If it were today, I'd probably go to art school or something. Dunno.

Thats the thing, i am trying to find a well balanced job/career, I want to enjoy it or the very least not hate it, but I want it to pay well which is my main concern and be on a decent demand for my services. I know too many people that have gone on to college, get a degree and do nothing related to what they studied and pay loads of maney for.

I see you like swords.

Have you ever considered a career in the lucrative field of pet grooming?

I am not into swords, I just so happens that the Ava came with swords, they were included in the package.:D

Third Rider, you are young enough that focusing on learning different skills that you'll be able to use in any career is likely a good start. What do you enjoy? What would you like to learn about?

If you are going back to a 4 year college degree, there is no harm in picking a major that will allow you to focus on important skills, and as you fine tune your career choices, switch your major.

The thing is that I want to go in and just not waste my time. I don't want to be changing my major every other semester, that is a waste of both time and money. My plan is to enroll sometime this year and do the mandatory classes first and by then I hope to have a major in mind.
 
Joined
Feb 4, 2009
Messages
580
MBTI Type
INFJ
Enneagram
4w5
I would go back and read the type description for ENFJ's. Really think about the description and the strengths of ENFJ's. Then go down the list of career recommendations and consider the pros and cons of each one. Here is the list from Careers for ENFJ Personality Types :

* Facilitator
* Consultant
* Psychologist
* Social Worker / Counselor
* Teacher
* Clergy
* Sales Representative
* Human Resources
* Manager
* Events Coordinator
* Sales Representative
* Politicians / Diplomats
* Writers

Hope this helps! :)
 

Moiety

New member
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
5,996
MBTI Type
ISFJ
Thats the thing, i am trying to find a well balanced job/career, I want to enjoy it or the very least not hate it, but I want it to pay well which is my main concern and be on a decent demand for my services. I know too many people that have gone on to college, get a degree and do nothing related to what they studied and pay loads of maney for.

That goes to show they are not necessarily making use of their degree, no?
 

ejlewis

New member
Joined
Feb 13, 2009
Messages
5
MBTI Type
INFP
Enneagram
4
I chose this major for pragmatic reasons and now I'm having a hard time finishing it. Not because it's that hard, but because, on top of being lazy, I hate most subjects. If it were today, I'd probably go to art school or something. Dunno.

Pretty much sums up my college experience. Except that I don't think I hate most subjects. I feel like I can be good in a variety of areas and am overwhelmed with possibilities.
 

ygolo

My termites win
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
5,987
I don't know enough to really give you any suggestions, but if you feel like you're stuck, looking for something else sooner rather than later is vitally important.

I can give you my take on the fields I do know about.

Computer engineering (really any engineering) is generally pretty lucrative (you wont be rich, but you won't be poor). There are many levels in that field. You're actually working at one level, IT help-desk, that is pretty common.

Types of Software varies a lot. Doing web related work is the biggest market, but also the least paying (though it is really good money too), because the supply of people capable is very large. The nice thing here is that people still seem to have an entrepreneurial spirit, and take risks.

Hardware jobs have a smaller market, but there are also far fewer qualified, so the pay is higher.

Being a Systems Integrator is something that someone can pick-up without much prior knowledge and can get you into 6 figures after just a four or five years experience. System Integrators are required to be local, so are less affected by outsourcing.

Computer Architecture is tougher to get because there are only a few big companies (and a bunch of small ones in Silicon Valley) who hire, but this is still a six-figure job, easy.

Integrated Circuit design is a related field, also with a limited number of companies (essentially the same ones as Computer Architecture plus a few analog companies), and the compensation for this is just slightly below computer architects.

I would say however, that most of the computer engineering jobs have become increasingly tedious because companies no longer risk doing new designs, or even changing the old ones much. I heard this from most of my friends who were Computer Science/Engineering majors and have experienced it myself.

So if you're going into this field it may be better to work in a sub-field with both large demand and supply (like web-related services) since they tend to also give you the most scope for design and innovation.

Also, a lot of my friends have gone to law school after getting their technical degrees (the MBAs have gone out of fashion). Also, lawyers have surpassed doctors in being the most well-compensated group.

But again, many of my lawyer friends have stated they are miserable in that job. The main exceptions are the ones who work for non-profits, or some cause they believe in.

So, I guess my main piece of advice is to ignore the monetary aspect of the career decision, and find something you like. Most salaries that are on a track of what people call "careers" pay well enough to survive.
 

Venom

Babylon Candle
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
2,126
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
1w9
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
I don't know enough to really give you any suggestions, but if you feel like you're stuck, looking for something else sooner rather than later is vitally important.

I can give you my take on the fields I do know about.

Computer engineering (really any engineering) is generally pretty lucrative (you wont be rich, but you won't be poor). There are many levels in that field. You're actually working at one level, IT help-desk, that is pretty common.

Types of Software varies a lot. Doing web related work is the biggest market, but also the least paying (though it is really good money too), because the supply of people capable is very large. The nice thing here is that people still seem to have an entrepreneurial spirit, and take risks.

Hardware jobs have a smaller market, but there are also far fewer qualified, so the pay is higher.

Being a Systems Integrator is something that someone can pick-up without much prior knowledge and can get you into 6 figures after just a four or five years experience. System Integrators are required to be local, so are less affected by outsourcing.

Computer Architecture is tougher to get because there are only a few big companies (and a bunch of small ones in Silicon Valley) who hire, but this is still a six-figure job, easy.

Integrated Circuit design is a related field, also with a limited number of companies (essentially the same ones as Computer Architecture plus a few analog companies), and the compensation for this is just slightly below computer architects.

I would say however, that most of the computer engineering jobs have become increasingly tedious because companies no longer risk doing new designs, or even changing the old ones much. I heard this from most of my friends who were Computer Science/Engineering majors and have experienced it myself.

So if you're going into this field it may be better to work in a sub-field with both large demand and supply (like web-related services) since they tend to also give you the most scope for design and innovation.

Also, a lot of my friends have gone to law school after getting their technical degrees (the MBAs have gone out of fashion). Also, lawyers have surpassed doctors in being the most well-compensated group.

But again, many of my lawyer friends have stated they are miserable in that job. The main exceptions are the ones who work for non-profits, or some cause they believe in.

So, I guess my main piece of advice is to ignore the monetary aspect of the career decision, and find something you like. Most salaries that are on a track of what people call "careers" pay well enough to survive.

i would be interested in hearing more about Doctors, lawyers and how an MBA is out of style now....

1. i would bet that if you took out the low paid doctors (family prac and GP) that they would be a lot more comparable to lawyers.

2. yes, getting any ol' MBA is not worth it. Surely an MBA from a top 20 school is still worth it (and a lot less tedious than law school).
 

ygolo

My termites win
Joined
Aug 6, 2007
Messages
5,987
i would be interested in hearing more about Doctors, lawyers and how an MBA is out of style now....

1. i would bet that if you took out the low paid doctors (family prac and GP) that they would be a lot more comparable to lawyers.

2. yes, getting any ol' MBA is not worth it. Surely an MBA from a top 20 school is still worth it (and a lot less tedious than law school).

I don't know about #1. It would be hard to do a fair comparison. Taking out family practice and general practitioners removes most doctors that the public sees on a regular basis.

I'm also pretty sure the costs of business as doctors, GP or specialist, own practice or hospital, are much higher than for lawyers, individual or in a firm.

I think getting degrees from a top tier school in any field really improves ones chances of making that degree valuable. I don't know if the top 20 is right or not. I think in terms of "tiers." For engineering the top tier goes to about 25 (give or take), not sure what it is for business.

It seems like anyone can get an MBA easily, just go to your local University of Phoenix or whatever.
 

Venom

Babylon Candle
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
2,126
MBTI Type
INTJ
Enneagram
1w9
Instinctual Variant
sp/sx
I don't know about #1. It would be hard to do a fair comparison. Taking out family practice and general practitioners removes most doctors that the public sees on a regular basis.

im working with the assumption that no rational person would get into the MD field without wanting to be a specialist. being a GP is simply not worth it in this day and age. so if you start with the assumption that you would only be a specialist (what most pre meds assume now), then lawyer vs doc pay might be more equal.

I think getting degrees from a top tier school in any field really improves ones chances of making that degree valuable. I don't know if the top 20 is right or not. I think in terms of "tiers." For engineering the top tier goes to about 25 (give or take), not sure what it is for business.

It seems like anyone can get an MBA easily, just go to your local University of Phoenix or whatever.

thats exactly the point im making. if you had to get an MBA from a low tier or a law degree from a low tier the law degree will be more valuable, yes. However, that doesnt necissarily make all MBAs "out of style" or worth less than all law degrees. top tier MBAs still get you paid :D.


i know the tone is kind of argumentative, but i really just wanted to point out a few places to disagree :D
 
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