Are you working in your Career/Education choice

[NFLDERS]

Originally I was deemed by HS Guidance Dept. to consider working with children. Instead I was drawn to an office setting. Long story hopefully not longer I ended up in the Insurance Industry entry level. At first all the while climbing the ladder to Underwriting, I loved my job. Then, as the times changed with more and more 'Multi Tasking' I decided to get off the roller coaster early.

The Guidance Dept. advice was not off the mark either, because I was also a career volunteer. Girl Guides of Canada, and Anglican church school being two of my favourites. However, this is my passion!

 

[DopeyDame]

That's funny you ask, as this came up recently. I posted something on facebook that mentioned my job. A classmate from HS, who I haven't seen in real life in ages, posted a super-sweet response about how she remembered my wanting to do this job when we were in class in 9th grade together, and she was so happy for me that I got to do it.
So... yup. I'm doing what I wrote about in "what I want to be when I grow up" essays.

Honesty, when I first started out in my career it wasn't what I had expected and didn't love it. But now a few decades in, I'm doing exactly what I want and am so happy I landed where I did.

 

[mrodgers]

Well, my degree is a step below Engineering. And I work as.... the grunt of the Engineering department.

So, I get to do all the work, fix all the Engineering design that works on paper but not in practice, but get to live in a mobile home while going to dinner with my group and listen to them all talk about the projects they are doing on their McMansions.

Just had a 25 year anniversary dinner I reluctantly went to. I was completely out of my peer group.

 

[tex1989]

Hard to say as I have an undergraduate in Finance and an MBA but have worked in the Energy industry for 39 years. I never had something I wanted to do and sort of let life take me where ever. I always sort of felt like unless you were going for Dr., Lawyer, Teacher or Engineer you were pretty much going to wind up doing something other than your major. I think over the years a lot of studies and surveys have sort of proven the idea.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I'm retired now. I was good at what I did but it was not what I wanted to do. I was discouraged from pursuing my dream job.

 

[lanejudy]

In my field of study - no, neither undergrad nor masters.
In my career choice - yes, I chose it and for the most part I like what I do.

 

[ronandannette]

Nope, but then again the under-grad degree I got doesn't really qualify anybody for anything in specific. Even when I was taking it I had no vision of how I would apply it. University for me was pretty much a "go just to go" kind of deal. It didn't seem like such a terrible idea at the time (and about 1/2 of it I finished part-time while working full time) but now that my own DS is doing something similar, I worry about his lack of focus and his future prospects.

 

[GreatLakes]

I'm in the exact line of work my bachelor's is for. It isn't what I said I wanted to be when I grew up as a kid because even when I graduated high school I had no idea what that was. I went out, got a few jobs, figured it out, then went to college. Had I been forced to pick a major directly out of high school it is highly unlikely I would have gone with the one I did.

 

[Eeyore daily]

No, that's why I'm going back to school to get another bachelor's.

 

[Kittyblue]

Yes, I got an AS and worked in that career for a few years, went back and got a BA to work in another career. I wouldn't call either one my "dream job" but they were both what I studied and got a degree for.

 

[wvjules]

Actually, yes.

Back in the day I wanted to be an accountant (and work for the Big 8,that's how long ago it was lol). It took many, many years and a lot of wrong turns but about 5 years ago I finally got my degree and my CPA license a little after that. I am doing exactly what I wanted to do all those years ago. It just took me a while to get here. Not that there aren't days where I hate it but it is what I've always wanted to do. Weird, but I am who I am!

 

[chickapin parterre]

gotta love those HS guidance folks.....I was deemed to pull green chain in the santiam valley of Oregon.

 

[bjscheel]

I majored in accounting and I am an office manager in a law office where I do legal secretary work and tax/payroll/bookkeeping. I minored in music and am a church organist. So yes, my education choice fits my work.

This is an interesting topic that I brought up once on a college parents board, because my DD19 was having a hard time with major choice and didn't want to major in say, History, and just get a job doing whatever. Or, I was considering letting her major in Theatre, knowing rather than make a living acting, she might get a random job afterwards because she had a degree and would be comfortable with public speaking. So I was curious how most people came out- the majority on that thread were working directly in the field they studied. (She chose Parks & Rec.)

 

[kdonnel]

Yes. Degree in computer science, a job as a DevOps Engineer.

 

[Magical2017]

No, but I did go back for my masters and then changed careers.

 

[Kitty 34]

retired now but yes I did.

 

[tvguy]

Coming out of High School my career path was law enforcement or law. By the end of my Freshman year it had changed to Broadcast Journalism.
So no, I am not in that first career path, but I am in the career path that I have my degree in. 45 years now.

 

[snappy]

Undergrad was accounting. Decided in that path one semester in. CPA since 1980. Public accounting for a big 8 for several years, Fortune 500 for about 17 years, time off to be with kids for 9, back as accountant for a non profit for 9 years. 29 years total. Retired 2017. No regrets although that last boss. Yuck! It was nice signing off.

 

[starry_solo]

Yes, in my field of study post-bachelor's degree.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I'm disabled now, but I worked in my chosen field for many years after school. I did design and illustration work for a Holiday decoration and licensing company. I did design work for Lionel Trains, Budweiser, Campbell's Soup, etc. I was happy for a long time before the mental illnesses really became too much.