Career Choices

[CapeCodTenor]

Does anyone here sometimes wish they hadn't made a certain career choice, or made a different one? I do. I sometimes wish I was still in the Navy. Most of me is glad I got out, but there's that small part of me that wishes I had stayed in. I had it made, I had a place to sleep, 3 meals a day, had a cool job working the flight deck of a ship, and I got to see the world. What more could a guy ask for? All this was brought on when the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy CV 67 made her last port call here in Boston before being decommisioned at the end of this month. I could see her at her berth from my office and she's such a beautiful looking ship. You know, If I had stayed in the Navy I'd be getting out in 2 years with 20 years and a pension. Wow, how time flies. But I was young and didn't know what I wanted, well, at least at the time I knew I didn't want the Navy. I am glad I got out, otherwise I would have never have met my wife or all the friends I have now, that I hold dear to my heart. But there's that small part of me. Well, enough of me going down memory lane. Thanks for listening.

 

[Hercules10]

Yeah. Sometimes I miss being in construction. When the day was done it was done.......then we get a 100+ degree day and remember why I got out.

 

[javaj]

A friend and I were just discussing this....isn't hindsight a wonderful thing? I would've pursued a completely different career. I'm in the IT world and if I knew then what I know now, I probably would've pursued a medical or pharmacy career.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

Yeah. Sometimes I miss being in construction. When the day was done it was done.......then we get a 100+ degree day and remember why I got out.

For me it was the long days. We were in the Pursian Gulf for Gulf I, we were doing 20 hours of flight quarters and then I always wound up pulling duty on the 60 cal machine gun. Now I wasn't on an aircraft carrier, so 20 hours of flight quarters meant everyone in the department was on the fligh deck for those 20 hours. Since I was in aviation fuels, and wasn't needed everytime the helicopter landed, I got to where I could fall asleep and wake up when I heard a helicopter coming. And I mean I was fast asleep and I knew when a helicopter was coming. For those long days, I sleep in the cargo nets or in the catwalks for the 2 hours I had until I had to be awake again. It really sucked. That's one of the reasons I got out. The other was the bs that went along with the military.

 

[CapeCodTenor]

....isn't hindsight a wonderful thing?

Yes it is. I would have stayed in, pulled my 20 and a pension, then gotten out and started another career. I've met former Navy guys who retired then got a job as a contractor with the Navy inpecting systems...that would have been fun.

 

[Christine]

In hindsight, I sort of wish I hadn't always "gone for the money." In my early 20s, I started out in the Federal Government. The pay was EXTREMELY low and, where I was working, not much chance for advancement. At the time, contractors for the government were making a lot more money and you didn't have to deal with the government "mess" and BS (that still goes on). So I left the government, went for the money, road the big waves.

Now, I still make very good money, but in the meantime, Federal salaries have more than eclipsed the contractor counterparts (at least in my field), the benefits are better, and they all have some type of pension. I have nothing except my salary. I don't even know who I will work for in the next few years. In my 20s it seemed okay, in my 40s, I get very scared sometimes.

 

[salmoneous]

In the Navy, yes, you can sail the seven seas.
In the Navy, yes, you can put your mind at ease.
In the Navy, come on now people, make a stand.
In the Navy, can't you see we need a hand.
In the Navy, come on, protect the motherland.
In the Navy, come on and join your fellow, man.
In the Navy, come on, people, and make a stand.
In the Navy, in the Navy.

 

[christineann]

I work in the legal profession (insurance defense). While I think that I can help keep insurance rates down by helping people who bump another car and get sued for $100,000, I don't think the world is a much better place because of it. My son is going into police work - not much money in it but he wants to make a difference. I admire him for that.

 

[lecach]

I left a job with a large corporation because they had lost their state contract and I knew I would be out of work in 2 years. The job was easy for me but held importance and there were a lot of people under me. Great benefits, lots of freedom (long lunches, etc.). I was bored. I left there to take a job with a startup. Was told "you'll only have to sit at the receptionist desk for a few months". I stayed the receptionist (huge step down) until they were bought out by a large corporation. That corp. didn't have the job I had been promised so they made me an admin. It was horrible and if I had not quit in 6 months, I would have been fired probably. I left there to take a job with a distant relative. Sounded good on the surface but there isn't enough to keep me busy and the benefits are terrible. Plus the other person in my position watches me like a hawk and dislikes me.

So here I am 2 years later - in a crappy job that I dont like, feeling like I am starting over at the age of 38. I made the wrong decision.

 

[SDFgirl]

I left corporate America to be a teacher.

I love teaching, but there are some days I could go back to leaving work and REALLY leaving work. I feel like, as a teacher, I am always, always thinking about my job. I wake up at 5am thinking about lesson plans. Sometimes I think it'd be nice to just leave work at the office.

But, I still wouldn't give teaching up! I'm much more emotionally fulfilled now.