how did you pick your career?

[funkychunkymonkey]

I relized im unhappy with mine, Im just currious how how everyone picked theres. I cant figure out what my caling is in life.

 

[Cherbear013]

After 4 years without a degree and numerous changes in majors, I chose something that went along with my passion. I finally got a BA in Travel!! Good luck!!

 

[FireDancer]

When I graduated H.S. I knew I wanted to do something in the business world and wanted a business degree but didn't know exact what yet. I went out into the working world and started working different jobs not only saving up to put myself through college but to decide what I was going to be when I grew up. I didn't want to get a throw away degree I would never use and wanted to have a road map before I started earning a degree.

I always liked computers and was good at picking up anything technical so I was leaning towards a business computer degree of some sort. I was working at GE capital at the time when the position of Automated Technology Consultant opened up. I applied, got the job, and loved it. That fall I went to college to get a degree in Information Systems and other then a couple of late nights rebuilding crashed production servers I have never regretted it.

 

[Handbag Lady]

My career picked me. I doubt you could find my job in any college placement career books...

I stumbled into it. I was working in amusement parks (Disneyland and then Knott's) in Guest Relations as I wanted to run an amusement park. A friend said she would double my salary if I joined her company and served coffee to her clients in visual effects. And that's how I started in the entertainment industry. I started in client services, then worked my way to vaulting, and then vault management, and then scheduling, and then switched to sound and I am now an ADR Stage Scheduler.

 

[amyjo920]

Mine found me as well.....Spent a couple years going to school to teach, then decided I didn't want to teach at all. Thought about accounting, but changed my mind on that as well. My older sister was a Paramedic and her boss begged me to take an EMT class. My younger sister had already planned to, but I kept saying no. I honestly thought I would hate it. Everything made me sick and queasy, but as soon as I took that class I was hooked! I then took the Paramedic class and did it full time for quite a while. I am in dispatch now, but honestly the only reason I switched was because the pay and benefits were a lot better. I still work on the ambulance part time, enough to get my "fix" and keep my skills up, and dispatching keeps me in the same field (still helping people and still in emergency services.)

 

[Pdowning98]

My career picked me. I doubt you could find my job in any college placement career books...

I stumbled into it. I was working in amusement parks (Disneyland and then Knott's) in Guest Relations as I wanted to run an amusement park. A friend said she would double my salary if I joined her company and served coffee to her clients in visual effects. And that's how I started in the entertainment industry. I started in client services, then worked my way to vaulting, and then vault management, and then scheduling, and then switched to sound and I am now an ADR Stage Scheduler.

It is nice to see someone else that works in the Entertainment Industry.

Like some of the others, I went to College, got a Business Degree, but I have never used it. Worked office jobs and my last job as a Legal Assistant was horrible with a boss from you know where So, my Fiance and I decided I would quit my job and work his Talent Agency and that is how I became a Talent Agent. I love it and wouldn't change it for the world. I have some of the most wonderful clients and I love that I can see all their hardwork pay of on the tube!

 

[bananda]

i dont have a career yet, but im currently studying fashion design and technology, which encourages creativity and teaches skills in production drawing, pattern-making, sewing, and computers. i would like to do a bit of free-lance design work, but have recently decided that i would like a career in fashion styling. i love putting outfits together for people and i know i have a talent for it, so why not make money off it?

 

[aprilgail2]

My dad always drilled into my head to get a job with benefits and a pension preferably with a union- the guy across the street had that kind of job and gave me a persons name to foward my resume to and 26 years later I am 3 years away from retirement with a pension, 401K and benefits for life. I was never one to switch around jobs, never wanted to lose one pension to start over someplace else on another one!

 

[barkley]

my final career (retired now) picked me as well.

i too had gone to college to become a teacher but when i graduated the schools were not hiring many. in college i had worked a variety of jobs, including being a bookkeeper and an event/wedding co-ordinator. i saw an ad for a civil service testing for social services and those 2 jobs (along with my degree) had included duties that qualified me.

i ended up working my way up the ladder to managment.

i know quite a few people (including dh) who were unhappy/dissatisfied in what they were doing career wise. they seemed to be happiest when they looked to what job task they most enjoyed in their current or prior employment and pursued that (dh liked the computer aspects of his prior jobs so he pursued and became an IT guy. a friend whose kids had gotten older had enjoyed some aspects of when she volunteered at their schools so she went into a speech therapy program at her local j.c. and she now works in that field for her local school district).

 

[PollyannaMom]

I chose my current carreer because it fit into my life. I wanted to work part time for the schools - so I could have the same time off as DS, plus a little more to take care of the house. So I substitute teach about 3 days a week. It works for me because I love kids, and had some experience with them from college jobs and volunteer work. My degree's in math, so that fits, too.

I realize I'm very lucky to be able to do what I do, becasue it is the second job for our family. Years ago, when I needed a full-time salary, I did mutual fund reporting. My favorite task in that job was building spreadsheets, so I may do something with that when comes time to start my third carreer. (Then again, I may write someday. I like that, too.)

I think the biggest factors in whether a job works for you are:
Is it something you enjoy or feel good about?
Do you make as much money as you need?
Does the schedule fit your lifestyle?
Do you like the people you work with?

 

[goofyernmost]

There are probably more of us out there that let the careers pick them then most imagine. In college I knew many that had their goals set for specific areas but since I majored in Business Management the field was wide open.

I took the first job that I was offered and that was as a manager of a retail establishment, my second was in printing and publishing, my third was when I purchased a Level 4 Nursing Home, after selling that I dabbled in accounting and then while on vacation in Florida I took the bus tour at Kennedy Space Center and thought to myself...this would make a good retirement job, part time. So I got my CDL and as luck would have it I landed a driving job with the our local municipal bus company and after three years was promoted to management which is where I sit now.

I am eligible to retire, Social Security wise, in just a few months. We shall see how that move works out. Anyway, I have made a pretty good living for myself without any specific career goals. I guess a little flexibility will go a long way.

 

[barkley]

There are probably more of us out there that let the careers pick them then most imagine. In college I knew many that had their goals set for specific areas but since I majored in Business Management the field was wide open.

I took the first job that I was offered and that was as a manager of a retail establishment, my second was in printing and publishing, my third was when I purchased a Level 4 Nursing Home, after selling that I dabbled in accounting and then while on vacation in Florida I took the bus tour at Kennedy Space Center and thought to myself...this would make a good retirement job, part time. So I got my CDL and as luck would have it I landed a driving job with the our local municipal bus company and after three years was promoted to management which is where I sit now.

I am eligible to retire, Social Security wise, in just a few months. We shall see how that move works out. Anyway, I have made a pretty good living for myself without any specific career goals. I guess a little flexibility will go a long way.

almost the entire staff of dd's school district's bus drivers are retirees. they love the part-time hours and summers off.

 

[LJC1861]

When I was 11 I read two books that changed my life. "Karen" by Marie Killea about a girl with cerebral Palsy and "P.S. You're Not Listening" bu Eleanor Craig about a Special Education teacher. Then I found a bunch of books by Torey Hayden, again a special education teacher and my career dream was born.

I majored in Special Ed and Deaf Ed in college, but amazingly have never taught in a traditional classroom. While I was in college I began working with adults with developmental disabilities. When I graduated I continued working with the same agency, and LOVED it! From there I went on to a day treatment facility in NYC working with adults with both developmental and psychiatric disabilities and now I am an administrator in a group home serving teens and adults with autism and significant behavioral challenges.

I simply cannot imagine doing anything else.

Linda

 

[MarilIncredible]

I knew what I wanted to do from a young age, but my sister took some time to figure it out for herself. She actually found her calling by being a substitute teacher and a private tutor during a semester break she took from college. She didn't know it at the time, though. When she went back to school, she went back to engineering and worked as a civil engineer for about 5 years. She just really wasn't happy, and decided she wanted to give teachign a try. She now teaches math to junior high students and while she doesn't love her job every day, she finds her career very rewarding, espeically when former students come by to visit and share their success stories.

Good luck, OP. I guess I'd suggest looking at what you like to do - hobbies, interest - and what you are good at, and what kinds of things you find rewarding.

 

[lovesmurfs]

Another one whose career chose them -- Highlights: Majored in music ed in college. Then we moved around thanks to DH's career challenges and picked up jobs where I could -- everything from office manager for insurance company to Taco Bell to hotel secretary, front office manager, hotel senior sales manager.

After 6 years, I was tired of the 24/7 hospitality industry and sought a M-F job that shut down on weekends. Now I'm in non-profit association management (12+ years) and really love working with members and boards of directors.

If I could choose anything, though, I'd probably go back to being a secretary. I really enjoyed the work and helping others, without having to deal with managing people.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I think it "found" me as well....leaped out of High School a year early to get into college to be a teacher, and in last year, decided to Not go that direction....instead went into insurance field, where $$ (at time) flowed more abundantly ....started at bottom, worked up thru management and left for "family time" and then started working for Myself as a consultant and THAT has been an amazing "trip."
I am fortunate in that I married an amazing man (who was my HS sweetheart, celebrating 25 years this year!) and He will be retiring at 50 and we will begin a NEW adventure very soon .....My FIL used to "nag" me to get in that darn 401K, ugh, what a drag and I was "too busy" to figure it all out....but finally he got to me and I did it....well that same 401K will now pay for the ds college education (well thats what I want to do, the dh has a diff approach, we shall see) I do not want him to have loans like I did years ago.. Anyway....
Life is GOOD, HEALTH is GOOD now, I thank HIM everyday for all our blessings.

 

[antmaril]

When I was in the sixth grade, I worked in the principal's office answering phones and taking messages ("safety girl" duties). I loved it. I decided then that I wanted to work in an office. After high school, I went to community college for two years taking executive secretarial courses. In 1971, I got my first and only job as a secretary (now known as an administrative assistant). I retired from that job in 2008 after 36 years. So, I knew from the time I was 12 what I wanted to do for a living. In hindsight, it was the right choice for me because I was good at it and I always enjoyed it.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I knew I wanted to travel, but I didn't want to plan trips for other people! So I joined DH in the Foreign Service (State Dept.) and have lived in ten different countries, visited several dozens more, all on Uncle Sam's dime! Thank you, taxpayers. BTW, I was an Executive Assistant for high-ranking Embassy officers for 26 years.

Queen Colleen

 

[Disney Doll]

I wanted to be a cop or a nurse.

When I told my father (who was a cop) that I wanted to be a cop, he asked me where I would be living since I wouldn't be living with him since being a cop was too dangerous and I would encounter terrible dirty dangerous people a lot of time.

So I became a nurse, where I encounter many of the same dangerous dirty people when they get sick, excpet now I am unarmed.

I mentioned that to my father one day and he said "Yeah...I never thought of that".

 

[Explodo]

Out of High school I wanted to be a Zooologist...but found in college that it required a hard talent in the Spelling arena...which completely put me off. Which led me to discover I had a talent at acting...good enough as to gain a scholarship to do so.

During My acting career, They held a Engineering "Egg Drop" contest. I entered on a dare and won the dang thing...which suprised the heck out of me...and amazed the engineering department head. He suggested I start taking some engineering course, which I did. Turns out I had a real inate talent with numbers and numerical analysis. Ended up getting a degree in Comp Sci (Software Engineer) and a Degree in Mathematics. I really had a passion and love for Statistics...it was fun for me.

I was then recruited out of college to go to work for the DOD as a Weapons Effects Analyst. Worked for various branches of the military on various weapons systems. Finally got tagged to be on the R&D team that was developing a Stealth Naval Destroyer...In Minneapolis (Of all places). Once up here, I was actively recruited by a Supercomputing Firm that was after my skill set.

I guess the moral of this story is to let your passion drive what you do, because IMO, if you don't have a passion for your work, you don't excel and thus don't advance. Lord knows I tried a bunch of different things before I found what I wanted to do...but it does come to you...when you least expect it.