Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What is your career, what do you do for a living, etc... (could really use input)
- Thread starter Eggtastic
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
My experience has been that people who flaunt possessions and TELL you how much money they have are usually full of s*&t. Anyone can lease a BMW and put themselves into debt.
I was working for a company doing service. The customers I was doing work for didn't know as much as I did and had no passion for the industry. This would tick me off because it was unfair that they should reap all the benefits of my hard work with little talent of their own.
It was more frustration with MYSELF than jealousy, but those bad feelings did motivate me out of my comfort zone to start my own small business. Luckily, I was not motivated by money because it took 10 years to get a decent salary out of it. But I have almost always enjoyed going to work and for that I'm glad I made the decision.
I was working for a company doing service. The customers I was doing work for didn't know as much as I did and had no passion for the industry. This would tick me off because it was unfair that they should reap all the benefits of my hard work with little talent of their own.
It was more frustration with MYSELF than jealousy, but those bad feelings did motivate me out of my comfort zone to start my own small business. Luckily, I was not motivated by money because it took 10 years to get a decent salary out of it. But I have almost always enjoyed going to work and for that I'm glad I made the decision.
I convinced myself I was going to go to law school, so I studied my 'passions' instead of something more practical - History, Classical Civilizations, and Political Science. Then the economy tanked. Combine that with never really having my heart in it in the first place, and I graduated with my seemingly useless degrees.
I've never been unemployed in the 3.5 years since graduating. I fell into an admin/development position at a non-profit and have mostly been in that industry. However, in my work experience I've done a wide range of roles, from admin to payroll and have figured out that I want to pursue an accounting degree. So right now I'm working full time and going to school nearly full time (11 credits/semester) to get done as soon as possible to make the transition.
Sometimes it's tough when your friends are getting 8-12% raises (to your 2.5% agency mandated ones), buying homes/condos, and getting engaged while you're still figuring life out, but you've just got to stay focused on you and improving your own situation. Figure out what you want to do, make a plan, and do it. I'll have my degree December 2015. Can't wait.
I've never been unemployed in the 3.5 years since graduating. I fell into an admin/development position at a non-profit and have mostly been in that industry. However, in my work experience I've done a wide range of roles, from admin to payroll and have figured out that I want to pursue an accounting degree. So right now I'm working full time and going to school nearly full time (11 credits/semester) to get done as soon as possible to make the transition.
Sometimes it's tough when your friends are getting 8-12% raises (to your 2.5% agency mandated ones), buying homes/condos, and getting engaged while you're still figuring life out, but you've just got to stay focused on you and improving your own situation. Figure out what you want to do, make a plan, and do it. I'll have my degree December 2015. Can't wait.
It's definitely possible that you can follow your passions and make good money in something that is deemed "useless". When I dropped out of engineering and followed my passion since childhood into theatrical lighting design and production (getting a BFA), my parents were sure I'd be living in their house after graduation and delivering pizzas for a living.
Instead, I had a job lined up by the time the summer following graduation was up, and have been employed/contracting non-stop since doing theatre, dance, television, film, corporate/trade shows, etc. Haven't had a year under $75k in several years, and have had one six-figure year. And I absolutely adore what I do. In fact, I do it in my free time.
Figure out what you love, and try to find a way to make it work. This isn't always possible, so I won't pretend to know what you should do instead.
As for the friends who seem to have everything better, realize that it's not always what it's cracked up to be. I've had a few who make far less than me (yes, I know what they make because i've inquired about the position when it was open) who seem to do all the things I used to do when I had much more disposable income. But the difference is that (until recently due to family medical circumstances) I've been putting a some away towards retirement, savings, etc. At least one has told me that he has no savings, no retirement, no investments...nothing. But, he would eat out constantly, had new tech, new car, vacations, etc. They might be doing everything you want to do, but they could very likely be spending every cent they make to do it.
Hey, glad to hear you found a niche' and moved forward. I hope to do the same soon.
Any chance on sharing how you "fell" into your admin/development position? did you have some sort of experience, know someone, etc? (not trying to down play you, I just want advice, and most advice revolves around knowing the right people).
thank you
I had a few admin student work positions while in school where I did the basics (filing, invoicing, customer service), so I had some marketable experience. Little less direct resume experience, but I also managed my own full-time summer staff of 25 during the summers at school.
Basically just applied to a bunch of entry level jobs and the non-profit gig was the one that worked out. It was tough. Lots of resumes, lots of phone interviews, handful of in person ones. My lease was actually ending and I temporarily moved into a friend's apartment for a few days before the offer came in or else I was going to leave Chicago, but I got the offer and then found a new place.
I graduated with a BS & MS in horticulture and thought I was going to spend my whole career as a county extension educator. Getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to deal with some personal issues (depression), confront my stalker (I married her), and pushed me way out of my comfort zone career wise. (Can you imagine being an entomologist and being afraid to handle bugs? Had to get over that in a hurry!!). I found out about my current job when the guy I replaced walked into my office one day. I thought he had an interesting career so we started talking about it.
Computer skills are a bonus in any career path you take. I'm a self taught FileMaker developer on the side and have used it for work to create more efficient tools so we can do our jobs. I've become the "go to" computer person in our division and have, on occasion, gone toe to toe with the IT department when they get in our way of us doing our jobs.
I knew a guy who worked as a probation officer. He got so fed up with the inefficiencies of dealing with the courts and police using different systems that he wrote his own software to fill a need, then started a company to sell and install it all across the state.
Careers are funny things. If you keep your eyes open, keep your head on a pivot, and don't get stuck in a rut, you might be surprised what comes your way. There are a lot of people out there who fashioned careers for themselves instead of being stuck in a j-o-b. And it sounds like you have the gumption to do just that. Keep you chin up. Youll get there.
Computer skills are a bonus in any career path you take. I'm a self taught FileMaker developer on the side and have used it for work to create more efficient tools so we can do our jobs. I've become the "go to" computer person in our division and have, on occasion, gone toe to toe with the IT department when they get in our way of us doing our jobs.
I knew a guy who worked as a probation officer. He got so fed up with the inefficiencies of dealing with the courts and police using different systems that he wrote his own software to fill a need, then started a company to sell and install it all across the state.
Careers are funny things. If you keep your eyes open, keep your head on a pivot, and don't get stuck in a rut, you might be surprised what comes your way. There are a lot of people out there who fashioned careers for themselves instead of being stuck in a j-o-b. And it sounds like you have the gumption to do just that. Keep you chin up. Youll get there.
im 22 and actually had kind of the same problem, i was 20 and still didn't know what i wanted to do with my life, i got my high school diploma and knew going back to school wasn't for me, also that me and my family are not that wealthy. So i did some research on careers i could learn from at home right off my laptop, soon enough i found what really interested me which is Coding i specialize in HTML,CSS,Java, and PHP I'm a freelancer and make pretty good money, and couldn't be anymore happier with my life no boss, no timecard, work when i feel.
What exactly do you suppose could happen?
Have a look at the amount of 'post you..' or 'what did you/do you..' threads on here. This site accumulates a lot of information about you which could establish a large part of your identity which could be used unlawfully. Post your car, your job, your favourite beer etc. It all adds up and creates a very big picture of you. Maybe nothing would happen but worth to be cautious when sharing with strangers.
While I agree, I'm kind of amused at how worried you are, but you're totally cool wth broadcasting a photo album.
Obviously I wasn't suggesting that we not share anything on the internet. I don't feel threatened by what I share on Flickr. The threads though that are titled post your job, your car, you and a celeb etc do seem to make it too easy for someone to profile you. Plus, where websites ask for security questions, you might be freely giving up such information for other websites (perhaps facebook) and not realise it.
And I'm not worried about it. Just thought it worth saying.
That's why I always lie. In the "show us your pet" thread, I just googled "cute kitten" and posted a photo at random. I actually have a dog. Or not. I might be lying too about the dog, who knows?
Is your real name even associated with the site? I couldn't even find it in my own private profile. So, the website could comb posts and draw out things that say "random guy has a job editing films and has a dog" or "random girl likes burritos and sunsets", but what could they really do with it if you are pretty much anonymous?
Notwithstanding a couple short detours in other directions, I have been an application developer of some sort or the other for 35 years now.
These days I work on the policy administration systems of a commercial lines insurance company.
These days I work on the policy administration systems of a commercial lines insurance company.