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What's your dream career?

Tomorrow said:
In many instances, university professors aren't putting in a 40-hour week for the university - they teach two or three classes a week, keep some office hours, and spend the rest of their time getting published or doing research (which pays above and beyond their university salary).
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I follow you up to your last clause, and then you lose me. The rest of our time is indeed spent doing research and getting published, but I think only in exceptional circumstances does that pay more than a university salary. Publications fall under the category of "professional development," one of the three categories on which we are evaluated each year as part of our job.

With this sort of misconception, it's no wonder that you chose a university professor as your dream job--I hate to be the one to burst your bubble!
 
Kashchei said:
The rest of our time is indeed spent doing research and getting published, but I think only in exceptional circumstances does that pay more than a university salary. Publications fall under the category of "professional development," one of the three categories on which we are evaluated each year as part of our job.
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I understand the requirements for publication. I'm talking about professors who do research (often for private companies) and receive grants for doing it. I don't know whether it's more than their university salary, but it's in addition to their university salary.

Several of my undergraduate professors were doing this in various fields - one was paid by General Motors to research suspensions and modeling for upcoming Corvette models, another did some work for Pratt & Whitney on jet engine research, stuff like that. I don't know how much they received, but it was in addition to whatever the university was paying.
 
Kashchei said:
I follow you up to your last clause, and then you lose me. The rest of our time is indeed spent doing research and getting published, but I think only in exceptional circumstances does that pay more than a university salary. Publications fall under the category of "professional development," one of the three categories on which we are evaluated each year as part of our job.

With this sort of misconception, it's no wonder that you chose a university professor as your dream job--I hate to be the one to burst your bubble!
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Yeah, I've never heard of publication paying unless it was a textbook or other for sale book. Journals and such definitely aren't sending out big checks and most professors aren't writing textbooks, they're publishing in journals. My feasible dream job (since I'm not turning pro at golf anytime soon) is an accounting professor. I can make more money as a CPA eventually, but starting pay for Ph.D.'s in accounting is pretty high and I don't have to deal with the major 90 hour a week for 4 months rush period.

Luckly in accounting there are also lots of consulting opportunities for professors that also pay pretty well, so that'll be the Porsche money. :p

Webers said:
4 handicap!!!!? Very good job! I'm a 13.
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Haha, thanks. That's what I carried about 3 years ago when I had no commitments and got to play everyday for either free or $5, I now shoot in the 80's when I play (school, working, and the now extremely expensive cost of golf all contributed to much much less playing time), so we'd probably be able to have a pretty competitive round.
 
Yeah I think I'd have to say a professional musician and by that I mean in a successful band. That or a chef. Or what I'm doing now which I'm quite happy with.
 
My dream career would be one where I could retire after a year with a high pension. Of course, it would be an easy job that only required ten minutes of work each year. I'm still happy enough with what I have, though.
 
I've wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. Never thought much about doing anything else - perhaps a Physics professor.
 
dmr727 said:
I've wanted to be a pilot for as long as I can remember. Never thought much about doing anything else - perhaps a Physics professor.
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is it too late to start for me?

im 24, have an engr degree with about 16k in loan debt

would it be wise to go to flight school now?

i have always wanted to be a pilot. original goal was to go to afa. couldnt due to eyesight. then i was going to go to embry riddle in arizona and had a massive scholarship....still too expensive for me

i then decided to get an engr degree as a backup and then go be a pilot after

however its hard to justifly that now.

however, i dont want to lose sight of my original goal either
 
Tomorrow said:
In many instances, university professors aren't putting in a 40-hour week for the university - they teach two or three classes a week, keep some office hours, and spend the rest of their time getting published or doing research.
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I am an Assistant Professor in genome biology at a major university.
I have never met a successful research (+ teaching) professor that does not routinely work 60+ hour per week. That said, it is a great job--at times.

Much of our time is spent trying to land a grant; only about 10% of grants are funded. No funding = no tenure = no job.

My dream job would be climbing/skiing instructor.
 
dukebound85 said:
would it be wise to go to flight school now?
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Flight school in the United States is ridiculously expensive. Even after you're done with that, you're looking at starting salaries typically below $20000/year. While I wouldn't say that it's too late, now is probably not the best time to start as it will be difficult to find a job in this economy. Most starting pilots that didn't go through the air force have been starting with regional airlines (mesa, horizon, republic, etc) in recent years. With fuel prices up, regional jet operation has become even more inefficient and costly, so there may well be a trend away from such aircraft dominating the skies in years to come.
 
I'm surprised no one has said porn star :D

My dream job would be a test driver for Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti or another similar car manufacturer. I'd even settle for BMW or Audi :D

akonradi said:
Flight school in the United States is ridiculously expensive. Even after you're done with that, you're looking at starting salaries typically below $20000/year. While I wouldn't say that it's too late, now is probably not the best time to start as it will be difficult to find a job in this economy. Most starting pilots that didn't go through the air force have been starting with regional airlines (mesa, horizon, republic, etc) in recent years. With fuel prices up, regional jet operation has become even more inefficient and costly, so there may well be a trend away from such aircraft dominating the skies in years to come.
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Seriously? You really mean that soon enough, regional jets might be sunbathing in the Mojave? That's the best news I've ever heard. And the morons at the airlines who think a 3 hour flight that goes halfway across the country is regional should be forced to live in the retired RJs. Lets see how well they can handle sitting in those crappy seats and taking a **** in a room the size of a refrigerator
 
dukebound85 said:
is it too late to start for me?
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It's never too late. :)

What I'd do is continue doing the engineering thing and take the flying lessons on the side. Use the engineering job to pay off your existing debt and get all your ratings through flight instructor. At that point you'll have a good idea of what flying is all about, and you can either make the plunge into professional aviation, or continue being an engineer and simply fly on the side.

I guess the point is - this isn't an easy industry, and it only really becomes a dream job if you're truly, truly passionate about it. I wouldn't dump the engineering gig to jump into aviation full time quite yet. You have the unique ability to be able to fly without racking up debt to do so - go fly, have some fun, and figure out the big move later. By then you'll have a better idea about what you're in for, and can better weigh it against how much you like the flying. People imagine all pilots as being 747 Captains making $250K/yr, but forget about the regional jet F/Os not yet making $20K. My wife flew a four engined regional jet for five years and never once cleared $30K. Anyway, it's a good job, but go in with your eyes open, and understand that it'll take some time before you're back up to typical engineering pay. :)
 
Modern Art Dealer.

Yeah, my father's job!
Why didn't I follow his footsteps...?
mmm... Has anyone else here tried working with their father?
I'll just stick to working for Deloitte (and likeing it after all, even after all these years)
 
dmr727 said:
It's never too late. :)

What I'd do is continue doing the engineering thing and take the flying lessons on the side. Use the engineering job to pay off your existing debt and get all your ratings through flight instructor. At that point you'll have a good idea of what flying is all about, and you can either make the plunge into professional aviation, or continue being an engineer and simply fly on the side.

I guess the point is - this isn't an easy industry, and it only really becomes a dream job if you're truly, truly passionate about it. I wouldn't dump the engineering gig to jump into aviation full time quite yet. You have the unique ability to be able to fly without racking up debt to do so - go fly, have some fun, and figure out the big move later. By then you'll have a better idea about what you're in for, and can better weigh it against how much you like the flying. People imagine all pilots as being 747 Captains making $250K/yr, but forget about the regional jet F/Os not yet making $20K. My wife flew a four engined regional jet for five years and never once cleared $30K. Anyway, it's a good job, but go in with your eyes open, and understand that it'll take some time before you're back up to typical engineering pay. :)
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That is actually kind of disconcerting - putting my life into someone else's hands in a way potentially considerably less inconsequential than, say, a cab driver, for them to be making less than what I pay the receptionist.

My dream career? Probably what I used to do ~10 years ago. I'm too old for it now - I could still be in the field but I'd be behind a desk most of the time.
 
aside from the... pro golfer, nba player, nfl QB, etc...

seriously, i'd be just happy to own my own scuba dive/surf shop next to the beach and give lessons and/or take people to good reef spots and take them down and and feed the local sharks to amaze the tourists

oppositely, i'd also like to be a pro snowboarder / instructor

what do i do? I'm the Director of Internet Sales for a Toyota dealership. make good money, but it's not my passion. i gotta make a move soon. it'll be hard to give up the paycheck though
 
I would really love to write film music. That's been my dream/goal for a long time and I am currently in the process of making it a reality.
I'm working right now as a web developer and I enjoy that quite a bit, but it's not a part of me like music is.
 
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