Why did you choose the career path you've chosen?

[BeachBaby]

Serious question - for as serious as it can be, here in teh Lounge.

I've been a paralegal for 14-15 years now - and to be honest, I'm getting burned out, I think. I worked criminal defense for most of those years - and to say it was stressful would be an understatement. Never boring - and often challenging - but I believe I may have reached my limit. Maybe. I'm not sure. I've always had a love affair with case law - but to actually work in that field, is an entirely different matter.

From the time I was a little kid, I always had a thing for hairstyling. Loved it. My parents shunned the idea of me becoming a hairdresser - because "there's no money in it - don't waste your mind on something like that". :eyes:

Well, here I am - at age 40 - and STILL wanting to be a hairdresser. At least I'm consistent. :7

So, back to my question: Did you choose your career path, with purely the salary amount in mind? Was it your love of the trade? And, once you got into it, were you happy with the choice you made?

[Symarip]

1. I like all aspects of instruction

And the money is ridiculously good (if you have a clearance). So Computer Based Training is kind of a no brainer.

Plus, I can dick around on DU as much as I want.

[BeachBaby]

28. I've thought about what a career change would do....

to my ability to hang out on DU. If I became a hairdresser, all DUing would cease for me - at least during work hours.

[av8rdave]

2. I chose mine because I wanted to do it

At the time, I had no idea what the salary situation with it was.

Over the years, that aspect has taken some major hits, but by and large I still like going to work.

[Deep13]

3. A medical condition precluded me from being a naval officer.

I went to law school because I didn't know what else to do.

[qb]

4. I chose civil engineering for the ideal of building quality infrastructure.

I fell into my specialty of transportation research as the result of a laboratory job I got as an undergraduate.

[HarukaTheTrophyWife]

5. I didn't choose it -- I fell into it

[Dr. Strange]

6. Well, my first career choice (porn star) didn't pan out nearly as well as I'd hoped.

But I love math. And I love talking about math. And there's a job where I can actually get paid to talk about math. So "Dr. Strange, Professor of Mathematics" just seemed like a natural choice.

Of course, I miss the days on the Spinal Cap tour bus, playing video games and talking about mustaches.
:hi:

[TZ]

38. Nice post John Nash Holmes.....

:P

[Dr. Strange]

49. Ha!

Nice combo!

[SacredCow]

7. I kind of fell into mine....

I started college in the early 1990's, when environmental issues were just becoming a hot career path. But by the time I graduated in 1993 (with a BS in Environmental Management/Sciences), it had proven to not be the case. I was faced with 2 choices- Back to graduate school, or go to work in some capacity. I chose the latter.

I worked at a bike store (my hobby and passion at the time was bike racing- road, mountain, track- it was all fun to me) for two years. Then I got an opportunity to start in an entry level lab position in a small consulting firm that did custom analytical chemistry and failure analyses (metallurgical and otherwise). Over the next few years, I worked my way up to a managerial position, and began learning about metallurgy/failure analysis and the art of using a scanning electron microscope. Unfortunately, the business was thrown into turmoil by the death of the founder/owner. He had children from his first marriage, a current mail-order wife from the Philippines, and (here it comes) NO WILL! The ensuing secession battle sucked the business dry. Long story short, it ended up being sold to some fella, and let's just say that we were like oil and water. First chance he got, he laid me off- and it was probably for the best. So the bike store and this lab were almost exactly 10 years.

Less than a month later, I began work at a HUGE global company in a local laboratory analyzing petroleum products (everything from crude oil to finished gasolines, diesel, benzene). Being such a huge company, it was a very "safe" job, but the management was beyond pitiful, and the hours were killing me- many times, due to poor staffing, I ended up working days straight (I would take little 30-minute cat naps on a cot). This was also the period in which my ex and I split, so it was not a good time (it was about 3 years).

Now, I'm back in a smaller but healthy business that services the petroleum and chemical industry, but I don't have to deal with petroleum products. I'm back doing analytical chemistry and materials characterization, plus a bit of metallurgy on the side. It's a great company, and I'm happy to be here. I don't make six figures, but I don't really need to. Among the things I've learned with age is that money doesn't equal happiness.

Are there things I would change? Absolutely. But all in all, I like what I do and who I do it for. It gets a little mundane at times, but I really have no complaints.

[RebelOne]

8. I'm a copy editor, and I just sort of fell into this job.

From 1978 to 1989, I was a typesetter for a city magazine in Miami. I moved here to North Georgia in '89, where I did freelance typesetting. Then I was a customer services representative for a couple of years. Finally, I got back into publishing and worked as a typesetter for 30 state fishing and hunting magazines. When a copy editor position became open, I was asked if I wanted it and I jumped at the chance. So, here I am doing what I always loved to do: read.

[NightWatcher]

9. I watched too much tv as a kid...Magnum PI, A-Team, Rockford Files....

[jobycom]

10. My best friend died and gave me his job, after I told him I didn't want to do what he was doing.

I wanted to be a novelist growing up, then went to college because my parents pushed me into engineering (and all my friends went into engineering). I hated it, so I dropped out, then went back a year later, having decided I wanted to be a history professor. In grad school, I ran into marital problems, financial problems, and kids, and had to get out of school. I was working part time as a bookkeeping clerk, and my best friend by this time was the bookkeeper for the company. I was on a six month long job search, unable to get hired for anything in my field.

So one day Pete was sitting in my office, looking pained at times and claiming his chest pain was allergies that he got every year around that time. We were talking about my job search, and me having to broaden what I was looking for as a job. The last thing I said was "I just hope I don't wind up a bookkeeper the rest of my life." I remember him looking a little sad, either at what I had said, or more likely at his own career--he didn't want to be a bookkeeper, either.

So of course he went home that Friday and died from congestive heart failure (we think), and I took over his job and have had it ever since. Though I have tried several times to change careers, I'm now over 40 and not getting hired for anything else. Apparently I'm a lousy interviewee.

[northernlights]

11. I fell into my 1st career

as a writer/editor/project manager. I enjoyed the work thoroughly, although marcom itself can be a real snake pit. We used to call it the "pink ghetto" because it was one of the places that women were "allowed" early on.

My 2nd career is not working out so well, although I haven't gotten into it yet. I chose medical lab tech because I was always good at sciences and math, there is pretty much a guaranteed job if you survive the program, the salary isn't great but it's good for an associates degree. So it seemed do-able.

It's not working out as expected, not because I can't get through the program, but so far I can't get *into* it.

First, the regular advisor lied to be about a number of things, which ended up setting me back a full year. So what was going to take me 3 years part time will now take 4. I could squeak out 3 years with approx $20K in loans, which still made sense given the salary level. 4 years is simply not do-able without selling my house. In this market. :(

Plus, twice now I've been put into the wrong program by university administrators. The 1st time was early on and an easy fix.

This time it's really, really bad. I was in "pre-MLT" while completing the pre-reqs. On the advice of my advisor, in January I put in a change of program card for "MLT," with the selection process to take place at the end of March/early April.

I just discovered that instead of moving me into MLT, some fuckhead put me into biology. The person I just spoke with was baffled. The note in the system dated Jan. 14 clearly stated to put me into MLT per change of program card.

She's trying to fix the mistake this morning. But it may be too late for this year's selection process. In that case, I am done. Now what should have taken 3 years part time will take 5. I'm done. I fucking hate these fucking bastards. Did I mention, I'm done?

[ogneopasno]

12. I'm lucky; I chose it because I'm good at it and I like to do it.

I'm a writer and editor and have worked at newspapers, magazines and as a freelancer. The pay has always been enough to support me when I was single, to highly supplement Mr. Ogneopasno's wage when we were both working, and to provide a nice icing on the cake now that he has a new job and I'm working from home.

[TZ]

13. I wanted to be a wildlife biologist/animal behaviorist

But my GRE scores weren't really good enough for grad school which is necessary. The field is very small limited and competitive. So I took the obvious other route..biotechnology. Can's say this is what I thought I'd be doing with my zoology degree but I suppose I've found enough job satisfaction with this route. It is much more rewarding monetarily than wildlife biologist would have been. And since I've gotten chronically ill, I'm not sure a rough outdoorsy job is something I could really do now anyway..:shrug: I guess I've made my peace with being on a different career path now...:hi:

[bigwillq]

14. I like sports and I like to write.

That's what I became a sportswriter. But the industry that I am in (newspaper) is a dying breed.

[flvegan]

15. Nobody...and I mean NObody "chooses" to be in the title ins biz.

I wanted to be a lawyer, and got on with a real estate attorney. I was in IT, but they also put me in their title dept. I learned it quickly and advanced at another firm. I was found to be good at it early on and made a good name for myself in the business and got recruited by the underwriter I'm with now. I do a job usually reserved for an attorney on top of my other responsibilities. Matter of fact, I get outside attorneys calling me for help with title forensics all the time, which I do enjoy. I've built a nice niche here for myself, so I can't complain.

Check back with me in 20 years and I'll let you know if I'm happy with the choice I've made.

[elleng]

18. 'Title forensics?'

Please explain. I'm a lawyer.

[flvegan]

19. Depending upon which angle you come from

be it as a claimant or defending policy limits against a claim, it can vary. A little deeper than standard underwriting decision, it looks further into motive, color and intent and creates a chain of intended events or exposes a chain of attempted hidden or fraudulent events pertaining to title. Mostly used in cases of fraud or other criminal activity.

As the days of blanket indemnification are coming to fruition in a state so rife with fraud such as Florida, more of this is taking place.

[elleng]

16. I decided to go to law school

after I'd worked for some nice and smart guys doing very interesting work (representing inmates at Cook County Jail.) I've liked it a lot. Family is a bunch of lawyers. Dad had pestered me to do it for years before, but developing my own interest was the clincher. $ never an issue. (Never rich; worked for govt mostly. Good pension, tho.)

I suggest that you jump: dress hair! Do what you love (or THINK you love!) If you don't, at least you'd have tried. GO FOR IT!

[TZ]

17. Oh btw....

If you decide to go into hair dressing..I'm looking for a good one...You can do mine...:)

[flvegan]

20. I heard the Phillies want to hire her as their travelling stylist.

Bunch of prettyboys. :eyes:

[TZ]

22. ooh someones JEALOUS...

Yeah those Phillies are some sexy sexy men...:9

[flvegan]

24. Sexy?

I'm jealous because they're millionaires doing something I'd love to do for what I'm paid now.

[BeachBaby]

26. Yes - sexy......

and since there was just too much sexiness on our team, we decided to spread teh sexy around for others to enjoy.

So, here ya go, Rays fans - to Tampa, with lust...uh, I mean, love:

[TZ]

30. Hubba. Flvegan is a lucky guy....

Being all in the same town as that sexy sexy man....:evilgrin:

[BeachBaby]

25. You call 'em pretty....

I call 'em hot. Just sayin'. :7

[Bertha Venation]

21. Three reasons.

Because it was at hand.

Because it fits the skill set I have acquired over the years.

Because, here in DC, it's what there is, and it's what pays.

That's about it.

And for me, it's not so much a career as a means to an end. I work to live. If I didn't have to work, I wouldn't.

(legal secretary)

[tinkerbell41]

23. No choice

On a dead end road at 23 with a child, accepted into apprenticeship program put my head down and went for it. Electrician for 18 yrs. I used to love it, exciting, different. Made good money.
Now not so much. I really don't like the guys I have to work with, I don't like being laid-off every 6 mos, and I hate the fact of never working with another female all that often. The work is great it's the backwards, closed minded, pricks I have to work with that make it miserable.
If I had a dime for all the times I had to hear "What's it like being a female in the trade?"
I could retire. Or "Do you usually know when a guy doesn't want you working for him?" Yeah that was my first clue, thanks for letting me know, give me my check!!!
If I could find a way out I would. I am looking into going back to school for something in healthcare field.

[guitar man]

27. broadcasting

It's where washed-up musicians are put out to pasture. :hi:

when you hit 35 or so and realize you've exhausted your tries at the brass ring in the music industry, you gotta land in a "real job" somewhere. It seems more of us old burn-outs wind up somewhere in the broadcasting industry than anywhere else.

[no name no slogan]

34. Or IT. I run into a lot of ex- and current musicians in the trade

it seems every network engineer I know spent quality time in a semi-successful bar band back in the late 80s.

[guitar man]

36. so that's where the rest of us are

:hi:

[no name no slogan]

37. :-)

Pushing electronic bits around the series of tubes for the man :-)

A guy I used to work with was a minor-level rockstar in the Twin Cities back in the early 80s. He's a systems architect, working for the State of MN's Office of Enterprise Technology, responsible for some of the most sophisticated computer systems in the state. It's funny, because I remember him playing out way back when, when he had the big hair and spandex, and now I see him around with the suit and tie. It's a hoot!

:hi:

[guitar man]

42. speaking of ex-rockers in suit and tie

I guess even Congress is a place where we can wind up

http://johnhall.house.gov/ :)

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

29. After bouncing from major to major

I was running out of G.I. Bill money, so I took stock of the credit hours, and figured out what major I was closest to graduating in. (Yeah, yeah, it wasn't English, so I can end sentences with prepositions).

That I did, and here I yam.

:hi:

[Bucky]

31. Teacher; summers off.

Oh I suppose the notion of helping mold future generations to understand their own talents and to realize their untapped potential is somewhere in there amid my cluster of halfbaked motivations, too, but mostly I wanted to slack off several weeks every summer.

Since I started teaching, I've actually managed to slack off exactly one summer, but the dream lives on.

[LaraMN]

32. My job is really fun and I do a lot of different things.

I love pretty much all the tasks related to what I'm doing.
Unfortunately, my work isn't full-time and pays terribly. I'm hoping it develops into something more substantial.

[Silver Swan]

33. Back when I was in college

There was still blatant (and legal) discrimination against women by many employers.

I didn't want to be a teacher or a nurse (the most common jobs for educated women back then) so I did not major in education or nursing. Upon graduation, the only employer interested in hiring me was the Federal government. Once I started, it became very hard to leave because it was a secure job and the benefits were good.

[graywarrior]

35. I set out to be a slacker and I made it

[davsand]

39. The local Dem party asked me to do it and I needed the job.

I am a local government official.

I went into office on a midterm appointment. The appointment was offered just as we were shutting down the non-profit agency I worked for--a pro bono law center. The deal was the Dems would appoint me, but first I was gonna have to pass a state administered exam on Property Tax Law. I had 30 days to study for that exam and I had ZERO background in real estate or property tax law(!) I passed the exam and they appointed me to office. Subsequent to that, I got my Real Estate Appraisal license along with a designation as a Certified Illinois Assessing Officer.

I have held office now for multiple terms--oddly enough as both a Dem AND a Republican appointee. I had one term where the GOP (by law) was supposed to appoint one of their people, and the local Republicans decided to let me keep my office because they didn't have any major beefs with me or my office. I have, literally, (on paper anyway) held office as both a Dem and a Republican--in spite of the fact that the local Republicans know full well who and what I am. One of them made the observation that "You can put lipstick and a wig on Laura but she'll NEVER be able to pass as a Republican."

My career was an absolute accident.


Laura

[Inchworm]

40. argh

that is all. :P

*grile*

[midnight armadillo]

41. My career is seeming pointless

Now, I am v. depressed at the moment since we just lost out on a last-ditch bid on a house. ACtually, the sellers accepted a lower bid 24 hours ago than the bid we put in today.

Career: as a kid I always wanted to do science and discovered as I got older that I really enjoyed teaching. However, teaching doesn't pay enough to live on one salary here and I ended up in graduate school for a phd in physics. Now I work at an R&D company doing mostly programming and engineering work and very little science, working on gov projects that never see the light of day or have any sort of positive impact on people's lives, and I STILL don't earn enough to buy even a modest property in a town with good enough schools to provide my kids with the special ed services they'll need.

So what was the point of going into science and spending 6 years in grad school? I have no idea most days.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

43. Because I just love it when people tell me to get a real job.

:rofl:

[tabbycat31]

44. I was thrown into my first

literally. WHen I was working for a dept store, they were desparate and tried everyone at the cash office position once the person there moved to NC. They threw everything at the wall hoping it stuck, and I stuck. Later after I left that store, the cash office position lead to working in banking, since most temp agencies said that banks would be impressed with the cash office expereince.

We all know where the banking industry is right now. I lost my banking job in June and decided not to go back to the industry.

I'm in school to become a paralegal right now. I chose it because I've always liked the law type shows on TV, and I love the course work so far. I should be done by xmas.

[fizzgig]

45. i am now trying to go down a new career path, but am not sure what to do

i achieved my childhood dream of becoming a newspaper reporter, but after being dicked around for five years and then being let go, i've decided i'm done with it. not that i could find a new job in that field right now anyway :eyes:

my chief concern right now just being able to pay my bills. i have a few more years left until i've got my credit cards paid off and then i want to go to law school. i'm not sure what area i'd focus on yet, but it's something that i've wanted to do for many years.

[sinkingfeeling]

46. Actually, I 'fell' into it and didn't make a decision. I started out to be a veterinarian, but

dropped out of college in 1967 to keep my husband from being drafted (Nam). I had to find some way to make money, so went to a 4 or 6 week keypunching school. From there it was computer operator and programmer and in 1973 I was hired by IBM. I retired from them in 2003 and continue to work as a system programmer (mainframes).

I've been paid very well over the last 40 years. Enjoyed some of it very much, but still regret that I didn't do the thing I wanted to.

[eyepaddle]

47. Well, I got a geology degree because all the other classes were full--or

at least that was the case for a quarter or two--then I was hooked.

WHile waiting for my geology job I paid the bills doind household hazardous waste for Ramsey county (as a temp). When I finally got my chosen geology job it was out on offshore oil rigs. That sucked horrendously bad. After two years of that BS I came back to MN and did the job I was hoping for when I had been in school--namely a hydrogeologist doing gasoline clean up kind of stuff. It turned out I hated that almost as much as the oilfield--it wasn't as horrible, but it was very reminscent of the movie Office Space. When my contract was up I got in touch with old haz waste boss (he had moved to a different company) and he hired me on full time.

So I wound up in haz waste management by accident, but like it much more than the things I had been hoping for. I have since gone to grad school and now take care of the waste generated by a school--along with general work safety stuff.

So, I totally drifted into this line of work by accident, but I am pretty happy about it.

[elleng]

48. Interesting stories here!!!

BETTER than 'What I did last summer!'

[PfcHammer]

50. Work sucks

Carry on.

[littlebit]

51. After I recovered from my brain injury

I wanted to work with people with disabilities. I did that for a few years and almost went insane. I decided I wanted to do something where I could be alone and not have to talk to people. So I became a truck driver. The first few years really sucked. I hated working for large companies that took advantage of the drivers. After several years of saving every extra penny I had I bought my first truck and became my own boss. Now I love my job. I can't see myself doing anything else.

[leftyclimber]

52. I was sick of doing stuff that made people mad and wanted to do stuff that made people happy.

So I left IT and went back to school to do outdoor recreation.

I didn't even know the field existed when I was in undergrad, and I'm super-outdoorsy (cf. my screenname), so outdoor rec looked like a perfect fit when I found out you could get a degree in it.

So now instead of dealing with people who are mad at me for being involved in creating some computer program, I deal with people who are mad at the gummint for (insert reason here). :rofl:

I do love it. I do research that gets information to people that helps them do their jobs better. I train the next generation of park rangers and behind-the-scenes folks. And I get to go to all sorts of beautiful places in the name of science.

Good gig.

PS - Go be a hairdresser if that's what you really want to do (and you can swing it). If you don't go to beauty school, you'll still end up being the same age in a couple years. You just won't be a hairdresser. :shrug:

edit: damn square brackets

[MadMaddie]

53. I accidently fell into my career and it turns out that it was

exactly what I wasn't purposely looking for.

I am an IT Project Manager.

[OwnedByFerrets]

54. I took the Strong Interest Test and stupidly thought it worked.

:silly: In all honestly, it did pick out what I would be good at, just not what I could make a living from. Photojournalism is one of the most contested careers one can choose.

[SPKrazy]

55. Shit it found me, and salary lol, no unfortunately

people don't give a real shit about paying people to help people

it really did find me

[BarenakedLady]

56. I'm still looking for mine.

I thought I didn't need one for awhile. Now I realize I do.

[femmocrat]

57. Because when I was in HS, girls only had three career options:

Nurse, teacher, or secretary. I chose teacher.

[FarLeftRage]

58. I always wanted to be a pervert...

but there was no money to be made in that profession, so I became a chemist instead.

Due to the powers that be, all of the chemist jobs I ever had were outsourced...

I think money does indeed play apart in choosing a career, but it never appealed to me.
Yes, I like chemistry and do enjoy the study of it.

[Nikia]

59. I majored in biology

I didn't consider that most biology majors have to go to graduate or professional school to get a good job. I was able to find work in the food processing industry though. After 7 years in the food processing industry, I want out. There is something seriously wrong with the industry. It seems the only thing though that I can get a job in that isn't low income.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

60. I finally settled on being a translator (after a stint in academia) because

it combines two of my greatest interests, languages and writing. I have a wide variety of other interests, and translators never know what they're going to be translating next, so I find it to be a very interesting and challenging line of work.

[dixiegrrrrl]

61. Reminds me of a great Dear Abby letter that helped me make my leap...

Woman wrote and said she wanted to start a career she loved, but it would take 4 years and she thought she was too old to start anew.
Abby asked,," How old will you be in 4 years if you DO NOT start the new career'?"

Life is too short to stay stuck.
Your heart and gut are talking to you. Listen to it. Just promise yourself never to regret any choices.
When you get to the place you want to be, you will find new doors to open.
And it is real hard to outsource hairdressing jobs.
You only have to listen to your inner voice. No one else's counts.

Ps: I did start that career. I did find new doors to open when I got there, one of them led me to a long term field that I loved.
I never regretted the choices I had to make to find what I wanted to do.
And one day, 25 years later, I "knew" I had done all I wanted to do in the job, and I chose to retire early.
No regrets.

[Chan790]

62. I didn't choose it...

it chose me. I'm a naturally-talented writer and a piss-poor interview, I have a resume like Swiss cheese and it's the only thing anybody will pay me for. I think it's funny when people say they want to be a writer, especially a freelancer, because what they're really saying is "I want to basically be unable to own anything or get credit, constantly sweat how I'm going to pay the rent and spend every family function explaining that I don't need Uncle Bob to get me a "real job" working as a janitor for minimum wage, I have a "real job" which pays more than that...even if I hate it." Also, I do hate writing. Like really...a lot. If hell is an eternity doing the one thing you hate more than anything else in the universe, I know what I'll be doing.

If I had my druthers, I'd be a professional fundraiser for art NPOs. That's what I love doing, but it seems that nobody wants people to plan galas, pursue major gifts or coordinate annual appeals and capital campaigns...they want grant-writers. :eyes:

[dysfunctional press]

63. i'm a wanderer. and disabled. and entirely off-path.

no 'career' as it were, except for keeping susie as happy as i can.

[wickerwoman]

64. Path of least resistance plus some dumb luck...

I was petrified of job interviews after college so I drifted into grad school without any real plan of what I wanted to study.

I finished my masters but didn't get a PhD because I didn't care about my subject that much. Lesson learned: don't go to grad school unless you already know exactly what you want to study and you are absolutely sure that three years in you will still be able to study it regardless of personnel changes at the university.

My major didn't give me a lot of options after grad school so I drifted into teaching.

Through blind luck I got a great job connected to education but I didn't like the location. Then I fell through the cracks jobwise trying to move to a new place (had a job offer that evaporated after I'd already quit my old job) and now I'm unemployed.

I've always wanted to be an architect and I'm thinking of getting a degree in urban planning but I need to work for a while to save up enough money to go back to college. So I'm willing to bite the bullet and do anything for a year or two until I can save up enough to get myself back on track.

[old mark]

65. BB, about 35 years ago, a guy I knew decided to become a hairdresser

because his girl friend was one. He went to a school for about a year, went into business with his by-now wife, and they made a fortune. Had a giant old house, owned the building their shop was in, drove Porsches.
Eventually got very heavy into the toot toot, got divorced, but remained rich.

I have always wanted to be a painter, but could not riste above the starvation level doing it, so I worked at tolerable jobs from age 15 till I retired at 59, and became - a painter!

I love it now, and my only regret is I didn't find a way to do it much sooner, but at least I'm doing it now.

Follow your heart, and the money will come along.

Life is too short not to do what pleases you.

mark