If you had to start your career over again, what would you do?

The wife and I are done doing the crap we're doing... office life. 8-5 bullshit... over stressed, constantly dealing with idiot managers and executives.... etc.. etc...

Not worth the toll it's taking on our mental well being.

Not that my life is yours, but if you had the chance to start a new career, what would you do?

Maybe it pays the same, maybe not, but it's what makes you happy.

Hit me...

 

Had a buddy who worked for nbc sports following the pga tour. Always thought that was cool...that sport always chases the good weather.

 

I hate being stuck in an office. I think being a UPS/FedEx driver would be ideal for me. Gets me outside and moving around.

 

Photographer for playboy magazine

 

I'm actually going through this as we speak so here's some background.

Former Marine, disabled veteran.

After that, Cook County sheriff department.

Divorce, fast forward to moving to CA.

Currently a finance director and sales manager at a large automotive group.

Been doing my job for almost 10 years; pays 6 figures every year but demands a lot of hours.

I'm over it.

I'm enrolling in trade school this October for welding and quitting my job.

I'm 35 years old and will finally be doing something I want to do.

 

Trophy husband.

 

For me its not what I'm doing, but who I'm working with and how much control I have over my own direction. My last gig was way lower stakes, but the people were super unorganized, I was micromanaged to death and I was miserable. Now I'm with a great team and I have more freedom even though the work is way more scrutinized.

 

Currently: scrum master for software development teams in banking/insurance industries

For the do-over, I'd still do software, but in the musical/sound industries. Side gig would be musician. Or vice versa if I got really fortunate...

 

Jimmy Carter cut my career short with a Promotional block for certain MOSs. Otherwise, I would have stayed in the Army.

Would I do it again? Yes... I would. Even knowing the sacrifice that would be involved.

I have been a self employed "hands on" masonry contractor. My body is pretty beat down, but I earned my way. I am starting to have lung issues though. I worry about silicosis.

Fuck it...can't live forever. Ha ha ha Jimmy screwed me out of a full GI bill too! Who knows?? I might have been a Civil Engineer or structural Engineer, instead of just being a Combat Engineer.

 

Started off at a car audio shop. From there progressed into automotive groups doing mostly add on accessories and some troubleshooting for things the techs couldn’t figure out electrically. Decided it was time for a change as the dealership life is extremely fast paced and stressful. Took a job as a tire builder and used the union to pay for class to be an industrial electrician. Figured I’d put my 14 years of electrical background back to use. Finally got the job and I’m still training. It’s not easy but pays very well and I’m not killing my body like I was building tires. Wish I had got to where I’m at sooner!

 

Still infosec but probably more dfir and less management.

 

I started as a hobby shop manager, then worked for a Ford dealership in the parts department, then worked as a baker for a local grocery store, joined the Army for five years, got out and was a manager for an automotive performance shop, went back to college and became a Registered Nurse, which is what I'm still doing 12 years later. It's really about finding a job that is satisfying. Crappy management is everywhere, in every industry. Computer security sounds like a great field to get into now, lol.

 

Airline pilot here. I have to go with UPS driver followed by fedex driver. They’re home most every night with good benefits and pay. That being said I ain’t giving up my current gig unless they kick me out.

 

If I was staying white collar, I'd be an accountant, tax specialist, tax lawyer, etc. Somebody always needs somebody else to look after their money.

Being colorblind, I think I'd go hvac if I was looking for a trade. Comfort is pretty recession proof

 

I was a barber for 28 years absolutely loved my job! Then the affordable care act came and my family health plan was not so affordable anymore! Moved into the medical supply chain and it sucks! Big company and so much tippy toe around all the current drama social issues of today. Six years and I’m out of there!

 

This is a very interesting question....
Being a Jack of all trades, master of none....
You tend to bounce around a lot.
The problem is... something you considered fun or easy work, after 20 years it becomes "a job".... work.
https://youtu.be/7zok9co_8E4

 

Machinist since 2004 when I graduated, went to vocational school for drafting/surveying/mechanical drawing. If I had to do it over again, I'd do the same... except skip the small job shop bs like my first 4 years in the trade & try to get a head start in large global corporation like where I am now.

 

I do fibre optic work for a large telco. It’s a great job and I’m good at it but I’m a creative person at heart and would have liked to get into animation or FX for movies or something like that.

 

Work in a field you are passionate about. It doesn't mean it has to be directly related, but maybe in service of.

I work in tech that primarily services aerospace, DOD, automotive and oil/gas. As someone that is passionate about vehicles of all types with an engineering background, seeing how we contribute to the latest upcoming supersonic aircraft optimization, help the design analysis of a Mars rover landing design, being used for the Space X launch/landing simulations or to shave fractions of a second off of F1 lap times through highly competitive continuous aero simulation optimization is fascinating to me. I've been offered higher paying jobs at companies like Amazon to help optimize/increase their kids tablet click through purchase percentage rates. FML, I'd literally hate my life if that is what I worked on every day because that would be a job in service of something I don't care about at all. It would have no meaning to me and feel soulless. Being a small part of the most advanced engineering achievements in vehicles of all sorts is far more rewarding to me.

Rather than trying to find what makes you happy in a job, I'd start with what interests you and makes you happy and then look for a job that fits.