how did you decide on your career?

Well, school didn't work out for me as I had planned. So after 6 years in the military and 14 years in retail, decided to go into the oilfield at 38 yrs old. Been there ever since! Where else can you work 6 months out of the year and make $$$$!!!!!!! Definitely a challenging job starting out and retirement will be nice as well!

 

At the end of the day works work. Pick something you enjoy somewhat so your life is bearable. Doing anything everyday for 10 hrs a day feels like work. Makes you really appreciate every hour of spare time or weekends so much more.

 

Find something you ENJOY doing or kick yourself everyday thereafter....


I twisted wrenches all the way through high school and loved it,purchased my tools & boxes with full intentions of making "IT"...(still have that box and those tools;34 years later.... and still do "work" when extra $$ can be found..).

Then I went out to Wyoming Tech on partial scholarship for diesels....
My mistake...the 1st truck I climb into...a Petebilt 359 with the Corvette dash .....
I came home and twisted wrenches for 3 more years while my wife finished Art School and then got my CDL A( tractor-trailer back then ).

I have been driving ever since ( owning 4 of my own) and will enjoy retirement criss crossing this Great country behind the wheel of something large enough to TOW the Tacoma behind it...

My daughter dual majored and her internships were used for her 1st major locally while her second major has her living 1/2 a world away in China teaching elementary school....

At what age do you figure it out ??? Only one person will know that ,YOU...

Enjoy life as you bust your a$$ BUT make dam sure you like yourself while doing it....everything else should fall into place around that...

Old Man back Quiet.....

 

Here is some take it or leave it advice. For anyone looking at a career/job and not sure what you want to do, this book might help to clear things up a bit. I read it after I figured out what I wanted to do, but it still had some useful information in it. It can be had on Amazon for about 10 bucks in paperback. It's called:
Do What You Are: Discover the Perfect Career for You Through the Secrets of Personality Type

 

Drove my first 40' City Transit Bus at the age of 12. A driver whom I'll call Rich () that I used to roll with one night stopped the bus around the corner from the end of the line, removed himself from the driver seat, looked at me and said "You drive; you've watched me long enough" I drove the Bus to the intersection and Rich () explained how to line up the vertical and horizontal lines the front windshield weatherstripping made and use that as a guide to not run over peoples toes on the sidewalk when turning the corner. 26 years now and still no accidents. The rest is .....too crazy to tell.

 

To update all you tacomaworld friends who are concerned with me choosing a career. While I go to school for business, I plan on getting my real estate license and giving that a shot!

 

When I was your age OP I didn't know what I wanted to do so in the meantime I joined the AF, became an f-16 mechanic. I am now a certified aircraft mechanic without holding an A&P license which I'm thinking about getting, eventually. I say eventually because I now know what I want to do (6 years later) and that's hold a job in Information Technology, which I'm in school for now. After I graduate, depending on where I am I may try to get my A&P license, or I may decide to stay in school for my masters, not sure yet, right now I'm just trying to stay focused on going to school full time while still working full time in the military.

 

I picked my job because it was the most amount of money I found I could make without college and work with my hands outside. A high voltage electrician. A couple other trades pay very nice as well with just an AA or aprenticeship.

 

I seriously considered a Masters in Real Estate Science instead of a second BA in Marketing

 

Tried to get into power engineering didn't make it took a process control course 2 years later got a job a few months later at a paper mill after oct 3rd ill be here guaranteed till I retire or people don't need paper anymore

 

lol at 12. i may have to say.. only in NY. lol. i drove on the road for the first time in NY when i was 12. F350 dully with a bunch of hay on the back.

 

The navy helped me decide. I'm an air traffic controller for the FAA at the busiest facility in north america.

 

Soooo I havent changed from what i've doing, i went after other jobs and it didnt work out, i have recieved two promotions but am maxed out in my setting. Planning to stay in health care, but ive been looking into dental programs, anyone on here in dentistry that can answer some questions i have?

 

how'd you like it? my moms gonna try to get a job as a pharmacy tech when we move.

at first (and still) i wanted to just get a job and apprentice under someone, but it sounds like i'll be going for a associates degree in marine mechanics, then after that getting a bachelors degree in fish and wildlife.

good luck patrick

 

I learned how to weld in high school, and became very good, very quickly. Tinkered around with the college seen for a few months, but dropped out. Here I am now, welding stainless steel in a climate controlled facility, having fun and making more $ than most of the kids I graduated high school with that also graduated from college. I work for a great company, that takes pretty good care of it's employees

 

EMS kinda swallowed me up.

I wanted to be a firefighter, went to the fire academy, then went to EMT school (you have to be an EMT in FL to be a FF).

Then I went to paramedic school so it would be easier to get a job as a Firefighter. I got hired at a private EMS company in orlando (Rural Metro) hated the private EMS scene...worked there for almost a year.

Now I work for my hometown County EMS agency. Its County, not private, So the benefits are great, I have state retirement, vested after 8 years, full retirement at 30 years, and I cant complain about the pay. We have nice trucks, nice equipment, everyone cares about their job.

I love being a Paramedic. Every day I have the chance to positively affect someones life in one way or another, plus I work with great people and have loads of fun. I work 12 hours, 2 days on 2 days off, and every other Fri/sat/sun off. And no single day is the same...never a dull day.

I actually look forward to the next day I work.

My only complaint with EMS is that its hard on your body, and your mind. Very easy to kill your back.

 

Hmm, I'm still not entirely sure how I ended up where I did. Went from college to an internship, then lab work, Americorps, and wound up in bio consulting. 4 years later I'm still doing that and trying to expand a bit.

The only issue there is that to expand I need experience, permits, and certifications. To get a permit for ONE species you have to spend 25 hours with an already permitted bio observing it in the wild. Of course, it varies from species to species, but the more you have the more in-demand you become.

Next on my list is certified arborist, that could bump my pay by a couple thousand a year (negotiations willing).

At any rate, it's an interesting field and I certainly am not going brain dead behind a cashier register like I did way back in high school... ugh, never going retail again.

It's interesting seeing what everyone does here in the TW. I have yet to see one of my own profession in here though... they have to be around. WHERE ARE YOU, WE ALL HAVE TACO'S?!

 

I wanted to make a difference, plain and simple.

I grew up with a lot of opportunities. I traveled the world and lived overseas as a kid. My dad's job moved us to japan. (civilian job, not military) I had a lot of chances to truly see the world and what makes the United States such a great place to live.

I joined the military during college to get myself a step ahead of my peers. While others drank during the week, before tests, and got easy schedules to sleep in, I was both in the National Guard and the ROTC department at my school. I got first hand experience being enlisted in the guard before making it to E5 and I just recently graduated college and commissioned as a 2LT into the CA National Guard. I am an 11A, Infantry Platoon Leader. Using my Criminal Justice Degree, I hope to join law enforcement after serving sometime, working full-time for the National Guard.

I'm currently a GBR, Gold Bar Recruiter for the CA Guard, working with HS and College students to encourage and educate students on the opportunities the CA Guard offers as an officer. I have already looked into graduate school, and will be pursuing a masters, paid for by the Army. I get to live in the same house, close to family and friends, all while receiving active duty pay. I leave for Ft. Benning, GA in March for more training, Infantry Basic Officer Leadership Course, Ranger School, and Pathfinder School. I am already Airborne qualified and have orders to Air Assault in the works.

The biggest thing I can say, with any job really, is network yourself and get yourself options. I love my career choice with the CA Guard and Law Enforcement. If one gets slow and not appealing, I can focus on the other for a bit.

Plus, we get to do some gnarly shit in the Infantry.

 

Great post, Ted. It's refreshing to see young men like yourself striving to become leaders and staying committed to achieving goals.

You're already doing great things, and will continue doing great things!

 

Thanks, Kyle. It's been a fun experience so far. Excited to see where it takes me.