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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> Career question
        
(Message started by: sandie99 on May 7^th, 2007, 2:52am)

Title: Career question
Post by sandie99 on May 7^th, 2007, 2:52am

I have posted here few times about the jobs I was after and how I didn't get them. I wrote about my doubts about my professional future.

Now I've learned that "what's meant to happen will happen" applies to career world as well. I feel different about my future now. There are questions I'm still waiting an answer for, but time will reply all them in some point.

Now, I'm just wondering, when did you know what you were meant to do? Were you just drawn towards your profession and career or did you just stumble into it?

Hugs & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Career question
Post by andrewjb on May 7^th, 2007, 6:50am

:), dont worry, what will be, will be. i still dont know what i want to do when i grow up. at least you have an idea. andrew.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Mosaicwench on May 7^th, 2007, 7:27am

I started out college as a journalism student. Ended up graduating with a Fine arts degree. Since that's as useless as it gets in terms of getting a job (because I didn't want to teach), I became a secretary after college.

I worked for many years at a commercial photography studio and then in an Art gallery. I had my son and decided to stay home with him rather than work.

I'm still home (he's almost 16) and creating mosaics everyday.

Sometimes the circle of life is real apparent and sometimes it's not . . . .

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Karla on May 7^th, 2007, 8:35am

I wanted to do coronor work on the brain ie nuerupathology. But didn't want to spend aprox 20 years in school. So I went to 1 semester of collage after HS in computer science but dropped out one week before finals to move to CA to be with my new husband Ted. I waited until the birth of my third son a few years latter. I signed up for school in a 2 yr technical collage for computer programming/systems analyst. I had a 3.65 gpa and loved doing what i did for work. I would bring my homework home and have a problem and Ted never having touched a computer or taking a programming class would sit beside me and say "Why dont you do that and this etc" He would be right. He was a natural at it. So as soon as I graduated Ted signed up until this point he had no idea what he wanted to do in life. He graduated with a 4.0.

So I knew what I wanted and Ted fell into it with my pushing.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Rosybabe on May 7^th, 2007, 2:14pm

Sanna

for many years I had the idea than being a career woman was the only way to go for me...

I am now cleaning up boogie noses, kissing booboos and playing dolls...

and I have to tell you something...

I am having the time of my life ;;D!!!!

Rosy.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on May 7^th, 2007, 2:25pm

Sanna, its not about deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life right now. Right now, its about picking what you want to learn FIRST.
The days of 1 career per life is over. Just get a job in a field that interests you, and from there you will learn. Maybe while you are there you see things you didn't know about before, and you will want to learn about those too.
In my opinion, you can't decide what you want to be until you have experienced different things. When you learn a little about 1 specific industry, you also get exposure to all sorts of peripheral businesses. Getting this exposure to things you cant even dream of is what helps you decide what you want to do.
It takes a lifetime to learn.

:-*

Title: Re: Career question
Post by medic1852 on May 7^th, 2007, 2:32pm

When I was a little hog, I wanted to be an astronaut (what child of the 60's didn't). As I grew older I decided I wanted to be just a regular fighter pilot. In my teenage years I got in some trouble and my grades were not the best. So I became just a regular ground pounder in the Marine Corps. My dad had let me literally cut my teeth on a colt revolver, I started shooting at the young age of 3. While in the Marines they discovered my talent with a rifle and sent me to Scout Sniper school. At my last duty station I was in the training section taking office pouges to the Rifle range and for thier once yearly 2 week field training. The naval aid station was short handed and did not have enough folks to drive the ambulance, so when I was not doing training I was driving the ambulance. The doctor in charge belief was that if you see one you were to do one then teach one. So I found I was kind of good at this Ambulance stuff and the adreniline rush was cool. So when I got out of the Marines I went to school to become a Paramedic. That is what I do now and have for the past 15 years.
But to answer your question, I still dont know what I want to be when I grow up. :-/

Rodger

Title: Re: Career question
Post by artonio7 on May 7^th, 2007, 2:41pm

Think of the most disgusting job that could possibly be... one that you would absolutely hate doing... it would be a plus if it didn't pay well, had horrible hours and you despised your boss.... Commit to working there for two years.... after that, anything you decide to work at will be a joy.

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: Career question
Post by alienspacebabe on May 7^th, 2007, 3:09pm

on 05/07/07 at 02:52:59, sandie99 wrote:

when did you know what you were meant to do? Were you just drawn towards your profession and career or did you just stumble into it?

Hugs & PF days,
Sanna

I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up....

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Brewcrew on May 7^th, 2007, 3:40pm

Sanna - At about the age of 12 or 13 I came to realize that I was meant to be a musician. Around the age of 19 or 20 I knew I was meant to be a husband. At about the age of 22 or 23 I knew I was meant to be a college graduate. Right around 29 or 30 I figured out that I was meant to be a father.

During all the real life in between, I knew I had to do SOMETHING to support all these good habits to which I had become addicted, so I had to (and continue to have to) work. I've been working as an engineer for 19 years, but not because I love engineering. I don't love anything that can't love me back. I do it because, as jobs go, it's a pretty good one. It is at times challenging, fun, rewarding, and flexible.

I couldn't ask for a better way to support my family and the things that we like to do.

Footnote: I started my professional career at a newspaper gathering closing stock and futures prices off the wire services to be formatted for print the next day. I even had one story published. But I only lasted 5 months at that job because I found myself drowning in the cynicism of the newsroom.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Mosaicwench on May 7^th, 2007, 4:09pm

on 05/07/07 at 14:25:55, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

Right now, its about picking what you want to learn FIRST. :-*

Excellent, truly sound advice.

Learning doesn't end, it just gets more relevant.

I've had people ask me if I'm in the medical profession because of things I've had to learn about cluster headaches, hysterectomies, and old people's medical problems.

Didn't learn them because I necessarily WANTED to, but rather they made me a better supporter or patient and thus a better person in the long run.

The fun of life is in the journey not the destination.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Guiseppi on May 7^th, 2007, 4:29pm

From the time I was about 10 years old I knew I wanted to be a police man. The best part is you never have to grow up. I'm 47 and still playing cops and robbers!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Career question
Post by john_d on May 7^th, 2007, 7:36pm

I was drawn towards it. I knew people in college who were drawn towards the salary but they were never really good at it and they never really enjoyed the actual work. It's good to enjoy something you are spending 8-9 hours a day doing.

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Charlie on May 7^th, 2007, 9:41pm

It's a little different when there is a family business. To be safe, I took business college courses so I would be able to take over. Never happened of course.

I always wanted be a writer. That never happened much either so I worked in several kinds of antique and collectible businesses. I found something I love but alas, without transportation, it's tough to make a buck....if anyone would have told me that I would be doing that, I would have thought they were wacked.

Charlie

Title: Re: Career question
Post by pieface_49 on May 7^th, 2007, 10:29pm

Hello Sanna,
It is easy, in retrospect, to say I would like a job that has little stress. The question is, what job does not have a lot of stress? My mind thinks Forest Ranger, Biologist and perhaps an Insurance Salesman (mine is always golfing). Your destiny is not only of your own making. Extenuating circumstances will probably play a factor. They certainly did in my life.
I am a 10th grade dropout who got their GED at age 18. I had worked in restaurants from age 13 to 21. Had aspirations to be a chef. At age 21 I promised myself I would never work in a kitchen again. Went to a 1 year technical school for welding and layout/fitting. Got laid off at age 23 and could not find work. At age 24 I went to a 2 year technical school. It was then, I knew what I wanted to do. I loved computers. Today, computers are a love/hate relationship :). Which takes me back to the point of a less stressful job. No turning back now, full steam ahead to retirement.
Cooking is a large part of my life today, at home. I would really like to be a Wal-Mart greeter when I grow up.
Good luck and it is nice to see you say "What is meant to be, will be". It is also true, you do not have to accept things as they are. If you want something bad enough, you must be willing to make sacrifices in order to achieve them.

Donnie

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Kevin_M on May 7^th, 2007, 10:48pm

You seem concerned but you could even stumble into a job and do well in a short time, be venturesome and confident Sanna. Good writing is a threshold skill sure to appreciate your value in any good job in communication with people. :)

Title: Re: Career question
Post by artonio7 on May 8^th, 2007, 2:26am

Sanna... not to worry dear... things will turn out just as they should.

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: Career question
Post by sandie99 on May 8^th, 2007, 2:47am

I've enjoyed reading your replies a lot. Thank you all. :)

I do believe that these days there are so many things one can be doing and it's possible to do a lot of different things before retiring.

In my case, ever since I was 12, I've drawn to writing. I do know that my aunt, a journalist, plays a part in my career choice, but not in the joy I feel when I've written something I'm really, really proud of. :)

Looking back, maybe my dream of writing already begun at 7, when my story was read out loud in front of the whole class for the first time. :)

My parents stumbled into their jobs and careers. Being a writer in a way or another and inspiring and supporting others is all I've ever wanted to do in my life. I've told my boyfriend that if someone would pay me 8 euros per hour to pick up trash from the streets, I could do that (actually, I do that anyway, because I love to keep my city clean), but writing and helping are my heart's desires.

Kevin, you are right; I AM bit concerned... I do trust in life and that I'll find that next step, but it would be so much easier to focus on the things I need to do right now if I'd know for sure what that next thing is. I have this tiny hunch what it might be, but nothing is sure at this point.

Donnie, I do believe that when we want something badly, and we're ready to do whatever it takes (in positive manner, of course) to get there, that something will happen.

I believe that it is important that we all have something is our lives we're passionate about. It doesn't need to be the job/career, but relationship or hobby or whatever.

PF days & hugs,
Sanna

Title: Re: Career question
Post by Brewcrew on May 9^th, 2007, 10:40am

Sanna - Your post got me to thinking about something I read a long time ago. It is directed at art students (specifically painters), but there are some sage words contained in it. I hope you enjoy it.

FROM THE SHAPE OF CONTENT - BY BEN SHAHN (HARVARD-UNIVERSITY PRESS)

My capsule recommendation for a course of education is as follows:

Attend a university if you possibly can. There is no content of knowledge that is not pertinent to the work you will want to do. But before you attend a university work at something for a while. Do anything. Get a job in a potato field; or work as a grease monkey in an auto repair shop. But if you do work in a field do not fail to observe the look and the feel of earth and of all things that you handle - yes, even potatoes! Or, in the auto shop, the smell of oil and grease and burning rubber.

Paint of course, but if you have to lay aside painting for a time, continue to draw. Listen well to all conversations and be instructed by them and take all seriousness seriously. Never look down upon anything or anyone as not worthy of notice. In college or out of college, read. And form opinions! Read Sophocles and Euripides and Dante and Proust. Read everything you can about art except the reviews. Read the Bible; read Hume; read Pogo. Read all kinds of poetry and know many poets and many artists.

Go to an art school, or two, or three, or take art courses at night if necessary. And paint and paint and draw and draw. Know all that you can, both curricular and noncurricular mathematics and physics and economics, logic, and particularly history. Know at least two languages besides your own, but anyway, know French.

Look at pictures and more pictures. Look at every kind of visual symbol, every kind of emblem; do not spurn signboards or furniture drawings or this style of art or that style of art. Do not be afraid to like paintings honestly or to dislike them honestly, but if you do dislike them retain an open mind. Do not dismiss any school of art, not the Pre-Raphaelites nor the Hudson River School nor the German Genre painters.

Talk and talk and sit at cafes, and listen to everything, to Brahms, to Brubeck, to the Italian hour on the radio. Listen to preachers in small town churches and in big city churches. Listen to politicians in New England town meetings and to rabble-rousers in Alabama. Even draw them. And remember that you are trying to learn to think what you want to think, that you are trying to co-ordinate the mind and hand and eye.

Go to all sorts of museums and galleries and to the studios of artists. Go to Paris and Madrid and Rome and Ravenna and Padua. Stand alone in Sainte Chapelle, in the Sistine Chapel, in the Church of the Carmine in Florence. Draw and draw and paint and learn to work in many media; try lithography and aquatint and silk-screen. Know all that you can about art, and by all means have opinions. Never be afraid to become embroiled in art or life or politics; never be afraid to learn to draw or paint better than you already do; and never be afraid to undertake any kind of art at all, however exalted or however common, but do it with distinction.