How did you decide on your career?

[sam_gordon]

I’m teaching future tv kids in my communication classes.

I've been behind the scenes for over three decades. Not doing what I thought I would be doing when I was in middle, high school, or college.

 

[sam_gordon]

@Buzz Rules likes to ask questions but seldom, if ever, answers them for himself. Maybe he’ll let us know for a change.

That's why I thought I'd ask him directly.

 

[JLTraveling]

Computers were fun and easy to understand. Anything else would have been harder.

I took the easy path.

Sounds like my dad. He was a bit of a rebel in his teenage years (hippie who refused to cut his hair or settle down). Had a string of jobs like digging ditches and working on construction crews. Finally decided he didn't want to work for a living, so he went back to school and got a bachelor's and then a master's in industrial engineering. Settled into a cushy DoD job and now has a fantastic retirement.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

I've been behind the scenes for over three decades. Not doing what I thought I would be doing when I was in middle, high school, or college.

The behind the scenes stuff is where all the action happens. My college produces a tv show at our (very nicely outfitted) studio, and it's all student produced. That stuff is where they really learn.

 

[sam_gordon]

The behind the scenes stuff is where all the action happens. My college produces a tv show at our (very nicely outfitted) studio, and it's all student produced. That stuff is where they really learn.

The "bad" thing is the behind the scenes jobs are disappearing, at least at the local level.

 

[kanerf]

I liked working with computers from an early age (and they weren't much when I was a lad) so when I found out I could get paid to essentially play with computers all day, well, sign me up. That was over 40 years ago.

 

[Lord Manhammer]

The "bad" thing is the behind the scenes jobs are disappearing, at least at the local level.

I don't know that they are disappearing as much as they are changing. Our students are still finding jobs. But years ago, you could be a specialist, an editor, a sound guy, a writer, a camera guy, etc. Now, you need to do ALL of those things to work in the industry. While legacy media is fading, there are still opportunities, and with new media, there are even more opportunities. It's a very interesting time to work in Communication.

 

[sam_gordon]

I don't know that they are disappearing as much as they are changing. Our students are still finding jobs. But years ago, you could be a specialist, an editor, a sound guy, a writer, a camera guy, etc. Now, you need to do ALL of those things to work in the industry. While legacy media is fading, there are still opportunities, and with new media, there are even more opportunities. It's a very interesting time to work in Communication.

I used to work at a local station. Every shift, there was:
* Director (sometimes more than one)
* Audio Operator
* Graphics Operator
* Camera Operator
* Master Control Operator

As of bout 18 months ago, the shift now contains:
* Director (sometimes more than one)

Yes, there are still opportunities, and "new" opportunities. But, those opportunities might not be what interests you.

ETA: I've been in a lot of local stations over the last year (now working for a vendor, integrating the new gear to the station). I think there was one, maybe two stations that still had a full complement of production personnel.

 

[GreatLakes]

I had no idea what I wanted to do so instead of going right to college I jumped around a few jobs until I landed in IT and liked it. I knew I didn't want to code and wanted to be in management so that was the path I went down. I went to school for Information Systems (MIS at some colleges) and I'm one of those people that are in the career they got their undergraduate degree in.

The specific vertical I'm in was kind of chance. I was looking to move back home after living in FL for a job and it was an easy landing because I had done a short unpaid internship there.

 

[goofyernmost]

I was fortunate that I grew up in a family where you were expected to go to college no matter your sex. No one made a big deal about graduating from high school; it was expected of you. After receiving your bachelor’s degree you were finally perceived as interesting in your own right and the first question asked by grandparents and such was what would you study your master’s in.

Fell in lust and decided to change major to hotel and restaurant mgmt so the ex and I could open a business of our own; he was already in the business. Didn’t work out but used my degree to move forward . Ultimately became interested in RE and found my existing degree helped.

In my family, it wasn't expected, both my parents had dropped out of school in High School and NO ONE in the family ever attended college. I was the first. I applied to go to a business college (Associates Degree in Business Admin.) and never mentioned it until I was accepted, then I told my parents. They, of course, were happy about it.

I met my wife while taking Night Division courses at UVM after I returned from Vietnam. She was going for her BS Degree in Nursing and I was just trying to add a little to my education via the Air Force co-pay. Education was a very huge part of our family life. I continued to add a few credits to my list but since my Associates came from a non-accredited college (at the time) there were not enough transferable credits to get me to the Batchelor Degree. My wife went on after to get her Masters in Nursing and also a Masters in Gerontology and was a dissertation away from her Doctorate in Gerontology before she became to ill to complete it.

So it was a given that my girls were going to go to college. It was never said that we expected them to go, but they picked up on it transcendentally. One got a BS in Geology from Colorado College and the other achieved a BS degree in Political Economics from Tulane University and a Masters in Business Admin/Project Management from East Carolina University. As far as their children are concerned there is one with a BS degree in IT. Another in his senior year at UNC Charlotte majoring in Marketing/Broadcasting. Another in her last two years at NC State majoring in Accounting and the last one is only 12 so we will have to see how that goes. It seems that the family went from all but uneducated to thinking they are way smarter then they actually are.

 

[hertamaniac]

My father played and then worked for MLB for his career. Of course, he wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but I missed sign-ups for our league when I was in my early teens and never played again.

So, I went to college and did something completely different in the project management route.

 

[JaydonKennedy]

Hey there! Deciding on my career was quite a journey. Initially, I was torn between pursuing a career in engineering or graphic design. I explored both paths through internships and part-time jobs. Eventually, I realized my passion for design and creativity outweighed my interest in engineering. So, I decided to pursue a degree in graphic design, and I've never looked back since. If you're looking for career options, check out https://www.vocationaltraininghq.com/. You can find a lot of information about jobs and their educational requirements. Good luck!

 

[NYCgrrl]

@JaydonKennedy

My granddaughter is having similar concerns; can’t decide between fine arts and mathematics. Sooner or later, you will choose or it will choose you,

 

[goofyernmost]

Oops, previous responded. Nothing to see here, move along.

 

[barkley]

finished my teaching credential program, taught for a year and realized that the lunatics were running the asylum with the district wide teaching methodology they were begining to mandate so i jumped ship into what i knew would just be a job to pay the bills while i figured out what i wanted to do. ended up seeing an ad for a dhss civil service test and thought if nothing else taking it would be a good experience-aced it and ended up hiring in and staying on.

 

[disneyseniors]

I grew up in an era where girls did not go to college, unless you were from a rich family and went to "find a rich husband". LOL. I never went to college after HS and worked as a medical secretary for years before I decided I wanted to become a nurse.
I also wanted to be a nurse because I watched a wonderful special person die from an awful disease. At that time, they wouldn't give out pain meds, so he got one morphine shot a Week!!! He was in pain all the time. It was awful watching someone you love go through that. I decided to be a hospice/home care nurse, which was my favorite area of nursing. Now we can keep patients comfortable while they are dealing with a painful situation. It wasn't available back then. I also worked as a med/surg floor nurse, ICU, and the homecare/hospice as stated. It is a wonderful profession and it was so rewarding to help those who were suffering from a serious illness. I went to college at the age of 29 and loved every minute of it

 

[LuvOrlando]

God gave me children. I got great kids but horrible parents so, as it turns out, raising kids can be a full time job for some of us who don't know what we are doing and learn as we go.

I find I am feeling a bit defiant about how the world treats SAHMs as I get older

 

[barkley]

I grew up in an era where girls did not go to college, unless you were from a rich family and went to "find a rich husband

the number of girls i graduated high school with who had the sole intent of attending college for the shortest amount of time possible in pursuit of their 'MRS degree' still boggles my mind.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How did you decide on your career?

Didn't really "decide". I've had 2 jobs in my lifetime. First one started out as a part time one during college and segued into full time. When I was tired of doing that (after 10 years), I applied for another part time job that turned out to be almost full time (30-37 hours a week) for another 14 years.

I never planned on having a career, it just worked out that way.

 

[Magical2017]

I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a child. My mother discouraged me because she said she always wanted me to be financially independent and was worried that with a small salary, I would not be able to support myself if I were single or widowed (my father died when I was 9 and my parents were older parents).

I ended up changing careers when I was 30. I went to grad school and then started teaching elementary school. I SAH for a bit and then moved to teaching at a University as a Lecturer. I have absolutely loved my career in education these past two and a half decades. I am thankful for having another career first but would not trade my choice for anything.