Career Choices and Regrets.. - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

flames85 · 03-21-2011, 04:41 PM

This is a spin-off thread from the 'save money thread', as a few guys had mentioned they are draftsmen/women. I, like Mass_nerder am an architectural tech. and I agree with everything he said. I only have 7 months experience but have a great fear that I invested allot of my own money and 2 yrs of my life in an education/career that won't allow me to grow.

I am curious as to how some of the you decided on your careers and whether you should have choosen another path?

Any suggestions as to what is in demand?

Caged Great · 03-21-2011, 04:55 PM

Personally I took two years off after high school to determine what I would like to do 20-25 years from then, and not something that I might have wanted to do at the time (psychology). Eventually I settled on interior design because I'm good at it, it's fun, and I really enjoy every minute of it.

Would I have picked another path? probably not, unless a GM job in the NHL became available and I was able to procure it, but I'm sure that everyone on here would have the same claim there.

I don't know what professions are in demand, but maybe you could think of something that you want to do and see if there is any market available for it.

Methanolic · 03-21-2011, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caged Great

I settled on interior design because I'm good at it, it's fun, and I really enjoy every minute of it.

.....Good for you. I rarely hear that when someone commenting on their "Job".

MickMcGeough · 03-21-2011, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flames85

Any suggestions as to what is in demand?

Choosing a career starting with this question is quite possibly the single biggest career mistake one can make.

How old are you? Are you married? Have you reproduced yet?

3 Justin 3 · 03-21-2011, 05:04 PM

It's cold working the corners. Should have stayed in school.

flames85 · 03-21-2011, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Choosing a career starting with this question is quite possibly the single biggest career mistake one can make.

How old are you? Are you married? Have you reproduced yet?

25, not married, no kids. Have a diploma in Engineering Drafting & Design. Trying to be proactive about my future. I am employed, but I believe my education & potential isn't being used in the slightest by my employer and get paid like a fast food employee.

I'm certain everyone has work related issues but I think this forum has some very intelligent people with some positive insight I could use.

DFO · 03-21-2011, 05:25 PM

My brother got the same diploma - he eventually moved into a drafting position with a major construction co. and is now in project management with them.

Pinner · 03-21-2011, 05:27 PM

Changing jobs/employers in the same career can make a big difference, don't be afraid to move around, especially when you're young with no Wife/Kids.

JiriHrdina · 03-21-2011, 05:28 PM

I have some regrets I suppose, specifically not going into the field I love earlier, but then I remember that the path I chose eventually led me to meet my wife....and that's something I would never change.

So in that sense its all good.

Cheesy I know.

Galakanokis · 03-21-2011, 05:39 PM

Tough question. No regrets really except moving up into management. Don't really care for that side of things and the BS that goes along with it.

I picked my schooling bu closing my eyes and picking a course. Parents said I had to go to school or else I had to get a job and pay rent. Got a job before schooled ended and every so often some one offers me a another one so I have bounced around a bit. Never really put much thought into it.

I enjoy the job to a degree and have no regrets about where I ended up. The only thing I would change is to be independently wealthy and not have to work at all. I think I would be really good at not working.

CaptainCrunch · 03-21-2011, 05:39 PM

My biggest regret was not staying in the military.

Or becoming a teacher.

Winsor_Pilates · 03-21-2011, 05:52 PM

I opted to start in an industry I wanted with lower paying "foot in the door" type position right after Uni. Very glad I went that route.
Could have found something that paid better to start, but the pay has come around now and I love what I do.
I'm sure I'll go through many reinventions within my industry, but can't see myself choosing another industry altogether.

sa226 · 03-21-2011, 05:58 PM

This might be kinda vague, but I think it is important to understand that there is a difference between finding a job that you love and turning something that you love into a job. Because at the end of the day it is just that, a job.

I am not at the point that I regret becoming a pilot because there are parts of the job that I love, but I still have to drag my ass out of bed at ungodly hours and answer to bosses that are trying to make money.

metallicat · 03-21-2011, 05:58 PM

I screwed up when I graduated high school, because I took two years off not knowing what I wanted to do. I finally settled on going to school for business, realized it wasn't for me but kept going, and then graduated and went to work. I had, and still have, a career goal in mind (not business related), but I don't know if it's attainable. If it ends up not working out, I will essentially have wasted about 12 years of going to school/working. You can say school is never a waste, but I think sometimes it is. Whatever. Anyways, I think kids in high school need to be taught how to plan their future better. Maybe I am in the minority, I don't know, but I graduated directionless and I don't think that's good.

Phanuthier · 03-21-2011, 06:00 PM

Went directly from high school to undergrad to grad school, with a few internships in between. I work in semiconductors, seems to be a good fit so far and I can't complain. Good location, work is pretty good, great atmosphere, great company, lots of mentorship and learning, money is pretty good, etc. I also haven't had to deal with or see any office politics or common complaints so far which is the best part, no passive aggressive email CC's or anything like that. I'd like to probably stay in this career and company till I get bored, then I might be interested in moving into probably financial but we'll see.

Table 5 · 03-21-2011, 06:02 PM

I don't really regret what I do, since I'm not sure I'd be good at anything else, but every one in a while I still wish I went into automotive design. I used to love sketching out my dream cars when I was a kid, and I think I could've been pretty good at it.

hkstylez · 03-21-2011, 06:08 PM

28, not married and am working at a dead end job as a Meat Cutter, have a diploma in Digital Graphics Design. Found out, that being a graphic designer was not in high demand after I had graduated and given up looking.

So, I went to my 2nd choice, and that was to become a chef. Turns out, I am a terrible Cook, but an excellent Pastry Chef, don't have the paper's for it right now, but am working to get it someday.

At my age, going back to school would be a waste of time, even if I graduate, and get my papers, I'll be starting back at square 1 and having to work my way up to the top again.

Deelow · 03-21-2011, 06:13 PM

Career>Woman has turned into a regret. There's more to life than your job. Learned that one the hard way a couple times.

WilsonFourTwo · 03-21-2011, 06:19 PM

I've done pretty well (all things considered) in tech/business, but am really happy that "Career: Season 1" is winding down. While I've had some great experiences, had I known that business was soul-sucking and generally meaningless work, I would have continued down the path of becoming an professional on-ice hockey official (dream job). Few regrets in life, but trading my shot at a dream in exchange for a few bucks is a BIG one.

As for the future question, an aging population will demand 30-40 years of health care, so any health related field would be wise (nurse, technologist, doctor). They'll also need lawyers, handymen and financial planners......

VladtheImpaler · 03-21-2011, 06:23 PM

My regret. I left a job as manager in Moscow (for a Canadian company) at 27 to go to lawschool because I thought I needed a real education (I only had a Masters in history). First of all I regret that I left the job - I should have stayed at least another year - I lived in a hotel across the hallway from my office, I spent all my free time going to theater, dating beautiful women (I had an 18 year-old girlfriend who was on the Russian junior biathlon team), and just in general had a fantastic life.
Second, I regret that I went to law school instead of MBA - I have have found law to be a fairly boring, tedious job. Luckily, it pays reasonably well, so I just look at it like the means to the things I really enjoy in life.