Career Choices and Regrets..

[flames85]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

Architectural tech, is better than what I ended up in. The work experience you can get is useful, and can be applied to a lot of different fields. Unless you absolutely hate what you do, I don't think you need to jump ship yet. Eventually you are going to hit limits in this career if you stay a draftsman.

Really for me the first 5 years weren't that bad. I was paid like crap for the first two years...like try to imagine having a 2 year diploma and making $10 an hour for the first 3 months...$12 after that, up to $13 after 6 months, stay at that rate for a year. But by the end of that year I was up over $20. At that time that was a decent wage for a worker with 2 years experience.

Problem was that I should have moved on after 5 years. I underestimated how cheap general contractors and steel fabricators are, in that they don't care if they get good work they'll go to India and get it done for nothing. I can't compete with people in India using pirated software...I mean I know they want o pay me $3 an hour like the guy in India...but good luck to me living on that. Especially since I can work at a fast food joint for 5 times that. But thats what these guys say drafting is worth now. I was always good with numbers, and had more of an interest in business than engineering. I should have been an accountant...I'd be making triple what I make in drafting. Another job I thought about out of high school was Pharmacist, but my folks weren't rich, and I didn't want to take on mountains of debt. But after working in drafting for 5 years I had enough money where I probably should have looked into it than. Today....as an old codger with a family...I'm hooped. At least I saved enough that my kids will be able to do whatever they want in school.

I know exactly how you felt. I make $15 since hire and still do now 7 months later. Frustrating considering I made $24 cutting grass last summer as a student. Question to anyone... what are the requirements for raises? do they have to give a raise after 3,6,12 months?? or is there no requirement?

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by flames85

I know exactly how you felt. I make $15 since hire and still do now 7 months later. Frustrating considering I made $24 cutting grass last summer as a student. Question to anyone... what are the requirements for raises? do they have to give a raise after 3,6,12 months?? or is there no requirement?

There is no requirment.

It's a buisiness of cheap people and introverts...if you want a raise you have to ask for it. Otherwise they'll just assume you're happy if you keep showing up to work and are happy to pay you nothing.

In the steel business right now it's dead slow, bad time to ask for a raise. But if theres activity in your office, never hurts to ask.

In 15 years I think I've had 3 performance reviews. People will pretty much go out of their way to avoid telling you how you're doing. So again, I'd advise that you make sure you're getting feedback from your employer every 6 months at the least and it's probably going to fall on you to initiate it.

Another mistake of mine is that I'm too passive dealing with employers. This time that changes, I'm going down in a blaze of glory!!

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

So you assume away reality to make your models about people work?
BA Econ here

I wish it were as easy as:


Hell I am not afraid - it's the HR people who suck.

To address the original question - I regret coming back to Canada.

What kind of work do you do?

The Sociology was more or less to satisfy my personal interests, a lot of companies say its going to be useful when it comes to a managerial position whenever i get to that point in my career. Soci alone is pretty useless when it comes to making money, Economics to me is super interesting, i love modeling and price forecasting etc.

Ideally i want to work in the energy industry doing marketing or modeling/forecasting.

[CrusaderPi]

I became a machinist because the mother of the girl I knocked up (and later married (and laterer divorced)) worked at a machine shop. I'm not a machinist anymore.

[TylerSVT]

Originally Posted by flames85

I know exactly how you felt. I make $15 since hire and still do now 7 months later. Frustrating considering I made $24 cutting grass last summer as a student. Question to anyone... what are the requirements for raises? do they have to give a raise after 3,6,12 months?? or is there no requirement?

Most junior positions have evaluations at 6 months followed by a small raise, 2 years you should get another one given your industry it might be longer.

That sucks about the wages, i would feel violated having been to school for so long, if i made 15/hr out of school i would be depressed.

[Sr. Mints]

I got a diploma in Journalism from Sait about 10 years ago, because a writer/journalist is what I always saw myself doing. The money just wasn't there, and it was very stressful trying to line up freelance work.

So I went and got a bachelor's from University of Lethbridge majoring in Political Science. My biggest regret was not going for a business or communication degree centered around marketing... which is what I am doing now at the U of C.

Funny thing is, I still don't really know what I want to do. But I think marketing might be my ticket.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by flames85

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.

The reason I ask those things is that making career choices when you're young and unattached is of course a completely different animal (and infinitely more fun) than when you're not.

I got my education and started my career as a software developer immediately after graduating high school. When I graduated high school there was a huge demand for software developers and all I wanted to do was make some real money. I was good at it but I never had a real love for it like a lot of developers did.

I'd seriously do just about anything to have my years in software development back. I came to a tough realization after doing software development for about 5 years that I really wasn't happy at my job. I was paid far more than I was probably worth and had a great boss, and should have been happy, but I just didn't get excited about doing it anymore. I tried switching jobs a couple times, thinking a change of scenery might help, but it ultimately ended up being the same story.

When you don't have a passion for what you do, it's just about impossible to truly enjoy your work and very difficult to really excel at it. Some people are naturally good at something they don't like but most people, if they're really honest with themselves, aren't putting everything they've got into it. If you aren't taking real pride in what you're doing, you aren't going to achieve any real satisfaction in doing your job.

I switched to web design at 29 years old. To a layman it might not seem like much of a jump, but it's really completely different work. I get paid something like $15K less per year and I've never been happier. I'm the type of person that needs more of a creative outlet than software development allowed. It's never been easier to get up in the morning. Putting in extra hours are easy. I'll spend entire weekends on side projects without hesitation or procrastination.

I truly love my work and it's completely transformed my life. I pity my friends that continue working jobs they don't enjoy to pay the bills in the same way that I pity my friends that chose the wrong spouse. You're going to spend a huge part of your life at work; choosing a career that you're passionate about is second only to choosing a life partner you're passionate about in terms of life decisions.

Choose a career that pays off in quality of life, not the bank.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by Kybosh

One thing I've learned is that your "ideal" position probably doesn't exist. The career that you think you want, is probably not quite what you had in mind. You don't actually know until you get your feet wet.

I kind of had this happen. All during high school and college I wanted to be an Art Director for a magazine... I thought of it as the ultimate goal. By 24, with a mix of luck, circumstance and possibly even a little talent, I found myself in that exact position at a magazine that if you told me I would be heading only 2-3 years beforehand, I would've shat my pants in excitement about. And yet, in the end it wasn't really for me. While I had a good time, after a few years I realized the magazine industry wasn't for me. Of course it didn't help that the industry itself was dying a slow death.

It's sort of like that old adage of never meeting your heros....in many ways with dream jobs, you're bound for disappointment when you get them.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by hkstylez

28, not married and am working at a dead end job as a Meat Cutter.

I'll tell you right now - the opportunities to get into retail management have never been better. And in most organizations, all you need is High School.

You can make 6 figures being a Store Manager. You can even make decent coin being a Meat Manager.

No such thing as a dead end Meat Cutter, unless you're a poor employee.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

What's the concern?
That you'll have to sell now, rent and buy back later when prices might be higher?
just curious

For me, not so much the cost when I buy since I don't see myself doing it again for a long while. Just don't want to take a bath on the property by selling now since I bought in 2007

[malcolmk14]

Great thread.

I'm 24 and just about to finish up a BA in Communications at the U of C. I have so many ideas of things I want to try as a job/career; I've thought about PR, technical writing, media relations, various industries like energy, education, pro sports, even politics.

It all becomes so much and I go back to thinking about just furthering my education. Applying to law school, applying for B.Ed, getting my M.A. At some point I think you just have to jump right in and hope what you do makes you happy enough. If it doesn't, don't be afraid to change it.

[hockeycop]

If you find a job you love, you will never "work" a day in your life.

Enough said.

[Ozy_Flame]

At 25 I got into grad school, and now at just about 28, I only have six months left. I am currently a consultant, but would like to move into the intelligence and security industry - and after chatting with some professionals in the field, I am glad I'm not married or have kids (yet).

Even at 28, I definitely do not feel too old to be switching careers. I'm still a young pup. And everyone who is a similar age should feel the same.

[Bend it like Bourgeois]

Originally Posted by malcolmk14

. At some point I think you just have to jump right in and hope what you do makes you happy enough. If it doesn't, don't be afraid to change it.

I think this is a great outlook, though not for everyone.

I'm on my 3rd 'career' and have really enjoyed all 3. Already I find myself looking for career 4. Probably next year. I'd be surprised if I don't get to 5 or 6.

There is an advantage to getting some key experience early. I wish I had known then what I know now. But I'd still have had 3 careers by now probably.

[TorqueDog]

I had all sorts of aspirations for jobs I could have done. But I gravitated to IT pretty quickly once I graduated. I'm good at it, I enjoy it, and it pays me very well. No regrets on picking the career I have. I specialise in enterprise-level unified messaging. I get to design and deploy UM projects for some of the biggest corporations in Calgary and my job is seldom boring. I'm very happy with it.

[pylon]

I regret my career choices daily. Don't get me wrong, I'm content with what I do, make great money, and bust my ass at it, but I really feel I could have done much better for myself. I sold myself short bigtime. I am not a dumb person, but have the education of one.

I can honestly say to anyone reading this that may be contemplating not going to university, or dropping out of high school. DONT DO IT. Sure you can do well without the piece of paper, but your choices are limited. You get welded to a field. Sure, I can get a job as a finance manager at pretty much any dealership in North America, and do quite well, I just don't know if it is what I want to do for 20 more years. Unfortunately, it is my only choice to make a good living at this point in time. A degree opens SO many more doors.

As a 36 year old, going back to school, completing pure math 31 physics 30, getting into the faculty of science and chasing my dream of becoming an astrophysicist, is likely impossible with the realities of a mortgage and adult responsibility. It is likely an 8 year journey at best, that is no longer realistic. I really wish sometimes, I did something that gave back, and sometimes I feel all we do in my industry is take. I couldn't even get a day off to go get my GED, after I paid for the test, and booked it. I was too scared to let anyone at work know, and didn't have the balls to just say I am going no matter what. Sold my self short again, so my employer wasn't put out. Sometimes the people I work for are very narrow minded, and that definitely bugs me. Heaven forbid we lost 500 bucks on a deal because I wasn't there, or one of my partners felt over worked for a few hours. The only future anyone cares about is how many cars are we getting next week, or how big is my next commision.... that aspect drives me nuts. No vision.

I get ridiculed sometimes by my peers for wanting to take on dumb little causes. I am doing the Enbridge cancer ride this year, and nobody seems to give a sh1t and just laugh at me or brush me off when I try and come up with or suggest fundraising ideas. Or I try and discuss world events with people I work with, and unless it involves making money, sports gambling, cars, pop culture or babes.... nobody seems to give a crap. Half the people I work with don't even know what's going on in Libya.

That it why I spend so much time here. A ton of the posters here are the types of people I wish I had as friends and colleagues. Unfortunatley, I work so much, I no longer have time for friends, and relationships are disfunctional at best. Even though a ton of the topics are beyond my scope of knowledge, it makes me feel like I actually know some truly intelligent and educated people by even having a forum to discuss this stuff on an informed level.

Bottom line is this. Lack of education, leads to working with uneducated people. Street smarts DOES NOT = book smarts. 5 years ago, I would have told you different, as all that mattered was money, and it was likely a defense mechanism statement to justify my failure at persuing an education. Now I can honestly say, you need to do everything in your power to expand your horizons, or you will feel trapped with no horizon in sight.

[lucky1]

I pulled wrench as a licensed auto mechanic for 10 years, quit cold turkey one day and went to SAIT to take the 2 year Power Engineering Tech course.....best decision of my life. Now, I get to work all over the world, experience different cultures, make some good $$$.....nightshift is a downer when you have to work it, other than that no complaints...I really enjoy my current job!

anyone thinking about 'what next', Power Engineers are in very high demand in Alberta right now, and have been rated by companies in the top 10 ranking of 'people to retain' due to the forecasted shortage because of all the old farts retiring in the next 5-10 years.
Sure, you have to work in some pretty crappy places when you first start out (Fort McMurray anyone), but your bank account will thank you :-)

[Pinner]

Originally Posted by pylon

I regret my career choices daily.

Now I can honestly say, you need to do everything in your power to expand your horizons, or you will feel trapped with no horizon in sight.

Take your own advice Pylon

From what I know of you, you're the self motivated type that could get through an online course.

[Rathji]

Originally Posted by pylon

I regret my career choices daily. Don't get me wrong, I'm content with what I do, make great money, and bust my ass at it, but I really feel I could have done much better for myself. I sold myself short bigtime. I am not a dumb person, but have the education of one.

I can honestly say to anyone reading this that may be contemplating not going to university, or dropping out of high school. DONT DO IT. Sure you can do well without the piece of paper, but your choices are limited.

This.

I made a choice to go to work rather than go to school, because I was scared of debt. 5 years later I was stuck in the same job with no marketable skills outside my industry, with a good chunk of debt.

Took me 5 years to claw my way into a position where I could go back to school again and I went back to school at UofC at age 28. I met the woman of my dreams a year later, and that 4 year university degree has turned into 8 due to juggling finances and 2 kids.

Now, I am working in a junior position, that is flexible enough to let me finish my degree, in a field I love so much I don't even consider it work, with 4 classes before I get my degree, and I will be 36 years old. Only then will I start to earn some real money.

Go to school now, even if you are not sure about what you want to do, take lots of electives your first year and you will figure it out.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by pylon

Bottom line is this. Lack of education, leads to working with uneducated people. Street smarts DOES NOT = book smarts. 5 years ago, I would have told you different, as all that mattered was money, and it was likely a defense mechanism statement to justify my failure at persuing an education.

Nicely put. It's a realization that some (most?) of us come to after about 10 or 15 years of making money.

Just to be clear though - 36 is not too old to pursue a diploma or degree. You can choose not too, but the option is entirely available and achievable.