Career Choices and Regrets..

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by bradster57

Sorry came to the thread late. One of my pet peeves as a professional accountant is the perception that all accountants are good at tax. Not true! Yes, there are tax accountants, but the majority of us in industry don't know the first thing about tax! I spend most of my time doing reporting.

It also works to tell your friends this so they quit asking you to do their taxes!

Might be because GreenLatern is in Sask that she knows tax. I know most smaller firms in Alberta spend a lot of time doing tax, compilations and NTRs.

Unless you're in a tax role at a Big4/Industry you'll probably touch tax once, maybe twice a year when you're being bugged about provisions.

People always think I'm busy right now because of taxes.....sure, I probably know more about taxes than most people, but not enough that I'm willing to be responsible for other peoples!

[albertGQ]

I'm a mortgage underwriter and I have definately approved mortgages for doctors who have a TDSR of over 60%.
Mitigating factor? They're doctors.

[Scoopdogg]

When I finished high school I spent a few years messing around and partying before I decided to do anything. I knew that I didn't want to go to University and take 4-5 years to get a degree so I decided on taking the Computer Technology program at SAIT.

It was probably the best decision for me because it didn't have a 4-5 year commitment and it didn't cost as much as University. I was able to get work right away as a Programmer and now 9 years later I'm still developing but at a Senior Level with good pay and benefits.

I don't know why people knock Software Developers or Systems Analysts as its always consistently rated as one of the best jobs in the world. You can work in any city and in any industry with good pay and usually you don't get worked to death.

[Sylvanfan]

In reading this thread, it appears that the only people who hate our lives...are the draftsman. Now to figure out what to do for my next career.

[fredr123]

I went straight from high school to university. I finished my undergraduate degree in four years and went straight into law school. During school I worked part-time during the year and full-time over the summer. By the time third year law school came around, I was putting in 30 hours at my job while at school to pay the bills.

On the one hand, I wish I would have took some time to relax or travel or something. It's pretty hard now to find the time to do that now what with wife and kids and all the other trappings of adulthood that I've piled upon myself. On the other hand, I'm happy to have had a relatively early start on my career and family.

My biggest regret with my career is in not fully understanding what a lawyer does. There is more to the profession than I really knew going in and, had I known then what I know now, I definitely would have selected different courses and approached my summer jobs differently. I also would have spent more time learning about running a business and working on networking skills. That stuff would be friggin' useful right about now.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by flamesfever

I attended university in the late 50's early 60's, and graduated in Honours Geology...so I guess that puts me in your parent's generation. When I enrolled, only 3 % of the population attended university, and my high school friends could land a job in a local factory, earn a decent living, raise a family, buy a house and retire with a decent pension. However, as you know, a large number of those opportunities are long gone.

I commend you for following your students' careers after graduation. Do you think the results suggest that more effort should be put into matching the supply of computer scientists with the demand?

As for the other, perhaps you misunderstood what I was driving at. I said, or meant to say, that I have seen cases, where a delay in taking post secondary education, for reasons stated which may cause the problems outlined, which in turn may hinder one's ability to go on to either technical school or university at a later date. I was also trying to make the point that the younger a person pursues his / her higher education, the better...for reasons of continuity, natural energy, resilience and age at which one peaks in creativity.

Perhaps I was remiss in stating that technical school and university is not for everyone, and that there are many honorable jobs for those who do not attend. However, in my experience, many of these jobs, in the private sector, do not take full advantage of a person's natural talents and abilities, and don't pay adequately to allow a decent living.

just my opinion

I noticed my wording implied I was teaching computer science students but I meant I was part of that class, not teaching it. I'm 31 years old.

I think you're absolutely right that the number of graduating students in that area exceeded the demand, which undoubtedly has resulted in at least some of them remaining unemployed in the area they're educated in. But that's part of my point. Their degrees, with respect to education, have done them no good at all. The work ethic required to graduate university surely has, but university is not the only (or best) place to get that kind of experience.

The crux of my argument is this: times have changed in many ways. I believe my parents' generation was more driven than mine for a variety of reasons. They were raised by a generation of much harder-working individuals where post-secondary education was a true privilege. They were being hired by people who put a lot of stock in a degree; quality non-formal education was much harder to come by. They became parents earlier and focused on creating stable homes for their families.

What my generation lacks is that sense of direction and purpose. We grew up being spoonfed. We were raised to believe we can all be rock stars and CEOs. But worse than all that is our sense of entitlement. We think all this stuff is just going to come to us.

What happens to us when we enter the workforce is the rapid positive-feedback cycle we've lived in our entire lives disappears. We bask in the afterglow of our achievements for awhile, maybe even a few years, but many lose their sense of direction after that. There's little incentive inherent in our lives to excel at what we're doing. When our parents were getting married and preparing to start a family, we've got years of nobody to think about but ourselves. Without purpose we become complacent.

This is the point at which it's more imperative than ever to love your job. The daily routine becomes tedious and I'm willing to bet that of the many posters in this thread that have switched jobs, the change often happened somewhere around this point.

This is why I think you shouldn't go to university until you've figured out what it is you'd like to do. Too many people I know (myself included) don't figure it out until well into their twenties, if at all. Making the switch at 28 is much harder than making it at 20. If you're passionate about something at 18 - go for it. If you aren't sure, take some time for yourself and do it right the first time.

[Mr.Coffee]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

This is why I think you shouldn't go to university until you've figured out what it is you'd like to do. Too many people I know (myself included) don't figure it out until well into their twenties, if at all. Making the switch at 28 is much harder than making it at 20. If you're passionate about something at 18 - go for it. If you aren't sure, take some time for yourself and do it right the first time.

But university can help you decide what it is that you want to do, so I don't think it's a black and white thing or only one way to skin a cat.

I think if you are struggling deciding what you want to do, you need to pull the trigger and make a bloody decision.

So many people now just sit around waffling and "not knowing". Shut up, go do something. Give it your all, stop introspecting so much because it is preventing you from doing something and finding that purpose you long for.

And work hard.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

I'll assume that when you say worst, that you're exaggerating, because the worst advice I've heard people give is to go to LA and try their hand at acting while waiting tables in TGI Fridays until they are 40+ with no other options beyond waiting tables.

That's fair. But I do believe people should take a shot at their dreams. I think always wondering if you could have been something more can breed regret and resentment later in life. But yeah, you've got to get that sorted before middle age.

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

Traveling, exploring your interests, dedicating yourself to something you love is generally something most kids out of high school are not mentally and emotionally prepared to do.

They're not prepared enough to explore their interests, but they're prepared enough to choose a career they'll spend the next 40 years of their life doing?

Originally Posted by ma-skis.com

Besides, I don't know about you but 18-21 (assuming kids go to university right away) should not be prime years, as far as i'm concerned your prime years should be 25-55 when you're living the bulk of your life the way you want to. You might as well say that high school was when you peaked.

I doubt many would consider a 50+ year old man to be in his prime. There's an assload of fun to be had at 18-21 years old. All I'm saying is that if you're going to miss out on some of that by studying, make sure you're studying to do something you really like doing.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by Mr.Coffee

But university can help you decide what it is that you want to do, so I don't think it's a black and white thing or only one way to skin a cat.

I think if you are struggling deciding what you want to do, you need to pull the trigger and make a bloody decision.

So many people now just sit around waffling and "not knowing". Shut up, go do something. Give it your all, stop introspecting so much because it is preventing you from doing something and finding that purpose you long for.

And work hard.

Absolutely. I discovered some of the things I'm most interested in today through electives in university. But it's an expensive and time-consuming way to figure yourself out.

"Not knowing" can't always be helped, but sitting around waffling can. I've never advocated waiting around for a purpose to land in your lap. If you find it while in university, great (though I didn't, and don't know many who have, at least on their first go-around). I'm arguing against the value of an arbitrary degree, not the university experience itself.

[Young-Sneezy]

Originally Posted by MickMcGeough

Absolutely. I discovered some of the things I'm most interested in today through electives in university. But it's an expensive and time-consuming way to figure yourself out.

"Not knowing" can't always be helped, but sitting around waffling can. I've never advocated waiting around for a purpose to land in your lap. If you find it while in university, great (though I didn't, and don't know many who have, at least on their first go-around). I'm arguing against the value of an arbitrary degree, not the university experience itself.

definitely agree...oh geology, my dark mistress...

[Phanuthier]

nm

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by bradster57

Sorry came to the thread late. One of my pet peeves as a professional accountant is the perception that all accountants are good at tax. Not true! Yes, there are tax accountants, but the majority of us in industry don't know the first thing about tax! I spend most of my time doing reporting.

It also works to tell your friends this so they quit asking you to do their taxes!

My parents are like that. They think just because I'm an accountant, I know tax. So I tell them, since they have a Chinese restaurant, does that mean they can cook French food? They're cooks afterall.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

Yeah, I think its a worthwhile read as there are good ideas, but there are a lot of dangorous ideas. A few other books I've gone through are "A random walk down wall street" by Burton Makiel (its kind of dry, but very good and some witty humor) and "The Warren Buffet way" ... both are a little more oriented in the way of investing and stocks, but useful.

(The really "thick" book on investing is Ben Grahams book, but thats full blown out investing and numbers.)

/peter12 voice

I read RDPD... but read other books to balance it out. Its not a bad start, but a horrible base to go by. RDPD is dangorous... its over-enthusiasm is good to get you thinking about money beyond conventional means, but its very dangorous.

Work, and education, should be parts that contribute to your overall self and how you grow as a person to enjoy a good life. I think being educated does help you enjoy a better life (besides money)... and when it comes to money, whats the point in being a millionair if you have nothing to spend it on?

Thanks. I agree there is no "bible" on the best way to live your life. I dont take any book as gospel, but try to take the good ideas and try to apply them to my life. It struck a chord with me as I am very educated but don't feel the benefits are worth the efforts, at least to this point. However, I would probably feel different if I had stopped at one degree...or even two.

[fundmark19]

End of the day hard work and dedication will get you anywhere you want to go. If you have a degree it certainly may make that process easier and open some more doors but if you work hard people will respect you and give you the oppertunities you are looking for.

[Ducay]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

End of the day hard work and dedication will get you anywhere you want to go. If you have a degree it certainly may make that process easier and open some more doors but if you work hard people will respect you and give you the oppertunities you are looking for.

Thanks Grandpa......too bad the real world isn't as idyllic as you think it may be. I know plenty of great people who bust their butts only to end up in the ditches

[fundmark19]

Confusing post edit

If you are willing to work for it and actually work for it you will be fine no matter what circumstance you are put in. There are plenty of short term/part time jobs to help you out if you are layed off and if you don't make enough money in your "career" you can always add a part time job to supplement your income.

At the end of the day if you work hard you will be fine! Sure it may take some sacrafice but you will be fine!

[SeoulFire]

Reading this thread is interesting and it confirmed my belief that I want to change but I have no idea how to do so.

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by fundmark19

Confusing post edit

If you are willing to work for it and actually work for it you will be fine no matter what circumstance you are put in. There are plenty of short term/part time jobs to help you out if you are layed off and if you don't make enough money in your "career" you can always add a part time job to supplement your income.

At the end of the day if you work hard you will be fine! Sure it may take some sacrafice but you will be fine!

My father in law dropped out of junior high and ran away from home. He's been doing mostly manual labour and working two or three jobs at a time for the majority of his life.

He's now in a position with Alberta Health Services where all his hard work has finally paid off. He's managing a decent-sized department right now and is well-respected in his field. He's earning a metric butt load of money and takes half the year off for holidays. He had a hard life but hings worked out well for him through sheer determination and sticktoitavness. I don't know anyone who works harder than he does.

Others slightly below him or at his level are much more educated than he is and have obtained their position with far less effort than he has. Not having a good education can be mitigated by busting your ass. Having the right credentials can make it a lot easier to get where you're going though.

[bomber317]

My 2 biggest regrets are

1 - Not negotiating my salary on my first job offer out of University.
2 - Not negotiating my salary when I changed companies 4 years later

3rd time is the charm though, won't mess that up on the 3rd chance.

Other than that, I love my job, challenging and different every day. There are good days and bad days like every job.

I did a 4 degree in BSc. but my current job is only remotely related to my degree. In fact, most of my peers that I've worked with do not have degrees.

I do find that having a degree made a difference as University changed my thought process and decision making.

[MickMcGeough]

Originally Posted by SeoulFire

Reading this thread is interesting and it confirmed my belief that I want to change but I have no idea how to do so.

What's your story?

Do you have kids?