Careers

[SirSnookalot]

gr8outdoorz, 

nothing beats working for the betterment of mankind...........

[retiredbosn]

I went into the Coast Guard straight out of high school, I loved it. This was the 80's the start of the drug wars, did tactical law enforcement for a while, then search and rescue for a while. Ended up breaking my back and back to civilian life. Then it was residential construction management, I had plenty of supervisory skills from the CG, which allowed the opportunity. Then I went to work for the federal prison system, where I reinjured my back, and I have been retired since 2002. Find what u love and do that, or bounce around like I did. FWIW bouncing around doesn't pay well, but it does pay better than retirement.

[MCS]

Business Systems Architect for a leading IT consultant firm.  I did not go to college for this.  I love it. Try a few things, see what you like.  You never know.  Before this, I imported tropical fish, rare mammals, and reptiles for the pet industry.  Before that, I was a rock star.

 

What a nice way of putting smuggler, JFranco was the dude with a Gaboon viper taped to his leg. You don't wanna know how he got the goldfish back here, he showed Steve-O a thing or two. LOL j/k Seriously though I want thank you for the pythons in the everglades and lionfish in the atlantic...LMAO

 

I am on a roll today. I am just giving you a hard time please I know you didn't do anything illegal or harmful. But it did set yourself up for some good jokes.

 

I am a Sr. Civil Designer for a construction company in their engineering department. I create construction documents(used to be know as blue prints), design & model terrain, site grading, roads and underground piping in 3D. Making sure $h1t flows down hill and your back yard dosent flood. Highlights include collaberating with architects, structural, electrical and mechanical engineers on the destruction of our earth, turning pervious to impervious is my speciality...progress yeah that is what it is called. LOL

[gr8outdoorz]

gr8outdoorz, 

nothing beats working for the betterment of mankind...........

 

SirSnookalot,

You would not believe the job satisfaction I get on a daily basis! These kids teach me life lessons almost every day. To see them, with everything they are going through, and how they accept it and focus solely on getting better still amazes me. It keeps my life in perspective!

[Catt]

Best I can tell you is to have more than one career path!

I'm a retired master carpenter, certified auto mechanic, licensed A&P machanic, and certified manufacturing engineer.

If I were not retired I could go any where in the world and find a job.

Southwest Louisiana & Southest Texas is in desperate need of all construction craftsman. This area is in the process of building 5 new refineries of various types and 1 Vegas size Casino.

[jbsoonerfan]

I graduated high school in 1998 and I didn't really know what I wanted to do. Instead of being one of those people who go to college for the heck of it, I went to work. Worked construction for a year and then went into factory work for a year. At that point, I decided I wanted to get my degree. It was then that I had to decide in what field. My Uncle is a very successful CPA and was leading me into that direction. I spent one semester at the University of Oklahoma and decided that Accounting wasn't going to be for me (I'm not an office kind of guy) I have been an avid sports fan my entire life and always enjoyed helping with kids programs when I was in high school. Not only that, but many of my Male teachers and Coaches were some of my biggest role models when I was in school. I then decided to transfer to East Central University which is only 15 miles from my hometown (and happens to have one of the top education programs in OK) to pursue my degree in Education. I worked a full time job, bought my first house in 2001, got married in 2005, had my Son in 2005 (all while attending school) and I graduated in 2005 with a degree in Education. I was hired in 2005 at the very same school where I received my entire K-12 education. I am currently state certified in HPER, Elementary Education, US History, Government, Economics, Oklahoma History and Middle School World History. I coach 6th, 7th, 8th, JH and HS girls basketball and JH baseball. I LOVE my job. I wake up every morning hoping and praying that I can make a positive impact on the life of at least one child that day. My goal is to have a positive impact on each and every student that I interact with, but sometimes that isn't a reality. I teach in a school system with a free and reduced lunch rate of about 70%. For some of these kids, I am the only "father figure" they have (aside from the random BF that their Mom may have for the week) Most people think teachers work 8 -3 and get 3 months off during the Summer. I can tell you that from Oct. 1 till the middle of April I average about 85 - 90 hours a week. This is for about $38,000 a year. There is so much pressure being placed on teachers these days with the way things are being done with CCSS and TLE's that it is becoming much harder than it was even just 8 years ago. The teaching field is something you must do because you love to do it. I have seen teachers come and go because they quickly found out that the money isn't always great and the job is tough. I would not discourage you from looking into it, but make sure it's something you want to do.

[Basseditor]

Chances are your career will evolve. In high school I liked reading fishing magazines and thought that's what I want to do. Become a writer. I was better at math, in fact English was my worst subject. But I could dream. Went to college and started in math but because English was my weakest subject, changed to English. Part way through I considered law school next. But didn't like the extra year of school so went into MBA. DIdn't care for it. Dropped out (big mistake). Got job part time at a fishing magazine. Loved it but no money.

Worked in outdoor industry for next 20 years. Guide, tv show host, sold tackle in store then distributor. Made my way into finance field by doing leases. Made some money. Bought a boat. Helped dealer sell 3 more boats and went to work full time selling boats.

But I liked outdoors better. Worked at selling boats for nearly 10 years and did ok. But given chance to start fishing magazine. I loved it. Was offered job at a state wildlife agency and that was good for 6 years. Took job with my current magazine. It is the best magazine job in the outdoors. I am very happy and good at it. Got a Masters in Communications along the way.

Just keep studying and working and leap when new opportunity comes. Regret turning down one job in real estate. I might have been rich. I still think of one more leap to real estate.

[SirSnookalot]

SirSnookalot,

You would not believe the job satisfaction I get on a daily basis! These kids teach me life lessons almost every day. To see them, with everything they are going through, and how they accept it and focus solely on getting better still amazes me. It keeps my life in perspective!

Many people say they would do the same thing over again, I would not.  I went to Univ of Mich both under grad and profession school, good background but I wasn't focused at the time.  Tried a few things in a totally different path and eventually that led me into the business world.  A bit later in life my core values surfaced, I was too entrenched to leave what I was doing.  Looking back I know exactly what I should have done, and I regret it and I probably would not have ever retired from it.

[Templeton]

Homie assuming you are in Alabama. Judging by your fishing lake and creek. If you want to become an electrician. I can call around to some people and help ya find something.

Like the others said. Your young you can bounce around if ya want.

Might just take you up on that offer. Anywhere in particular I should call first?

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Your local IBEW hall if you wanna go that route. Some love the union. Some dont. I know a couple industrial contractors I can get you the contact info for. I believe Marathon and M&A are both putting on helpers definitely worth calling them. Ill hit you up with the contact info for the industrial companies, and a few other ones.