|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/19/2008 7:23:26 PM
|
|
|
Scatterbrain
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/19/2008
Status: offline
|
Hello everyone,
Normally I'd like to introduce myself in a more positive fashion, but the truth is I've been feeling very down with life as of late, and I'm not sure where to go from here. I was hoping I might find some words of wisdom or encouragement from other Christians on these forums.
To be specific... I'm not sure what to do for a career, let alone the rest of my life. I'll be 25 in a month and I feel like I'm running out of time to find a career and get my life on track before I'm 30. I know God has some purpose for me down here, and I feel like I've been praying for the longest time for him to lead me in some direction, any direction, but it seems I haven't gone very far. Or perhaps I just need to be more patient.
I was working in a helpdesk position at a background screening company in Sacramento while attending a technology school nearby (I was trying for my MCSE). About five months ago, my wife and I were both laid off from the same company. About six months before that I got fed up with the inept instructors I was dealing with and quit the school. I figured IT was a pretty stable career field, and in the beginning I had all the motivation and drive in the world to become a network engineer. I didn't love it, but I figured it was something I would be good at since I have a knack for technology.
I got my A+ Certification, landed the job in helpdesk, and things were going ok for a while. Once school started going south and I found myself pigeon-holed into doing boring website tweaking (trust me, it was very boring) and not learning anything new, I started wondering about my career path.
After my wife and I got laid off, I felt completely lost. The economy took its toll on our company and a lot of people left. We were both on unemployment for a few months, I eventually landed a temporary testing job (its boring and repetitive, but I can't complain about the pay, and its very easy), and my wife has been looking ever since. My job has stretched out from one month to five (and counting it appears), and that's a huge blessing considering our situation, but it could just end at anytime.
During my time at this job, I've been blessed with a lot of downtime to do some soul searching as well as look for other possible job and career prospects. I've looked into quite a few different things ranging from the practical to the outlandish:
Law Enforcement, Nursing, Studio Engineer, Programming, Web Design, Network Engineer, Bartending, Pilot, Case Worker, Game Tester, Psychology, Writing, Guitar Center salesman...
I mean, I'm really shooting in the dark here. I've taken an $80 extensive personal evaulation exam (Crown Ministries I think?), which helped me to an extent... but it didn't really tell me anything new.
My friends tell me that making one's dreams into a profession is near impossible, and that its better for your income and state of mind to find the the career that is the lesser of two evils, that allows you to do the things you want to do. They say this now, but how will they feel 30 years down the road? Did they get to do the things they want to do, or were they chained to a desk the whole time?
I wake up every day feeling bored, tired, and listless. I look into other college programs, but nothing is leaping out at me. The job market here is horrible, and even with my experience in helpdesk I can't seem to find another job anywhere.
What about you? Did you find the career that is right for you? How did you get there? Any insight, thoughts, suggestions, comments, criticisms etc.. would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you for reading, God bless.
-- Scatterbrained, Sacramento CA.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/19/2008 7:55:27 PM
|
|
|
rgod
Posts: 1475
Joined: 4/25/2005
Status: offline
|
You don't sound scatterbrained to me. You've revealed some things in your post.
1. You have a knack for technology. You seem to like it - so it sounds like you are in the right general area.
2. You tried the web site tweaking and you didn't like it. You said it was boring and repetitive. So ... you know that you are going to be a person that doesn't like too much routine - at least in the problems that you face from day to day.
3. You quit the technology school, not because you didn't like what you were studying, but because of the instructors.
4. You don't like testing (neither do I) - why? Because it is boring and repetitive. So again, you are going to need to do something that is going to provide new problems to solve or new ways of doing things.
5. There are people who are - to use Barbara Sher's metaphor - "scanners" (like me) who like to look into lots of different things and who have lots of different interests. Then there are people who are "divers" who basically like the same areas. You might be diver - a person who wants to dig into something and settle into it (that seems to be your heart's desire). Plus your jobs have all been in the same career field.
6. Your jobs that you looked at contain patterns. Most of them have some sort of "problem-solving" quality (Law Enforcement, Nursing, Web Design, Network Engineer, Programming, Case Worker, Game Tester, Psychology) or some sort of "people" element (Nursing, Law Enforcement, Bartending, Case Worker, Psychology, Guitar Center salesman). This would be consistent with your background as a help desk person (helping people directly while solving problems).
7. You mentioned in particular, being "chained to a desk" as part of a "horrifying 30 year future." I think this is significant - if I were to paint a picture of a horrible future, I wouldn't put that in my description. (But "repetitive and not creative" would be).
I wouldn't spend a lot of time listening to your friends about whether you can follow your dream or not. Instead, follow God - he will let you know in which direction to go. I'm slowly working towards doing what God has for me to do. I let go of my IT career job with all of its benefits and salary. I'm in the middle part of transitioning and some things are very hard. But I feel like I'm closer to where I'm going and that is awesome! Mostly, I just started paying attention to what where the things I naturally liked to do and the things I liked doing. Have you ever read the appendix to "What Color Is Your Parachute?" Richard Bolles wrote one called "Your Mission In Life" which is written from a Christian perspective. The main thing he said is that your calling is written in your members. It is in the thing that you like to do - that you just sort of do naturally. I like to sing and to write. I like to talk with people and listen to them and encourage them. This is natural to me, like breathing. I like lots of different things and am curious about a lot of different things. I like to think through problems and patterns. I am quiet for the most part, and I tend to relate people best one on one. I am a writer. I have always been a writer. I am a singer. I have always been a singer. It is part of who I am.
So, perhaps you can start looking at that too. Maybe talk with your wife or even ask someone who knows you if you are having trouble. Or just pay attention to what you are interested in. Here's a couple of exercises - what have you bookmarked in your web browser? What are your favorite tv shows? Why? I love documentaries because I can learn something new. When you think about taking classes for fun, what do you think about taking? Is there something that God has put in your heart? Chances are, you know what it is that you are to do ... deep down inside. Are you called to teach technology? Are you good at explaining things to people? Good at working with people? What is it that you liked about help desk? Disliked? What didn't you like about the network engineering job? What do you hate about the web job? Why did you reject the who list of jobs that you mentioned? What attracted you to them in the first place. If you ask yourself these questions and be prayerful about it, you'll start to see a pattern. What are the things that people compliment you on, but that to you seem effortless? I like to encourage people. I never have to think about it, I just do it. I never have to think about the notes that I'm singing. I just open my mouth and the right notes come out (most of the time). Dancing however, is another issue. I liked web stuff because it was artistic. But it was boring to me because I wasn't solving new problems that I felt were substantial.
It might take you making lots of baby steps to get to where you need to be. My hunch is that if you follow your interests, while also keeping in mind that you need to do what is needed to provide for your family, you will be ok - more likely than not you'll be following God. A lot of people end up working dual tracks - they are at a job that makes them the money that they need, but at the same time, they are following their interests on the side. Then, at some point, God prompts them to make a change. I know a guy that did this - at 40-something, he left his job to become an full-time actor - with family in tow. But it was in God's timing and in God's way. Today he is a working actor, a working performer - has done films, shows etc. So, don't despise the days of small beginnings. And don't stress too much about 30. There is life after that  . It sounds to me like you are probably in the right ball park - so concentrate on those things that give you joy, that are helpful, that seem effortless to you - where you gifts and talents lie. It is more than the job field, it is also what you do. Some are good at getting lots of information - others are good at treating everyone fairly - others are good at telling stories. Each of these things will help you to do the job that you are called to do well. (Marcus Buckingham wrote a couple of good books about this "Now, Discover Your Strengths" is a good one and you can find it in the library). Also, don't overlook your spiritual gifts either - God may use them as well. I liked Barbara Sher's "I can do anything if only I knew what it was" as a nice general purpose book (doesn't address spiritual gifts though). There is this other book that does address spiritual gifts that I found to be extremely helpful - if I can find it in my books, I'll share it with you. It was the only book that I read that addressed everything - spiritual gifts and natural gifts. I also found "Why You Can't Be Anything You Want to Be" to be pretty enlightening. It flies in the face of what we are told as westerners - that we can just pick what we want to do (no we can't)! God has designed us to do what He wants us to do. Anything else will leave you stressed, bored, and listless.
In any event, as you pray, God will definitely lead you in the direction you are to go. Your listlessness and boredom are good in a sense, because it is driving you to look deeper - not just for a job that pays money (been there and done that - don't want to do it again), but for a job that is in the middle of God's purpose for your life.
Rgod
< Message edited by rgod -- 9/19/2008 8:04:01 PM >
_____________________________
Please take my news poll: http://forums.crosswalk.com/Current+Events/m_3896304/mpage_1/tm.htm#3897243
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/19/2008 8:24:48 PM
|
|
|
crankius
Posts: 4504
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Are you willing to relocate?
_____________________________
Do not be overly righteous, Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
Ecclesiastes 7:16
SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/19/2008 9:20:14 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 5999
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
Scatterbrain,
Tell me the things in life about which you are passionate.
_____________________________
"Once again....drum roll please! Manda is right"
doinkdom, October 2008
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/21/2008 11:20:08 PM
|
|
|
semperfidelis
Posts: 372
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Let me think on that.
Status: offline
|
Keep a couple things in mind at all times:
1.) EVERY job is going to have its boring times. No job is perfect. Boring times can last as long as several months, or longer. Sometimes it's because of us.
2.) EVERY school and program and class is going to have incompetent, inept, and/or mean teachers.
Be careful about just going after what you're passionate about. Passions grow and die. Jobs can come and go, but if you want a career with a company, it means slogging it out in the hard times. I'd highly suggest you go back and finish your MCSE. You have knack for technical stuff, so go get it. No matter how much we think we know more, our job in school is to learn from them even when they seem wrong. Our bosses in our jobs are going to make decisions that we disagree with and they will seem incompetent at times. Our job is to obey them and do our best.
If any of this sounds too harsh, law enforcement is not for you. By the way, despite my username, I'm not in the armed forces, I'm just a 26 y/o programmer now working in QA who fought through 6 HARD years of university who has been asked this question several times -- how do I find a job or a career? As adults it is our job to decide if we are young enough to risk changing jobs a few times to find what we want, or slogging it out and trying to have a resume that shows a level of commitment.
Speaking of boring and QA.... you don't want to be a game tester. You'll get bored. I have friends who have or currently are doing game testing.
quote:
They say this now, but how will they feel 30 years down the road? Did they get to do the things they want to do, or were they chained to a desk the whole time?
<tongue in cheek> Perhaps a little too dramatic? </tongue>
quote:
I wake up every day feeling bored, tired, and listless. I look into other college programs, but nothing is leaping out at me. The job market here is horrible, and even with my experience in helpdesk I can't seem to find another job anywhere.
I hate to say it, but helpdesk jobs generally don't pay well, with the exception of the company I work for. I'd suggest the company I work for, except that we aren't hiring right now. You wouldn't be bored here, you'd probably be overworked.
The job market is only bad if you aren't willing to expand your box, promote yourself, and get something different -- possibly less pay or more pay. Sell yourself and ignore difficulties unless it's just something too "it ain't gonna' happen."
_____________________________
The man in the arena....
If I rise and succeed, it's because His hand has lifted me.
I may not have 3 greek letters but I have 2 latin words: SEMPER FIDELIS (no, I'm not a marine, but we like the same things)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/22/2008 1:07:25 PM
|
|
|
Scatterbrain
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/19/2008
Status: offline
|
Rgod,
Thank you very much for your informative response. I think in turn you've revealed some things to me that I hadn't quite thought of before... It appears you've had some change of course throughout your life as well (such as moving on from IT to something else).
I never really considered the things I do naturally. I know there are things that I do day in and day out that people know me for... but not once do I ever think about them being my calling, or what I was "designed" to do. I really need to think about that further... maybe that's just what God has me down here to do.
I'm going to take note of all the points you've made (as well as the books you've mentioned, they sound like good reads), and I'm really going to work around those to hopefully get a better idea of what it is deep down that I feel called to do.
Thank you for taking the time to post such an informative response. I greatly appreciate your thoughts and input. =)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/22/2008 1:18:42 PM
|
|
|
Scatterbrain
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/19/2008
Status: offline
|
Crankius,
I consider the west coast to be more or less my "home". My wife and I have built some very good friendships here in central california with our church family (and both of our immediate families are here as well), but if for whatever reason God wanted to put me somewhere else in the world, I would go.
As far as relocating in general, I'd really like to stick to the west coast if I could (California, Oregon, Washington).
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/22/2008 1:57:10 PM
|
|
|
Scatterbrain
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/19/2008
Status: offline
|
Manda,
I guess you could say my "passions" include music and poetry (writing). In a close second would be film and art (even though I can't draw to save my life, I appreciate it). In a distant third would be history (to an extent), but these are all things I feel affect me deeper than the rest, some things I like to pursue in my spare time.
I have a pretty broad range of interests (mild and involved, too many to list ;) )
However, I've been told before that its a good idea to make your passions and your profession separate, otherwise you'll wind up hating both. Perhaps it would be better to find some elements to a passion or interest that you could apply in the real world?
Perhaps taking a step back and re-assessing what really motivates oneself would be smart thing to do?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/22/2008 2:29:38 PM
|
|
|
Scatterbrain
Posts: 5
Joined: 9/19/2008
Status: offline
|
SemperFidelis,
Thanks for the words of wisdom on pursuing passions and a career. True, I feel certain passions die and rekindle from time to time. I guess that would be a strong indicator when considering a particular career field. I'm sure all professions have their low points, my big concern is somehow getting into a field that is just one big lull. I really don't want to feel immensely bored or aimless for my entire career.
Who knows... If I can find the right instructor or learning method maybe I will go back and get my MCSE... or maybe try for the CCNA? I'm still not 100% certain IT is where I want/need to be, my experience in the field hasn't been particularly long or rewarding. Perhaps if I gave it another serious try and somehow found a reason to get excited about it again.
Thanks again for your thoughts and comments! =)
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/22/2008 9:54:54 PM
|
|
|
stimulus
Posts: 180
Joined: 6/4/2005
Status: offline
|
Scatterbrain,
I've got a really great idea for you - combine your aptitude for the technical with your love for writing and be a... (drum roll, please)... technical writer!
Ok, you probably don't think that sounds much better than helpdesk guy. But the career is much broader than you might think. It lets you combine your writing, design, and technical skills as you create documents that meet an organization's need. Some of those documents are printed publications, but increasingly, much technical writing is done for the Web and electronic Help systems.
When I read your original question, how did you find your career, I immediately thought about my own path to a degree in tech writing and where I am now. It's not where I expected to be 10 years ago. In high school, I went to a boarding school for students who excelled in math and science; in college, I pursued an electrical engineering degree. Somewhere along the way, I got tired of all the repetitive calculations and longed for something different. I really enjoyed my tech writing class and realized what I liked most about the engineer curriculum was the report writing (hah!), but I decided not to change majors so late in the game.
However, I got really sick and I was out of school for two years. When I came back, I changed majors. I planned to be a tech writer doing work alongside engineers, but I found out that tech writing was much broader than I ever expected. Since I was more skilled with computers than my classmates, I quickly found myself developing a specialty in the effective use of the Web for business communications. And while I had never thought of myself as creative or artistic, I learned I could easily apply basic design concepts to create documents that made a company's materials stand out.
As school came to a close, I started a business, doing writing and website design\planning. I had done plenty of basic Web design before and some programming, but now, I planned the "big picture" of the site - the navigation, the content, etc - and handed off portions of it to developers, letting them do the tedious work of debugging code. I also started writing software documentation for a Big 10 Web property, posting tutorials and making money off the ads. These days, I have the best job of all - I manage a team that creates all the materials needed to promote world missions in a small denomination. It's more marketing than technical communication, but the degree prepared me well.
quote:
I got my A+ Certification, landed the job in helpdesk, and things were going ok for a while. Once school started going south and I found myself pigeon-holed into doing boring website tweaking (trust me, it was very boring) and not learning anything new, I started wondering about my career path.
Having said my spill about technical writing, I wanted to add one more thing: if you want a job in IT (or tech writing and most fields) that isn't boring and repetitive, the truth is you need more education. The people with the lowest levels of education get the worst work; it's just that simple.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/23/2008 10:48:37 AM
|
|
|
APZR
Posts: 911
Joined: 4/18/2005
From: GA
Status: offline
|
The average person has 8 different careers in their lifetime. So do what you enjoy! You'll be amazed at how it'll change and morph into different opportunities at different stages of your life.
_____________________________
Ya can't keep trouble from visitin, but you don't have to offer it a chair.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/26/2008 3:21:56 PM
|
|
|
Kellgaste
Posts: 410
Joined: 9/18/2008
From: Wyoming
Status: offline
|
Hello SB,
I can understand your frustration and the stress involved with needing/wanting to provide for your family.
Now, I am going to take a different twist to what everyone else has <grin>. They all have fantastic advice so I am going to give you some info from my perspective sir.
I am in the US Military, USAF/ANG to be exact. I served 9 years in active duty Air Force and traveled all over the world (Awesome btw), learning about different people, there culture, there beliefs all the while being paid for it and was able to persure my Degree all on the AF's tab.
Now I started working as an Aircraft Mechanic, working on 35+ Million dollar pieces of finely tuned equipment, then felt that I lost my edge (you see when you work on an Aircraft Multiple peoples lives are in your hands every day), and switched to IT, specifically, Computer, Networking, Switching, and Cryptographic System Maintenance. (Awesome btw <grin>)
While an Aircraft mechanic was Stationed in England for 3 years and Portugal for 2 years and while at those two locations was able to visit A LOT of countries and states. I finished my degree, seperated from Active duty and joined the Air Guard where I earned my Commission as a Communications Officer.
Now my point to all of this is, you (and your bride) are still young enough to join. This relation to what I chose to do was to let you see that career paths do change and there are a lot of options out there. Now my recommendation would be for you both to finish your degree's and try for Officer Slots, unless you wanted to "get your hands dirty" and if that is the case, do not apply for a Commission <grin>.
There is the medical career field in the Military as well which in most cases the Air Force will pay full tuition for you to get your Degree in one of the preselected fields they are short in.
There is Also Air Traffic Controllers, Network Admin's, Pilots, Navigators, Fire Fighters, Security Forces (Police)(VERY long hours I might add), Special Forces and the list goes on......Also Chaplains and Chaplain Assistants.
Ok, I have typed a lot, it is to get you and your Bride thinking so you can formulate a plan of attack and create a list of priorities for God, Family, and Career.
God Bless Sir!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/26/2008 6:07:22 PM
|
|
|
Dancre
Posts: 1289
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
|
Hi Scattered,
Maybe b/c I'm 45 and have had a lot of experience in the job market that makes me see this all differently. You said, you hate your job, it's boring. School is stupid, boring. Your present job, borrrinng. Well, toots, I hate to tell you this, but work does become boring, that's why it's called WORK and not fun. I enjoy writing and hope one day to be a prof writer. But guess what, sometimes it gets boring. Life can become boring if you let it. Or YOU can find interesting things in in and GROW in it. you're not giving ANYTHING a chance. You get so bored after just a few months and want something new. So you move on, get bored, quit and complain. (And this is a sign of immaturity.) You have to push through that BORING stuff. It sounds like God has given you LOTS of great opportunities, but you refuse to stay with it. I suggest you stay with this job, find joy it, and trust God for promotions. Or trust Him to open the doors for you. Trust me, employers don't like employees who jump from job to job to job. It means you're not stable enough for them. Work as onto the Lord instead of unto you. Give this job to Him and ask HIM to make it enjoyable for you. Go back to school, STICK with it and get a degree. Move up in the company, but at least GIVE things a chance, stick it out for at least a year. God will give you a promotion, but you need to prove to Him that you'll at least stick it out.
Let me also add. That baby and that wife are more important than you finding something exciting to do. And if you have to work at a 'boring' job to bring in that paycheck, then you do it with a smile on your face. Your family is more important than that job. A job is just a job, but your family is everything.
kim
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/29/2008 4:59:03 AM
|
|
|
RJR_fan
Posts: 711
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
|
quote:
Maybe b/c I'm 45 and have had a lot of experience in the job market that makes me see this all differently. You said, you hate your job, it's boring. School is stupid, boring. Your present job, borrrinng. Well, toots, I hate to tell you this, but work does become boring, that's why it's called WORK and not fun.
A friend used to have a sign on his desk: "This is work. This is what they pay me to do."
I enjoy writing and hope one day to be a prof writer. But guess what, sometimes it gets boring.
Sure does. When I was in the construction industry, the idea of writing technical manuals all day for very good pay looked like heaven.
Life can become boring if you let it. Or YOU can find interesting things in in and GROW in it. you're not giving ANYTHING a chance. You get so bored after just a few months and want something new. So you move on, get bored, quit and complain. (And this is a sign of immaturity.) You have to push through that BORING stuff. It sounds like God has given you LOTS of great opportunities, but you refuse to stay with it. I suggest you stay with this job, find joy it, and trust God for promotions. Or trust Him to open the doors for you. Trust me, employers don't like employees who jump from job to job to job. It means you're not stable enough for them.
The great "besetting sin" in my life is boredom. I was able to overcome a noxious record of dozens of jobs only by pursuing a graduate degree. The MS gave H/R something to look at besides a list of dead-end low-level short-term jobs. Staying focused, an interested in my work, continues to be a struggle, but we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Work as onto the Lord instead of unto you. Give this job to Him and ask HIM to make it enjoyable for you. Go back to school, STICK with it and get a degree. Move up in the company, but at least GIVE things a chance, stick it out for at least a year. God will give you a promotion, but you need to prove to Him that you'll at least stick it out.
Dittos.
Let me also add. That baby and that wife are more important than you finding something exciting to do. And if you have to work at a 'boring' job to bring in that paycheck, then you do it with a smile on your face. Your family is more important than that job. A job is just a job, but your family is everything.
Why doesn't Homer have pictures of Baby Maggie in the family photo album? It's because they're posted up over his console, to remind him why he needs to be there!
Men need to be heroes for their families. I'm still working fickle contracts as a technical writer, but my grown children still enjoy my company and serve God. My wife loves my company. My two younger kids are also enjoying their home-school experience. The time, attention, and energy I've invested in my own household has generated the most satisfying payoff.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/29/2008 5:15:12 AM
|
|
|
RJR_fan
Posts: 711
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
|
quote:
How did you find your career?
Step A: by learning what didn't work. Crippled by a defective eschatology, I thought only "ministry" type jobs were worth pursuing for "serious" Christians. So I blew through my BA degree, got a useless degree in "Humanities," and neglected opportunities to exert self and master demanding coursework. After all, since I was going to be a preacher, why stick with Calculus? That "career track" never materialized, and in retrospect I see that it would have been a disaster.
Step B: by discovering my design purpose. At age 30, I went through the exercises in What Color is your Parachute?, looked myself up in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, and discovered that I was a technical writer. I also embraced a more biblical eschatology, one that ennobled every occupation, not just those of "preacher, singer, or jock."
Step C: by seeking God through a season of lengthy prayer and fasting. I did not get a clear answer, just the assurance that my steps would be guided.
Step D: by going back to school. A series of classes in computer programming at a local community college provided some needed credibility. Opportunities in the field began coming my way -- but I was still too scatter-brained to make them pay off. At one position, a co-worker was married to the CEO of GE -- and I was blind to the opportunities right under my nose!
Step E: by going back to school. MS, Corporate and Professional Communication, pursued while managing freelance writing career, and living on wife's income. Soon after I completed this degree, my first long-term contract quadrupled my income in one year (OK, so it wasn't much the year before!) and my wife retired. Not in that order. She retired first, then God provided. And along came two more children.
Step F: by going back to school. This part of the story has yet to be told -- I've finished the coursework for a PhD in Communication Research, need to get past my qualification exams later this week, and a dissertation after that. At 57, the normal kind of guy would be fine-tuning his IRA, instead of calibrating his trajectory for another three decades of employment!
Ah, well. The fun of being a Christian is == discovering the unique path a kind King has for each of His subjects.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 9/29/2008 1:58:24 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 5999
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: Scatterbrain
I guess you could say my "passions" include music and poetry (writing). In a close second would be film and art (even though I can't draw to save my life, I appreciate it). In a distant third would be history (to an extent), but these are all things I feel affect me deeper than the rest, some things I like to pursue in my spare time.
I doubt that you can't draw to save your life - I'd guess that you just didn't have a very encouraging or capable teacher.
quote:
However, I've been told before that its a good idea to make your passions and your profession separate, otherwise you'll wind up hating both.
I totally disagree.
The most satisfying situation ever is finding a job you love (because it involves one of your passions) and getting paid for it. The best combination ever.
And I say this as the wife of someone who, most of his working life, was an accountant of some sort - until he got made redundant at 48. Art & music were his passions, and he'd never been taught formally in either - but he threw himself into painting pictures of local scenes, starting selling some of them, was invited to teach art to adults, said he wasn't a teacher - to which the college said "we'll teach you to teach while you are teaching"!
Nearly 5 years on, and he is still painting pictures, teaching art (he's now a qualified teacher) and teaching beginner's guitar. We've had to make some financial adjustments, as he's earning about a sixth of what he was before, but he's never been happier in all his life.
Identifying your passions, and finding a way to make them pay their way, just HAS to, IMO, be the way to go.
_____________________________
"Once again....drum roll please! Manda is right"
doinkdom, October 2008
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/1/2008 9:03:12 PM
|
|
|
creationtalk
Posts: 697
Joined: 6/9/2005
Status: offline
|
I'm not sure I can answer your first question, about how you find your career, because mine kind of found me as I followed my interests in college. I definitely agree with Manda that doing what you love can be extremely satisfying. I always wanted to be a scientist...work in the space program. So I started college in Aerospace Engineering...and HATED it. Changed my major to Engineering Physics (physics degree w/aerospace engineering minor...loved it. several moves later...BS in physics (minor math and astrophysics) MS in Math--started a research project in physical chemistry-- Graduate school in Astrophysics (research with Hubble Space Telescope data) and Chemistry, returned to previous research in ROCKET FUELS, that became a master's thesis then Phd dissertation in physics. Got a job doing research for the Navy (acoustic/seafloor interactions). Now I'm doing operations support (applied physics) for the Navy and teaching part time. I love my job(s). As far as boring...I don't think boring is a word that fits. However, stressful, frustrating, exhausting, fit pretty well. No, wait...I forgot the meetings...You know...meetings about the meetings we're going to have to talk about the meetings we're going to have to talk about the projects we haven't finished because of all the meetings we've been having to talk about why we haven't finished the projects...THOSE can be boring.
Of course, I did not limit myself to any one part of the country for a job either. I started college in Colorado, moved to California, then to New Mexico, back to Colorado, back to New Mexico, then to Mississippi.
Don't know if they are hiring, but I don't think the IT techs get bored around here.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/4/2008 9:17:02 AM
|
|
|
vicbhe
Posts: 62
Joined: 4/24/2005
From: Arkansas
Status: offline
|
quote:
To be specific... I'm not sure what to do for a career, let alone the rest of my life. I'll be 25 in a month and I feel like I'm running out of time to find a career and get my life on track before I'm 30.
I'm 42 and still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. My suggestions based on where I am finding myself in life right now; Go to a good college and get all your basics. Once you have those other directions will open up to you.
My situation is I'm 42, just closed up a failed business attempt; I just filed bankruptcy and lost everything including the house..... I am a single dad raising my 3 kids, one of which is in college. I say all that to say this.... I need to get into something that will earn a good income and I need it now. Every direction I look that I’m really interested in requires a 4 yr degree. If I had my basics in (with a credible school) I would not be starting at zero, maybe one or two years to get me to where I want to be. If I had a good degree I may even be employable with the agreement that I go back to school for a short time to get some specifics for that job.
I do have a 2 year 'worthless' piece of paper so be careful in choosing what to take and what school to take it at; and note that the cost of the school does not reflect its value.
I don't know a lot about giving career direction but I can tell you that you do not want to be where I am in 15 more years.......... start somewhere! You don't have to see the end of the road.... just start in that direction.
_____________________________
“You cannot improve your righteousness by tearing down the righteousness of others”. W.O. Vaught
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/4/2008 10:09:44 AM
|
|
|
rgod
Posts: 1475
Joined: 4/25/2005
Status: offline
|
Vicbhe - What 2 year degree do you have? Is it an Associates degree? If you were to go to try to get a 4 year degree, some schools will accept many - if not all of the credits that you got with the associates - so you wouldn't necessarily have to start from scratch (even if you end up going in a different direction). While it might not help you in the short term - there are so many options out there now for working adults. Lots of colleges have online components (so you can be at home with the kids or work around your schedule).
_____________________________
Please take my news poll: http://forums.crosswalk.com/Current+Events/m_3896304/mpage_1/tm.htm#3897243
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/4/2008 11:55:03 AM
|
|
|
vicbhe
Posts: 62
Joined: 4/24/2005
From: Arkansas
Status: offline
|
It was a 2 year industrial electronics certificate 22 years ago. Even when I got it and tried to get a job I learned it wasn’t worth much of anything. It was a vo-tech trade school, the credits are not of any value anywhere. The school no longer exist either. I did check into all that. I will be starting from zero.
I had a bad experience as during the time I was there we had 5 different instructors, they kept quitting. Only the last one taught us anything and he came in at the last 4 months I was there. The other 4 spent no time in the classroom, only one even tried to teach the class. Most of our time was spent in the counselors office discussing the lack of instruction we were getting.
There were students watching porn in the back room on a tv someone donated to the class. We had a class fund created by selling things people donated to the class, it was used to purchase liquor for class parties.
I did start school at another school a few years later but I so hated school and not understanding the whole concept of school I refused to take English as I hated English in school.... come to think of it I hated school period. As for the English; I had no desire to do all that boring stuff. I was dismissed from the school..... Imagine that.
I am in the process of registering for school. I am starting at zero and going for a bachelor’s. I do not want to struggle like this the rest of my 20-30 working years.
_____________________________
“You cannot improve your righteousness by tearing down the righteousness of others”. W.O. Vaught
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/4/2008 12:46:16 PM
|
|
|
manda59
Posts: 5999
Joined: 9/22/2005
From: Hampshire, UK
Status: offline
|
vicbhe
May I ask you the same thing - where are your passions, what things in life are you passionate about? I am thinking particularly in the realm of creative things.
_____________________________
"Once again....drum roll please! Manda is right"
doinkdom, October 2008
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/4/2008 1:03:56 PM
|
|
|
rgod
Posts: 1475
Joined: 4/25/2005
Status: offline
|
Vicbhe -
Sounds like you had some pretty poor experiences in school. But all schools aren't that way. Some schools will give you credit for life experience. Here's an example of such a program from the University of Maryland, University College (http://www.umuc.edu/prog/ugp/catalog00_01/page67.shtml). Can you take classes at a school that might do something similar?
Are there ways to enter some of the fields that you want by getting a certificate? That way you can still work on your bachelor's degree - but you can start working earlier (for example - a certificate could be your minor or part of your major course of study). They are usually focused on exactly what you need to learn, you can get it usually from a community college, they are usually short (maybe 5 or 6 classes long), and you can be out and working in no time. The added plus is once you get a job, maybe they would be willing to pay for you to continue. Also, being enrolled in school might make you eligible to do coops - which would allow you to get credit for working (and you can get paid for it).
These are just some thoughts ...
_____________________________
Please take my news poll: http://forums.crosswalk.com/Current+Events/m_3896304/mpage_1/tm.htm#3897243
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Feeling lost at 25... how did you find your career? - 10/5/2008 5:51:28 AM
|
|
|
RJR_fan
Posts: 711
Joined: 4/12/2005
From: RTP, in sunny NC USA
Status: online
|
quote:
I am in the process of registering for school. I am starting at zero and going for a bachelor’s. I do not want to struggle like this the rest of my 20-30 working years.
I'm 57, and anticipate another 30 or more "working years." I am doing the kind of work I enjoy (technical writing), and have been acquiring education "on the side" ever since I graduated with a feel-good worthless degree in "Humanities" in 1979.
After a string of dead-end minimum-wage jobs, I saw the writing on the wall, discovered (through the book What Color is Your Parachute?) that I was made to be a technical writer, and learned that I actually needed technical education to have credibility. I talked to a trade school -- they had me ready to sign the loan papers -- then checked with a community college, and discovered that I could get the same classes for 10% of the price.
Excellent move. I found myself with adult, motivated learners, and for-real instructors.
I'll be praying for you.
_____________________________
The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
| | |
Forum Tools
Printable Version
