What do you do for work (IE: what the h$%l am I going to do?)`

Im 17, a senior in highschool. Almost daily a teacher/parent/random person asks me what im going to do with my life.

I still dont know, I go to a Vocational school now for auto mechanics and I dont think I want to do that for a career. Would just get old eventually.

I'm in the same boat (18, HS senior), only auto mechanics is what I want to do. It just wouldn't provide the kind of living I want. So, I'm personally looking at accounting (kind of ruled that one out, I think, since I don't want to sit at a desk all day), a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner (don't really have a desire to do this, but it pays well and everybody says I'd be good at it), or something to do with computers. I'm personally leaning toward compuers, though I don't know what I'd want to do with them. I imagine something with software, security, or networking would be good fields.

take your time to figure it out. Too many people go to college and end up with a degree in something that they will not use. I used to tell people that when I grow up I want to be happy....and i am...but I'll be happier when I make more money.
BTW- I'm a Distribution Supervisor for a fairly large company. The kind of job that you can do anywhere, and work with anything. Someday I want to work for a company that sells something cool. (Not software and I.G.)

There is a big ass thread on here about this. Search if you feel like knowing what most of us do for a living.

Get out your crystal ball. When I got into electrical engineering 35 years ago, everybody thought it was the ticket for life long stability. EE has gone to hell in a handbasket with all the jobs being shipped to China. Software has gone to India. The key is to never stop learning and get a degree. The rest of the world values education far more than the US. The average level of education in India and China is as good or better than the US. If we don't watch it, we will be the ones working for $.16 an hour.

I was in that boat after HS so I went in the Navy where I spent 7 years, a good chunk of that time was spent underwater doing patrols on submarines. If I had it to do over again I would have done 20 and started a second career when I retired. Also wish I had taken advantage of the college courses they offered even while underway, would have saved me three or four semesters when I finally got out and went back to school. As for the computer industry, I'd have serious doubts about going that route now, I'd look into full engineering areas.
I seem to remember a site that was put out by the feds that forcasted the type of people that are going to be needed 5-10-20 years out. What you want to look for are education and careers that india, china, japan and other countries have not undercut thru training millions of workers in, computers are one that they have done that to big time. I see overseas contractors that have masters degrees in computer science filling positions where they can't do the work, their area of expertise are in 'using cellphones to call their support chain' every time they have a problem. We had 6 at lucent that quit becasue the cell phone test systems I built I built inside a farady cage where cell phones would not connect to the outside world .... The conversations I had with the HR people, contracting company and my c level manager were priceless explaining why the sites had to be inside an electronics proof cage..

Now, I've got a problem with teachers pushing kids into figuring out what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Maybe that's OK for the common kid, but what about generalists?

Face it, I'm 33 and I'm finally going back to school - since I finally figured out what I want to do. There isn't much call for an old soldier out on disability, so there goes my first job. Before that was bussing tables and washing dishes, after that was a series of service, retail, and warehousing jobs - all went into my mental files for "do I/don't I want to do this?"

As long as you can get a decent job, take it and use the time to figure out what you really want to do. I think it's foolish to push everyone into deciding what to do for the next forty years when they're not yet 20 - but that's just me.

Sometimes, you just can't make a snap decision - look at me, it's taken 16 more years than you to figure this one out...

5-90

Any pointers to the thread? I really do hate teachers pushing me to fins something. "time is runnning out" "better hurry" "do this!"

It gets old after a bit, I like working on stuff, but I really hate owrking on stupid little econoboxes where no tool fits anywhere. And I REALLY dont want to work flat rate. Thats what pushes me out of the auto mechanics field.

My personal opinion is to do some kind of Military Service, and then go to College. If you dont want to get shot at, then do an ROTC SMP Guard program.

Me, I'm a field engineer for Hensel Phelps Construction Co and couldnt be happier. I get good pay, free healthcare and get to do what I want, with awesome opportunities to travel and advance.

Fergie

Automotive is a tough field to survive in. When i was in high school (not too long ago) I was at a Mitsubishi dealership hourly. So i was the little bitch doing all the stupid jobs the flat rate techs didn't want. So i had a few jobs in between then and now. Now i'm at a Mazda dealer hourly to start, bustin my ass to prove what i know and what i can do, and the right people are noticing. But i like it. The key to a good tech job is getting into the right place, with good people. Yeah it doesn't pay bookoo bucks, but i like what i' doing and thats what matters. Advice- sit down, listen and learn, it will pay off. If i had my way i'd be on the West Coast building tube buggies. But hey we can dream right. Anything is possible. Knowledge is the weapon!
Sorry for my .02

I am 36 and I work on a military base as a civilian contractor doing maintenance on LMTVs and HMMWVs(Humvees). I like it better than working at a Ford dealer(previous job) because you don't have to race w/the labor book. But it is a "contract" job and could be over tomorrow. Before Ford, I worked in textiles for 15 years in maintenance, so I guess I have been a wrench turner my whole life. If I had to pick something different to try, I would probably go into real estate. Not a dirty job or strenuous, but profitable. I will say, you need to pick something that you would "like" to do. Don't say "porn star" or "pro athlete" because if you were qualified for either one of those, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now! HAHA! If you can't deal with people, don't get into something dealing with people, you know what I mean. I hope this helped, but probably not. Lol.

summitlt said:

Any pointers to the thread? I really do hate teachers pushing me to fins something. "time is runnning out" "better hurry" "do this!"

It gets old after a bit, I like working on stuff, but I really hate owrking on stupid little econoboxes where no tool fits anywhere. And I REALLY dont want to work flat rate. Thats what pushes me out of the auto mechanics field.

Click to expand...

Move to Michigan and start recycling beer bottles that jackasses like me throw out. .10 a piece and not very stressful I hear. Not sure about health insurance, But the hours are very flexible. :thumbup:

Sorry. What I'd meant to say (and gotten all over!) was when these people wonder what you're going to do with yourself, give 'em a stock answer, smile, and go do your own thing anyhow.

If I had to give career advice, I'd say skilled trades. We can't outsource that, and tradesman will always be in demand. Maintenance, repair, things like that.

5-90

carmike692000 said:

I'm in the same boat (18, HS senior), only auto mechanics is what I want to do. It just wouldn't provide the kind of living I want. So, I'm personally looking at accounting (kind of ruled that one out, I think, since I don't want to sit at a desk all day), a physician's assistant or nurse practitioner (don't really have a desire to do this, but it pays well and everybody says I'd be good at it), or something to do with computers. I'm personally leaning toward compuers, though I don't know what I'd want to do with them. I imagine something with software, security, or networking would be good fields.

Click to expand...

my advice is do to what you WANT to do and LIKE doing.
i was basically pushed into college after highschool, i did one year and got about a 1.0 gpa. it was not for me. I then went to 14 months in tech school for auto mechanics. i was then able to apply for the Mercedes Benz Elite program. i got in and that was another 4 months factory specific training. I have now been at my work in a Mercedes dealer for 4.5 years. my first full year here i made 38K and this year i will make about 75k, i am only 25 now and i make more money than my brother who is a civil engineer.
bottom line, i wasted time and money going to college, but i "learned" a lot about myself that "wasted" year.
do what you like, and try to be the best you can.

summitlt said:

And I REALLY dont want to work flat rate. Thats what pushes me out of the auto mechanics field.

Click to expand...

Man, flat rate is how i make all my money.
I spend 39-43 hours per week at the dealer, for the last 24 months i have averaged about 68 hours per week "flat rate"
i work hard for the time i am there, but i do not work overtime.

dont know what to do? search! seems to have all the other answers

XJONABUDGET said:

I have now been at my work in a Mercedes dealer for 4.5 years. my first full year here i made 38K and this year i will make about 75k, i am only 25 now and i make more money than my brother who is a civil engineer.

Click to expand...

:scared: Everyday I feel more and more inclined to leave the overworked, underpaid engineering field. I've been a mechanical engineer for 5 1/2 years and I am always learning of trades where I can earn more money and not be stuck behind a desk all day. Mercedes Benz mechanic sounds good to me. Ich spreche Deutche.

Veterinary Medicine...

My boss makes a couple thousand a day doing brain surgery on dogs and cats.

Here's my two cents.

In the long run, I would suggest finding a living doing something you enjoy, or close to it. Not everyone is cut out for collage, however, my personal feeling is that you can only benefit from a broadened general education by going to at least some college. Just to be better suited on how the world works; economy, politics, sciences, etc... it doesn't hurt to know more. The military isn't for everyone either. Unfortunately, I haven't served, so I can't speak by personal experience; only that of others. I applied, and because of a major surgery, Washington D.C. rejected me. I think I would have benefited in some way had I been accepted, as so many others I know feel they got something positive out of it. Perhaps trade school? Even by just getting out in the world and starting to work in general will help give you an idea of what you want, or don't want, to do. You'll learn alot about life no matter what. Just getting up and being on time every day will open closed eyes. But, if it's something you enjoy, you'll be much happier.

I am an electrician and instructor. I have even worked as a lineman for a short time just to try it. I have always been interested in electricity ever since I was four years old. One day, around that age, I was sent to my room because I did something wrong. So, I decided to stick a paperclip in the electrical socket to see what exactly was in there that made the lights work. Well, guess what happened!! Now, after more than a few jolts, I still work with electricity, and teach others the theory and laws behind it. I still am facinated with electricity, I just use tools instead of paperclips now.

For what it's worth!

Petro Engineers are the current hot ticket.

--ron