Suggestions for a career change? (Necropost)
8I’m getting tired of my current career and thinking about making a change (about to be 40). My problem is (and always has been) this: I have no idea what I want to be when I grow up. I thought maybe you all could make some suggestions that I might not have considered.
I like reading (mostly science fiction & fantasy), movies (all kinds), old-school video games (think Galaga, Pacman, Robotron, etc.), relaxing, eating, ummm… maybe that’s it? I like tech gadgets but don’t know much about how things work. I use an android phone. I buy things from meh. My next tech purchase will probably be an Amazon Echo.
I’ve thought about writing, learning to code, wandering the earth like Caine in Kung Fu (wife would probably divorce me, though).
I’m good at talking to people, sales, relationship management (stroking egos, putting out fires, and accomplishing tasks). Currently in the financial services industry but not an advisor.
Ready… GO!
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retro gaming twitch streamer
@Lotsofgoats I read that as "streaker" first, and thought that was a really interesting suggestion. It's still an interesting suggestion, just with less nudity. Thanks!
Gee, Idk.
@hollboll If it wasn't for the 16 hour commute I would so go for one of those jobs.
@hollboll Indigent Director of Karma? Sounds interesting.... I'll add it to the list.
@hollboll i think i would be an awesome Buyer, and you all seem like an awesome group to work with, but convincing the wife to move to TX might take some doing. I'll broach the subject and gauge her willingness to relocate (I'm totally open to relocating, personally).
Unless @snapster is considering relocating meh/mediocre to San Diego?
@DaveInSoCal or LA :-)
@connorbush That's not how it works. You have to stand outside their office while it rains on you without a word of complaint. Eventually they accept you as a unpaid intern and you sweep the floor and stack the extra tp. After a number of years and a sweet training montage you learn mediocre kung fu and can go on to win the tournament and get the girl who used to be dating your opponent.
Have you ever considered piracy?
@Trillian I get a little seasick, and I have both legs and eyes (and not willing to sacrifice them), so I don't meet the requirements.
@DaveInSoCal if you're willing to lose an arm then I've got a pretty sweet thread for you
@Lotsofgoats My arm's too big to be a substitute baby arm. Also, I'm not text based...
@DaveInSoCal keep the limbs and go for a parrot.
@Daveinsocal You could try some free-lance writing on the side- it's a brutal gig as your full-time or primary job.
Have you considered applying for community manager positions?
Are any companies you're a fan of hiring? Maybe there's a position there you could fill.
If you really like games, consider starting a Youtube channel and start trying to build an audience (put something out consistently).
You seem to have the necessary acumen to a fryolator operator/technician, maybe assistant manager or shift leader. The world is your clam.
If you want to learn to code, try codecademy.com - it's a free way to find out if you like coding. That or olive stuffing are my suggestions.
@hallmike Codecademy or equivalent is definitely worth trying. You could also check with your local library both for some manner of career counseling, AND for possible access to sites like Lynda.com, which has a lot of tech related courses, courses for training towards various certifications, and also things like photography (and more but thats what I recall).
You could also look at W3schools.com for tutorials in various web-related skills, to see if they meet your interest.
@hallmike Really appreciate this suggestion. Will check it out tomorrow and report back.
@DaveInSoCal Messing around with codeacademy right now. Thanks for the great suggestion!
Learn to weld. I need a good welder. It's a lot like staring at a computer screen all day, except it's a lot brighter, smellier, and the results are much more satisfying to hold on to at the end of the day.
@fuzzmanmatt i do like banging metal into other metal...
@fuzzmanmatt Eh, being 20 and a welder is cool, being 50 and welder hurts.
You might want to give What Color is Your Parachute? a read. My father sent a copy my way when I was in the middle of a career transition. It's a good book for people in your place. http://www.amazon.com/What-Color-Your-Parachute-2016/dp/160774662X/
You should become a dank meme creator, it's never been a better time.
Allied Beverages is hiring for a financial person at the Huntington Beach location. If not there, Reyes Holdings (parent company) has 19 other beer distribution locations.
@connorbush Not interested in finance, but am interested in beverages. Will explore. Thanks!
would you be up for a username change?
@marklog sure, although I might forget who I am. Why?
@DaveInSoCal lots of other options if you can be @DaveinReno or @DaveInPortland for instance.
@marklog HA! Clever. I'd just shorten it to DISC and eventually everyone would forget what it ever stood for.
@DaveInSoCal is that he floppy or the plastic variety? :)
I thought of more things I like: Geocaching, beer, and whiskey.
@DaveInSoCal Marketing man for a local brewery.
You can hide beer in out of the way locations in a guerrilla marketing campaign.
Nailed it.
Work at a real shitty place like CVS. You will really appreciate your next job.
@Kevin No. Is CVS that shitty a place to work? If I was a pharmacist I think I'd look good in a lab coat.
@DaveInSoCal CVS treats their employees like they are an expense. If they could hire prison inmates, they would.
if you like sales... And new tech... How are you with stress? I made bank at AT&T for minimal experience/training at a retail store, I was there for 9 months (the stress was too much) I cleared 60k. For minimal pre existing experience as a retail sales consultant. I didn't cram people's bills nor did I just take everyone over to the iPhones (I did sell a lot of them however.) The stress comes in with automatic termination if you don't meet your sales goals 3 months in a row after your 6 month probation ends. (No that didn't happen to me however from the store I worked in almost 7 years ago only 1 guy is still there, actually in the 4 stores I've seen only 3 people that were working there at the time are still there. Very high turnover. Lots of stress. My manager walked out one day and didn't return. )
@sohmageek that explains a lot. I learned ton from years as a corporate mobile customer - about all the carriers. But not the nuts and bolts of the retail side.
@sohmageek AT&T sales reps were printing money when they were the only ones with iPhones.
Contact your undergrad school's career services (or grad if you have a grad degree). Most colleges and universities allow students who have graduated to still use their services.
@Kidsandliz That's a very interesting suggestion, and never would have occurred to me. Thanks!
@DaveInSoCal Hopefully yours is one that allows that. All the places I went to school and all but one of the places I have taught allow access (although one requires that you pay alumni dues to have access).
@Kidsandliz excellent idea. Some schools also have ways to connect into a network of fellow grads to find opportunities. My grad school even (newly) allows us to take classes free!
Getting active with your alumni association might lead to new avenues as well.
Win the lottery. And after you do win the lottery, remember, I'm the one who suggested it so it would be nice to get a little kickback.
@Teripie And I seconded it so....
@Teripie funny, I had that thought as well. But if @DaveInSoCal is looking for happiness, should look at the happiness record of lottery winners a few years later first.
Something similar might have been suggested, but you could try doing a blog of some kind -- maybe new tech reviews or creative ways to use older and newer tech together? If you pick the right things, keywords alone will provide some ad revenue. And maybe you'll have a long-shot opportunity to get noticed by some larger domain (engadget, c/net,etc) for wider visibility .
I'm a bit more conservative, so I'd say start doing some things you love on the side and see how it plays out. Sometimes just having the exposure/time for what your passionate about is enough to make the main gig tolerable (or even enjoyable).
There will be an opening at the White House next January.
@Teripie He said he liked relaxing. As a result doubt that would be a good career fit.
@Kidsandliz True, if I want to relax I should be looking closer at Congress...
@DaveInSoCal ROTFLMAO. If you get that job, will you hire me as a staffer?
@Kidsandliz Sure! You'll be responsible for ensuring I am relaxed. You'll be my CRO, or whatever the congressional staffer equivalent is.
@Teripie He could go for VP... that can be a relatively low-stress option, though there's a risk of getting unexpectedly elevated...
@DaveInSoCal Oh good. That means I get to play for a living. Right?
@duodec Hmm well if he didn't like it he could just do something to get himself impeached. Then no one would call him a quitter... Of course there might be other undesirable consequences then... (grin). But hey, if he knew he was going to be fired anyway he could just stop working and let it happen all the while enjoying his big house, cook, servants, nice camps to play in with his own plane and helicopter... how bad could that be?
@DaveInSoCal do you enjoy golfing?
Picking up on your keywords above, "stroking" and "putting out fires"... Have you considered the Masseur, Sex Trade, and/or Fireman professions?
Healthcare IT
Seriously. You can be a geek and work in a seriously growing sector of the economy. And the sky's the limit on what you can do. From project management to help desk to network support to 'building' (not coding but creating) or working for a vendor and there is coding, sales, customer service, support, etc.
I love my job, most of the time.
except for your current career, you sound an awful lot like me..... i was a retail manager/owner for 30 + years...good with people, and solving issues...and at the age of 53, i applied for a job as a correctional officer on a whim, and was hired by our local sheriff. i have been there 3 years and love what i do...you will be under paid, and under appreciated. it is not for everyone....it is a tough job....but one that can be very rewarding. my only regret is that i did not do it sooner......
I have tried in the past to be a Dish Washer, Janitor, Corp. Mailroom. BUT I fell into being a Computer Mechanic (Mostly Corp -Desktop Support/ Field service tech.)
Yes I LOVE SciFi (doing it since the 1960’s) Photography & Ham Radio.
Great Job… Well the pay is OK.
I LOVE it. traveled up & Down the East Coast of the US.