Do you have a good job?

[Kwesi]

Well I'm going to college this fall. I'm enrolled at UMBC (not known for "fun" but I plan on having some anyway ) in mechanical engineering and I'm just not sure it's what I want to do. Problem is: I don't know what I want to do. Well I thought I did until everyone told me it was a bad idea. I wanted to do Architecture and even if I did decide to switch, UMBC doesn't offer and the schools that do cost too much according to my Dad. People have suggested that I should go into General Studies until I actually make up my mind but my Dad thinks otherwise. He really wants me to do the whole engineering thing and he's constantly pushing me towards it not in a excessive way but enough to make me unsure if that's what I want or what he wants. He's actually the reason I'm going to UMBC as opposed to a school of my choice but it's there money so not much room for argument there.

I just want to to go to school and have some fun then get a good job and have some fun. Every time I sit down and try to think about what I want to do I get a headache or, more often, I just can't think of anything. I've thought about business or business management but I can't imagine where I'd end up unless I become the CEO of my own business. I've thought about trying to become a doctor of some kind but do I want the stress of being on call almost all the time? I've thought about IT or Information Systems but I can't even get a precise description of what that really is. I just don't know.

If you have a good job I want to hear about it and what you majored in to get there. I guess this would be like a one way brainstorming session. I just want some ideas to toss around on my own from people that aren't as biased as the many people around me. I guess my definition of a good job would be one that provides decent money, potential for advancement, and reasonable hours that allow me to have my own life.

[allexcosta]

Do what you like and be VERY good at it. That's all it takes.

[rcarraher]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Well I'm going to college this fall. I'm enrolled at UMBC (not known for "fun" but I plan on having some anyway ) in mechanical engineering and I'm just not sure it's what I want to do. Problem is: I don't know what I want to do. Well I thought I did until everyone told me it was a bad idea. I wanted to do Architecture and even if I did decide to switch, UMBC doesn't offer and the schools that do cost too much according to my Dad. People have suggested that I should go into General Studies until I actually make up my mind but my Dad thinks otherwise. He really wants me to do the whole engineering thing and he's constantly pushing me towards it not in a excessive way but enough to make me unsure if that's what I want or what he wants. He's actually the reason I'm going to UMBC as opposed to a school of my choice but it's there money so not much room for argument there.

I just want to to go to school and have some fun then get a good job and have some fun. Every time I sit down and try to think about what I want to do I get a headache or, more often, I just can't think of anything. I've thought about business or business management but I can't imagine where I'd end up unless I become the CEO of my own business. I've thought about trying to become a doctor of some kind but do I want the stress of being on call almost all the time? I've thought about IT or Information Systems but I can't even get a precise description of what that really is. I just don't know.

If you have a good job I want to hear about it and what you majored in to get there. I guess this would be like a one way brainstorming session. I just want some ideas to toss around on my own from people that aren't as biased as the many people around me. I guess my definition of a good job would be one that provides decent money, potential for advancement, and reasonable hours that allow me to have my own life.

Well, as a Terp (UMCP) , I'll have to say you are going to the wrong school in Maryland. I didn't exactly have a party paradise when I was there, but uncle Sam was paying the tab and gave me 2 years to finish my degree, and I had to put in time in uniform while I was there out at Andrews. But plenty of my class mates had a fine old time. My degree is in electrical engineering, and even as a little kid I wanted to work on machines that let people communicate, so I guess I picked the right field. I migrated into IT or Computers or whatever you want to call it, sometime right after 1982-83 and I have enjoyed it for the most part.

As far as what you want to do, that you'll have to decide. I'd go the general studies route, read a bunch on the side, examine what you think you'd enjoy, what you think you'd be good at, then go for it and hopefully it won't bore the pants off you in 10 years. I think almost more important than "finding a field" is just completing the commitment. Baltimore is an Honors College, so a degree from there will open a lot of doors even if you decide on something that isn't even associated with your degree.

Anyway, good luck.

[fdeck]

I have a good job. With that said, the job I have wasn't on my radar when I started college.

I majored in math and physics, because I was interested, but also because these are open ended fields with applications in a lot of places. I suppose you could call it the geek version of general studies.

Today I am an engineering manager for a company that makes scientific instruments, so I manage a small team of engineers plus I still get to do some project work.

About stress... every good job will have some stress and uncertainty. One simple reason is that problems always happen and have to be dealt with.

What's IT? Mainly it involves making computers work for people. This can range from setting up and maintaining networks, to developing massive databases with the technology to use them effectively. A lot of it is done behind the scenes.

[hbarcat]

I don't know if I have a good job but I'm happy working there. I make less than 20k a year in a small factory and will probably never get a raise, but I like the owner of the company, the manager and everyone else who works there. I don't have someone hovering over my shoulder telling me what to do but about once a week I have a list of jobs that need doing and they trust that I will get them done properly and efficiently and they don't second guess me. I have a flexible schedule and if I have an urgent family/personal need I can take off at a moment's notice with the blessing of the owner of the company. I'm confident that the company can survive an economic crisis worse than what we are experiencing, now. I think I have a good job.

[Jared Lash]

Yes, I have a good job. I'm currently the Merchandising Manager for a small company involved in the education field.

I make almost double what I did when I started out teaching high school physics and chemistry and I put in less hours. That is, I generally have a 40 hour week, 8.5 hours M-Th and six hours Friday. Which means if I come in early on Friday (say 6 am) I can be gone by noon for a weekend getaway. Of course, if need be I'll work weekends or stay late but unless there's a big project my hours are pretty consistent. With teaching, I felt like sometimes it consumed my life. Grading 160 lab reports or tests would take a least an entire night, generally two.

And currently I'm doing a fair amount of traveling for different conferences in New Orleans, Austin, Chicago, Washington DC and Denver. I like my day to day work and for the most part I really like my colleagues.

That said, my major didn't really prepare me for my current job. Sure I have a business degree (and a Bio degree) which led to me getting the job, but the vast majority of my work involves writing ad copy and doing website work in addition to presentations. And it's a job I never would have gotten if I hadn't been a science teacher first, which is another job I sort of fell into.

In fact, I was a week away from starting as a criminalist for the DOJ when I was offered my current position, yet another job I hadn't really thought of in college.

My point is that most people don't know how things will work out. My plan when I was in college was to become a researcher at a biotech firm and go back for my MBA. Well, I got a research job with a big time biotech company and it turns out I didn't like working in a lab full time so that all fell apart and I had to create a new plan. And then another. And then another. I've had a number of jobs since college before teaching for a number of years and then moving on to my current position.

Some people have very clear goals and that's cool. If so, figure it out and get it done. Otherwise study what you want, work hard and find a way to make a career from it. To me, a college degree's greatest value is that it gives you options.

Good luck.

[Hawaii Islander]

Originally Posted by Kwesi

Well I'm going to college this fall. I'm enrolled at UMBC (not known for "fun" but I plan on having some anyway ) in mechanical engineering and I'm just not sure it's what I want to do. Problem is: I don't know what I want to do. Well I thought I did until everyone told me it was a bad idea. I wanted to do Architecture and even if I did decide to switch, UMBC doesn't offer and the schools that do cost too much according to my Dad. People have suggested that I should go into General Studies until I actually make up my mind but my Dad thinks otherwise. He really wants me to do the whole engineering thing and he's constantly pushing me towards it not in a excessive way but enough to make me unsure if that's what I want or what he wants. He's actually the reason I'm going to UMBC as opposed to a school of my choice but it's there money so not much room for argument there.

I just want to to go to school and have some fun then get a good job and have some fun. Every time I sit down and try to think about what I want to do I get a headache or, more often, I just can't think of anything. I've thought about business or business management but I can't imagine where I'd end up unless I become the CEO of my own business. I've thought about trying to become a doctor of some kind but do I want the stress of being on call almost all the time? I've thought about IT or Information Systems but I can't even get a precise description of what that really is. I just don't know.

If you have a good job I want to hear about it and what you majored in to get there. I guess this would be like a one way brainstorming session. I just want some ideas to toss around on my own from people that aren't as biased as the many people around me. I guess my definition of a good job would be one that provides decent money, potential for advancement, and reasonable hours that allow me to have my own life.

University of Hawaii at Manoa has a good school of architecture. The cost probably is reasonable, even for out of state, but spaces are limited. One of my roomates was an architecture student. He was always working on his design projects, so he wasn't around the apartment much.

[MadMan118]

I stack 20 ton shipping containers under the largest halogen lights in world, like leggos but bigger. Its not the best job in the world but its hands on and thats what I like. The potential for me being crushed like an ant as I putz around on the dock directing the crane operator is exciting too.
Do what you like and do it to the best of your ability.

[Pacman]

My job is awesome. I play bass for the Feds.

[PSPookie]

IMO Engineering is a good way to go. You will still have to take most of the "General Studies" courses (especially the first two years) so if you decide to switch majors it shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's one of those majors that is much easier to get out of than into if you change your mind.

I design power lines for a living. It's not exactly what I went to school for (Industrial Systems Engineering) but I dig it

[Absentia]

My job is ok,
I work in IT in education while the projects are good and keep me learning the management seems to push the department alot. We are always being second guessed and have to fight for our jobs everytime the bosses meet a new consultant or laid off cobol programmer from ford, but it's always rewarding crushing them in a matter of a few meetings.

IT isn't for people who want to work a 40 hour week I often work about 60-80 hours a week to get the job done and rarely get the overtime approved so I only get paid for the 40.

I like it, it would just be alot better if we weren't constantly ridiculed because of our age from the "good old boys club".

IT is a rough (but fun) field once you get into the management sector of it.

[mike_v_s]

Good job? Depends on perspective. I love it most times. The downside is about one every two years when you get an out of town project and get sent off to far away and uninteresting places like Palestine, Texas.

The plaus side is that I'm fairly compensated for the inconvenience. I'll write more after my 7 hour drive to the new location.

Mike

[LiquidMidnight]

Originally Posted by TheBigO

To me, a college degree's greatest value is that it gives you options.

Excellent point! I wasn't exactly 100% sure of what I wanted to do when I started graduate school, and my mind changed about five times as an undergrad. Note: Don't act like you don't know what you want to do when you write your goal statement for grad school. I just made it sound like I knew what I wanted to do.

[jojobean39]

Originally Posted by PSPookie

IMO Engineering is a good way to go. You will still have to take most of the "General Studies" courses (especially the first two years) so if you decide to switch majors it shouldn't be too much of a problem. It's one of those majors that is much easier to get out of than into if you change your mind.

I design power lines for a living. It's not exactly what I went to school for (Industrial Systems Engineering) but I dig it

+1

I am an electrical engineer as well. I design power lines, substations and stuff like that. I work at a consulting firm and it has afforded me the opportunity to do a lot of interesting things and work at some cool places. It's a difficult degree to attain, but the pay is pretty good. Mechanical engineering is a good field as well. Right now, with all of the "going green" crap that companies and the government are pushing, there are tons of opportunities for mechanical and electrical engineers.

With all of that said... don't do engineering if it is something in which you are not interested. It will not be good. You have to look at things objectively. You need to do something that will pay the bills and meet whatever standard of living you are accustomed to, but you also need something you like. Find that career and pursue it. Don't be forced into something else that you don't want to do.

[DeluxeRed]

Engineering is such a great option since whatever it is you (finally decide) you like, it is engineered, so you have an opportunity to work in that field. If you love bass amps, for example, you can work for a bass amp manufacturer or bring your own to the market.

And a degree does open doors to financing and marketing (among other things), especially when you realize that most people that are "happy" with what they do for a living are working for themselves and not for someone else. They don't have jobs, they make money.

[Jim Nazium]

IMHO:

Choosing a major and a career field because it's what your parents want is a recipe for unhappiness. You have to choose for yourself.

College is a great place to expand your mind, get exposed to new ideas, and meet people. It can also be a great place to prepare for a career IF you know what you want to do from the outset. Most people don't. If you ask some 40 year olds if they're doing what they thought they would be doing at 18, I would guess very few would say yes.

I'd encourage you to take your time in deciding where to go to college and what to study, even if that means waiting another year or two to figure it out. The culture or atmosphere varies greatly at different schools. At some schools the social scene is very important - everyone is in a fraternity or sorority, everyone goes to the football games, the alumni association is very active and close-knit. At others, like those that are very engineering focused, it's much more about course work. I'm not saying one is better than the other, but the experience will be very different.

Finally, we all get to decide for ourselves what a "good" job is. What makes you happy? Working with your hands? Talking to people? Making a lot of money? Influencing public policy? Take some time to think about that stuff.

Good luck to you!

[spade2you]

Here are my 2 cents.

Do you want to have fun or to you want a good paycheck?

If you're willing to do the kinds of jobs that are needed, you'll almost always be able to have a paycheck. If you're looking for a fun job, they either don't pay that well or it's hard to find employment because everyone else wants that job as well.

When I went to Creighton, I'd often drive by Dino's Storage. They had signs out all the time with fairly prophetic statements. At the beginning of every school year, they always posted one of my favorite slogans about college. Don't major in minor things.

[MJ5150]

Fun will come once you care for the necessities.

But hey, you could always tell your dad to take his money back and have a go of it on your own. That way, no one is telling you what to do. You can study what you want at a school you want to go to.

-Mike

[Mark Latimour]

I guess I have a good job, but I have to put up with a lot of crap from people who don't really understand my job: I'm a lawyer!