Let's talk careers

[Southpaw]

-What do you do for a living?
-Do you like it?
-Did you need a degree for it?


Just curious! I have my degree in veterinary technology and I'm working as a vet tech, but I am thinking about going back to school for something... I just don't know what that something is. Would be interesting to see what others here do and how you ended up there.

[Lyzelle]

I currently work online, I don't mind it, and I don't need a degree for it.

Otherwise, I'm looking to end up as an Equine/Canine Repro Specialist and/or Equine/Canine Geneticist. Just need to get past the Vet and Animal Science degrees.

[CaliTerp07]

What I do: I teach middle school algebra and algebra remediation

Do I like it?: Oh my gosh, yes. Most days, at least. Some days the kids drive me batty, but 9 times out of 10 I come home busting up laughing at something they did or said. Proof: http://middleschoolsafari.blogspot.com/ It is a ton of work--I was at school for almost 12 hours today, came home and put in another 2--but the rewards when a kid *gets it* are incredible.

Do you need a degree for it? Yes, and most places are leaning towards requiring a masters within a few years of starting.

How I ended up here: It was a roundabout path. I have undergraduate degrees in information systems and operations management (basically giant integrated computer systems and how to optimize them). I worked for a big 4 consulting firm for 4ish years building enterprise software systems for the military. Realized I was miserable, and that I didn't need the money anymore since I had stability in my husband (which is a huge blessing, I know), so I finally got up the guts to go back to school on the weekends for my masters and make the career switch. It's been awesome.

[Laurelin]

-What do you do for a living?

I'm a geoscience technician. So basically I work with the geologists and geophysicists on various things and maintain their data so they can interpret it.

-Do you like it?

Yes, for the most part. Some days it's a little boring and dull. It's not my 'dream job' but my teammates are mostly fun people and I enjoy working with them. The job tasks are varied enough and some challenging enough to keep me interested. A lot of it is routine data management and loading but there's also a lot of presentation making, map making, report making, working on data management systems, etc. Techs are also often (in our group) the ones in charge of the fun stuff like floor birthdays and fundraisers. Most of it is about keeping the geologists happy and being a person that works well on the team. It's really laid back a lot of the time but will get busy during certain parts of the year. And it pays decently, which is nice. Full benefits and 401k are also nice.

-Did you need a degree for it?

Yes and no. There is no degree for it although they do prefer people to have a math or science degree. A lot have bachelors in geology (because you need a masters at least to be a professional in the field). A few of the older people have no degrees but went through drafting schools and programs.

ETA: How I ended up here?

I came out of school with a math degree and not the foggiest of what to do with it other than teach. Explored teaching for a while and I'm just wrong for teaching. I knew a lady who was a geotech and she loved her job so I decided what the heck, I'll apply. Got an offer and thought it sure beat unemployment, lol. Been there a little over a year now. I'll definitely stay for some time as I'm liking the stability right now compared to life before, lol. Not sure if it will be a final 'career' for me. I keep thinking I may go back and finish my engineering degree.

[Pops2]

was a gunslinger for the Marine Corps. LOVED it. got too old & broke down, now becoming a linguist. it'll be okay if i can make some trips to the area the language is from on my own. pay will be very good. no degrees needed.

[Zoom]

Car sales; most days and nope, no degree needed.

My English degree is very lonely.

[Beanie]

-What do you do for a living? Right now I work traffic in radio during the day, do graphic design/illustration on the side, and I train dogs at night.

-Do you like it? No I hate it, yes, and yes.

-Did you need a degree for it? Sort of, sort of, and no.
I don't need any degree to do traffic and I don't need a degree to be on air either, but the current PD is really more concerned with the lack of the communications degree than with my actual talents. Or rather he thinks other people at corporate would have a problem with it so he's too terrified to do anything about it. It didn't used to be that way, and when I first got started in radio (five years ago...) it wasn't a concern, but NOW, since the economic crash, everybody is concerned with the degrees. Some talented people I know who have done radio for years but don't have a communications degree are having problems. I don't really know why it works that way but it does.
Graphic design is sort of the same way, technically it's your skills that matter. But I have seen a LOT of people insisting on a BA in fine arts or graphic design... one place truly insisted on the BA and would not even look at portfolios of anybody without it. My degree is not a BFA so I get passed over a lot, I think. Years ago people didn't care as much, but they do now... again, it seems like since the economic crash.
As far as dog training goes, nope, not really. But I would sort of like to upgrade my psych minor to a BA or BS in animal behaviour. Just can't afford it.


Truthfully I would love to train dogs and have that be my job. I taught two classes tonight and I'm exhausted, but it's a GOOD exhaustion. I feel happy and fulfilled which is completely opposite of how I feel when I leave work in the daytime... really quite different from how I feel after any job. I enjoy graphic design, it's fun, but it's not emotionally fulfilling like training is. I can't explain it. I just kind of fell here by accident. I wish I could stay.

[AdrianneIsabel]

What I do: I work as a dog trainer.

Do I like it?: Most days, some days drag on.

Do you need a degree for it? Nope but I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography.

How I ended up here: My department closed while I was a professional event and portrait photographer.

I don't plan to stay her though, I'm going back to school for my masters in education.

[Shai]

-What do you do for a living? - Enginerd
-Do you like it? - Yes
-Did you need a degree for it? - Yes

[Finkie_Mom]

-What do you do for a living? I am a profession cellist/strings teacher and dog trainer/dog walker/pet sitter

-Do you like it? Love the cello performing and dog training parts, but they are unfortunately rare still - I'm working both businesses up, but it's slow going. The teaching is fine, except for when I have to teach other instruments (violin, viola, double bass). The dog walking/pet sitting would be better if I were working for myself, and I've honestly grown to hate it a bit because of that.

-Did you need a degree for it? Nope. Not really. Though I do have my Masters in Cello Performance and my Bachelors in Elementary Education/Music, which is useful in that without even hearing me/meeting me, people feel like I actually CAN perform to a high level and teach well. My goal is to find orchestras/operas/musical theaters to play with permanently (I've only done sub work), find more weddings to play (OMG I LOVE PLAYING WEDDINGS), and do dog training when I'm not playing cello. That would be the life....