[Golden Halo]

If you dont mind I am curious to know what everyone out there is doing, and if they are happy. I am currently making at an attempt to head into the diection of a career and am wondering if I can steal some ideas so to speak. Thanks

[TheoCryst]

Well, I'm a Computer Science/Computer Engineering double major at the University of Arizona. I've got a bit of a "thing" for programming and technology in general, so it fits me. At the moment, I'm working a generic tech support position at an office building on campus. It pays decent, and I'm getting good experience. The goal is to be a software engineer someday, probably for one of the big software companies (Apple, Microsoft, etc).

How about you? Are you in college still? High school? Midlife crisis?

[Railroader]

Entering missionary work next week.

I have been:
Grocery store bagger
Pizza maker
Pizza deliverer
Dishwasher
Busboy
Waiter
Record Store employee
Art Gallery worker
Gas Station attendant
Cashier
General Assembly labor
Proctor
Draftsman
Camp Counselor
Work Supervisor
Night Security
Resident Assistant
Experimental Engineering Mechanic
Machine Repair Machinist
Retired

... and probably a few I forgot.

[Golden Halo]

I am 23 with a few college credits. I did not take it as seriously as I should have after graduating highschool. Since highschool I took a few college courses while managing a Hoagie/food joint. Then I gota full-time job detailing cars which I am currently in just to pay for my car,bills. and toys. I am still living at home with my parents also.

As for interests in a career, I would like to do something like editing using final cut. I also record my own songs using Logic so I would like to get a job in a studio. I made a bunch of hip-hop beats for a guy I work with to rap on which hopefully will turn out good.

[ghporter]

While in high school, I worked at the city pool managing (yeah, right!) the men's locker room on my shift. After graduation, I spent a while deciding what to do and eventually joined the Air Force. I spent 4 years in the AF, then got out and moved with my wife to Austin, TX, where I did commercial radio work (2-way and pre-cell mobile phones), developmental engineering technical work for a startup, temp work building desktop computers, and more commercial radio work. Getting sick of working for morons who could fire me even if they didn't know what I did for their companies, I rejoined the Air Force and served in a number of capacities for the next 19 years. I retired on Jan 1, 2005 with over 23 years of service. During that time I earned two Associate of Applied Science degrees and one BS in Computer Science. Since retirement, I've been back in school; I have one more year in the classroom, and one in the field before becoming an occupational therapist.

[Mastrap]

My first real job was as a waiter, then a hot dog salesman. School and studies on the side. Fell into advertising, starting as an intern, then as a graphic artist, then worked as an Art Director for several years in various ad agencies. After that got a job as Head of Art, then Creative Director for another agency.

Took a sabbatical and started a publishing company. Bought out my partners after two years and moved from the UK to Canada, taking the company with me. Took in a new partner who is much better at running the company than I ever was, went back to my roots and, in addition, started up an ad agency with another partner. Got some traction, build a small client base and after a year got invited to merge with a much larger agency here in Toronto who had use for our creative talents.

Am now a partner in the publishing business, which takes about 8-10 hours of my time a week, and am Creative Director and Partner in the new agency we created.

[CheesePuff]

As soon as I turned 16 I had a slew of minimum wage jobs... sales associate at Target, another one at Sears, and another one at a local hardware store.

Now I'm a police dispatcher for the county/city police agencies and a volunteer firefighter.

[OreoCookie]

I don't think you can learn much from what other members have been doing, but rather how they were doing it. Career choices are as personal as tastes in food, the opposite (or sometimes even same) sex and clothes. You may be able to change what you wear today, but that doesn't mean you can change `your style'.

I think you should try and find out what it is you want to do. Don't let others (that includes families, friends and spouse(s)) confuse you. If you don't know what you want to do, start working to get a taste of work life. My first job was cutting out paper articles for my father and gluing them onto paper for his collection (yes, he has a bit of Monk in him) and shredding old files of his law firm. Then I typed and translated stuff for him. After graduating, I worked as a sales man selling pots in a department store. Then I worked for a software company during my studies. All this teaches you the basic relation between work and money you earn, it keeps you grounded and gives you an idea how long you have to work for something. Even, no, especially if the job is totally mind numbing.

It usually gives you some idea as to what your talents are and what you want to do with them. This is something nobody else can do for you. On the other hand, don't take your major and minor too seriously, your life is not set in stone. You should definitely study what you want to and not what's currently en vogue.

I'm a mathematical physicist now, doing my phd with hopes to stay at university as a researcher and teacher. I love what I'm doing now! (Even though I don't get paid much.)

[Golden Halo]

Oreo, I understand fully what you are saying. I am more or less making this thread to see what people of the same interests (to some degree) are doing and how they like it. I figure it can be a good way to get diverse feedback and knowledge on what people are doin out there, and if they are happy with it. You nevr know if someone out there is doing something they really love and could spark an interest for me or anyone else in the same situation in the slightest way.

I appretiate the good advice on the topic and the response the thread has recieve so far.