[Off The Reservation]

OP

You have a lot of great replies here about the context but not so much about the "doing" or actual choices of careers.

You gave 4 examples of the doing. Teach, fly, engineer, trainer.

If you don't really want to teach no salary will make this a good choice for you.

If you actually want to fly go out to your local airport and take about $150 with you and take ONE HOUR of flying lessons. Every flight school in North America will give you an intro lesson. Its great to fantasize about being an airline pilot but you are thinking about an "end" that is very very far and many flight hours away. So go take that first step and first hour then at least you will have flown an hour which is substantially better than just imagining it.

Engineer. Don't assume that if you do this study you are stuck in some suburban hell of a terrible life just because some people around you like this path. Do you like the "doing" of engineering? I have a friend who is an engineer who started his own underwater construction firm, and oh by the way he owns his own plane so there!

Trainer. Have you ever trained someone or is this another idea on how to get out of town?

Good luck, but think of the DOING or the actual activity then design the context later. Not the other way around.

[Off The Reservation]

(08-20-2015 03:18 PM)Col Mortimer Wrote:  

I think Sigma is right on with the Military option. 4-6 years is really nothing. Plus if you play your cards right you'll be traveling a lot too.
I personally would look at the AF since you have an interest in flying. But either the Navy or AF you can fly planes. Crypto school would work too but it sounds like you'd rather not sit at a desk. There are a ton of career options in the service, and you'd get a lot of experience in a short amount of time. At a minimum it's worth checking out to see what options are out there. Just keep in mind the recruiter will promise you the world, and bug the living shit out of you afterwards. Big deal. Frankly, I'd say it's one of the best paths out there for young people now. Particularly if you're not keen on paying for college. They basically pay you to learn stuff.
Also, keep in mind flying isn't as lucrative as it used to be.

I am just curious what is your experience with this?

[jake1720]

College is overrated unless you want to go into a specific field. If I were to do it again I would probably do a MechE at a cheap school and get high grades. You can really do anything with that.

[Cortés]

Thanks guys for the responses. What I've been researching recently is online bachelors degree programs, mostly with comp sci/software engineering. It's cheaper, I could travel anywhere while doing it and its not a huge time commitment so I could bartend/teach english on the side. Does anyone have experience with online degree programs?

[Onto]

I know a guy who's a Physical Therapist and he traveled and worked around the world. His profession also brought him into contact with lots of hot girls who he helped "rehabilitate". Met his wife that way.

I think if you're a good Physical Therapist with great references you could write your ticket anywhere you want.

If I could do it over again, I would probably go with that instead of Computer Science which tends to be a very isolated-from-the-public kind of work.

I don't have any experience with online degrees, but some companies (especially start-ups) don't even care, so long as you have the programming chops. Take a few online courses, do some self-study and you could be at the hiring level in a year, if that's the route you want to take.

[Sexus]

(08-10-2015 10:41 PM)Sigma Wrote:  

Just throwing this out there but have you thought about the military? Before you say anything let me give you a possible military scenario.

Join the U.S. navy as a cryptologist. Which is supposed to be spy shit but basically it means you sign a six year contract, 2 of which you are in school learning a foreign language. Not sure which are available but I know for a fact Chinese and Farsi are options.

Pros
1.You get paid to learn a foreign language.
2.Your job is to sit in an air conditioned room and listen to audio files that the Intelligence community has collected and translate.
3. You have more than enough time to get a 4 year degree, on the Navy's dime.
4. You can save a decent amount of money.
5. You will get stationed overseas.
6. You may finagle a signing bonus because it's not a job anyone can get into.
7. You pick up a new language.
8. You get Top Secret clearance which costs around $50,000 (don't quote me on this figure) to get in the private sector (makes you an attractive prospect to future employers once you get out)
9. Health benefits
10. VA loan you can get for a house in the future with 0% interest, since you're interested in investing.

And, additionally... for Pros:

11. You are "protected" by the Navy/Mil.
12. Navy/Mil women are usually solid 6 through 7.5.
13. Navy/Mil partying is fun.

And... for Cons:

3. You have to CYA at all times due to the new Navy/Mil sexual harrassment bs.

All of these numbers aside, I would not recommend any uptake or career in any branch of the armed forces if you do not love your country.

NOTE: vet army diver with cross navy training... went in as a medic, came out as a wtf.... I do computer programming now in non-microsoft languages for upper echelon health care systems across three countries.

[Khan]

(10-04-2015 01:31 PM)Onto Wrote:  

I know a guy who's a Physical Therapist and he traveled and worked around the world. His profession also brought him into contact with lots of hot girls who he helped "rehabilitate". Met his wife that way.

I think if you're a good Physical Therapist with great references you could write your ticket anywhere you want.

If I could do it over again, I would probably go with that instead of Computer Science which tends to be a very isolated-from-the-public kind of work.

Good advice. I'd say that if we think of career choices on a global scale, long-term, we have to consider that the word population is continuously increasing. From this, two conclusions come to mind:

1) The number of old and/or sick people is increasing world-wide. A logical conclusion would be that anything health-related (directly or indirectly) is a good career choice. Medicine, biotech, pharmacy etc.

2) Increasing population means higher energy needs, making engineering with a focus on energy another good choice. Nuclear, solar, wind power...

In my opinion, picking a profession from one of these two fields and specializing in it would make you competitive anywhere.

[Tytalus]

Here's another idea. My coworker has a son.

The son started his Electrician Apprenticeship training in High School. You can do that where I live, but not everywhere. Spent his 4 years getting his journyman's ticket. He worked for a year or two in the industry. Then, after getting ticketted, he worked evenings and weekends a bit doing home installs while he put himself through Electrical Engineering school.

After graduating, he then got a job back at the same company he was an Electrician for. He got a very good, well position for a "junior" engineer since he was the only one in the company with the hands on electrician training. The kid is now onto getting his P-Eng. Something I'm thinking I might do for my kids.

[Lacesoutray]

It's great that you have a bunch of different thoughts about this...pretty mature of you.
But you'll find that your priorities will change even in the next few years...

Just on quick thought - you should probably do some combination of this...
Go to college and study CS...then after you graduate, or in parallel, in your final year, get your English teaching cert, and GTFO and go travel and teach for a few years after University...

[Col Mortimer]

(09-30-2015 12:30 AM)offthereservation Wrote:  

(08-20-2015 03:18 PM)Col Mortimer Wrote:  

I think Sigma is right on with the Military option. 4-6 years is really nothing. Plus if you play your cards right you'll be traveling a lot too.
I personally would look at the AF since you have an interest in flying. But either the Navy or AF you can fly planes. Crypto school would work too but it sounds like you'd rather not sit at a desk. There are a ton of career options in the service, and you'd get a lot of experience in a short amount of time. At a minimum it's worth checking out to see what options are out there. Just keep in mind the recruiter will promise you the world, and bug the living shit out of you afterwards. Big deal. Frankly, I'd say it's one of the best paths out there for young people now. Particularly if you're not keen on paying for college. They basically pay you to learn stuff.
Also, keep in mind flying isn't as lucrative as it used to be.

I am just curious what is your experience with this?

I have a lot of friends that do and and have done this. I almost did this myself but pulled out at the last minute. I still think it's a great option, but to each his own.

[puckerman]

(10-04-2015 01:03 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

Thanks guys for the responses. What I've been researching recently is online bachelors degree programs, mostly with comp sci/software engineering.

For god sakes, why are you doing "comp sci/software engineering"?

[lowside]

how good are you at math?

[Cortés]

(10-07-2015 04:01 AM)puckerman Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 01:03 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

Thanks guys for the responses. What I've been researching recently is online bachelors degree programs, mostly with comp sci/software engineering.

For god sakes, why are you doing "comp sci/software engineering"?

It seems like a better option to get a degree remotely because I can do it from anywhere and its cheaper. Software engineering I can also easily do it anywhere.

(10-07-2015 01:16 PM)lowside Wrote:  

how good are you at math?

Im barely staying afloat in honors math (advanced placement, IB, whatever) so Im alright at it. What do you suggest?

[TopPanda]

I did my CELTA earlier in the year. It was fun but when I came back to the UK potential employers gave precisely zero fucks about having that on my resume. English teacher is more lowly than janitor here. By all means do it as a job for a year or two, but it's not a career.

When people notice my CV they see my PhD and my time spent living in China. Aim for both if you have the opportunity.

I've also had a 17 year career in IT, I actually self taught myself HTML and JavaScript and it sort of grew into becoming a technical architect/all round guru. I've had a lot of fun in my career, although IT is very cyclical. If you're a geeky introvert, do programming. If you're more outgoing then get into management.

The only good thing about the CELTA is it improved my social skills enough to land a job in the City of London which is a dream come true to work amongst the alpha-est alphas on the planet (male and female).

[puckerman]

(10-07-2015 01:36 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

(10-07-2015 04:01 AM)puckerman Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 01:03 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

Thanks guys for the responses. What I've been researching recently is online bachelors degree programs, mostly with comp sci/software engineering.

For god sakes, why are you doing "comp sci/software engineering"?

It seems like a better option to get a degree remotely because I can do it from anywhere and its cheaper. Software engineering I can also easily do it anywhere.

And so can anybody else. You are going to compete with everyone around the world for a job.

[Cortés]

(10-07-2015 08:35 PM)puckerman Wrote:  

(10-07-2015 01:36 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

(10-07-2015 04:01 AM)puckerman Wrote:  

(10-04-2015 01:03 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

Thanks guys for the responses. What I've been researching recently is online bachelors degree programs, mostly with comp sci/software engineering.

For god sakes, why are you doing "comp sci/software engineering"?

It seems like a better option to get a degree remotely because I can do it from anywhere and its cheaper. Software engineering I can also easily do it anywhere.

And so can anybody else. You are going to compete with everyone around the world for a job.

Good point. On your first post in this thread you liked the idea of teaching English, but after further research English teaching isn't really sustainable financially without a degree. Are there any other paths that you think are a good option?

[Off The Reservation]

What's the latest, OP?

[Cortés]

Offthereservation,

Im actually thinking about joining the navy for a few years. It'll give me more time to think about what I want to do as a career, which is most likely becoming a pilot. The navy would pay for flight school so that would be more easily attainable. Ive pretty much ruled out the idea of teaching english. Its not a practical career path and in moat countries I would need a college education.

[Off The Reservation]

did you go to the airport and do that one hour yet?

[Cortés]

No im saving up for a car. Im looking into intro lessons at local airports and ill probably do one after I buy a car.

[britchard]

^ You learning manual or automatic bro? I've just learnt manual.

[Cortés]

Manual. Its tough at first but now i can be more flexible with the cars that i can buy

[puckerman]

(10-08-2015 04:17 PM)Cortés Wrote:  

Good point. On your first post in this thread you liked the idea of teaching English, but after further research English teaching isn't really sustainable financially without a degree. Are there any other paths that you think are a good option?

I realize I post a lot of negative comments about computer science. That's because I work in this industry.

Whatever career path you take, talk to people who actually work in the career. Some will tell you they love their jobs. Others will tell you they hate their jobs.

Find a career that requires your actual physical presence. That way, your career won't be shipped overseas.

[Cortés]

Hey guys, Its senior year for me, I'm getting to the point we're I actually need to make a decision on what to do with my life. The last post on this thread was back at the start of the year, 9 months ago, and a lot has changed since then, so I think an update would be good.

When I first posted this thread, I was mostly focused on traveling while I'm young. But in the past few months, I've realized how much better off I would be if I work my ass off while I'm young to make money and live the good life traveling with a solid bankroll by my late 20's. With that being said, i still plan on traveling a solid amount while im young, but only small chunks at a time.

For the greater part of the summer, I was strongly thinking about navy or airforce. My plan was to enlist for 4 to 6 years and save ad much money as possible and develop passive income in real estate. I still think this would be a great option, but ONLY IN THE CASE THAT TRUMP IS PRESIDENT. If Hillary gets elected, fuck that, I don't want to go to war with Russia. Additionally, I would be living with dudes in a dorm room for all of those years, I still wanna enjoy those years somewhat.

What I'm leaning more towards as of the last few weeks are the trades. I'm not really sure which one yet, but either plumbing, electrical, carpentry, or welding. Getting paid on the job training is appealing, and even though apprenticeship training isn't lucrative the first few years, I'd be able to get along financially. Also this option has some independence to it. In pretty much any region in the US I'd be able to get an apprenticeship. I'd probably move to Chicago or really anywhere in the midwest area. I'd probably own my own business after I finished my apprenticeship, so I'd be able to take months off once or twice a year and travel. This is my most likely route, as of now, but who knows what I'll end up doing.

The only thing certain with my plan: within a week of graduating, I'm going to travel for a month or two to get traveling out of my system temporarily. But I'm pretty confident I'll go into skilled trades

[Renton1875]