[quote]BH6 wrote:
I can hook you up with a job that will get you 13 weeks in South Carolina or San Diego, then some job training and you will end up working overseas. You might even get to go on a ship and see europe, or asia, or perhaps the sunny, beautiful middle east.
You have a bachelors degree, so I can also get you 10 weeks in Quantico, Virginia with another 6 months there, then some job training and some overseas work.
The pay is good, the benefits are good, and chicks dig the uniforms and scars.
Semper Fidelis[/quote]
You make that sound really good!
I’ve looked into the Air Force and Navy. I also had looked into the CIA, FBI, NSA, US Marshalls and DEA. Only problem with some of them is that I would have to move to DC. I’m not sure if I would survive there. But since I’m going for the DC seminar, I’ll get a chance to see it and ponder that thought.
I didnt read all of the above posts so forgive me if someone already said this, but how about work as a police officer(state or city)?
You have a college degree and have to be in at least decent shape, so you are already ahead of the curve. Police work in many areas pays well(top pay for me will be around $90,000 before overtime when we settle our new contract. That is for a line officer, not supervisor).
Also, many of the pd’s have good work schedules that allow you plenty of time off for other pursuits. And as much as I bitch about all the problems I face with jerkoffs(crooks and cops alike), the job really does allow you to do some good in the world.
Nate,
My post was mostly tongue in cheek, but if you are interested in the Marines I will get you any information you want. Officer or Enlisted, I have been on both sides.
I have an idea that you might like. When I was looking for a job after I graduated school I volunteered with Second Harvest Food Bank in Florida. They had guys drive their trucks from the warehouse to all the food shelters in the area, or to pick up donations from restaurants/businesses. I went on a delivery with one of the drivers. He loved his job because he felt like he was really helping out in the community. Doubt he made a lot, but it was enough for him to live off of.
I only thought of it because you said you’d take a job with FedEx. You could probably drive during the day and be a personal trainer a few hours at night (its not like driving around town will wear you out)
FYI, hard to get hired as a driver by UPS/FedEx. However, easy to get hired as a unloader/loader/scanner at a warehouse for 10 bucks an hour. They promote the reliable workers to drivers. One summer between school years I worked for FedEx unloading trucks 3 hours a night for 9.50 an hour. A few of my coworkers were just doing unloading/loading until they got hired as drivers. You could probably take a short shift at one of these places and see what your chances are at becoming a driver.
[quote]Nate Dogg wrote:
I’m willing to move. Sell my car. Sell all my belongings. Just so I can eliminate as much debt as possible or “stuff” in my life.[/quote]
At the risk of sounding simplistic, this may be what it takes. Reading your post, it sounds like, besides not liking your current employment situation, you struggle with making the bills. If you are able to reduce/eliminate your financial obligations that are related to borrowing, you will free up cash flow that can be put toward reaching your goals.
Once you have some bank in the bank, the prospect of opening a gym or whatever will seem less remote. When you control your money, instead of the other way around, the world tends to open up (I speak from experience; I could have written your post a few years ago).
I would think that, with a degree and some background in PR/marketing, you would be in demand for a variety of careers; it may just be time for some creative thinking. I assume, since you studied it, you get some enjoyment out of relating to people in a business capacity. Where can you put that to use? Well golly, probably pretty much anywhere, right?
Bottom line, if I were you I’d be focusing on aggressively paying down debt. This may be a higher priority than finding a new job. Struggling with debt can be far more depressing than slaving away at a job you hate (again from experience).
Anyway, Happy Thanksgiving, don’t forget to remember your blessings and I’ll see you at the “Fest”.
I’ve worked for FedEx and it isn’t as hard as you think to get hired and move up. It is a great compnay, they provide exellent benefits (even to part-timers), and they will pay for school. My advice to you is look at getting on as a handler, you only work a couple of hours a day (usually in the morning), and wait for a driving job to open. Most of the part-time driving jobs are easy to get, and then once you have proved your-self (typically over a month or so), you will be offered full time.
[quote]Nate Dogg wrote:
I’d most likely need to find stuff in my field of study since I’m not trained/certified in other areas of interest.
[/quote]
Some of the fields you’ve expressed interest in are highly specialized and would require further education HOWEVER…
I know numerous people who received specific degrees and now have jobs that have nothing to do with their degree!
So your background is in PR…that seems like a huge benefit. From everything I have gathered over the years of reading your posts and what people have to say about you, you’re a hell of a people person.
Some of the essentials for making it in business seem to be who you know and what you say.
I encourage you to use all your resources possible. Everyone here seems eager to help you. Then I guess just be you.
Have you ever considered an outside sales job?
There are undoubtedly plenty of crap sales jobs but there are also mannny good ones.
I am constantly learning about businesses that I didn’t even know existed, lots of which need sales people.
Benefit of a sales job is it is usually based in a territory (not necessarily where the company is headquartered). You might be able to find an opening in an area you enjoy.
Also, for sales, all you need to learn is the company’s products and they will most likely pay you to do that.
I have a friend who took an entry level sales position in Orlando for a medical diagnostics equipment company. His base is $35k, makes commission, has a $350/month car allowance, a $200/month mobile phone allowance, and gets reimbursed for just about everything including wiping his ass!
Whether any of that helps or not, keep your head up and keep hustlin’.
Oh and on a side note, if you got a job with FedEx, that’d be awesome!
The FedEx guy who deliverd in my college town was enormous!!! He had thighs and calves so big that people jumped out of his way on the sidewalk.
My friends car was stuck in a snow rut one time and like Superman, FedEx guy shows up out of nowhere. He jumps out of his truck, asks if we need help and pushes the car out himself. Definetely sweet.
I could see you doing that and kicking ass at it.
And plus, you might get to deliver some Biotest stuff.
[quote]lucky_swami wrote:
FYI, hard to get hired as a driver by UPS/FedEx. However, easy to get hired as a unloader/loader/scanner at a warehouse for 10 bucks an hour. They promote the reliable workers to drivers. One summer between school years I worked for FedEx unloading trucks 3 hours a night for 9.50 an hour. A few of my coworkers were just doing unloading/loading until they got hired as drivers. You could probably take a short shift at one of these places and see what your chances are at becoming a driver.
[/quote]
I couldn’t afford to do that as mentioned earlier. I make twice as much as they would be paying me, and I’d only be working part time for a year or so before making it to a full-time driver. If I had no bills and didn’t need much money, I’d go that route. But I can’t survive on $150 a week, even if I was doing personal training on the side (I still need to get certified before I can truly start training others and charging).
[quote]Fonebone wrote:
At the risk of sounding simplistic, this may be what it takes. Reading your post, it sounds like, besides not liking your current employment situation, you struggle with making the bills. If you are able to reduce/eliminate your financial obligations that are related to borrowing, you will free up cash flow that can be put toward reaching your goals.[/quote]
I have been working on reducing/eliminating debt all year. However, when I was unemployed during March - May, it didn’t allow me to pay extra on my credit card (I was barely make it each month). If I had not been unemployed, that debt would now be paid off. That is my main debt at the moment. I’m putting $1,000 a month on it to pay it off as quick as possible (luckily it’s a zero percent interest credit card and has been for all the stuff I’ve put on it). It’s just taking longer than I had hoped. And I can’t afford to move out until I do pay that off.
Other than that, my main monthly bills at this time are:
Car payment - $405
Storage unit (for all my furniture and belongings) - $105
US Dept of Edu loan payment - $98
Car insurance - $70
Cell phone - $50
Food and gas - $300-400
Misc. - whatever I have left after paying the above and putting $1,000 on the credit card each month.
So I’m down to the bare minimum. The only thing saving my ass is the fact that I’m not paying rent since I moved in with my dad in Feb. when he was diagnosed with cancer. I only planned on staying with him until he got better, and I had a chance to pay off my credit card. He’s now getting better (so I could leave anytime now), however, I can’t afford to move until the credit card is paid off or unless I get another job that pays more.
The other issue is that I make okay money (even though it’s a $6K paycut from my last job), but I don’t enjoy my job. I’m doing fund-raising for a nonprofit and my area of expertise is public relations/communications. So I don’t enjoy what I am doing for them. That’s why I want out. Also, the fact that I should be making more money is the other reason why I am looking elsewhere.
I completely agree and that’s what I’m striving for. At this point, it’s going to take me about four more months to have my credit card paid off completely.
Yes. And I am looking!!! Like I said, I’ve interviewed for at least a dozen jobs that were right up my alley since February. But none of them have turned out. I’ve made it to the last interview with the top 2-3 candidates, and then it was offered to someone else. These jobs all offered more money, better benefits and a better chance to grow and do something I enjoy.
I missed this thread until today. For several days I’ve been neither here, there, nor anywhere … long story. I’ll ring you in a little while. Hang in there.
Wow! Well, I won’t go point-by-point responding to your post, but will say that, from my perspective (I know, my perspective and $3 will get you a beer in a lowbrow tavern) you are kicking ass! Once your credit card is gone that extra $1,000 a month will change your life! As far as job searching, I wish I had some sage advice, but I don’t. Have you tried looking in south Florida? The job market here is quite strong. But then you did say that you have been edged out by locals in your out-of-town searches, so maybe I’m blowing smoke. Hang in there, man.
Many hospitals offer programs where if you get your lpn degree, they will pay for your your schooling to get the RN degree. Basset Hospital offers lpns the chance to do their schooling at the hospital 10 hours a week and works them the other 30.
Sounds like you are in a bind. If I can make a couple suggestions (some of which you might not like)…
If a change of career requires specialized training, you just need to suck it up. I know plenty of people that are going to school full time and working full time jobs (these people already have bachelor degrees as well). It sucks, but if it will open up the doors you need, you just need to do it.
Rather than simply looking at Monster, Career Builder or any of the other job sites, why don’t you target a few companies you want to work for and proactively approach them? If there are companies you like in Gville, the best way to get into them is to begin networking and try to meet people that already work there (it is surprising how many people you probably already know through your current job/activities). Once you have a few contacts, they can help you navigate the terrain. This is a higher probability approach to getting a job.
As a UF grad, you can access the Career Resource center. As mentioned in a prior post, just because your degree is in PR, it doesn’t mean that you aren’t qualified for other jobs (i.e., marketing would be one). The director of career placement usually has his/her finger on the pulse of who is hiring (and of those, who is desperate).
Along the same lines, if you still keep in touch with some of your old professors, they often have contacts and know of people hiring, both in your field and others.
Bottom line - you have lots of options if you want to work for someone else (there are even more if you want to work for yourself, but that’s a separate discussion). It is time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get rid of the “I’m in a rut” attitude and adopt the “I’m going to find the perfect opportunity” attitude.
Sorry to be so blunt, but hopefully some of this may help.
If a change of career requires specialized training, you just need to suck it up. I know plenty of people that are going to school full time and working full time jobs (these people already have bachelor degrees as well). It sucks, but if it will open up the doors you need, you just need to do it.[/quote]
As mentioned, this may be a possibility. But like I said, the programs I am interested in studying are 40-hour a week programs. You can’t work 40-hours a week on top of that. Well, I’m sure some people would. But I’m not going to add more stress to my already stressful life.
[quote]- Rather than simply looking at Monster, Career Builder or any of the other job sites, why don’t you target a few companies you want to work for and proactively approach them? If there are companies you like in Gville, the best way to get into them is to begin networking and try to meet people that already work there (it is surprising how many people you probably already know through your current job/activities).
Once you have a few contacts, they can help you navigate the terrain. This is a higher probability approach to getting a job.[/quote]
I already do this and have been doing this since February when I first began going all out with my job search. It’s not what you know but who you know. And even though I know a lot of people and network, it doesn’t mean you’ll be selected for the job when it comes down to the final three.
I realize that my degree is also fit for marketing, communications, fund-raising, sales and related areas. I’m already checking into all those areas. However, sales is not my thing and something I’m reluctant to do. It would have to be for the right company to make me want to do sales.
I know about any related job that opens up in town thanks to my contacts. However, this doesn’t help me out of state or in another city. As I mentioned earlier, if you don’t live in the area, they will most likely pass you over for someone who does. Sad, but true.
[quote]Bottom line - you have lots of options if you want to work for someone else (there are even more if you want to work for yourself, but that’s a separate discussion). It is time to stop feeling sorry for yourself and get rid of the “I’m in a rut” attitude and adopt the “I’m going to find the perfect opportunity” attitude.
Sorry to be so blunt, but hopefully some of this may help.[/quote]
I know my options and I’m investigating others. I don’t feel sorry for myself, I’m just looking for a way out. I’ve been through many interviews for jobs I wanted, but someone else was hired. I just keep trucking along and look for the next best thing.
But that doesn’t help me get out of a job/career that I’m not interesed in at the moment. Going to work each day when you hate being there isn’t a good thing. Sure, it pays the bills, and I’m doing the job. And they have given me rave reviews for my work with the agency. But it’s not what I want to do.
I wish I could offer you some real advice, but the best thing I can tell you is you know where I live when you need to get away.
But really think through the emt/firefighter thing. Long hours on shift can really wreak havoc on you. Are you really prepared for that? Talk to firedawg and the other fighters on here before you really think about it seriously.
I know you’ll pull through this. You’re smart and resourceful. I think careers are kinda like chicks - you have to stop chasing them.
One final piece of advice. Have you tried a career counselor? a REAL one? There may be better paths you’ve not considered.