kurt213

iTrader: (5)

Whats up guys.....I was gonna post this in another forum, but I decided to post it here hoping some of you could relate more and be of more assistance. I need a new career. Right now I am an IT Specialist. Thats what I went to school for, but I really do not like it at all. I have a decent job, but I absolutely dread work every day. It has become really bad. I work at Penn State University. I live about an hour away though, because it is crazy expensive to live in State College....so the drive every day sucks as well. I wouldn't even necassarily be against another computer job, although I would really prefer an entire different career path honestly. I work with THE most nerdy, geeky, yuppy, up tight boring people you could imagine. I get looked down at and pushed around because I don't have a masters...and I'm really just fed up with it. I have applied to every other Penn State job internally, but so far no luck. I really would like to do something I enjoy, but there just isn't anything around here. Something with cars would be great, but I have no mechanical degree, and the few shops around here don't pay **** anyways. I love music and play guitar...but that isn't going to get me anywhere. I also think my true gift is writing. I have always been very good in all aspects of that (writing, editing, poetry, blogs, you name it)....but really I have no idea how a person would even pursue something like that. Even a position in construction or something would be ok....but it has to pay good. My biggest problem is I can't go back to school. I have my own place, a fiance, my car, credit cards, previous student loans etc. Going back to school just isn't an option. And I would need to find something that pays well also. I am just completely up in arms as to what to do. I've definately thought about moving somewhere more prosperous...but my fiance has a good job she doesn't want to leave...and it would be really quite difficult for us to both find a position in the same place and make that transition...not to mention we have all of our friends/families here. There is jusy NOTHING around here. Sorry if I bored you....just needed to vent really. Any advice or help would greatly be appreciated....thanx guys.

Sean

take your skills, go into the air force as as officer, get a job with a top secret clearence, perhaps in inteligence.

when you get out you will be able to get a job somewhere like the CIA, and you can get your revenge on them there nerds

DaytonaRoadster

iTrader: (2)

99% of people hate their job, just remember that. I'm kinda stuck as you are, so i really dont have any advice. Good luck though

Nic@CiNcity

iTrader: (93)

Try your own start up. Is what you do something or can be something others would need? Maybe you can start a Pen State blog or news column. There might be others that are trying to do the same thing and could use your help? As an avionics technician with many years experience and all the required paper work to get me hired on at any airport in the world fixing electronics, I too was/am just like you. I started waking up dragging my feet and getting annoyed by the people around me more and more. I felt snappy and wanted to bite the head off anyone who said something I would have normally just let slip off my shoulder. That's when I took my talent for doing headlights to the next step and I'm so glad I did. I work at my "real" job less and less and am able to support my family more and more. Plus, I LOVE being at home and being able to set my own pace and have a beer while doing it

Don't give up my friend. But don't settle either. Stick it to the man and follow your passion!!

drivenCSZ

iTrader: (2)

dont you get free tuiton for working at Penn State?

kurt213

iTrader: (5)

I would love to start my own thing....but I'm really not sure what I could do. Theres really nothing that I'm "Great" at that would result in any money....not to mention there is just no market for anything around here. Penn State offers 75% off tuition, but I really can't go back to school...nor do I really want to.

j.arnaldo

usajobs.opm.gov, FOR MOST FEDERAL JOBS. cbp.gov, FOR CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION (NOT Border Patrol, dude!) Good pay, health plan, fringe
benefits, perks, travel on TDYs, etc. I'll be retiring on Aug. 'O9, after 3O yrs. + (Air Force, IRS, INS, and, finally, CBP). Good luck!

dfresh713

iTrader: (2)

try a different company... every company has a different feel to it.

kurt213

iTrader: (5)

Yea, I'm trying. Theres just not a whole lot going on right now. It's not even the company. Penn State is actually a really good place to work. I just HATE this position...I work with such freaks. I guess I just wish that I could find something I actually enjoy. But it looks like I'll just have to suck it up....I'll keep applying to internal jobs and hopefully something will come through soon.

rotchcrocket04

iTrader: (12)

Haha, oh man am I glad I read this thread!

I graduated 2 weeks ago with my Associates in IT. However, I've been working in the field (as an IT Operator) for about a month or so now. Just from what you've been saying it sounds like I'm alot like you... not as much of a computer nerd like everyone else I'm working with. I go out on the weekends with friends, work on cars (all the time), and love to be social. Everybody I work with plays WoW or has NO social life whatsoever. Which, I'm not gonna knock anybody for liking what they like, thats fine, but damn take a break once in awhile!

Regardless, I am beginning to realize that IT is great and I love computers and all technology crap, but I really don't think I want to work in the field.

Here is my issue though. Going back to school isn't a problem. I'll go back to my part-time job (which I'm still working on the weekends) and go back to school full-time for my Bachelors. However, I went to a tech school for my Associates and almost no credits will transfer to a University. :-( Therefore, if I want my Bachelors, I'm looking at 4 more years and another 4 years of tuition.

I could have the option to transfer to a local University around here with enough credits transferring from my old school to start two years in. However, the main course I would have to take would be programming... I love IT but I hate programming. I just don't get it, I'm sure I would be alright in school... but would never really understand it like some people do.

I'm torn. I feel for ya...

kurt213

iTrader: (5)

Finally....someone who can relate!!! lol I hate programming too....never really got it. I think it requires a different breed of people or something. They do make good money though (bastards). I also don't really mind working with computers at all....it's actually nice....it's just the damn people. I've had quite a few jobs in my life including some really shitty ones. But at every one of my previous jobs I was able to make friends, socialize, joke around..and have a decent time. It's like a different world here...you can't even have a conversation with them. When they found out I was buying a Z they made a flow chart to show how much I would be paying extra on premium gas and told me to buy a Honda Element. They don't like sports, music, they don't even have cable or go out on weekends or anything. I honestly can't even be myself at all at work, and it gets really old.
My advice to you would be to find something you really enjoy and go back to school for that. I would if I could, but it's just not an option for me. I have been around "cool" IT's before though, so it's not like theres no jobs in the field that would be ok. I'm just going to keep applying elsewhere and hopefully something will happen soon.
Where you located? We should go drinking one of these weekends lol Where did you attend school?

trodis

Try consulting. I got my BS in CS and know what your talking about. Now that I consult I hang around ppl who know their sh*t, but have social skills so crutial in this type of job. I travel all over the world and am able to expense almost anything. I really like my job. We have an "onshore" center in Uniontown, PA.

TheOtherRob

iTrader: (14)

OP, Im right there with you. I am still in school for my associates in IT, I will graduate in December. As of now, Im already felling like this is not going to be something I want to pursue. I actually quit my seasonal job to look for any entry level IT job and Ive been out of work for about a month now and I still cannot find a job. Ive applied to every help desk job around my area. I think that it really does take a specific type of person to work in this field. The more I learn the more I wonder if I will be able to cram all this into my head. As of now Im applying to every government job around since they are the only ones with benefits and decent pay around this area. Hell, you can start out at a postal office and make 18 dollars an hour to start, plus full benefits and 401k, paid vacation...ect.. And once your in, your set. Its either that, or a cop.

AroundMyHorn

iTrader: (9)

There a lot of "dorks" in IT. There are even more in programming. It's a bottomless pit.

jason794502

wouldn't really help with your career path, but day trading (you can really just trade for the first 10 minutes after market opens) is a really simple way to make a couple thousand extra each month, as long as you are readily available at a computer when market opens. it's probably the easiest way to make money i've ever come across, and doesn't require much capital to get started. For extra money it really is too easy, however trying to earn enough to use as your primary source of income is a bit more diffiicult.

kurt213

iTrader: (5)

Jason, I have many times thought about this. What has always stopped me is the fact that I know NOTHING about it. Could you offer up some advice as to how to get started and be successful? Thanx

rotchcrocket04

iTrader: (12)

Yeah, same here. My friend's brother (living in San Diego) does this on the side. He has a killer full-time job out there but doesnt start working until the middle of the day. However, he wakes up and does day trading for a few hours to make extra cash... it surely has paid off well for him.

Although, I wish I knew what he does about it!

jason794502

Without any prior knowledge of trading, an easy way to start is to get a book similar to "Day trading for dummies" to learn the basics, as it would take too long to explain through posts. Secondly, you'll need trading software, you can even use e-trade.com for that these days, or there are many other software packages that allow you to view the market and trade in real-time (it must be in real-time as you will be purchasing and selling in a matter of seconds). Third, you will need capital to make your first trades, how much will depend on what you invest in, I started with only $500.

The general idea is pretty simple, the vast majority of movement in the market happens in the first 10 minutes after the market opens, and there are even some pretty easy indicators as to what is going to move when the market opens such as reports on trades executed after the market had closed (if 10,000 shares were purchased the night before, chances are the stock is going up the second the market reopens). There are many other tip offs as to what will happen, as well as simply investing in products/services/companies you know about. For example I made some good money when blackberry was first introduced through Research in Motion or RIMM on the market. I think we all knew it would be a hot product, so I confidently invested.

Finally, just keep up to date with the market through online research and I've also found newsletters to be helpful. I even know people who pay quite a bit for newsletter subscriptions written by successful traders, who will tip off their subscribers to their own investments.

Hope this helps.

roxtarinc

iTrader: (3)

start one of those essay writing websites.

people pay you per page for essays. good money.

surfcity40

tmi