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View Full Version : Which career should I choose? Plz help me!



coolblue
July 26th, 2005, 03:58 PM
Hi all
I'm really having a hard time deciding which career I should go for. So I thought why not ask for your opinions:)

Right now I'm considering many options...

1) Web developer (I seem to like it),
2) Bioinformatics (I like biology),
3) Open source developer (do they get paid or its pure volunteer work?),
4) Perl programmer (how good is this? I seem to like perl)
5) Setting up an acupressure/homeopathy/alternative medicine clinic:) (I like helping people)
6) Some kinda sport (how abt surfing, tennis, cycling champion etc.? Any ideas? This attracts me a lot bcoz its got many benefits like excellent fitness plus money etc. But is it TOO LATE TO BEGIN? I've not been into any kinda sport...was quite shy & sheepish in school)

As you can see, I'm attracted to all of these in varying ways....and so I'm going nuts!! I could have done bioinformatics but I think that if I do it, I'd somehow subtly be promoting that life is the outcome of unguided evolution (while I'm inclined to intelligent design & purpose kinda things)??

Plz guide me!

If there are any career options other than these that you'd like to suggest, PLEEEEZ PLEEEZ PLEEEZ you are MOST WELCOME!

I'm in dire need of suggestions! BTW I'm 21.

Personally I'd like to have a job which is not too sedentary. Sitting from 9 to 5 would be so awful! By the way, why not have a thread here where everyone says what he or she is doing?

ALL SUGGESTIONS ARE MOST DEARLY WELCOME:)

Thanks a lot...hope no one minds my CHILDISH post!

Contented Kubuntu user

dataw0lf
July 26th, 2005, 04:08 PM
If there are any career options other than these that you'd like to suggest, PLEEEEZ PLEEEZ PLEEEZ you are MOST WELCOME!


Batman. I hear the pay is terrible, but the benefits are great.

sonny
July 26th, 2005, 04:13 PM
I think that is one of the most important decission to take in our lifes... I mean this is what you are going to do for the rest of your life, I don't think we can help you, cuz our answer will be bias towards our own tastes and likes, you should go to an educational psycologist (if that's the proper name in english) and he/she will help you finding your career.

somuchfortheafter
July 26th, 2005, 04:14 PM
if you are good at keeping a fasade infront of people i recomend the medicine one you chose. then tell people linux will help them, also take time off to voluntarily develop oss...

BWF89
July 26th, 2005, 04:29 PM
6) Some kinda sport (how abt surfing, tennis, cycling champion etc.? Any ideas? This attracts me a lot bcoz its got many benefits like excellent fitness plus money etc. But is it TOO LATE TO BEGIN? I've not been into any kinda sport...was quite shy & sheepish in school)
Don't pursue a career in sports. It's a really tough world that's extremely hard to get in and you can only play them for a few years until you become too old.

pmj
July 26th, 2005, 05:01 PM
I wouldn't worry about that. If he fails in sports, he can always become a rock star.

Stormy Eyes
July 26th, 2005, 05:11 PM
Plz guide me!

I hope nobody minds me paraphrasing Ayn Rand, but your first mistake lies in asking for advice in the first place. None of us can tell you which career path is best for you because we do not know you. Know yourself, and decide for yourself.

pietro_spina
July 26th, 2005, 05:33 PM
Personally I'd like to have a job which is not too sedentary. Sitting from 9 to 5 would be so awful!

Don't worry about having a job that doesn't give your body exercise.... do something that stimulates your mind... You can always go for a jog in the morning if you want...

-p

UbuWu
July 26th, 2005, 05:35 PM
Get rich, fly to space and start your own linux distro! :grin:

maruchan
July 26th, 2005, 05:43 PM
Coolblue, it sounds to me like you'd make a good teacher, with all those attributes:

-You like helping people
-You don't want to sit down all day (bonus if you do PhysEd)
-You enjoy science; always a need for good science teachers (compsci/biology/etc.)
-You use Linux and are, by extension, valuable to schools looking for tech help.

Pay isn't the greatest, but then, that's not on your list. Plus, if you're good with money at all, you can retire *nicely*, as some relatives of mine have done. Here in the U.S. (not sure where you're at), you get a lot of time off during the summer.

I taught for an after-school program once, and it was incredibly fun and worthwhile. I got to help kids out (using open source software!), their parents loved me, and I still hear back from kids I taught. *Very* rewarding. Plus the program director insisted on paying me an equivalent professional rate :D

Anyhow, regardless of what career you choose, you should really take time to interview people in that profession. Ask them for five minutes of their time, then ask about the pros and cons of their work, why they do it, etc. I did this when I was thinking of becoming an architect, and *boy* did I find out fast that it wasn't for me. In 5 minutes I eliminated one of my biggest question marks.

You might also check out a book called "What Color is Your Parachute?" - it has some worthwhile career-decision info in it.

Good luck!

Kvark
July 26th, 2005, 05:53 PM
Nobody here can tell you which path to choose and what to do with your life.

Just don't corner yourself into one narrow thing. Be flexible and make sure you have backup options. The world changes fast and you never know when a new invention might render a proffesion obsolute. Would suck to know only telegraphy when telephones became popular. Or only web design when dreamweaver reaches a point where any secretary can make websites just as easily as word and excell documents.

maruchan
July 26th, 2005, 06:32 PM
Or only web design when dreamweaver reaches a point where any secretary can make websites just as easily as word and excell documents.

This will just become a time saver for real web designers. Same thing happened with Desktop Publishing, and suddenly...

...real designers were still in high demand :)

poofyhairguy
July 26th, 2005, 07:54 PM
...real designers were still in high demand :)

Web design is different. Since the publishing costs are low, people care less that they publish crap then in books. Plus, in the web world you have to compete against templates. Only the best of the best can survive as web designers, the glammor of that job died in the 1990's. Its a bad idea.

I have a different advice: you are 21 correct? Whats your education level? If its anything less than college, all of your efforts should be focused on getting more schooling.

A undergrad degree might not be worth much, but it could help you decide this question and will ensure that you COULD make enough to live confortably in the future.

A lot of the jobs you mentioned, developing and medicine, will be a lot easier to get in if you have a degree. I don't know where you live, but in any part of the world a higher degree can open doors.

Don't worry about a carreer yet, get your ass in college. If you are there, ask the career advisors- thats what they are paid to do!

maruchan
July 26th, 2005, 08:56 PM
Web design is different. Since the publishing costs are low, people care less that they publish crap then in books. Plus, in the web world you have to compete against templates. Only the best of the best can survive as web designers, the glammor of that job died in the 1990's. Its a bad idea.

I have to respectfully disagree. Web design may become obsolete over time, but it won't be because of templates. Templates are in the same boat as clipart. People who just want to get it done quick will use them (maybe you are in this group?). People who want it done right and/or lack confidence will hire a designer. Designers generally don't want to touch people in the first group with a 10-foot pole anyway.

I install a lot of CMSes for people, and while templates are nice, as soon as the client's sales/marketing team sees them, they immediately want to hire someone to make a new template. People expect to be unique nowadays. And most web designers would rather design templates anyway (rather than whole websites), since no one is asking them to do development work.

Assuming these two things:

-As a "web designer", you actually have design skills
-You have no problem adapting to changes in technology

...it's not a bad way to start a career at all. In fact, it's no different than any other career. People moan about how it's going to be gone in a few years. Well, in the meantime, make some money off of it!

I work with a woman who is still a 100% print-only designer, and she is in high demand because she has a good reputation, and works in a very nice niche. She makes enough money that every time I explain a new technology toy to her, she buys it. :D (speaking out of jealousy here)

...sorry to derail the thread.

benplaut
July 26th, 2005, 09:19 PM
network admin, preferably at a school :cool:

carlc
July 28th, 2005, 02:19 AM
Coolblue, it sounds to me like you'd make a good teacher, with all those attributes:

-You like helping people
-You don't want to sit down all day (bonus if you do PhysEd)
-You enjoy science; always a need for good science teachers (compsci/biology/etc.)
-You use Linux and are, by extension, valuable to schools looking for tech help.



I like this advice. You could ever pursue a Ph.D. and teach on the college level. Many college professors are also able to do extra work on the side (e.g. programming, web design).

maruchan
July 28th, 2005, 02:43 AM
My Mom used to tell me that our relatives who were teachers did quite well during the great depression in the '30s, while everyone else did not-so-great.

I'm not sure why that is, but hey, bonus :)

Omnios
July 28th, 2005, 03:22 AM
Choose carefully, choose something you love doing and are not going to grow to hate because you are going to be doing it 8 to 10 hours a day 5 to 6 days a week.

From experience when I was helping my sister manage her mailer data base I found out there is large money in data base based web sites and crative flash but its long hours of hard work. If your good at it you will never be out of work. Key words there is if your good at it. Could also be the makings for a good small buisiness. Also if I remember correctly one of the sites she made which was huge netted in the 10s

Ride Jib
July 28th, 2005, 03:27 AM
I recommend going into porn. Although you may develop some interesting bacteria, you will be one of the few geeks who actually get to use their instruments. And I hear the pay is pretty good too.

jerome bettis
July 28th, 2005, 08:08 AM
I hope nobody minds me paraphrasing Ayn Rand, but your first mistake lies in asking for advice in the first place. None of us can tell you which career path is best for you because we do not know you. Know yourself, and decide for yourself.
/thread

sunwave
July 28th, 2005, 09:06 AM
Coolblue, it sounds to me like you'd make a good teacher, with all those attributes:

-You like helping people
-You don't want to sit down all day (bonus if you do PhysEd)
-You enjoy science; always a need for good science teachers (compsci/biology/etc.)
-You use Linux and are, by extension, valuable to schools looking for tech help.

Pay isn't the greatest, but then, that's not on your list. Plus, if you're good with money at all, you can retire *nicely*, as some relatives of mine have done. Here in the U.S. (not sure where you're at), you get a lot of time off during the summer.

I taught for an after-school program once, and it was incredibly fun and worthwhile. I got to help kids out (using open source software!), their parents loved me, and I still hear back from kids I taught. *Very* rewarding. Plus the program director insisted on paying me an equivalent professional rate :D

Anyhow, regardless of what career you choose, you should really take time to interview people in that profession. Ask them for five minutes of their time, then ask about the pros and cons of their work, why they do it, etc. I did this when I was thinking of becoming an architect, and *boy* did I find out fast that it wasn't for me. In 5 minutes I eliminated one of my biggest question marks.

You might also check out a book called "What Color is Your Parachute?" - it has some worthwhile career-decision info in it.

Good luck!
1) Web developer (I seem to like it),
Sitting from 9 to 5 would be so awful!

3) Open source developer (do they get paid or its pure volunteer work?),
Sitting from 9 to 5 would be so awful!

4) Perl programmer (how good is this? I seem to like perl)
Sitting from 9 to 5 would be so awful!

Stay the following Jobs:

2) Bioinformatics (I like biology),
Cybertechnology will have a Future in my Opinion. And perhaps you'll develop Human Memory-Extensions or any oder Cyberparts that will enhance Human live.
5) Setting up an acupressure/homeopathy/alternative medicine clinic (I like helping people)
Medicine is for me one of the most responsible Job, because you're working on humans live. Your Fault will be the fate of someone else. Keep in Mind...
6) Some kinda sport (how abt surfing, tennis, cycling champion etc.?
Think it's a little bit to late exept golf or cycling there is a relative high-zenith-age

But if you like Information Technology and you like to keep in Touch with other People work as System Administrator (for helping people in Support) or you would like to be IT-Project Leader. Find out the firms need and develop solutions for their opportunities (there are no problems!) and you could help in such different ways.

But only you can give your Question the answer of what you want to be. We may inspire you and give you some ideas.. but it's YOUR Choice and your opportunity to grow-up and take over the responsibility of your live.

Remember:
Everyone is the smith of his own fate..

Hope I gave you another point of view.. Keep on going gather information as lot as you can. And then build your own oppinion. Decide. AND Action...

sparks0548
August 29th, 2007, 08:54 AM
In my opinion and this is just my opinion if you hate sitting from 9 to 5 then any desk job isn't going to be for you.

This is what I am currently facing. I enjoy working on my system and doing programming and being proactive in Ubuntu, however working in IT for the past 12 years has burnt me out. Sitting inside an office looking out the window. I'd rather be outside, and have a career that afforded me more time with my family.

My recommendation is find something that you enjoy as long as money isn't your motivating factor. My old man told me when I was a kid you can do something that pays poorly that you love, or something that pays well and you end up hating. Sometimes you luck out and can have your cake and eat it too.

In my experiences in the Sys Admin and Engineering roles it didn't afford me much time with my family and kept trying to stay on top of the latest technology.

For me at this point in my life, I'm going to be a cop or a firefighter where I can spend more time with my family, be closer to home and work on computers & Linux as a hobby. It's a big jump and the pay isn't so hot but at least I can be outside, involved with people instead of strapped to a desk with my headphones on. It gets old after a while.

I would make a list of what you want and don't want in a career. Things you are willing to sacrifice and things you can't. Talk to folks in their career field. Try an internship somewhere in a field you are interested in and use that as a guideline to make your decision. Purely asking others what they think YOU should DO, isn't honest to your feelings on what's important in a career. Interface, network, take notes on your impressions, and research.

I was watching the tv show Scrubs the other day and most of the characters didn't know what they were getting themselves into. The pay wasn't good, especially when paying off college loans and the hours were almost unbearable, yet they sacrificed their time to help others.

salsafyren
August 29th, 2007, 09:27 AM
If I were you I would choose a field where your work varies a lot, ie. you don't do the same all day long.

I just quit my job as a programmer because the job is too boring. You just sit in front on the screen all day long and type at the keyboard. Of course you talk to colleagues about the work but that is not that big a part of the job.

I'm now pursuing chemical engineering (hopefully the work will be more fun) and I can keep playing around with computers and Linux at home.

Working with programming professionally made me sad.

jgrabham
August 29th, 2007, 09:40 AM
I hope nobody minds me paraphrasing Ayn Rand, but your first mistake lies in asking for advice in the first place. None of us can tell you which career path is best for you because we do not know you. Know yourself, and decide for yourself.

Shht, Ive just started reading her stuff, don't ruin it.

OP - Im 15, and Don't have a clue what Im doing at the end of this year. - Your not the only one who doesn't have a clue. :lolflag:

forrestcupp
August 29th, 2007, 01:58 PM
I'd say you should become one of those guys that climbs radio towers to replace burnt out light bulbs. That would be a fun job.

Sporkman
August 29th, 2007, 02:48 PM
Bioinformatics.

Sporkman
August 29th, 2007, 02:51 PM
Shht, Ive just started reading her stuff, don't ruin it.


I read "Atlas Shrugged" about 10 years ago. It was one of the worst books I've ever read, but I couldn't stop reading, it was like a slow-motion train wreck.

Her writing is basically a bunch of ultra-right wing ranting & raving, flimsily wrapped in a story with laughable characters & dialog.