Career help!?

Question

Ok I want to start college, I live in Washington State. I was just recently laid off and I have the opportunity to go to college or tech school. But I need to make a decide quick- like in the next two days! I need all my paperwork turned in very soon! I want to go for about 2 years and have a good job when I am done. So things that I love are - working outdoors, computers (I am a natural), I work good children, needles don't bother me so medical is ok. I also would love to work from home, make my own schedule or own my own business....so help me- what can I go to school for???

Answer 1

I worked with computers for 30 years. Pay is pretty good (I was making $72,ooo/year + benefits), overtime (without pay) stinks, and the office politics can chew anybody up.

The bad part of this career, is if you go into development of applications - sooner or later you will become a project leader. As one, you are expected to do a cost estimate and then design, built, test, and then train your client in how to use it. Clients never know what they want. And even if you write everything - with pictures of screens and reports - after they see the computer application you built - they will tell you - that you left something out (which they never told you about) and expect you to add it to the application - without charging them any extra money.

Still if you get into computers head towards something like network support or database support. There are fewer headaches.

At times you are busy, but if you get on at a large company or government office - there may be times when for weeks/months - you have little work to do.

Answer 2

On balance, you sound like you need to opt for college, not tech school. The only thing you wrote not pointed in that direction is that you want to be done in 2 years. You need to rethink that--but please read on (I'm going somewhere with this).

You clearly want a high degree of independance (not having someone looking over your shoulder every minute while you work)--and you will not get that with a tech school, nor will you have the skills for many things (especially running your own business.

But--here's the rub: a college degree means 4 years. I'm talking about a respected college--not something like DeVry or the "university" of Phoenix. But there are ways to organize your college so that you don't have to wait 4 years to get started. And one of the "best kept secrets" is that colleges have all kinds of ways to help you do just that.

These include (from quick and easy stuff up to some really involved options):
>there will be programs to learn software and internet skills--for free or costing peanuts--available that can translate into good part (or full) time jobs--training you'd pay serious moneyr outside of the college--and these are things that you can do in addition toregular classes. And the college will be likely to hire you.
>Internships and research assistant positions (You get paid, you can probably use the work you do as the basis of some of your own class work (I've done this--with professors' knowledge, prepared a version of the work I was getting paid for and turned it in for credit!) , the pay is decent--and it looks great on a resume.
>Co-op programs: these will let you start in entry level positions in the field you're going into--you can make decent money (compared to what you make without a degree), get school paid for (at least a big part of it) and get experience to bood.

This isn't jsut "nice stuff" that happens to the other guy--this is how the "system" will work for you --if you do good academically and hunt for the opportunities.

Here's a real-life example (just to show you what's possible-). A couple of years ago I had a student who was in his junior year majoring in engineering. He also had a job working--as a technical writer--at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California (one of the 3 or 4 top aerospace research labs in the world)--in other words, he was already working as an engineer (granted, an entry-level job, but that's were everybody starts)

Granted, not everyone gets something THAT good as an undergraduate. But it shows jsut how far you can go even as a student. I can't tell you what's best for you--just give you my best guess based on your question. But based on that--it sounds like the best option for you is to go for college--even though it will take longer.

Whatever you decide, best of luck to you. :)

Answer 3

A two year community college is the best deal around in general. The prices are reasonable, the teachers are expected to teach--not conduct high level research, and two years will get you a basic vocational degree. I would recommend taking a lot of computer courses along with an accounting degree perhaps. That would set you up for bookkeeping for several different types of businesses. Then you enjoyment of the outdoors or working with children could be explored.

Medical stuff is great but a lot of the really great jobs require a 4 yr. degree.

Good Luck!

Answer 4

Laid off? Join your local police force, they can't lay off police officers. I'm serious!

2 years would be an Associate's degree and honestly it may not be worth pursuing with your good work history. There are many good-paying jobs available that don't require degrees.

If you do get a degree, a Bachelor's would be best. Associate's degrees won't get you as far and are mainly for technical jobs, such as HVAC technicians, firefighters, PIs, and so on... not saying it isn't good and not saying they don't have A.S. degrees in all majors, but that's the stereotype of them. If you're going back to school, why not go back full force?

Again, become an EMT or police officer! You will be able to work outdoors and in different environments, work with computers (typing reports and running plates etc), help out families and children, and see druggies with needles!

As to the business thing, I'm dry on ideas.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

Why not look through the catalogs of the schools in your area, and choose from their list of 2-year degrees. That way you can narrow your choices right away.

Answer 6

Everybody needs a nurse nowadays. It doesn't pay much, but you would at least be able to find a job!