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Career thread from some random loser (Long post)
Lankysean
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
Here comes another career thread from me.
Here's a real quick run down on me and my life:
I'm 28, I work at a commission based retail job and I hate it. I've failed out of collage 3 times and I have no idea what I am doing with my life. I've always had crummy jobs and have never made over $36,000 a year even when I was working 3 jobs. I'm not very smart and I don't really have any confidence in myself or my abilities... which is weird because people around me often consider me to be very smart and knowledgable. I am always the "go-to" guy at work, regardless of the company, people always come to me to ask questions... even my superiors.
The situation:
Due to some recent work frustrations stemming from a crappy boss, the upcoming holiday season, and moderate depression I've decided to either make a change or accept my crappy career path and take that as far as I can. If I decide to keep my current career I do plan on changing venues from technology into something a little less... economically dependent (I'll get into that a little later). Now obviously collage is almost a prerequisite when it comes to getting any sort of decent job, but I don't really want to throw money away giving collage another shot when I've already failed so many other times. Some of my family have recently suggested online collage, but I feel that they aren't worth the money and aren't as well respected as brick and mortar schools, anyone have any opinions when it comes to this? Another thing to consider, if I was to go to school what would I even go for? I don't understand how people make up their minds when it comes to picking a major/career. I see people who have all this passion when it comes to their job and I just don't have it.
Like I said, I could keep my current career path and stick with sales. I know retail isn't ideal however there are ways to make a decent money selling things. One way that struck some interest with me was actually brought up to me by a customer of mine, and she actually offered me an interview if I wanted, was to get into selling funeral services and related items. She claims that she can make as much as $1,000-$3000 per sale depending on the plot, casket and mark up... which is a fair bit of change. I'm seriously considering this as, other then some basic product training I should be able to jump into the position... plus people are always dying so it should be a pretty steady business unlike the technology industry that I'm currently in. I'm also considered to be a very honest and trustworthy sales person which leads to a lot of repeat business and very positive sales results. I may even go for this position and once I get settled in work at getting back into school if I can ever figure out what I want to do with my life.
Long story short:
I'm depressed and fed up with my current life and career path. I have no drive or passion for my career and I'm wondering how other people seem to know what they want to do when that's never been the case for me.
Any and all suggestions, tips tricks or real life experience will be appreciated. I would also be open to any and all suggestions about other possible career paths for some random educationally challenged loser. I will try and check this thread as much as possible but I tend to forget since we can't set up automatic email notifications like we used to... or I don't know how to.
Here's a real quick run down on me and my life:
I'm 28, I work at a commission based retail job and I hate it. I've failed out of collage 3 times and I have no idea what I am doing with my life. I've always had crummy jobs and have never made over $36,000 a year even when I was working 3 jobs. I'm not very smart and I don't really have any confidence in myself or my abilities... which is weird because people around me often consider me to be very smart and knowledgable. I am always the "go-to" guy at work, regardless of the company, people always come to me to ask questions... even my superiors.
The situation:
Due to some recent work frustrations stemming from a crappy boss, the upcoming holiday season, and moderate depression I've decided to either make a change or accept my crappy career path and take that as far as I can. If I decide to keep my current career I do plan on changing venues from technology into something a little less... economically dependent (I'll get into that a little later). Now obviously collage is almost a prerequisite when it comes to getting any sort of decent job, but I don't really want to throw money away giving collage another shot when I've already failed so many other times. Some of my family have recently suggested online collage, but I feel that they aren't worth the money and aren't as well respected as brick and mortar schools, anyone have any opinions when it comes to this? Another thing to consider, if I was to go to school what would I even go for? I don't understand how people make up their minds when it comes to picking a major/career. I see people who have all this passion when it comes to their job and I just don't have it.
Like I said, I could keep my current career path and stick with sales. I know retail isn't ideal however there are ways to make a decent money selling things. One way that struck some interest with me was actually brought up to me by a customer of mine, and she actually offered me an interview if I wanted, was to get into selling funeral services and related items. She claims that she can make as much as $1,000-$3000 per sale depending on the plot, casket and mark up... which is a fair bit of change. I'm seriously considering this as, other then some basic product training I should be able to jump into the position... plus people are always dying so it should be a pretty steady business unlike the technology industry that I'm currently in. I'm also considered to be a very honest and trustworthy sales person which leads to a lot of repeat business and very positive sales results. I may even go for this position and once I get settled in work at getting back into school if I can ever figure out what I want to do with my life.
Long story short:
I'm depressed and fed up with my current life and career path. I have no drive or passion for my career and I'm wondering how other people seem to know what they want to do when that's never been the case for me.
Any and all suggestions, tips tricks or real life experience will be appreciated. I would also be open to any and all suggestions about other possible career paths for some random educationally challenged loser. I will try and check this thread as much as possible but I tend to forget since we can't set up automatic email notifications like we used to... or I don't know how to.
Lankysean on
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Posts
On top of that, it seems like you're good at sales and despite your own assessment other people seem to think you're damn good at it too.
Get a better sales job. With your experience and assuming you aren't over 45 years of age I'd say that you'll probably find non-retail sales wildly refreshing and invigorating.
Some people know exactly the career path they want to go, most people are judged by where they are at at a particular moment and it was just that they happened into the position. The experience lined up at the right time as opposed to knowing and planning the path to take (some do don't get me wrong).
I agree with TCB-- I'd say go for it! I think if you do even passably well at commissioned sales you should look into commissioned sales opportunities outside of retail, where you're constantly stuck working shitty hours and competing with other coworkers.
Uncanny Magazine!
The Mad Writers Union
Then it's a career
That makes a lot of sense actually, I wonder what type of positions I could find or how I would go about finding them, the obvious option is car sales but I can't say I'm super into that. I was just at work actually, and I think my biggest issue with my current job, other then the low pay, is the customers that I deal with. A lot of them don't speak english and are hostile about the fact that I don't speak whatever language they do. Another problem I get is a lot of our customers are unbelievably argumentative... they love to argue about every little thing and never take responsibility for their problems. Anyway, I'm on a complaining tangent, I suppose I could start looking into less retaily.... I just wouldn't know how to get stated.
Its relatively easy, every school offers it, and virtually all business and government offices need them.
Its a decent low stress white collar job that has livable wages and openings anywhere in the country.
You can do pretty well with just a 2 year Accounting Associates Degree I'm told.
Oh, and stay away from the online school route. You end up paying 3 or 4 times as much for a degree that most places won't consider a real degree. Its ok for things like getting an MBA, but is a poor choice for your primary degree path.
Thanks for the advice, I'd say thats a pretty decent plan other then I totally suck at all types of math. I'll still put that down as a possibility.
You'd be surprised how little math is really used in accounting.