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Career help/advice

post #1 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:10pm
Thread Starter 
I know there has been a couple of these already so thanks in advance to anyone for taking the time to read and reply. My situation: I turn 30 shortly, single dad, unemployed, with an Associate of Arts from community college. I worked as a computer tech as a stop gap until figuring out a real career once leaving the military. I never figured out what to do and wound up chasing computer job after job, now the pay has been considerably cut for the same job or the requirements are out of my reach; time to restructure. I'm looking for something I can accomplish within the next 2 years since I would like to have things sorted out around the time my daughter starts going to kindergarten. I have only a passing interest in computing and no will to continue pursuing it as a career. Any suggestions are welcomed. Have half a brain, will travel.
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post #2 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by r... View Post
I know there has been a couple of these already so thanks in advance to anyone for taking the time to read and reply.

My situation:
I turn 30 shortly, single dad, unemployed, with an Associate of Arts from community college. I worked as a computer tech as a stop gap until figuring out a real career once leaving the military. I never figured out what to do and wound up chasing computer job after job, now the pay has been considerably cut for the same job or the requirements are out of my reach; time to restructure.

I'm looking for something I can accomplish within the next 2 years since I would like to have things sorted out around the time my daughter starts going to kindergarten. I have only a passing interest in computing and no will to continue pursuing it as a career.

Any suggestions are welcomed. Have half a brain, will travel.

Said it before, I'll say it again, even though just about everyone shits on the idea: you can become a registered nurse (RN) with a two year college program. Your starting salary will be well over what the average US family of four earns. You can get a job anywhere in the country, there will always be a demand for you, and need in the job market will only inrease.

That's pretty hard to beat for two years of community college.
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post #3 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:16pm
What certifications do you have? I don't understand why you're still a tech?
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post #4 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:28pm
Registered Nurse is a great career and can be very lucrative if you can get into a good hospital. My friend just graduated NYU with her degree in nursing and got a job at Columbia Presbyterian hospital. She received a $10,000 signing bonus and makes between $60,000-80,000/year depending on how much overtime she works.
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post #5 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Piobaire View Post
you can become a registered nurse (RN) with a two year college program.
I know you mentioned PT in another thread. Is one better than the other upside wise? I mean you can own your own practice in PT, where do RN's go outside of hospitals?

Quote:
Originally Posted by GQgeek View Post
What certifications do you have? I don't understand why you're still a tech?
1. Entry level Apple cert (ACHD or something)
2. Long story short, never applied myself at being more than a passable tech. Kept chasing 3-6 month contracts. My greatest asset as a tech is making users feel OK about knowing that I cant fix their issue. LOL
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post #6 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:44pm
Nursing. Good career, lots of options, plenty of mobility to live wherever you want.

After becoming an RN, if you get some more schooling for a BA or BS, you can move up into nursing administration. So there is career advancement as well. Plus specialty areas within nursing.

Honestly, I can't think of a better ROI for education than nursing. Strangely, paramedics require the same amount of schooling (2 year degree) and have a much lower income.
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post #7 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by r... View Post
I know you mentioned PT in another thread. Is one better than the other upside wise? I mean you can own your own practice in PT, where do RN's go outside of hospitals?


I have some friends in PT. There is a movement towards a doctorate type degree in PT. Much of that group wants to compete with chiropractors that are allowed to do a lot of soft tissue work on their own. PTs need a physician prescription (not sure if this is in every state or not).

Many programs are switching / have switched to doctorate level degrees already.
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post #8 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:50pm
I think Physician Assistants are also a great choice for a career. 2, 3 years of schooling and

From wikipedia "According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), in 2008 the mean total income for physician assistants working at least 32 hours per week was $89,987. Physician assistants in emergency medicine, dermatology, and surgical subspecialties may earn between $100,000 - $200,000 per year."

I think you have greater autonomy than a nurse and a higher job satisfaction than a RN although maybe less than a RNP (RN Practitioner).
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post #9 of 30
7/28/09 at 4:59pm
Milhouse is bang on about career progression as an RN. We offer large scholarships for working RNs to continue on with their education.

Indesertum gives a good option, but PA will require a prior background that I don't think the OP will have (I could be wrong) and will probably take more than the two years. Plus, tuition is far more for a PA than a community college RN program.

I'm not saying to end with a "diploma RN," I'm just saying for a single parent, that needs to be a breadwinner, I can't think of a better route than this. You certainly go on to finish a four year degree, and become a nurse practitioner, a PA, or a CRNA.
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post #10 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:03pm
+100 on the RN route. My mother works at a hospital and insists RN is the way to go for a career, there is great demand even in this economy.
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post #11 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:12pm
Keep in mind that there is not only a huge RN shortage, but nursing faculty as well. It may not pay as well, but I'm sure you could find funding for graduate education, and there would certainly be plenty of employment opportunity.

Also, because of the faculty shortage, many schools have been turning away applicants. It may not be as easy to become a nurse as previous years, but there is a plus side. You're male. Perhaps there is a minority scholarship/fellowship you could apply for.
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post #12 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:16pm
PA school is also a graduate degree. . . meaning you need a BA or BS first.

I can think of a handful of things that require a 2 year degree for a decent job, lots of them are in medicine in some way; nursing, paramedic, imaging/rad tech, surgical tech, etc. Of course, things like fire science, hazmat tech, etc are also 2 year degrees.

IMO, nurses have the best career progression, stability, and ROI.
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post #13 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milhouse View Post
I have some friends in PT. There is a movement towards a doctorate type degree in PT. Much of that group wants to compete with chiropractors that are allowed to do a lot of soft tissue work on their own. PTs need a physician prescription (not sure if this is in every state or not).

As I mentioned in another thread, my sister is a PT. She told me a while ago that the association is pushing for some more autonomy and that they want to be able to write certain prescriptions and [I believe] to be seen without a referral.

Quote:
Many programs are switching / have switched to doctorate level degrees already.

My sister graduated with a masters. I think her program then switched to a doctorate. She had to do additional time (while working) to get the doctorate accreditation which she said she did "just cause" as it didn't net her any extra pay. Nothing significant at least.
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post #14 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:19pm
To go another track, lots of community colleges have something available in accounting. You won't be a CPA, but it gets you a steady income and a stable job. Again, you can work in more education to lead to a BA/BS and eventually a masters degree if you want to progress.
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post #15 of 30
7/28/09 at 5:59pm
In addition to the nurse route there is also the tech route. One of my sisters started as a surgical tech before progressing in her eduction. Another worked as an Xray/CT tech before moving on.

Both 2 years and the xray/ct had more work than people and she would pick up per diem work (as they call it) at any number of hospitals in the Boston area. She worked as much or as little as she wanted for pretty good money if I recall correctly.
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