ITT: Waht Should I Do From Here?

[Khayembii Communique]

I posted another thread a while ago and summarily got bitched out about being entitled and whatnot. I'll skip the whiny crap this time and get right down to it.

I have a BS in Civil Engineering that I got in 4 years with a 3.0 GPA. I have a major in Economics that I got in 1 year with a GPA around 4.0. I've been members of all the major engineering organizations (ITE, ASCE, EWB).

While in school I worked for 3 years at the IT department being a supervisor in technical support. While it was a student job, it had a lot of responsibility. After I graduated I got a job working in the retirement industry, which is what I'm doing now. I'm basically working in a call center answering questions people have about their retirement accounts (401k's, 401A's, 403B's, 457's, etc...). I'm FINRA Series 6 and 63 licensed.

I recently paid off my only debt - one semester's worth of student loans - by selling a ton of stuff on eBay. I managed to rake in $4,000 in like 3 months to get it paid off. Now I only owe my parents for a semester but don't have to pay that until like 2015, and I'm sure they'd let me defer it if I have a good reason.

I hate my job. My company treats me like a cog. They pay me terribly for what I do. I didn't even get a raise, even though we're expanding like crazy. 95% of the people at my work that are in my position are looking for a new job. I want out. I think I could be making much more, and have a much more satisfying job, than I am here.

I'm not really sure where to go from here. The Civil Engineering industry is still pretty fucked, as construction hasn't really picked up and the largest customers - governmental agencies - are having their budgets slashed. So Civil Engineering doesn't seem viable at this point.

I have a degree in Economics and a year of experience in finance, particularly retirement plans and tax, as well as the FINRA licensing, so moving into some kind of finance job sounds like a possible route.

I have a lot of experience in customer service and IT stuff, though I don't have a degree, so I'm not sure how possible it is to get a position in there.

I also have management experience so I could definitely handle a supervisor position.

Because I have zero debt I'm also interested in starting up some kind of business and being able to eventually support myself independently (at least if I don't get a job that I enjoy).

So where do you think I should go from here? I think I want to get a new job just to get out of my current position ASAP, because every day at this place really is just stressing me out like crazy. Any suggestions on that? Also, any suggestions in terms of moving towards starting up some kind of business?

Was thinking about buying a house and living in the top and renting out the bottom for starters, I think in a year or two by the time I'm prepared to do it that it will be the optimal time to buy. But I don't really want to just do that.

 

[kjamesuvic]

Ever thought about becoming a financial planner? I know the requirements here in Canada are pretty easy to attain, not sure about the US. I'm in my 3rd year right now doing a BS in Econ and planning to do the CFA program after I graduate. Since you already have two degrees and some work experience in finance, you could probably get the CFA charter within 3 years.

Financial Engineering is also a viable option. Not sure about the path you would have to take from here, but if you're good enough at it you can make a killing. This genius who graduated from my university went to do his PHD program in physics, and when he finished that the Bank of France hired him to be a financial engineer. I think he makes like 1million+ per year.

Whatever you do, quit your current job.

 

[Matt]

why not work abroad? i'm no expert on civil engineering, but it does seem like something the world needs....maybe not your neighborhood particularly...but in any number of developing countries...

 

[yeungjai]

Don't listen to him. At least, not for all of it. For all that you don't like about your job, you still have one. Looked at unemployment stats for the US, men, and particularly men between the ages of 20 and 30 lately?

If you're inclined to something along the engineering front though - you may want to consider doing something like a CFA. The CFA and CMA designations are what I see most often as segways into financial analysis back-office positions. Financial planning and investment advisory is more front-office and involves considerably more sales and less analysis.

As for your other options, I'd conduct a search in this board. There's been a few similar threads floating around.

Originally Posted by kjamesuvic

Ever thought about becoming a financial planner? I know the requirements here in Canada are pretty easy to attain, not sure about the US. I'm in my 3rd year right now doing a BS in Econ and planning to do the CFA program after I graduate. Since you already have two degrees and some work experience in finance, you could probably get the CFA charter within 3 years.

Financial Engineering is also a viable option. Not sure about the path you would have to take from here, but if you're good enough at it you can make a killing. This genius who graduated from my university went to do his PHD program in physics, and when he finished that the Bank of France hired him to be a financial engineer. I think he makes like 1million+ per year.

Whatever you do, quit your current job.