So, what SHOULD I do to make a living?

[ChiliPalmer]

I seldom come into the General Chat room, but it seems everytime I do there is another thread about why being a lawyer is a poor choice.

This parallels life. Pick any career field, and you can find fifty people who will tell you you're a fool for considering it.

It seems no one is happy anymore. It's hard to get a feel for how much of the misery is endogenous and how much is exogenous.

If you were to start over today, what would you do and where would you do it? To make this realistic, please take into account any known educational and financial constraints (i.e. student loans, etc.).

 

[Svenn]

I'm a recent law grad and am very fortunate in that I have family connections to find employment, but even so I wish I had chosen to be a doctor. Doctors are always useful and in need in any situation, and while the debt is huge, the exams and studying are trying, I think I would have enjoyed that career more than my prospective law career. That being said, I'm not sure I would have been smart enough to get through the medical training, and the 3+ years of residency would probably be kind of bleak. At least with lawyers we have one bar exam and then it's over, doctors I believe have like 3 similarly potentially career-ending exams spread out over several years.

 

[Milhouse]

In the US, with the way things are going these days, I would say a safe bet is any career that requires a physical presence. Bonus points if it appeals to the fact that people are consuming less now then before.


Computer programmer? No. . . easily outsourced
Radiologist? No. . . easily outsourced

Trauma surgeon? Yes. . . must be right here right now
Auto mechanic, plumber, nurse, welder, etc.

 

[ChiliPalmer]

Originally Posted by Milhouse

In the US, with the way things are going these days, I would say a safe bet is any career that requires a physical presence. Bonus points if it appeals to the fact that people are consuming less now then before. Computer programmer? No. . . easily outsourced Radiologist? No. . . easily outsourced Trauma surgeon? Yes. . . must be right here right now Auto mechanic, plumber, nurse, welder, etc.
Good points.

 

[sho'nuff]

let me just say this, it is 'passion' and 'drive' that will make anyone successful in anything they do. i mean anything. yeah go into something like finance, or real estate, or law , or what have you due to your economic means, your wanting to make a good living and so forth that is fine, and is understandable and human to choose based on that due to the circumstances of this world. but once you head that direction, dont change course too many times as you hear negatives about any one particular course you are taking in life. you will hear negatives about EVERYTHING. there are downfalls to every single occupation you see out there. they all have a sense of 'grass is greener' once you are in there looking out. those who continue to look at the negatives and fickle their mind over what they are getting into or are in already, they usually are the ones who will not last.

go into it or stay in whatever you do or aspire to , with passion and a drive, that will pull you through all the thick and thins, and the bear markets and the bull. yeah, it is cliche sounding above isnt it? but it is the truth and if youre 20s it sounds cliche, but once you reach my age you will find it is shockingly true.

 

[SirSuturesALot]

Originally Posted by Milhouse

Trauma surgeon? Yes. . . must be right here right now

Unfortunately, "right now" as in get the hell out of bed and come down here right now.

 

[Milhouse]

Originally Posted by SirSuturesALot

Unfortunately, "right now" as in get the hell out of bed and come down here right now.

Official translation = "job security"

 

[TGPlastic]

1. HVAC technician

2. Barrista

3. Tax lawyer

4. Adjunct non-tenure, short-contract English professor

5. Some new media ****

6. Gay Appreciation fluffer

7. Valet

8. Social worker

9. Palliative care specialist

10. Manage old folks home and related services.

 

[Harold falcon]

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for corrections officers is projected to increase by 16 percent by the year 2016.

Become a prison guard. As we continue to throw more and more of our population into prison we will always need people to watch them. Unlike being a cop or a social worker you generally don't need more than a high school diploma and if you work it right you can make some money on the side sneaking drugs into the joint for inmates and even get some ******** from them if you work it right.

 

[ChiliPalmer]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

Become a prison guard. As we continue to throw more and more of our population into prison we will always need people to watch them. Unlike being a cop or a social worker you generally don't need more than a high school diploma and if you work it right you can make some money on the side sneaking drugs into the joint for inmates and even get some ******** from them if you work it right.
I'm surprised it took so long for the thread to devolve into inane stupidity.

 

[razl]

Take a tip from this guy No, I don't mean open your own soda-pop store (though I doubt I'm the only one who would like one of those in my neck of the woods!) but rather do what you love. It's almost impossible to be successful (let alone happy) doing something that you either don't really care about or hate. It sounds simplistic, but true.

 

[Albern]

Originally Posted by SirSuturesALot

Unfortunately, "right now" as in get the hell out of bed and come down here right now.

Well, at least the Modena Spyder is still warm.

Says the surgeon at the hospital I use to be a board member of.

 

[Star]

Originally Posted by sho'nuff

let me just say this, it is 'passion' and 'drive' that will make anyone successful in anything they do. i mean anything. yeah go into something like finance, or real estate, or law , or what have you due to your economic means, your wanting to make a good living and so forth that is fine, and is understandable and human to choose based on that due to the circumstances of this world. but once you head that direction, dont change course too many times as you hear negatives about any one particular course you are taking in life. you will hear negatives about EVERYTHING. there are downfalls to every single occupation you see out there. they all have a sense of 'grass is greener' once you are in there looking out. those who continue to look at the negatives and fickle their mind over what they are getting into or are in already, they usually are the ones who will not last.

go into it or stay in whatever you do or aspire to , with passion and a drive, that will pull you through all the thick and thins, and the bear markets and the bull. yeah, it is cliche sounding above isnt it? but it is the truth and if youre 20s it sounds cliche, but once you reach my age you will find it is shockingly true.

To be commended. One of the most intelligent posts I have read on this forum...

 

[Benzito]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

Become a prison guard. As we continue to throw more and more of our population into prison we will always need people to watch them. Unlike being a cop or a social worker you generally don't need more than a high school diploma and if you work it right you can make some money on the side sneaking drugs into the joint for inmates and even get some ******** from them if you work it right.

This is semi-accurate, but there is a growing movement to privatize large chunks of the penitentiary system in some states - that means shifting to private for-profit companies to watch the inmates. The primary way they intend to make a profit is by cutting out the number of guards - less insurance and liability, no pension contributions, screw the unions, etc.

Separately, if you can hack it, I've never heard of a dentist ***** about their career. They all work four days a week, golf the fifth. You buy someone's practice and assume their book of clientele and as long as you don't ******* up, the practice is paid off in seven to ten years. The only risks are infidelity (your wife won't like it when you hire super hot and young hygienists) and easy access to certain pain killers. Oh yeah, and you sometimes have to deal with bad breath up close.

 

[stewartu]

Read a book called "What Now?".