Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with education and career

Deciding to transition away from the legal profession-- too soon?

spicytunaroll — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 20:26:02 -0800

I'm a law student in Ontario, just about done 2 years out of 3. I absolutely hate the academic aspect of it, and I'm pretty miserable. I didn't particularly enjoy the practice experiences I've had either, at 3 different legal-aid type clinics working as a student in family law, criminal law, and landlord/tenant matters. I have invested a lot of money into pursuing this law degree. Should I be giving serious thought to finding something else to do with my life as soon as I graduate, or should I stick it out and work my hardest to try to get a paying job in the legal profession, in the hopes that I will be able to pay off my student loan debt? I'm a law student, who is almost done 2 years of law school in Ontario (2 weeks left).

I guess I'm one of those typical students who went to law school after getting a BA in Humanities, probably for all the wrong reasons. During undergrad, I wanted to go into teaching and I actually spent high school and undergrad working towards that goal. However, by the time I graduated, it turned out there was suddenly a critical oversupply of teachers in Ontario. So I took off 2 years to really think about what I wanted to do, and try to pay off my undergrad student loan debt. I graduated in the midst of that big recession which is, as far as I know, still going on. I worked some part-time service jobs (think barista, cashier, receptionist), then applied to more school. I also did some personality and career testing. I always come out as an ENFJ in the Myers-Briggs test, and both lawyer and teacher have consistently topped the list of any career aptitude test I take. I took the LSAT and applied to law school sort of last minute. I also got into teacher's college but based on job market trends, I thought law would be a safer bet.

I didn't really know what exactly the law would involve. I didn't know any lawyers who I could shadow at the time. I just had this notion in my head that getting more education would be a good thing, and that I needed practical skills to market. I also wanted to help people, so I thought I'd get a professional degree that everybody said is versatile. Lack of imagination on my part, I suppose.

I haven't done that well in law school to date-- I have a C average. We're curved to a B so this is well below average. I've gotten some As and Bs in classes that I am engaged in, but for the most part, the story of my law school academic trajectory can be summed up by a complete and utter inability to muster up any motivation for my studies whatsoever. It could be depression, but I haven't been diagnosed. I'm also not sure to what extent it could be situational depression brought on by hating law school or from the death of a close family member last year after a prolonged terminal illness.

I do feel different from most of my peers people around me, for whom it seems as if attending law school was a lifelong dream. My classmates are incredibly happy and feel fortunate to be here; they're also motivated and hardworking. There is a lot of talk about how fortunate/privileged we are to be members of the legal profession, but all I can see is an elitist, status-oriented, classist and unhappy profession, and I honestly consider the decision to attend law school to be one of the biggest missteps in my life so far.

I've spent a lot of time at school doing things that aren't academic in nature, because I enjoy being involved and I've always been an active part of my community-- things such as volunteer and extra-curricular work for causes that I care about. Not actual legal work, but advocacy work, campaigning, coordinating events/speakers' panels, fundraising for local shelters, community outreach, etc. This has led to me being sort of known in the school as a volunteer extraordinaire, and even getting awards for contribution to the school community, all while my grades suffer and I continue to get sub-par marks on my transcript.

The transcript, however, is what's most important when finding a job. The majority of legal employers do want people who can say they're interested in some charitable work, but of course grades matter more. So all the legal related work experiences I've gotten have been volunteer positions (inability to find paid work due to aforementioned poor grades). And guess what? I've hated that too, although I must have faked it well enough 'cause the lawyers I've worked with/for always say what a good lawyer I'll make, and how "we need" lawyers like me.

I do plan to finish school and get called to the bar. This whole process will take 2 more years, because Canadians have to article. This means I will graduate in April 2014, and be called in June 2015.

I'm staying in law school only because I've promised my very loving and supportive partner that I will stick it out and get the degree. Also, because I just want to work to pay off my debt over time. I'm still hoping the degree and being able to say that I'm a lawyer will be somewhat useful in finding a job-- any job! But I don't really see myself enjoying the practice of law, even if somebody did hire me in an actual legal job for actual money (which seems ridiculously unlikely with my grades).

My question is: given all of this, should I seriously be thinking about transitioning away from law at this point, or should I stick it out, do my best to get better grades next year and some kind of law job (any legal job) that will help me pay off my debt?

I'm going to be about 130K in the hole after this whole process, and my biggest priority is paying this off-- this includes 26K of undergrad debt, law school for 3 years (high tuition + living expenses), estimated fees to graduate/take the bar exams/be called, etc. I did not get any financial support from my parents whatsoever; they are lovely people who are incredibly emotionally supportive, and they let me live at home during undergrad, but they are poor.

I am tied to remaining in Ontario (the Toronto area), and there are no debt forgiveness programs available to me.

Any advice from lawyers, former lawyers, other law students, or people who have or had crippling amounts of student loan debt would be highly appreciated.

Creative jobs outside of education, possibly finance/math-related?

violetish — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 17:11:44 -0800

What jobs outside of education would fit my interests and experiences (most of which are education-related)? Are there jobs related to my math major that will appeal to my need for creative outlets in my work? I've been in education since I left college 8 years ago, including grad school (MA in math education), 4 years of teaching high school math, and 3 years of training or evaluating math/science teachers. I'm trying to find a new job since my current role ends June 1, but I've applied for several jobs and haven't been offered any. I'm wondering if a change of career paths is in order.

My family is continuously encouraging me to leave education, perhaps for finance/actuarial work, because my undergrad degree is in math (and, frankly, because they'd like me to have the opportunity to make a bit more money than I'm currently making, or would make if I returned to the classroom). Finance/business/economics seem pretty dull to me - I do really love math, but applied math has always seemed unappealing to me. It sounds like a lot of looking at spreadsheets and talking about bonds and dividends and money and statistics, none of which sounds good. I know I'm not giving it a fair shot, though, as I don't totally understand what actuaries or accountants or other people in finance do on a daily basis. I do want to expand my job search, because although I'm lucky enough to have the savings I need to be unemployed for a little while as I continue looking for a job, and although I'm passionate about math education, I definitely want to keep my options open.

I do know that my favorite part of any jobs I've had is any time when I can create something - this includes creating lessons plans and projects for students, creating systems and templates for organizing the work of my fellow teacher evaluators, and creating professional development courses, sessions, and resources for the teachers I train. It also means that I highly value any spare time I have, when I can be painting or sewing or working on building my illustration portfolio (I've had a few tiny freelance projects here and there, but nothing has really made me think this is viable as a full-time job, considering my skill level and willingness towards self-promotion). I think that if I left education, which, again, I feel really passionate about, it'd have to be for a job where I can at least feel a little bit creative on a regular basis.

So, here is the question: What jobs, if any, relate to or take advantage of my math major but also appeal to my interest in creating things at work? Or, where would you recommend I look for a job, given my experiences and background as described above? Please feel free to share your experiences transitioning out of education to a more corporate-type job!

How does one become an FBI (or similar) agent?

ancient star — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:28:57 -0800

I'm a late-twenties adult finishing my BA a little late. I'm still a little unsure as to what I'd like to do, but I've always had an interest in solving crimes. What are my options for doing this as a career, preferably NOT for a local police department, at least in the long term? So... crazy thing. I'm interested in being a detective or agent, like for the FBI or a similar agency, as a potential career. I wouldn't want to become a police officer unless it was necessary step toward that goal (i.e. if the route to becoming an FBI agent is through law enforcement). Same with joining the military.

As I said, I'm currently getting my BA. I'm attending a very good university, majoring in psychology. It would be difficult, but not impossible, to change majors because I'm attending part-time and only take six courses per year, thus any extra courses just add to the years I have left. I could not speed up my degree or go full-time. Currently my GPA is a little over 3.5 but could certainly be higher depending on how important it was to my career goals. I am also learning a second language, with an end-goal of fluency, but it's not Spanish. My current job is in research.

What would I need to do to achieve this career goal? I'm looking for any and all answers. Should I change majors? Do I need to learn more languages? What advanced degree(s) should I look into? If it matters, I could definitely submatriculate into a Masters in Criminology at my university, but again, I have no idea if that would help. Is it possible I'm already too old, or that it's too late for other reasons? I have no criminal record, not even a traffic ticket on my record.

If it matters, working for the FBI would be more interesting than the DEA, and solving murders would be more interesting than catching terrorists. I'll be around to answer any relevant questions. Thanks!

Do you have an awesome job in an awesome field? I want to hear about it

pullayup — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:45:02 -0800

As a counterpoint to this question, which educational/career tracks do offer solid job prospects and a good return on investment (both time and money), secretly or not? Please be as specific as possible, and include at least a brief outline of the qualifications you realistically need to get the job. If possible, provide some kind of corroboration.

I'm especially interested in jobs which are within the reach of most people and points of view which account for the experience of the majority of the profession (per this clarifying comment, but the inverse).

I'd also prefer answers which address changes in the professional landscape since the recession: which fields are resurgent, which aren't hiring, which are still flooded with experienced candidates scrabbling to reclaim their old positions, to the point that it poses a barrier to entry for newly qualified employees?

Tell me how you found your career.

madsy — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:59:25 -0800

I'm a really bad student, but I want to do something I love and get paid decently for it. Tell me what to do. I'm in a top Canadian university (if that is even a thing...), with a really shitty GPA - 2.3 on a 4.33 scale. If you only count courses towards my majors, then it jumps to a 3.2 which is still pretty bad. I'm not getting bad marks because I don't understand the material. I'm getting bad marks because I generally hate school and I find it difficult to go to class. I probably shouldn't have went to university, but everyone makes it seem like it is absolutely necessary to obtain a decent-paying job so I went.

Except, I'm a social sciences major. I have had dead-end jobs in grocery stores and such but I went to university so I wouldn't have to do that for the rest of my life. Except, this degree is most certainly not job training. I don't really have a skill to market. It's not like I can go around telling people that I can do A or I can do B. I don't really know what I can do except for read and write. As a result, I'm really at a loss here because I don't know HOW to market myself. I feel like this degree added NOTHING to my resume and I'm really not sure how to proceed. Also, the bad marks don't really help my situation at all.

So what should I do? Should I stay a year to boost my GPA and get into business, law or grad school so I can learn some job skill? What did you do? Did your career find you or did you find your career?

I'm already frantically trying to get into some internship programs and stuff, but it's hard. A lot of them are unpaid and I simply cannot take a whole summer off for this. I also feel like I'm not doing enough to find a job but I also don't really know what I should be doing since I don't even really know what I should do.

What do I really want from myself, anyway?

Seeking Direction — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 12:25:32 -0800

I'm trying to figure out what direction I should guide my future in. Problem is, when I take most personality (*cough* Myers-Briggs *cough*) or skill tests, I can never overcome the bias of what I "should" want, or what my field (the sciences) have conditioned me to. What can I do that can help me figure myself out that isn't sensitive to bias and will basically catch me "off guard" so I can figure out my strengths/weaknesses/potential truthfully? It can be activities, tests, etc. Sky's the limit.

Transitioning into early childhood education - where do I start?

anotheraccount — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:56:15 -0800

I want to be an early childhood educator. Difficulty: I'm losing my job in my current field and need to make a next step quickly. So after my last question (and all the alarm bells that the green pointed out), I've come to realize that I really have very little interest in going further in my current field (nonprofit fundraising) for a number of reasons. For a very, very long time, being an early childhood educator has been in the back of my mind. I previously worked at an organization that provided Early Head Start and Head Start services to low-income kids. I loved being around the kids and I'm very passionate about how critical early childhood education is.

By mutual agreement, I will probably be leaving my job in the next several months. It's just not a good fit for either of us. I have a prime opportunity to start thinking about this transition.

Complicating factors:
1) I have one year to go to finish an MPA degree. I want to finish the degree and possibly use it to work in education policy someday.
2) I have no savings and need a job fairly quickly.
3) Post-MPA, I am thinking about enrolling in an early childhood masters program which requires at least one year of experience with young children.

I've started applying to some jobs that are in my current field, but I have no real interest in them. I would love to take a low-level early childhood job just to start gaining experience, even if that means a big pay cut. Does anyone have experience transitioning into early childhood? What do I need to do now?

How should a partial PhD be presented on resume when looking for a job?

Lord Force Crater — Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:46:34 -0800

I’m looking for opinions on how to best represent coursework and research taken toward a PhD on my resume. Backstory: I graduated high school in 2004, finished my BSc in 2008, MSc in 2010, and immediately started working on a PhD after finishing my MSc. Soon after starting my PhD with the same advisor I did my MSc under, my advisor took a job in industry. The advisor agreed to continue to serve on my committee as my primary advisor, and at the time there wasn’t a suitable replacement within the department for what I wanted to continue doing research on. I continued taking coursework until the end of May 2012 when I finished my last class and withdrew from the program. I had an assistantship throughout, but didn’t feel that the environment was right for me to continue with a PhD after my advisor left. While working on my MSc the lab was always busy with multiple projects and other graduate students. After my advisor left and other students started to graduate, the energy began to wane to where at the end it was just me working toward a PhD by myself. During this time another professor was hired to fill the position vacated by my former advisor, but I didn’t feel their research interests were aligned with mine, and I was hesitant to start a new research focus with a new, first-time professor in what would be a new lab.

I did well academically throughout my time at school, was awarded Outstanding Master’s Student at the department for my MSc, and was able to publish a first-author paper from my master’s research. My lab skills are sharp, I’m creative and young, and I want to continue working on a career in the sciences. However, I haven’t had any luck finding a job since leaving school. Is the job market for researchers that bad? How would someone hiring for a science job view an additional two years in school with no degree to show for it? Has anyone been in a similar situation and what did they do about it? The bulk of the science jobs in the vicinity of where I live are academic and I would like to work in industry. Should I relocate myself to an area with more science jobs? I intend to go back to school and finish a PhD one day, but right now I am more interested in working.

Yet another financial advice question

table — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:56:22 -0800

I need some advice about career plans, graduate studies and whether to rent or to own. Mostly in the financial context but also, of the bigger picture view -- am I being overly optimistic, am I too focused on career? I graduated in 2005 with a bachelors in science and started working as a programmer in the financial industry. Along the way, I grew to dislike the technical work and especially the culture, and decided I'll be much happier working closer to the business side. I now work in an analytical role that's between the technical and business sides (read: middle office) and enjoy the work and the fit.

I like where I am for the time being but I know that in one or two more years, I'll grow restless and want a more challenging job to learn more. Compared to the people I meet and work with (and where I have some ideas about working next), I have the soft-skills and technical skills but lack the strong financial background.

I started pursuing the CFA designation last year to fill in that gap but I find the syllabus and its study mechanical, lacking in substance and frankly, lonely. I'll write the second exam this coming June but I think graduate studies will fill my needs better.

Between an MBA and an MFin (master of finance), I've landed on the MFin and on a very specific program in my city. I've met the program director, the recruitment team, audited a full class, interviewed the current cohort, met with a program graduate, and the impression all around has been solid. Plus, the average student is 30 and established compared to the typical MBA student. I am ready to submit my application and am reasonably sure of gaining admission. The downside is that it's a two year part-time program and will cost me $45K each year.

In between all this, I am the only one amongst all my friends, younger and older, that is renting in this era of low interest rates. Some of my older friends have even confided to me that they have bought investment condos. (And they have young kids too.) I have no great desire to own my home but I do have great desire to not be financially stupid. Continuing to rent will not leave me in ruins but I think I might be foolish to continue when interest rates will remain low until the US economy recovers (read: reach full employment in the Federal Reserve's view).

Lastly, relevant facts:

I am 30, single, male and a visible minority

I have no debt other than the credit cards that I pay in full monthly

I have cash savings of $15K, an investment portfolio of $95K and an incentive of $30K should I stay with my employer for another two years

I also have tax sheltered investments of $80K that I cannot draw until I retire (or with extreme penalty)

of my after-tax net income: a third goes to rent, a third goes to savings & investments and the rest is spent

my parents are in their late sixties and in good health and I do not need to support them financially for the time being

minor note: my monthly contributions to savings and investments have a tax reducing effect so if I instead use this cashflow to pay off tuition, my taxes payable actually increases

My concerns:

I don't expect a huge salary increase for completing a masters degree. I am doing it for my own fulfillment and to access more opportunities than I would otherwise have. The ROI in cash terms is actually quite low. And I've met a lot of people who are doing or have done the tech to financial career path change so my skills are by no means unique. Am I pursuing graduate studies for the right reason, especially in these economic times?
Since the 2008/2009 crisis, I've focused a lot on the career side of things to make unemployment less likely and have built up considerable savings in case I do get laid off. Friends around my age have instead focused on building home equity and starting families. Part-time graduate studies on top of full time work will only make my dating life, nevermind a steady relationship, harder. Am I focusing too much on the wrong things?

Finally, am I stupid for renting and maintaining an investment portfolio?

Is it too late to start over?

MD_yeahright — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 08:54:01 -0800

at 31, is it too late to start over? so i have dabbled with various alternative lifestyles throughout my 31 years...
First, I went to school for film production (total waste of time and $ imo), moved to LA, but the work dried up after never really taking off (and I hated LA).
I then moved north and grew medical marijuana for awhile living off the grid (but only for ~2 years because I'm so paranoid about the law). I loved living in the forest and farming my own food and being in the quiet surroundings with my friends, but I hated the prospect of the law coming down on me at any moment....
since then I have been trying to play poker as my main source of income with very mixed results. During most of my poker stint I have been living somewhat of a vagabond lifestyle out of a van with my gf whom also plays poker. TBH, poker has been very stressful and hasn't worked out for me, and my temper/frustration with it has nearly ruined my relationship with my gf/best friend and has left me feeling totally worthless/suicidal. I put a lot of time and energy into becoming as good as I could be at poker, but my results have been so disappointing and anything but sustainable. I have lost it a few times and have found myself in some regretful situations...

To me it seems that nothing up to this point has really worked out and I feel that I haven't been able to find anything that I genuinely love to do or that will sustain me. I want to start over. I think the only job that I would be able to get with my "resume" right now would be working at burger king or something just as bad, and i think i'd rather die...
I dont know why I have never chosen to pursue a "career." well, actually i do: it has always seemed so trivial and limiting to me. I have never liked commitments or deadlines, and i have always scoffed at the status quo...

so now I have about a 7+ year gap on my resume with no job, no house, etc. which does not help my hope for starting a new path...

I am really considering going to back to school (possibly med school) for the following reasons:

-mental stimulation/acquiring empowering knowledge

-I like and want to help people and know that there are many different avenues one can take in the medical field

-being on a rigid, structured schedule. I feel like I have been living a very lackadaisical lifestyle where I never really have to do anything and there are never any deadlines; although this also worries me because I have become used to being lazy

I know I would be in serious debt for so long after med school (or any school), but right now I really don't care - I just want to start something new and become immersed in something that will yield some sort of purpose and financial security.

any thoughts or advice? I have already researched about med school (tuition, debt, curriculum, etc.), so I'm looking more for how all this sounds to you guys...thanks

Where can I find a university/life adviser?

Huck — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 20:31:52 -0800

Is there some sort of 'career/life counselor' out there that can help me navigate college/university programs and requirements after dropping out last year? Background:
I was attending the University of Waterloo for Engineering (which is fairly prestigious I guess) and had a shaky first semester, but passed aside from failing two classes. Second semester (after a semester of co-op), I was struggling and feeling depressed, so temporarily withdrew and took a non-degree term in the fall to clear my fails and I took an extra two 'fun' classes. 4 months off until the Spring term to complete semester 2. Bombed the semester, and would be permitted to repeat it. I could not afford to do that again, so ultimately I dropped out.

Now I am researching going back to school and am looking at a range of programs. Was hoping I could apply as a 'mature student', but now am finding some of the schools requirements to be very different from others (i.e. 2 years out of school vs 5, etc.) I find it quite confusing, and it is hard to know where to begin.

I also know that there are many details/paths to degrees that are not well known (starting at a college, finishing at a university, for example).

I would like to find someone who can help me navigate these program requirements, and help me make the best (unbiased) decision possible.

Would love specific references to individuals I can work with, but wouldn't mind knowing 'what to Google'. Searching for 'life coaches' doesn't really get me anywhere.

(And am open to any other advice, really.)

I'm in Southwestern Ontario.

Is a nearly free masters degree worth it?

sunshine37 — Wed, 15 Aug 2012 13:33:46 -0800

Can get a bioinformatics masters degree for nearly free - should I do it? I have a job that I enjoy and that pays well. I have no plans to leave anytime soon. As part of my benefit package, I can take classes at the college where I work, basically for free. Complicating factors: I am at a remote campus, so I really only have the choice of online classes (limited) and while the classes are free, I do have to pay taxes on the amount, which will end up being around $2000 a year that is automatically taken out of my paycheck over 2 months. I applied to a Master of Engineering program with a specialization in Bioinformatics and have taken 2 classes so far. My question is, is this worth my time and money? It looks like to get any sort of job in the field, I would need a PhD, which I would have to quit my job to get and don't particularly want. I started the program "for fun" and because it was basically free, but now I'm wondering if it's worth it. It's interesting material, but I'm not sure if the time and money are worth it. Basically, all I will have after 3 years is a piece of paper. I am open to looking for a job in this field after I get my degree but everything I've seen requires a PhD. There are no other online programs that interest me. Basically, is having a masters degree worth it?

How much does a university reputation mean on the job hunt?

Anonymous — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 21:54:01 -0800

Does a Bachelor degree from an online university hurt my prospects on the job hunt? I am 6 months away from completing an online degree in Instructional Design from Walden University. I am worried now that I made a terrible decision. The school program I am enrolled in seems legit and I have definitely learned a lot, but I fear that the schools reputation translates to a degree that is worthless (being an online for-profit school).

I am working extra hard on curricular job skills such as graphic/web design, HTML/CSS and JS and the principles of ID to bulk up my resume, but I worry that the school's rep will bar me from any legit opportunities that are out there once a hiring manager sees the Alma mater.

Am I out of luck? What advice would you give to someone (me) that will be done with the program soon, and is looking to break into a new career path? Any managers out there that could tell me if seeing the Walden or UofP grads mean circle bin for them?

Thanks!

How do I explain a degree that took ten years to earn?

sely — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 12:49:36 -0800

I am about to graduate college ten years after I started and would love some suggestions on how to approach this topic in a job interview? I entered a top 50 four-year university eleven years ago and received stellar grades my freshman year. During my sophomore year I became extremely depressed and began a cycle of alternating 4.0 GPA semesters with semesters where I either withdrew all together or earned a combination of Cs, Ds, and Fs. During my fourth year I was on track to graduate in Spring but was faced with another bout of severe anxiety and depression that caused me to end up in a hospital for a few days. My Professors all offered to help me with make up tests, etc. but I was in such a deep amount of despair that I applied for yet another medical withdrawal to prevent my transcript from having a Semester full of Fs.

I was four classes short of graduating and frustrated with the amount of time I was taking to earn a degree.. I decided to leave the University and applied for jobs in in a large city thousands of miles from where I was living. The resumes I handed to potential employers stated that I had graduated and I ended up working for three large companies in a six year period. To this day, I still can't believe that it was not discovered that I was lying but am extremely thankful I was spared the embarrassment that would have followed had the truth come out.

Towards the end of my sixth year in the city, I decided that I'd had enough of the industry and city I was in and decided to use my small amount of savings to take an extended trip to Europe. I figured this would also be the perfect opportunity to take the remaining classes and graduate. I am happy to say that I after a few months back in school I just finished the last of my classes and will be graduating in a month.

How should I go about approaching this situation with potential employers when I begin applying for jobs again? I know that I will not have to lie about having a degree anymore but certainly don't want to put that I graduated in 2012 when I was claiming I had graduated in 2006 all this time. Is it all right to not put a date at all? If they ask me point blank when I graduated, I will of course say 2012 but am also not sure how to explain why I graduated years after I began my formal career. All of the jobs I have my resume require 4-year degrees so I'm guessing it'll look odd to have graduated six years after I started working. I'd appreciate any input you all have regarding this situation.

From dork to designer

Anonymous — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 14:20:06 -0800

I've landed a temporary graphic design job. When it ends, I'd like to be an attractive candidate for other graphic design jobs. What should I focus on learning? (Anonymous and slightly vague-ified in case my coworkers read AskMe.)

I've read this question; my situation is somewhat similar, but my question is different.

This is my first real graphic design job. I had an internship years and years ago, but no other professional experience; I didn't feel confident enough to do freelance work, and had no portfolio. My future boss and coworkers have seen samples of my work and I will be able to hit the ground running in this role. I'm a little nervous, but beyond thrilled to have this opportunity. This could be a major turning point in my career, so I want to take advantage of it.

There is a slight chance that this could result in a permanent position, but for now it's a temporary assignment – twelve weeks, maybe more. So I've got good reason to learn everything that I possibly can.

But what?

How can I best use this limited time to transform into a "real" designer? What skills will help me the most in finding future employment? What should I focus on? Any blogs, books, tutorials, or other resources that will help me? I'm looking for any and all advice, no matter how basic or specific (in fact, basic and specific are great).

Thanks!

Invest in my education or in some other investment?

seatofmypants — Sun, 03 Jun 2012 11:22:42 -0800

Windfall of $50k! Invest in myself and get a biz degree or save it all for a rainy day? I recently had a windfall of about fifty thousand dollars that I can put away as I have enough to live on from my regular income.

I know there have been other, similar, posts but mine is filed under education because that appeals strongly to me. I have always liked the idea that the best investment is in yourself. Also, I very much think education at this point as an investment that I want to see a return on.

Having said that, would it be wiser to simply put it away as a rainy day / retirement fund? After all, spending it on a degree is not a sure thing and therefore is somewhat of a risky investment.

I am in my early thirties and have a BA in philosophy. I live in NYC and my initial thought would be to go to Baruch college for business studies.

Make me less of an academic island!

Anonymous — Wed, 16 May 2012 06:49:26 -0800

I'm a PhD student, and I'd like to do more academic networking over email. How does this work, and what should the emails sound like? As an introvert, I hate the idea of networking; but I'm also coming to realize that this is something people do, and that in fact my research/job prospects could be a lot better if I did more work building professional connections. Unfortunately, most of these would have to be email connections, and it feels so inherently weird to me to randomly contact some barely-known person that my draft emails end up collapsing under the sheer weight of all the apologetic boilerplate ("I'm so sorry to write out of the blue like this... you're doubtless very busy, but... I got your email from the website; haven't been stalking you, honest...").

Since obviously my own very limited social instincts don't suffice here, I was wondering whether anybody might be willing to clue me in on (a) what these emails are really supposed to sound like when normal people write them, and (b) when it is or isn't OK to send messages of this sort.

In particular, I'd love some hints for approaching the following situations:

-- Senior scholar I don't know, some 3rd party says, "Oh, you should email X."
-- Someone I spoke with briefly at a conference or talk, never formally exchanged info.
-- Someone whose awesome book or article I have read and admire, but who doesn't know me from Adam and has no common connections whatsoever.

Additional research directions (Books? forums?) would also be most welcome. Thanks so much!
(Yes, I know I should be able to ask my advisor about this. That's a whole other AskMe. :( )

CFA worth it for a role in Real Estate Investment?

web74 — Sat, 12 May 2012 04:42:21 -0800

CFA worth it for a role in Real Estate Investment? I was wondering if the CFA will be useful to me if I want to work in Real Estate Investment – starting probably with a Commercial Brokerage firm in their asset management department, which would involve buying and holding investment properties for their income as well as possible capital appreciation. Ultimately perhaps work for some kind of REIT. My background is that I have worked for commercial brokers in their valuation departments as well as in their research & development. This mostly involves writing feasibility reports for developers.

In terms of my education I have a Master of Science in Business Management which covers all the topics of an MBA but in a single year. Also a Masters in construction management and real estate development. The latter involved taking an MBA real estate finance class.

My problem at the moment is that when I apply for jobs, companies very rightfully want to put me in the same kind of research writing roles that I’ve done in the past. It would seem to me that I need to show something extra if I want to start on the more financial orientated roles.

For the valuation I don’t think we are talking hugely complex financial anaylsis. Mostly office or residential buildings laid out on excel where you can see the year-to-year income stream and then it’s a matter of getting the formulas correct and entering the appropriate assumption values.

I’m hoping that, if I can first pass level 1 and start applying for jobs, I will have more luck in getting started in the real estate finance side. Is this a feasible strategy or am I wasting my time? (Assuming I pass level 1, I’m not I’d pursue level 2/3 – I’d have to see how the job situation is going and how relevant the other levels are specifically for real estate).

Ultimately, I’d also like to sharpen my finance analysis skills because I want to be able to evaluate potential business ventures as continue to manage a modest collection of investment properties.

(This is a rather long question, but I thought it would be better to include as much info as possible so I can get some more enlightened responses – thanks for reading and hopefully answering!)

Do you think Art History is a good degree?

Lillian7 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 06:35:10 -0800

I am thinking about majoring in Art History, and would like to know from others that have obtained a bachelors in this area if it was worth it to them? I am planning on majoring in art history, and would like to know from others with this particular degree if they found it to be worth it after graduating. What are the pros and cons of this major? How has this major helped you or hindered you? I could major in art administration, but I am more of a humanities minded person. I believe having a degree will open doors that would other wise be closed to me in the future if I wish to pursue different opportunities.
But anything that would be beneficial in the long run would be appreciated. Should I minor in a chosen area as well? I plan on attending graduate school as well. Thanks.

Help me get back into education

Jehan — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:02:07 -0800

What are the options for going back to university once you already have a degree? I graduated from an English university in 2011, but I feel that my degree is worthless and I'm currently unemployed. I would like to get a proper education, preferably in biology or a similar science. However, I feel like there are few options open for me and would like to know what possibilities there are.

Details:
UK/EU citizen
Little savings/no collateral
Do NOT wish to study further in my undergraduate area
No money available from relatives
Willing to go anywhere, moreso within the EU
Do not live in city or town with a university

I feel bad about going back to university straight away, but it's better for the longrun in terms of career/life. Any suggestions how I might make this happen are welcome, even creative ones.

I'd walk through the quad, and think "Oh my God...These kids are so much younger than me."

Seiten Taisei — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 17:13:55 -0800

Tell me your stories about/examples of people that either started college later in life (after 21) or returned to college after dropping out, and went on to become famous or wildly successful (or both!) in academia or their chosen careers. Similar to this question, except I'm specifically looking for people that completed their degree(s).

Personal anecdotes are appreciated as well.

I made the wrong career choice so now what do I do?

DanielleT — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:49:16 -0800

I enrolled in a veterinary technician program this past fall, and I've realized that I don't want a career in this particular field. The main reason I actually returned to school was not to pursue a career I want, but just to get away from my previous job, which I hated. If I choose to quit the program, how do I tell those supporting me, specifically financially, that I don't want to take this path anymore even though I appeared so sure of it before? Also, where do I go from here? Apologies in advance for the length of this. I hope it makes sense.
I've posted here about my dilemma with my career/program choice before, but this time it's not so much about my conflicting feelings, but more on how I deal with the aftermath of a choice and the people who have been invested in me. Like I said above, I went back to school and I am currently in the first year of a two-year veterinary technician program. I'm enjoying the courses and I'm doing really well, but I know that after graduating I really don't want to be a vet tech. I chose this path because I really disliked my former job at an advertising firm (or at least the work itself, the work environment was great). I figured I like animals so I should switch careers and be a vet tech. This never really sat well with me, but I figured it was a better option than the current job, and the whole process of preparing for it made it seem exciting and the right thing to do.
Now the deeper I get into the program, the more I realize I really, truly don't want to be a vet tech. I like animals and I am interested in learning about them, but I really have no interest in working with them in a medical sense. The issue now is if I decide to quit the program, how do I tell those who have supported me? My parents have provided significant financial support, and now I've basically wasted it. I'm more than willing to pay it back, but there is still the disappointment and questions about why I changed my mind when I seemed so confident in my choice before. I could just suck it up and finish the program, but the situation would be worse and more money spent if at that point I tell them that I have no intention of using my education.
The other issue is if I quit, what do I do instead? Having been away from my former job for a while now, I kind of wish I had stuck with it. There’s a possibility that I could return, but there’s no guarantee, and I still might not enjoy it. Plus, my bosses gave me a substantial sum of money to help pay for school, and I’m not sure how to handle that issue if I were to return. Another option I’m considering is taking a one-year postgraduate (I already have an undergraduate degree) program in project management or something similar that would be beneficial in a variety of occupational fields, providing me with some options. What I’d really love to do is just take some time away from everything and be able to really think about my options and what I’d really like to do, but I don’t have the financial means to do that at this point.
Essentially, what I’d like know is whether anyone else has had similar experiences. Did you make a wrong career choice that not only affected yourself, but others close to you? How did you handle it and move forward? Thanks in advance for any answers.

Go to school or stay employed?

nurgle — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:10:23 -0800

Quit my job and go to school, or stay in the same spot and not really get anywhere? Special snowflake details inside. I work a M-F, 8-4 secretary job at a california state prison. I'm 25, and haven't really been doing anything other than working since I was 16. I've been at my current job for about 6 years now, which pays enough (for an entry-level position) and provides me with full benefits.

I have made several attempts at college (some going better than others) but find that I get discouraged because I can only take 2-3 classes at a time without becoming overwhelmed due to my work schedule. I'd like to be able to go through school at a much faster pace.

Knowing the economy is the way it is and that jobs are hard to find, I am reluctant to leave and lose my benefits/only source of income. However, if I do quit, I can cash out on my retirement contributions, giving me about 6 grand to pay off my debt (which is around $4000) and have a little bit left over for living costs.

My parents are very supportive of me quitting my job, as it has brought me nothing but despair. Due to a workplace relationship gone wrong, almost no promotional opportunities, the instability of the prison system, and the generally depressive mood this place puts me in, I can say that I would rather not be here.

I've brought the idea up to several coworkers, many of which say "don't cash out on your retirement". I understand that somewhere down the line it may be worth it to me to have that money stay invested in the state retirement system, however I also would like to pay off a bunch of debt and start getting my life back together.

I'm not a risk-taker by any means. Change scares the shit out of me. But I think that this might be a good move. I have never been a full-time college student and would like to a) get the hell away from this place and b) immerse myself in school as much as possible.

Any thoughts?

Struggling to finish college

wanderingchord — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 18:55:47 -0800

After a year's break from college, I'm gearing up to go back into the fray. For a number of reasons, however, this is harder than it sounds. This is going to be a bit long; feel free to skim as needed. I'm just including this background for the sake of reference as people respond and are curious about certain details of my situation. That said:

Background:

In the summer of 2005, just out of high school, I left Eau Claire, my home town in Wisconsin, and attended The Art Institutes International Of Minneapolis, hoping to train in illustration and eventually animation. After roughly a year and a half, however, it became painfully clear I was out of place. The classes weren't connecting, and in many cases seemed incredibly poorly constructed. The staff were disorganized, rude, and generally unprofessional, and the school itself was incredibly expensive. Later, I would learn that AI is in fact a notorious "For Profit" school, existing almost entirely to simultaneously scam students and the federal government (via financial aid). They've actually been sued for their overly aggressive and dishonest recruitment strategies, and there are, for example, whole groups on Deviant Art warning artists to stay away. In short, I was played: to the tune of at least $25,000. Crushed and disappointed, I left, taking a semester of classes at a local tech college while I waited for my lease to expire.

Once it did, I moved home and enrolled in the local University. It was a bit lack-luster, but better than a random tech college, and very cheap. My hope was to get a decent major/minor, maybe not something I loved, but something I could work with for the short term. And at the least, graduate with something. To this end, I initially switched to journalism, since writing and language in general has always been fairly easy for me. But a few classes into the major and I was feeling incredibly disconnected. Journalism didn't seem to have much promise, and if I was just trying to graduate with something, why not something I enjoyed more? So I switched to an Illustration major in the art department. And thus began the second stage of my nightmare.

Between AI or my U's art department, it's difficult to decide which was the most unprofessional, dishonest, or disorganized, but my U's art department was certainly the most hostile environment. Professors who were supposed to aid students in navigating the incredibly convoluted class system would be insulted (and sometimes even enraged) when they were actually asked for help. Staff would routinely treat students with extreme disrespect, making it incredibly difficult to complete basic technical details like registration. As for the professors themselves: I should be clear, I don't expect my teachers to be super best buddies. They're there to do a job, as am I. And a certain degree of gruff is to be expected. But the teachers in this department generally interacted with their students through a withering, omnipresent sneer, in their voice more than their face, but very real. Their default position to everyone (students, other teachers, staff) seemed to be a dimly smoldering hatred, stoked with potent egotism. In general, the
department dripped with fear, rage, and condescension.

It was this incredibly hostile environment, along with personal (clinical depression) and family problems, that finally forced me to leave the college roughly a year ago. Since then, the latter two problems have improved a lot: I'm living alone now, self-sufficient thanks to a great part-time job that dropped out of the blue. And though my depression still gnaws at times, it's much less intense now.

And now I want to finish. Why? Three reasons:

1. I've invested a huge amount of time and money (around $50,000 at this point) in this debacle. I want to get SOMETHING out of it.

2. Society views you differently if you're a college graduate. Even if you gained little practical skill or knowledge from the process, you're
simply seen as a different class of person, just as high school and non-high school graduates are, and doors open up, just because of that piece of paper.

3. I don't want to make $11 an hour for the rest of my life. Ultimately, I still want to illustrate, but I've concluded that the best way to do that is to self-teach and slowly "spin up" a career for myself in that while working another job to support myself. I'd like to use this college shot to get a foot in the door at that "other job". It seems like my best bet.

That mountain of text out of the way, here, at last, are my questions, and my problems in moving forward:

1. What do I major in? I know, this is kind of THE college question. I'm asking from a different angle now though: not the usual "Which one is going to be the most fulfilling and best fit etc," but rather, in a cruder way, I'm wondering what, if any, are going to be worth much in a practical and immediate sense. I'm long past caring about personal fulfillment and growing as a person. I want training in something I can actually do that gives me earning power greater than $11 an hour. Maybe that isn't a possibility, but if it is, I want to take advantage of it. Something art-related but more basic might be useful, because it would help me build contacts and gain experience while I got the illustration stuff up to speed (it would also be faster, as I could probably cannibalize my current major for much of it). But I'm really open to any possibilities. All my gen eds are done, as well as a minor (Japanese) and most of it should transfer. It's just a question of where I'm going to get the biggest bang for my buck.

2. Where do I attend? I know, the old University is right there. But as that giant paragraph above explains, I really can't go back there. Not even for the handful of semesters it would take to finish. The department is abusive, and I'm especially vulnerable to that sort of thing. I'd love to move, except for two things:

a. The big one: I'm only afloat right now because of my miraculously good part time job. I quit that, the chances of getting another, similar one are pretty low, especially in this economy. It took me months to find this one, and I probably wouldn't even have it if the owner/boss wasn't a little crazy (in a good way: willing to take chances). So relocation is almost impossible.

b. My GPA is pretty mediocre: about 2.7. So getting into a nice state school (Madison for example) would be difficult to impossible at this point.

Sorry if this seems convoluted. It's a complex problem, and I'm basically asking for a little help brainstorming here, in hopes that some clever users will know something I don't. As it currently stands, it looks like my options boil down to either attending my local, abusive school, or a slightly less local, very unimpressive one, and in both cases graduation probably wouldn't have much worth beyond the diploma itself.

Thank you for taking the time to read, and for your replies.

Be my high school guidance counselor: what career should I choose?

asnider — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 12:26:39 -0800

What are some jobs that are task-oriented but will still make use of my creativity and university education? I am considering a career change (probably not for a few years, unless something awesome comes along, but I want to start planning my path now). I have an undergraduate degree in the humanities and am now working on an M.A. with a focus on community studies and/or work, organization, and leadership (it's kind of up in the air at the moment, but I may go for a double-focus).

Once I am finished (or near finished) the master's, I want to find a career that I can settle into for the long haul. So far, I have not found that career.

In all of my working years, my favourite job was working in retail. I had a lot of freedom (I was left mostly unsupervised after proving I was a good worker), I had some creative control over how I accomplished certain tasks, and the job was very task-oriented. Plus, I never had to take my work home with me. When the day was over, I could stop thinking about work until I arrived back at the store the next day. If I could work in retail and earn as much as I do at my office job, I might still be doing it.

Of course, I am going to be a bit over-educated for a basic retail job once I finish my master's. I want to actually make use of the skills and education that I am paying to receive.

What kind of jobs/careers will allow me to be very task-oriented, hopefully not take my work home with me, and be creative and not let my university degrees be a waste of time and money? The higher the wage, the better, obviously, but since this is largely a brain-storming exercise, feel free to assume that wages/salary are not important.

I am also open to the possibility of entrepreneurship.

Other things that may be relevant:

I am working full time while doing my master's, so I can gain some on the job experience effective immediately;

I live in Canada;

I am a pretty decent writer (even if my MeFi posts don't reflect that);

I tend to get bored and distracted easily if I don't have specific tasks to accomplish;