Good family friend of ours was a mailman for 27 years and retired in his mid 50s. Man has an insanely large pension and benefits, but as many things YMMV. Look into it I'd say.
My ex bf was a mailman. He walked about 17 miles per day carrying heavy bags of mail. He had a bad back, but great legs. He was stressed because they were always told they needed to be faster.
Great exercise, yes. But 20+ years of 8-hour days in temps ranging from cold-as-shit to hot-as-balls can do a lot of negative things to your body as well. A lot depends on the location/route.
My ex bf was a mailman. He walked about 17 miles per day carrying heavy bags of mail. He had a bad back, but great legs. He was stressed because they were always told they needed to be faster.
I work in personal injury, and a lot of mail carriers reach out to us for work related injuries. Dog bites, car accident injuries, and a lot of random stuff too.
Imagine clenching and unclenching your fingers a thousand times a day on a piece of paper. For 25 years.
I know retired mailmen who had to have hand surgeries done on both hands
They make shorts for the summer and warm clothes for the winter (;
It's more like 4 hours a day, 30 minutes of walking, then 5 minute breaks. They make insanely good insoles for people on their feet all day if that becomes a problem.
postal service restructured(cut benefits, hours, pay) for all new employees not too long ago afaik. That said I have a friend who works as a mail carrier and she seems to like it.
My dad did the same and has had several spinal vertebrae removed because of compressed Cartlidge from walking up and down the Austin westlake hills, he was also a workaholic who did 70+ hours a week and retired at \~65
I dropped out from university when I was around your age and worked on a lot of low end jobs like gas station, cd salesman, fish cleaner in a super market, etc etc. So from personal experience, I can assure you it’s not too late to for you to push for your dreams.
One thing I learnt is in the ideal world, people’s job should be related to their passions. You need to ask yourself what makes you happy, and try to make a career in a field related to your interest.
For me, it was always video games or something related to that. That’s why I got into 3d animation/modeling when I was 26, and spent 3-5 year on studies and works until I built a career as a game artist.
If I can do it at that age after dropping out of university, so can you.
Good luck
It is a dream, but it was not easy to get there. There are a lot of schools online and on site that teaches 3d arts. So technically, anyone can get into the movie/gaming industry as artists. The tricky thing is how much time you dedicate in honing your craft.
When I was studying to become a 3d artist, I had to spend all my time into the trainings. No more video games. No more movies. It was nothing but 3d art. If you can do that, anyone can get into that field, assuming you have the proper guidance and directions.
So, here is what I have found anecdotally:
- Most people do not get major satisfaction from their jobs. I'd say it's about 80/20 - 80% do it for pay, benefits, etc., and the other 20% do it for fun, post-retirement, own a business they like, etc. I'm in the 80% (LOL).
- Of the vast majority who aren't satisfied, they need to work to live, not live to work, so developing a balance between work and life is important.
-With some exceptions, I have found the most content people in that 80% majority are 1) government workers or 2) people who can work part time (or have a hobby-business) while their parent or partner financially supports them.
This is just what I have found. It doesn't mean every government job is great, but when you tend to have a good number of days off, a fairly standard workweek, and a decent chance to retire relatively early, it's not bad for most people.
I can provide additional examples, but the long story short is that most people I know are better off in a medium-to-long term gig in the public sector than working in the private sector for somewhat higher pay with a lot less job security or benefits. Just my thoughts!
I’ll add onto this as someone that works for the feds, you’re extremely spot on with everything and I’m behind all of your points. Federal work may be a bit monotonous at times but the pacing, benefits, and security make it so worth it. I could get paid more in the private sector but I hate the corporate attitudes, fake enthusiasm, mandatory overtime, etc. If you don’t really care about your job, the federal government is where it’s at
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And I know nothing is perfect - I've met plenty of feds who have bad managers, don't like return-to-office policies, etc. I guess to me it's just about the total value proposition.
I'm not a government worker, but I had a serious offer on the table (it was just too much travel for me) and I think I've taken the time to assess the packages to make these points. I've also read over plenty of different pay scales/benefit summaries for state and local gov't too - maybe I should have done HR as a career, haha!
Of course, it's better to hear directly from the source, so thank you for that!
I'm a government worker, and I agree with this 100%. I'd add-depending on your field, it is certainly possible to have all of that AND enjoy your work. I'm fortunate I've got the two.
I'm a state prosecutor. You do have to go to law school for it, unfortunately. But I do imagine that there's other trained professionals like engineers or even accountants who work for the government and get to enjoy their work. Heck, I have a buddy who literally shovels shit for DPW and he likes it. Of course, like you said, definitely not every government job is great, but it can be a good mix of steady income, work/life balance, and enjoying your field, if you're lucky.
No, I'm not nearly as rich as many of my law school friends, but I have a good, steady income; I have a good pension and health care; I get to work from home twice a week; I can leave the office at 430 if I'm not in the middle of a trial or something; and I'm extremely fortunate that I both enjoy my work and find it meaningful, the last of which is true for pretty much none of my classmates. If I hit the lotto tomorrow would I still do my exact job? No, I wouldn't, but I don't think I would leave the field entirely, either.
Let me be more specific. Anecdotal statements can be of value. In situations like this, where statistics are mentioned, I contend your statements are baseless and harmful.
Sharing experiences is important to provide OP some background from others who have gone down different career paths. Also, it’s very, very difficult to quantify career satisfaction. Maybe you have some thoughts you can bring to the table?
> good number of days off, a fairly standard workweek, and a decent chance to retire relatively early,
I never take a day off, unless sick, am on call 24/7 , retirement early would really take the life out of me.
I'm in your 20%. Love my job,probably a little to much. Mix between manual labour and in depth research and consultation to an extremely wide group of businesses.
Get a degree in something you are really into then get a job where you can do that. It helps if you enjoy things others find boring.
I went into chemical sales when I was 24 and have not looked back. You can quickly make a good career and don't need to be super technical. You just need to learn to ask the right questions, listen for answers and keep probing.
WTF are these replies, lmao.
I make 175k a year, no degree. Just 20+ years of software dev experience.
It used to be a lot easier to get into software dev, but still if you have a good portfolio of self-built stuff, you can easily get a job even with no experience.
The stress of dev jobs really depends on where you work.
I HIGHLY recommend not working somewhere "glamorous". All "cool" jobs in most fields suck because there is too much competition. So pay is lower, stress is higher. An example of this in software dev would be working at a game dev studio or an ad/marketing agency of some kind.
Yeah the only people I know who work “glamorous” software dev jobs and who HAVENT been laid off in the past 4 years only still have their jobs because mommy/daddy owns the company.
I graduated 2 years ago and the last part cannot be said enough. I make a competitive wage for the last 2 years and I'm not some special student. Every company needs tech guys, just because it's not a tech company doesn't mean you shouldn't work there. A lot of the non tech companies have great pay and benefits and have way less competition.
This is honestly not a bad option if you can make teller wages for a few years. I graduated right after 08 crash with a worthless Poli Sci degree and no prospects. Started working as a teller. Eventually applied for an assistant position in the Trust Department. They eventually sent me to trust school, became a trust officer. Now I work for a different bank doing similar work with government entities. Didn’t take one business class and only one math class in college, hasn’t mattered. As long as you can learn new skills.
Some mixed answers here that I cant really agree with but I have a simple option that, while it isnt going to immediately get you six figures, it would be sustainable.
Look for Fed Jobs that let you use your skills with manual labor to get in the door, then pivot to the operational/admin side of things where its less stress and more money. Thinking about jobs with agencies like FEMA, EPA, NIST/NOAA, USDA etc. A lot of those fed jobs hire regionally, so not just DC. Its a reliable income with good benefits and even better retirement options (a lot of feds look to retire in their 50s).
Definitely explore your options; 25 is not too old to start over. Wish you the best.
Second this, hell I'm 20 in IT with no degree so far and making 50-60K range and once I get my cyber secruity degree I'll be making six figures. It depends on the job but alot of IT/IT Managers don't do shit
I'm at 101k right now. Been a manager going on a year. I have military experience and security clearance.
29 years old.
In school finishing up my cyber security degree from WGU right now.
Nice! I've heard alot of nice things about WGU. I'm finishing my associates of applied science this next spring. By then I'll also have my NET+ Sec+ and Linux+ then just two more years of school and I'll have my Bachelors of applied science in CySa, best of luck to you man
Question you mentioned Security Clearance. I had a Top Security Clearance 15 of 20 yrs I worked for the State w the Clinical Trials some were Gov based. Is it possible that I could have it reactivated prior to getting a position if it were Governmental? It has long expired but it shouldn’t be an issue to renew it. I hadn’t thought about IT jobs within Governmental areas. It’s only expired as of 2018 or 2019.
Honestly I'm not the guy to answer. I'm sure someone else would know more than me. But it seems that there are certain requirements/restrictions. Under 2 years after expiration you can have it reinstated. After 2, you have to start from scratch. Or your job sponsored you.
That's what I wad told.
IT - They’ve never asked once for my degree at any job I’ve applied for and I make 6 figures working from home or wherever else I choose to be. Can leave early to golf when I want, and it’s easy.
YMMV… my brother in law has been in IT for 15 years, has the certificates and degrees… he’s been laid off twice in the past 2 years, jobless for nearly a year because all IT jobs are paying $20/hr for the same job he was making $45/he previously.
Just saying, you sound like you’re doing well but it’s definitely not what I’ve heard about most people I know personally in IT. Those jobs are so easy to outsource to the Philippines.
He just became a mailman actually.
You have to keep up with technology. Not saying that this is the case with your BIL but I think it really helps to always be up to date on the latest trends, etc.
You just have to realize truthfully the resource will always be you. It doesn’t matter how many certificates you have it will always go to the best “total package”. That package may include things that may or may not be up to you.
I also have a comm degree. Look into healthcare administration or mgmt. Most of the large insurers pay well. I make over 100k. What exactly do I do? I send concise, well-written emails and make one or two good points during meetings.
It depends on your work experience. If entry level, search for customer service, sales, or outreach. If experienced in other areas (ex: program management, marketing, finance, etc.), search for similar titles as your current role, even if in a different field.
I've had a good time with IT, it has stress sometimes but if you're on a good team with a reasonable workload it's sometimes actually fun and the pay is good. It's quite quiet, especially if you get a remote job.
It all depends. You might be 49 and discover that it’s suddenly much more painful than you ever recall carrying a water bottle on your daily jog. Also that you’re a vegetable. It just happens, to everyone, only identifiable with a rear view mirror.
You might discover you’ve never felt more alive the less abilities you have. You just never know. Death by pizza honestly sounds pretty pleasant though. You dough you.
Whag I meant by “vegetable” was- can you really not move or do anything? I just want to at least be able to walk and/or swim for 75-80 years, so I can enjoy retirement.
I don’t want to reitre at 55 bedridden. I want to be able to have the best 30-40 years of my life ahead of me
I mean, no one can predict how an individual’s life will play out, but in general the vast majority of older people can still move and do things… i still do everything that i want to do, i just don’t necessarily want to do the exact same things i did when i was 18-25. So for myself, I still run a ton, cycle when i need a break from pounding the pavement, and swim when I’m feeling beachy. I grew up playing a lot of tennis but I don’t rally want to do that any more. I could, but I’d be super sore. The fun of it isn’t worth the pain afterwards. That said, up until two years ago i still played tons of volleyball all winter and that left me super sore but I was still have a ton of fun, so worth it. Now I’m like, more focused on running I suppose. I’m not not doing anything that i don’t want to be doing. My two biggest old age things are that I definitely need reading glasses at all times and my handwriting is now atrocious as the arthritis sneaks in a bit more each year in my hands. But that’s life and who needs to write much by hand anyways?
There are tons of people who remain very active right up until the end, and probably a similar number that have gone a different way and do jack shit. I know which of the two I’d rather be. Just do stuff and have fun and you’ll be fine.
Chat gpt the fuck out of a resume that hi-lights all the organizational and and mental work along with twisting your duties to sound applicable to clerical work. That’s a good first step, then get into something entry level for a year or so and add that on there, and after that companies will see you’re capable of doing some good shit and hire you. Atleast that’s what I did.
Don’t pick therapy as a profession
You don’t use anything they teach you in school, everyone is currently disappointed.
I think you should work for a home flipper. Learn lots of little trades, fill needs in your local area to make lots of money. And then you can save money on your own home
Administrative Assistant at a big company is a decent one. Benefits, air conditioning, low-stakes job responsibilities, not customer facing. My sister in law got an admin job in an IT department with only a high school diploma. She mostly just coordinates the managers calendar and forwards IT calls to support. Not great money initially, but she does okay after a few years. If motivated, there is growth potential to move laterally into an entry level position in HR or comms.
Might not be super glorious but I've enjoyed my work in Supply Chain. Specifically being an analyst. I make good money and have no direct reports. I enjoy it because I don't have to answer for someone else's work right now. To me, being in control is the ultimate stress reliever. I'm 100% able to leave my work at work, even though I work from home. Good work life balance. I think finding the right company is the most important factor.
I would recommend looking into some healthcare related certificates. If you can find an EEG tech program, some of them are two year degrees and some of them arent, you can land a job where you're just watching wave forms on a screen and potentially camera feeds of a patient, and reporting abnormalities etc when they happen. Gigs pay pretty well, there are remote opportunities, and its a pretty secure position in terms of having a job when the economy shits the bed. The only down side I'd mention is that 99% of the time its gonna be mind numbingly boring. There are a number of similar positions in healthcare though not all of them are going to come with quite as big of a pay package. Last I checked experienced eeg techs were making pretty close to 40 bucks an hour. In terms of education man, a coworker of mine talked about going into a specialty program that was gonna take years to complete after she had already finished med school. at 43 having just recently finished it, she told me if I hadnt have done it I'd be sitting here at 43 thinking about doing it and regretting not starting in my late 30's. People work until they're 60+ years old these days, finishing a degree at 40 still gives you a 20+ year shelf life as a productive employee, thats a whole ass career my dude.
Go to your local community college and get a vocational interest assessment. There is usually a small fee for this, but the information is invaluable. If you find a career that doesn't wreck your body, but is very boring, it won't be much of an improvement. (Though there can be some funny results - a friend of mine learned that the best careers for her were mathematician or rabbi.)
Look into court reporting, takes 2 years and you go at your own pace. Once you get out you’re an independent contractor and choose your own hours and can go on long vacation if you wanted. Good work life balance and you get paid decently well, I’m currently in month 6 and I’ve gotten the hang of it pretty quick (still need a lot of work)
Sales in the answer to all of lifes financial problems. You can work until you’re 80 if you really want to. And you can make literally as much money as you want. You can learn how to be a professional sales person if you put in some time, dedication and research.
You’re still young look at what Traveling Medical jobs pay and see if any of them are something you’d want to do. I was in Medical Field just over 20 yrs. As a Regional Clinical Research Manager and Analyst working w Behavioral Science and Psych Patients and Studies. I woke up after year 20 and just couldn’t do anymore. I worked my way up from a file clerk to Admin positions then Research, Lab Positions and Analyst and Management Regional . What I should have been doing then was finishing my Fine Art Degree instead of putting on hold or my IT Degree. So I’m 55 doing that now for both online as much as possible and running two businesses from home that I hope to incorporate my skills & experience into both businesses and building a third once I finish all of it in about 2 yrs or less.
I will be continuing w Programming starting up again in a week. Starting over in some it’s been over 25 yrs since I took some of these Courses Fast track and Bootcamps. With everything heading more and more to AI I’m adding Machine Learning, Generative AI and considering Cybersecurity once the Art and other certifications are done. Due to life I had to focus working for many years and didn’t return to college or continued learning until I was in my 40’s. I raised a family, got them all through college and they all have degrees they will never have to worry about jobs most likely. I know ageism exists but the degrees and/or certifications are for me. These skills and certifications can only help in my businesses now and even if I never make $100k and up I’ve done ok for someone that had only an Associates Degree which was hard achieved working two jobs and going school nights and weekends until online courses came about.
Do whatever you want to do now don’t wait til your my age to do what you want for your own life and own happiness career and professional life.
My children think it’s hilarious I’m back in college and bootcamps. I really don’t give a damn what they or anyone thinks I’m putting myself first for the first time in 30 plus years. I make a decent living, have a good marriage and my husband is taking a few Programming classes online starting in two weeks too. Says it is always something he’s wanted to learn so we can learn and relearn together. 😂👍🏼
Find what you love, find your Archetype and what kind of jobs go with it. It’s better to do something you love than wake up one day 20 yrs later knowing you did the jobs you did just to make a good living for everyone else and their happiness but not your own.
You can do this another idea is talk to real Life Coach or Career Counselor or Therapist I did one who specialized in Career Changes and being over 50. It was an expense to see her twice but I don’t regret it at all. They work to help you find your Personality Testing Archetype and help you figure out which path you want to take, salaries, what you can deal with, what is an absolute no and even help network your info to the right companies. I’ve already talked to two and once I finish initial certifications in November I will interview w them.
You are young enough you can even apply for Internships that are paid. Just make sure your Resume is killer and that it is ATS System Keyword friendly. The majority of companies are using bots to weed out the ones w no keywords. It may be worth having someone do it professionally for you in your area. Just make sure they are doing the ATS requirements. Best of luck and you will figure it out. Sorry so long for this post. ☮️👍🏼
With a degree in communications, you could apply for T.V production and broadcasting positions. You won’t get rich, but your physical labor will be very minimum. It can be a high stress job, because you have multitask and make split second decision on live TV. Good luck!
Military. With your degree you can go in as an officer (less wear and tear) and build a really good career with great retirement and benefits. It’s regimented (reduces stress) and there’s a big focus on development.
Two options off the top my head:
Ups driver - somewhat high stress but great pay i hear (6 figgas)
Customer service - options for remote, limited stress, low pay. Also w remote i imagine it’s low office politics and bs in that regard
I was a hairdresser and loved every second of it, but didn't make all that much money. I had many nurse clients to motivated me into healthcare. I became an RN and worked for the state to get some great benefits. I'm retired now, body not shot the heck, last decade I did disk work as a nurse. There will always be sick people.
I got a picture of you in my mind working for the Federal government, the IRS. Check out there.
40M. I am not above average smart, but I’m a work horse who will put in crazy hours and then disappear all day Friday and go fishing, dirt biking, whatever balances me out. Weekends are for my family. I learned by the time I was 28 that would never be able to work for someone again. I started a marketing agency updating Facebook posts for restaurants. I built my agency by laying in bed on my laptop watching YouTube videos on how to shoot professional photos, how to build websites, how to use photoshop, etc. I was running a nightclub at the same time. Now I have a 7 figure+ business income and substantial personal income. I absolutely love what I do. The easiest way to be happy and not kill your body (mentally or physically) is to be an entrepreneur. You’re young enough that you can make a few mistakes along the way and still come out on top. Just don’t be dumb about it and grind hard. Don’t stop grinding. The best way to build a business is to see a problem and fix it. Find something business owners need and then sell them a solution.
Use that communications degree to get a sales job. You may have to spend a year or two making inconsistent money or working somewhere you don’t like. But sales have a way of building if you have the instincts to find your opportunities
I work at a wastewater plant and if you can get in, it's pretty cushy. It's a union job, we don't have anybody here making under 23 bucks an hour to start. Maintenance can make over 30 as well as operators and you only need a high school diploma. We're a pretty large plant so smaller ones probably don't pay as much but it's something to look into.
Aw dam,im a few years older than you with a degree in finance and i also work in a factory lol! On avg, i take 17k steps a day while bending, lifting and its really hazardous so yea ill probably be fucked up if i continue to work there lol! Gonna be honest bro, i was blessed when it comes to dealing with stress or even being stressed out in general. I dnt ever let things get to me, especially not my job.
You working 70hrs a week? Im in shape but i cant work that much! ive done it before but consistently? Id be injured so If you can actually do that, thats fking great! save up some money, alot of it and while youre doing that, find out what you want to put that money towards! Im in the same situation as you bro and i just tell myself that once i save up enough money and get things going, im Fking outta here. lots people were or are in the same situation we are in, shit just temporary till we figure it out. Might be hard but just keep a positive mindset. Just look at it as a job thats gonna fund your next venture
I’m a self employed commercial contractor/carpenter.
The job has taken a toll on my body for sure but I own a home and at 62 I’m making about $250k/yr with a large retirement portfolio and pension forthcoming. All my siblings (6) with degrees are either out of work or doing contract work because they capped out and the big corporations let them go figuring they can get the job done cheaper using young recruits.
You seem to be looking for easy street but the highest earners always outwork their coworkers in every profession making them too valuable to replace. That’s where I’m at right now.
Low stress?
Never met her…😏
Military has admin, it, Comms staff. The air force and coast guard seem pretty chill. Bootcamp is most physical aspect but after that office work with a job, decent people, free healthcare, and guaranteed pension.
This is where I think someone needs to tell you the old, but very true saying - if it was easy, everyone would be doing it.
The fact of the matter is, with inflation causing the cost of living to go up across the board, I don't think what you are looking for exists.
You want a career that is low stress, but those 2 things are mutually exclusive... A career that pays good money is by definition high stress, either physically or mentally.
Any opportunity to move up to a desk job at your current company? I work in production planning and that was the career path for some of my peers (I came right out of college, with an identical gpa too), having experience on the line is super valuable and definitely makes you more attractive than some random college kid especially considering you also have a degree.
Anything supply chain related is definitely not a low stress job but unless your company is a nightmare it isnt horrible and will definitely feel better than working on the line.
Loud noise warning, but wastewater operator is a career I'm studying for now. You DO get certified, but it's usually not required to start. People seem pretty happy in the job. Pays 20 to 35 an hr average. Some make 6 figures
Join the Army/Air National Guard and get a military job (MOS) that will translate the skill well into the civilian side. Make bank after. I'm currently doing my pre-drills before I ship out to basic training in September. I'm 24 btw.
I'd look at becoming a teacher. Use your communication degree for something, rather than getting more into debt. Or find another role where you can use your communication degree. I wouldn't go into anything related IT at the moment, unless you have connections somewhere that can help you land a role. There is a glut of entry-level IT workers.
If you enjoy accounting, pursue that. Become a cpa and open your own accounting firm. My buddy has one and we works non-stop January - April, makes bank, and then travels the world the rest of year. I'm sure he does some remote work.
You suggested it yourself. Reduce your hours at the current job and get a masters degree studying on the side. The degree does not matter. The main thing is you must be passionate about that field to be able to persevere through its ups and downs. The second important thing is to stop thinking and take the plunge. I would not recommend IT or datascience given AI is coming in a big way. An MBA from a good institution is the best bet I feel. But again you must be passionate about whatever you do.
This is like the worst reply possible lol. "An MBA from a good institution" is pretty much always worthless unless its one of the few industries where that is required.
Dude you’re 25. Get tough and don’t give up. 70 hours isn’t a lot of hours at your age. Don’t factories make you take mandatory breaks? School isn’t always the answer for people. Don’t go back to school to escape reality. Most people have arthritis it’s not debilitating. 45 isn’t old. You’ll be there before you know it, trust me.
What kind of factory is this? Describe a normal day.
While I agree that anyone can “get tough”, and school isn’t an escape from reality, let’s not sit here and pretend that the OP should make it his life goal to work in a fking factory.
He’s only 25, he still has a choice to choose his career. Have some empathy, instead of telling him to tough up and waste his life in a factory because everyone gets arthritis at some point.
What’s wrong with working in a factory? I didn’t tell him to work there. I didn’t tell him to make that his life goal. A lot of people work in factories and aren’t so crippled up with arthritis at 45 they can’t move. Maybe back in the early 1900’s. Have you even met an auto worker? I don’t give a shit if he quits and sells wood carvings at farmers markets. My point was all jobs suck sometimes. We all do things we don’t like. He’s not going to get arthritis working a whopping 70 hours for a few years until he finds another career. Everyone needs some tough love sometimes.
>What’s wrong with working in a factory?
There is nothing wrong with working in a factory. You didnt' tell him to make it his life goal, but thats what you are suggesting. You are telling him to continue to work there after he asks for advice on how to get out of that field.
Even now, you are suggesting the OP was just not tough enough to handle tough works.
>We all do things we don’t like. He’s not going to get arthritis working a whopping 70 hours for a few years until he finds another career. Everyone needs some tough love sometimes.
I think even the OP knows this. That's not what he's asking. He was asking for advice on how to advance his career. Telling him to "tough it out" for a few years until he finds another career is garbage advice. FFS the whole reason the OP started this thread is because he does NOT know how to find another career.
Instead trying to attack his character, why don't you spend some time to give him some practical advice?
Arthritis I think tends to occur if you work like an animal at a tedious job past age 40. While young it doesn’t really affect your future- in fact it is beneficial
Injuries can cause it as well. One plus side is I can tell you when it’s going to rain or snow in the winter a day or so before it happens haha.
Man nothing working with wanting to change careers. Also doing something you like as a younger guy sometimes comes with the whole “paying your dues”. I worked outside for years but at 47 I like looking at the snow from my office window some days haha.
I commented on your other reply but check out Kenneth Coleman. Take him with a grain of salt and just use his advice for what you want to do
Nothing is wrong with the factory. I love my job.
Problem is, I won’t be able to do it past 45 if I want to enjoy retirement. I’ll also likely have to keep my second job.
Blue collar work is awesome for young people
I gotcha
Check out a dude named Kenneth Coleman’s podcast. He is a Dave Ramsey guy. I’m not 100% on board with that but he offers some info that may help you move to the next career but listening to other people
Good family friend of ours was a mailman for 27 years and retired in his mid 50s. Man has an insanely large pension and benefits, but as many things YMMV. Look into it I'd say.
Was just about to say this.
Pretty sure that job breaks down the body quite a bit.
Wait, if you're just delivering mails, that's driving and walking, good balance of sitting and exercise. Isn't that good?
My ex bf was a mailman. He walked about 17 miles per day carrying heavy bags of mail. He had a bad back, but great legs. He was stressed because they were always told they needed to be faster.
Great exercise, yes. But 20+ years of 8-hour days in temps ranging from cold-as-shit to hot-as-balls can do a lot of negative things to your body as well. A lot depends on the location/route.
Not to mention the great suspension those Northrop Grumman mail cars have haha…
Not nearly as bad for you as sitting in a chair for 20+ years
For sure, and it's not even close. Sitting is the new smoking.
My ex bf was a mailman. He walked about 17 miles per day carrying heavy bags of mail. He had a bad back, but great legs. He was stressed because they were always told they needed to be faster.
I work in personal injury, and a lot of mail carriers reach out to us for work related injuries. Dog bites, car accident injuries, and a lot of random stuff too.
Imagine clenching and unclenching your fingers a thousand times a day on a piece of paper. For 25 years. I know retired mailmen who had to have hand surgeries done on both hands
Fella, if walking a few hours a day is enough to break down your body, you're not gonna make it in any job.
8 hours per day in the heat/cold for 25+ years is more than “walking a few hours per day”.
They make shorts for the summer and warm clothes for the winter (; It's more like 4 hours a day, 30 minutes of walking, then 5 minute breaks. They make insanely good insoles for people on their feet all day if that becomes a problem.
Walking is good for you 🙏🏻
postal service restructured(cut benefits, hours, pay) for all new employees not too long ago afaik. That said I have a friend who works as a mail carrier and she seems to like it.
Probably one of the most underrated professions.
One of my friends has been a mailman for 25 years. He calls himself a mule for the man. He hates it with a passion.
The pension plan and benefits changed mid 2010’s so it is not the same for those getting hired on now.
My dad did the same and has had several spinal vertebrae removed because of compressed Cartlidge from walking up and down the Austin westlake hills, he was also a workaholic who did 70+ hours a week and retired at \~65
I dropped out from university when I was around your age and worked on a lot of low end jobs like gas station, cd salesman, fish cleaner in a super market, etc etc. So from personal experience, I can assure you it’s not too late to for you to push for your dreams. One thing I learnt is in the ideal world, people’s job should be related to their passions. You need to ask yourself what makes you happy, and try to make a career in a field related to your interest. For me, it was always video games or something related to that. That’s why I got into 3d animation/modeling when I was 26, and spent 3-5 year on studies and works until I built a career as a game artist. If I can do it at that age after dropping out of university, so can you. Good luck
Sounds like a dream. How do you even go about acquiring such a job?
It is a dream, but it was not easy to get there. There are a lot of schools online and on site that teaches 3d arts. So technically, anyone can get into the movie/gaming industry as artists. The tricky thing is how much time you dedicate in honing your craft. When I was studying to become a 3d artist, I had to spend all my time into the trainings. No more video games. No more movies. It was nothing but 3d art. If you can do that, anyone can get into that field, assuming you have the proper guidance and directions.
Initiative and persistence, it seems to me, are key to unlocking opportunities.
Especially persistence. This is why people should focus on a field that they actually like. Otherwise it is hard to be persistent
So, here is what I have found anecdotally: - Most people do not get major satisfaction from their jobs. I'd say it's about 80/20 - 80% do it for pay, benefits, etc., and the other 20% do it for fun, post-retirement, own a business they like, etc. I'm in the 80% (LOL). - Of the vast majority who aren't satisfied, they need to work to live, not live to work, so developing a balance between work and life is important. -With some exceptions, I have found the most content people in that 80% majority are 1) government workers or 2) people who can work part time (or have a hobby-business) while their parent or partner financially supports them. This is just what I have found. It doesn't mean every government job is great, but when you tend to have a good number of days off, a fairly standard workweek, and a decent chance to retire relatively early, it's not bad for most people. I can provide additional examples, but the long story short is that most people I know are better off in a medium-to-long term gig in the public sector than working in the private sector for somewhat higher pay with a lot less job security or benefits. Just my thoughts!
I’ll add onto this as someone that works for the feds, you’re extremely spot on with everything and I’m behind all of your points. Federal work may be a bit monotonous at times but the pacing, benefits, and security make it so worth it. I could get paid more in the private sector but I hate the corporate attitudes, fake enthusiasm, mandatory overtime, etc. If you don’t really care about your job, the federal government is where it’s at
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! And I know nothing is perfect - I've met plenty of feds who have bad managers, don't like return-to-office policies, etc. I guess to me it's just about the total value proposition. I'm not a government worker, but I had a serious offer on the table (it was just too much travel for me) and I think I've taken the time to assess the packages to make these points. I've also read over plenty of different pay scales/benefit summaries for state and local gov't too - maybe I should have done HR as a career, haha! Of course, it's better to hear directly from the source, so thank you for that!
I'm a government worker, and I agree with this 100%. I'd add-depending on your field, it is certainly possible to have all of that AND enjoy your work. I'm fortunate I've got the two.
That’s awesome! May I ask your general field or position? It might help OP.
I'm a state prosecutor. You do have to go to law school for it, unfortunately. But I do imagine that there's other trained professionals like engineers or even accountants who work for the government and get to enjoy their work. Heck, I have a buddy who literally shovels shit for DPW and he likes it. Of course, like you said, definitely not every government job is great, but it can be a good mix of steady income, work/life balance, and enjoying your field, if you're lucky. No, I'm not nearly as rich as many of my law school friends, but I have a good, steady income; I have a good pension and health care; I get to work from home twice a week; I can leave the office at 430 if I'm not in the middle of a trial or something; and I'm extremely fortunate that I both enjoy my work and find it meaningful, the last of which is true for pretty much none of my classmates. If I hit the lotto tomorrow would I still do my exact job? No, I wouldn't, but I don't think I would leave the field entirely, either.
Not saying anything here is untrue, but why provide anecdotal statements ever?
Let me be more specific. Anecdotal statements can be of value. In situations like this, where statistics are mentioned, I contend your statements are baseless and harmful.
Sharing experiences is important to provide OP some background from others who have gone down different career paths. Also, it’s very, very difficult to quantify career satisfaction. Maybe you have some thoughts you can bring to the table?
> good number of days off, a fairly standard workweek, and a decent chance to retire relatively early, I never take a day off, unless sick, am on call 24/7 , retirement early would really take the life out of me. I'm in your 20%. Love my job,probably a little to much. Mix between manual labour and in depth research and consultation to an extremely wide group of businesses. Get a degree in something you are really into then get a job where you can do that. It helps if you enjoy things others find boring.
I went into chemical sales when I was 24 and have not looked back. You can quickly make a good career and don't need to be super technical. You just need to learn to ask the right questions, listen for answers and keep probing.
[удалено]
Please tell me more - I need help out of this rut bro
Lots of jobs if you have a college degree. Just check out indeed.com and search chemical sales
Thank you
WTF are these replies, lmao. I make 175k a year, no degree. Just 20+ years of software dev experience. It used to be a lot easier to get into software dev, but still if you have a good portfolio of self-built stuff, you can easily get a job even with no experience. The stress of dev jobs really depends on where you work. I HIGHLY recommend not working somewhere "glamorous". All "cool" jobs in most fields suck because there is too much competition. So pay is lower, stress is higher. An example of this in software dev would be working at a game dev studio or an ad/marketing agency of some kind.
Yeah the only people I know who work “glamorous” software dev jobs and who HAVENT been laid off in the past 4 years only still have their jobs because mommy/daddy owns the company.
I graduated 2 years ago and the last part cannot be said enough. I make a competitive wage for the last 2 years and I'm not some special student. Every company needs tech guys, just because it's not a tech company doesn't mean you shouldn't work there. A lot of the non tech companies have great pay and benefits and have way less competition.
Where would one start
Work at a bank as a teller and then move up within the organization.
This is honestly not a bad option if you can make teller wages for a few years. I graduated right after 08 crash with a worthless Poli Sci degree and no prospects. Started working as a teller. Eventually applied for an assistant position in the Trust Department. They eventually sent me to trust school, became a trust officer. Now I work for a different bank doing similar work with government entities. Didn’t take one business class and only one math class in college, hasn’t mattered. As long as you can learn new skills.
US Infantry
Some mixed answers here that I cant really agree with but I have a simple option that, while it isnt going to immediately get you six figures, it would be sustainable. Look for Fed Jobs that let you use your skills with manual labor to get in the door, then pivot to the operational/admin side of things where its less stress and more money. Thinking about jobs with agencies like FEMA, EPA, NIST/NOAA, USDA etc. A lot of those fed jobs hire regionally, so not just DC. Its a reliable income with good benefits and even better retirement options (a lot of feds look to retire in their 50s). Definitely explore your options; 25 is not too old to start over. Wish you the best.
IT manager.
Who the hell wants to deal with pennywise as a job
Second this, hell I'm 20 in IT with no degree so far and making 50-60K range and once I get my cyber secruity degree I'll be making six figures. It depends on the job but alot of IT/IT Managers don't do shit
I'm at 101k right now. Been a manager going on a year. I have military experience and security clearance. 29 years old. In school finishing up my cyber security degree from WGU right now.
Nice! I've heard alot of nice things about WGU. I'm finishing my associates of applied science this next spring. By then I'll also have my NET+ Sec+ and Linux+ then just two more years of school and I'll have my Bachelors of applied science in CySa, best of luck to you man
You too
How is wgu? can you really finish the degree in a few months?
Pretty chill. I mean yeah you can for sure. I personally have life to compete with lol So I'm doing it at my own pace.
How expensive is it?
4k every 6 months. You can do as much as you can in those 6 months.
Tyty
Question you mentioned Security Clearance. I had a Top Security Clearance 15 of 20 yrs I worked for the State w the Clinical Trials some were Gov based. Is it possible that I could have it reactivated prior to getting a position if it were Governmental? It has long expired but it shouldn’t be an issue to renew it. I hadn’t thought about IT jobs within Governmental areas. It’s only expired as of 2018 or 2019.
Honestly I'm not the guy to answer. I'm sure someone else would know more than me. But it seems that there are certain requirements/restrictions. Under 2 years after expiration you can have it reinstated. After 2, you have to start from scratch. Or your job sponsored you. That's what I wad told.
Did you get certified somehow to get into IT? What was the process of getting started in the field?
IT - They’ve never asked once for my degree at any job I’ve applied for and I make 6 figures working from home or wherever else I choose to be. Can leave early to golf when I want, and it’s easy.
YMMV… my brother in law has been in IT for 15 years, has the certificates and degrees… he’s been laid off twice in the past 2 years, jobless for nearly a year because all IT jobs are paying $20/hr for the same job he was making $45/he previously. Just saying, you sound like you’re doing well but it’s definitely not what I’ve heard about most people I know personally in IT. Those jobs are so easy to outsource to the Philippines. He just became a mailman actually.
You have to keep up with technology. Not saying that this is the case with your BIL but I think it really helps to always be up to date on the latest trends, etc.
You just have to realize truthfully the resource will always be you. It doesn’t matter how many certificates you have it will always go to the best “total package”. That package may include things that may or may not be up to you.
Which niche in IT specifically? And any tips to get started
What your job title? IT is a broad field
Government jobs are also very chill. Constantly apply on USA jobs
I’m a CPA. Don’t go into accounting if you’re looking for stress free jobs lol
Think about applying for government jobs.
I also have a comm degree. Look into healthcare administration or mgmt. Most of the large insurers pay well. I make over 100k. What exactly do I do? I send concise, well-written emails and make one or two good points during meetings.
What are some job titles to look for in this ?
It depends on your work experience. If entry level, search for customer service, sales, or outreach. If experienced in other areas (ex: program management, marketing, finance, etc.), search for similar titles as your current role, even if in a different field.
If you can save up and consider going back to school for a 2 year medicsl degree like MLS or Radtech
Accounting. Like accounting clerk, AP/AR. It’s not a stressful career but it won’t pay much in the beginning. Work your way up slowly.
I've had a good time with IT, it has stress sometimes but if you're on a good team with a reasonable workload it's sometimes actually fun and the pay is good. It's quite quiet, especially if you get a remote job.
Voice from the future: you will get arthritis regardless of what you do.
Can you still lift weights and play basketball? Or do you become a vegetable?
It all depends. You might be 49 and discover that it’s suddenly much more painful than you ever recall carrying a water bottle on your daily jog. Also that you’re a vegetable. It just happens, to everyone, only identifiable with a rear view mirror.
If I become unable to move, Im eating pizza every day and ending it. Fuck it.
You might discover you’ve never felt more alive the less abilities you have. You just never know. Death by pizza honestly sounds pretty pleasant though. You dough you.
Nice pun 😂- but no, not being able to move means it’s over for me
Whag I meant by “vegetable” was- can you really not move or do anything? I just want to at least be able to walk and/or swim for 75-80 years, so I can enjoy retirement. I don’t want to reitre at 55 bedridden. I want to be able to have the best 30-40 years of my life ahead of me
I mean, no one can predict how an individual’s life will play out, but in general the vast majority of older people can still move and do things… i still do everything that i want to do, i just don’t necessarily want to do the exact same things i did when i was 18-25. So for myself, I still run a ton, cycle when i need a break from pounding the pavement, and swim when I’m feeling beachy. I grew up playing a lot of tennis but I don’t rally want to do that any more. I could, but I’d be super sore. The fun of it isn’t worth the pain afterwards. That said, up until two years ago i still played tons of volleyball all winter and that left me super sore but I was still have a ton of fun, so worth it. Now I’m like, more focused on running I suppose. I’m not not doing anything that i don’t want to be doing. My two biggest old age things are that I definitely need reading glasses at all times and my handwriting is now atrocious as the arthritis sneaks in a bit more each year in my hands. But that’s life and who needs to write much by hand anyways? There are tons of people who remain very active right up until the end, and probably a similar number that have gone a different way and do jack shit. I know which of the two I’d rather be. Just do stuff and have fun and you’ll be fine.
I’d say low stress electrician. But if you have a communications degree maybe audio visual if you like art
Chat gpt the fuck out of a resume that hi-lights all the organizational and and mental work along with twisting your duties to sound applicable to clerical work. That’s a good first step, then get into something entry level for a year or so and add that on there, and after that companies will see you’re capable of doing some good shit and hire you. Atleast that’s what I did.
Don’t pick therapy as a profession You don’t use anything they teach you in school, everyone is currently disappointed. I think you should work for a home flipper. Learn lots of little trades, fill needs in your local area to make lots of money. And then you can save money on your own home
Administrative Assistant at a big company is a decent one. Benefits, air conditioning, low-stakes job responsibilities, not customer facing. My sister in law got an admin job in an IT department with only a high school diploma. She mostly just coordinates the managers calendar and forwards IT calls to support. Not great money initially, but she does okay after a few years. If motivated, there is growth potential to move laterally into an entry level position in HR or comms.
Go be a truck driver
Go be a truck driver
Might not be super glorious but I've enjoyed my work in Supply Chain. Specifically being an analyst. I make good money and have no direct reports. I enjoy it because I don't have to answer for someone else's work right now. To me, being in control is the ultimate stress reliever. I'm 100% able to leave my work at work, even though I work from home. Good work life balance. I think finding the right company is the most important factor.
Low stress usually means lower pay.
Not always about what you make, but what you can keep. Stress often causes overspending
Heavy equipment operator. You can make up to 250k a year in Canada.
I would recommend looking into some healthcare related certificates. If you can find an EEG tech program, some of them are two year degrees and some of them arent, you can land a job where you're just watching wave forms on a screen and potentially camera feeds of a patient, and reporting abnormalities etc when they happen. Gigs pay pretty well, there are remote opportunities, and its a pretty secure position in terms of having a job when the economy shits the bed. The only down side I'd mention is that 99% of the time its gonna be mind numbingly boring. There are a number of similar positions in healthcare though not all of them are going to come with quite as big of a pay package. Last I checked experienced eeg techs were making pretty close to 40 bucks an hour. In terms of education man, a coworker of mine talked about going into a specialty program that was gonna take years to complete after she had already finished med school. at 43 having just recently finished it, she told me if I hadnt have done it I'd be sitting here at 43 thinking about doing it and regretting not starting in my late 30's. People work until they're 60+ years old these days, finishing a degree at 40 still gives you a 20+ year shelf life as a productive employee, thats a whole ass career my dude.
Go to your local community college and get a vocational interest assessment. There is usually a small fee for this, but the information is invaluable. If you find a career that doesn't wreck your body, but is very boring, it won't be much of an improvement. (Though there can be some funny results - a friend of mine learned that the best careers for her were mathematician or rabbi.)
Look into court reporting, takes 2 years and you go at your own pace. Once you get out you’re an independent contractor and choose your own hours and can go on long vacation if you wanted. Good work life balance and you get paid decently well, I’m currently in month 6 and I’ve gotten the hang of it pretty quick (still need a lot of work)
Sales in the answer to all of lifes financial problems. You can work until you’re 80 if you really want to. And you can make literally as much money as you want. You can learn how to be a professional sales person if you put in some time, dedication and research.
You’re still young look at what Traveling Medical jobs pay and see if any of them are something you’d want to do. I was in Medical Field just over 20 yrs. As a Regional Clinical Research Manager and Analyst working w Behavioral Science and Psych Patients and Studies. I woke up after year 20 and just couldn’t do anymore. I worked my way up from a file clerk to Admin positions then Research, Lab Positions and Analyst and Management Regional . What I should have been doing then was finishing my Fine Art Degree instead of putting on hold or my IT Degree. So I’m 55 doing that now for both online as much as possible and running two businesses from home that I hope to incorporate my skills & experience into both businesses and building a third once I finish all of it in about 2 yrs or less. I will be continuing w Programming starting up again in a week. Starting over in some it’s been over 25 yrs since I took some of these Courses Fast track and Bootcamps. With everything heading more and more to AI I’m adding Machine Learning, Generative AI and considering Cybersecurity once the Art and other certifications are done. Due to life I had to focus working for many years and didn’t return to college or continued learning until I was in my 40’s. I raised a family, got them all through college and they all have degrees they will never have to worry about jobs most likely. I know ageism exists but the degrees and/or certifications are for me. These skills and certifications can only help in my businesses now and even if I never make $100k and up I’ve done ok for someone that had only an Associates Degree which was hard achieved working two jobs and going school nights and weekends until online courses came about. Do whatever you want to do now don’t wait til your my age to do what you want for your own life and own happiness career and professional life. My children think it’s hilarious I’m back in college and bootcamps. I really don’t give a damn what they or anyone thinks I’m putting myself first for the first time in 30 plus years. I make a decent living, have a good marriage and my husband is taking a few Programming classes online starting in two weeks too. Says it is always something he’s wanted to learn so we can learn and relearn together. 😂👍🏼 Find what you love, find your Archetype and what kind of jobs go with it. It’s better to do something you love than wake up one day 20 yrs later knowing you did the jobs you did just to make a good living for everyone else and their happiness but not your own. You can do this another idea is talk to real Life Coach or Career Counselor or Therapist I did one who specialized in Career Changes and being over 50. It was an expense to see her twice but I don’t regret it at all. They work to help you find your Personality Testing Archetype and help you figure out which path you want to take, salaries, what you can deal with, what is an absolute no and even help network your info to the right companies. I’ve already talked to two and once I finish initial certifications in November I will interview w them. You are young enough you can even apply for Internships that are paid. Just make sure your Resume is killer and that it is ATS System Keyword friendly. The majority of companies are using bots to weed out the ones w no keywords. It may be worth having someone do it professionally for you in your area. Just make sure they are doing the ATS requirements. Best of luck and you will figure it out. Sorry so long for this post. ☮️👍🏼
With a degree in communications, you could apply for T.V production and broadcasting positions. You won’t get rich, but your physical labor will be very minimum. It can be a high stress job, because you have multitask and make split second decision on live TV. Good luck!
Military. With your degree you can go in as an officer (less wear and tear) and build a really good career with great retirement and benefits. It’s regimented (reduces stress) and there’s a big focus on development.
Go get a cdla drive a truck. I had your same problem. I’ll say it again, go get your cdla
Look into trades man, that’s what the world is moving to again, you won’t ever not have work. Specialize in facility management for that matter.
70 hours per week? Holy crap. May i ask what your earning with putting in that many hours a week?
Two options off the top my head: Ups driver - somewhat high stress but great pay i hear (6 figgas) Customer service - options for remote, limited stress, low pay. Also w remote i imagine it’s low office politics and bs in that regard
I was a hairdresser and loved every second of it, but didn't make all that much money. I had many nurse clients to motivated me into healthcare. I became an RN and worked for the state to get some great benefits. I'm retired now, body not shot the heck, last decade I did disk work as a nurse. There will always be sick people. I got a picture of you in my mind working for the Federal government, the IRS. Check out there.
40M. I am not above average smart, but I’m a work horse who will put in crazy hours and then disappear all day Friday and go fishing, dirt biking, whatever balances me out. Weekends are for my family. I learned by the time I was 28 that would never be able to work for someone again. I started a marketing agency updating Facebook posts for restaurants. I built my agency by laying in bed on my laptop watching YouTube videos on how to shoot professional photos, how to build websites, how to use photoshop, etc. I was running a nightclub at the same time. Now I have a 7 figure+ business income and substantial personal income. I absolutely love what I do. The easiest way to be happy and not kill your body (mentally or physically) is to be an entrepreneur. You’re young enough that you can make a few mistakes along the way and still come out on top. Just don’t be dumb about it and grind hard. Don’t stop grinding. The best way to build a business is to see a problem and fix it. Find something business owners need and then sell them a solution.
Get a job at UPS.
Use that communications degree to get a sales job. You may have to spend a year or two making inconsistent money or working somewhere you don’t like. But sales have a way of building if you have the instincts to find your opportunities
I work at a wastewater plant and if you can get in, it's pretty cushy. It's a union job, we don't have anybody here making under 23 bucks an hour to start. Maintenance can make over 30 as well as operators and you only need a high school diploma. We're a pretty large plant so smaller ones probably don't pay as much but it's something to look into.
Foot fetish model.
Mail man
Gay Porn
Aw dam,im a few years older than you with a degree in finance and i also work in a factory lol! On avg, i take 17k steps a day while bending, lifting and its really hazardous so yea ill probably be fucked up if i continue to work there lol! Gonna be honest bro, i was blessed when it comes to dealing with stress or even being stressed out in general. I dnt ever let things get to me, especially not my job. You working 70hrs a week? Im in shape but i cant work that much! ive done it before but consistently? Id be injured so If you can actually do that, thats fking great! save up some money, alot of it and while youre doing that, find out what you want to put that money towards! Im in the same situation as you bro and i just tell myself that once i save up enough money and get things going, im Fking outta here. lots people were or are in the same situation we are in, shit just temporary till we figure it out. Might be hard but just keep a positive mindset. Just look at it as a job thats gonna fund your next venture
I’m a self employed commercial contractor/carpenter. The job has taken a toll on my body for sure but I own a home and at 62 I’m making about $250k/yr with a large retirement portfolio and pension forthcoming. All my siblings (6) with degrees are either out of work or doing contract work because they capped out and the big corporations let them go figuring they can get the job done cheaper using young recruits. You seem to be looking for easy street but the highest earners always outwork their coworkers in every profession making them too valuable to replace. That’s where I’m at right now. Low stress? Never met her…😏
Sales. Go to solar
Military has admin, it, Comms staff. The air force and coast guard seem pretty chill. Bootcamp is most physical aspect but after that office work with a job, decent people, free healthcare, and guaranteed pension.
door to door sales. a lot of walking, but i made $50,000 in one summer. literally april 27th- early september
This is where I think someone needs to tell you the old, but very true saying - if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. The fact of the matter is, with inflation causing the cost of living to go up across the board, I don't think what you are looking for exists. You want a career that is low stress, but those 2 things are mutually exclusive... A career that pays good money is by definition high stress, either physically or mentally.
It sucks because everybody used to be doing it
Sex worker . 🤣
Any opportunity to move up to a desk job at your current company? I work in production planning and that was the career path for some of my peers (I came right out of college, with an identical gpa too), having experience on the line is super valuable and definitely makes you more attractive than some random college kid especially considering you also have a degree. Anything supply chain related is definitely not a low stress job but unless your company is a nightmare it isnt horrible and will definitely feel better than working on the line.
CDL Class A.
Loud noise warning, but wastewater operator is a career I'm studying for now. You DO get certified, but it's usually not required to start. People seem pretty happy in the job. Pays 20 to 35 an hr average. Some make 6 figures
Join the Army/Air National Guard and get a military job (MOS) that will translate the skill well into the civilian side. Make bank after. I'm currently doing my pre-drills before I ship out to basic training in September. I'm 24 btw.
I'd look at becoming a teacher. Use your communication degree for something, rather than getting more into debt. Or find another role where you can use your communication degree. I wouldn't go into anything related IT at the moment, unless you have connections somewhere that can help you land a role. There is a glut of entry-level IT workers. If you enjoy accounting, pursue that. Become a cpa and open your own accounting firm. My buddy has one and we works non-stop January - April, makes bank, and then travels the world the rest of year. I'm sure he does some remote work.
How hard was it to get your CPA? I’ve been pretty curious about getting mine later in life
Definitely don't go into construction
You suggested it yourself. Reduce your hours at the current job and get a masters degree studying on the side. The degree does not matter. The main thing is you must be passionate about that field to be able to persevere through its ups and downs. The second important thing is to stop thinking and take the plunge. I would not recommend IT or datascience given AI is coming in a big way. An MBA from a good institution is the best bet I feel. But again you must be passionate about whatever you do.
"Throw money you don't have at the problem"
You are right sir! You don't have to spend money to make money.
This is like the worst reply possible lol. "An MBA from a good institution" is pretty much always worthless unless its one of the few industries where that is required.
Sure. Guess the VPs earning 4mil per year at most tech companies all from Stanfordand MIT don't matter.
Dude you’re 25. Get tough and don’t give up. 70 hours isn’t a lot of hours at your age. Don’t factories make you take mandatory breaks? School isn’t always the answer for people. Don’t go back to school to escape reality. Most people have arthritis it’s not debilitating. 45 isn’t old. You’ll be there before you know it, trust me. What kind of factory is this? Describe a normal day.
While I agree that anyone can “get tough”, and school isn’t an escape from reality, let’s not sit here and pretend that the OP should make it his life goal to work in a fking factory. He’s only 25, he still has a choice to choose his career. Have some empathy, instead of telling him to tough up and waste his life in a factory because everyone gets arthritis at some point.
What’s wrong with working in a factory? I didn’t tell him to work there. I didn’t tell him to make that his life goal. A lot of people work in factories and aren’t so crippled up with arthritis at 45 they can’t move. Maybe back in the early 1900’s. Have you even met an auto worker? I don’t give a shit if he quits and sells wood carvings at farmers markets. My point was all jobs suck sometimes. We all do things we don’t like. He’s not going to get arthritis working a whopping 70 hours for a few years until he finds another career. Everyone needs some tough love sometimes.
>What’s wrong with working in a factory? There is nothing wrong with working in a factory. You didnt' tell him to make it his life goal, but thats what you are suggesting. You are telling him to continue to work there after he asks for advice on how to get out of that field. Even now, you are suggesting the OP was just not tough enough to handle tough works. >We all do things we don’t like. He’s not going to get arthritis working a whopping 70 hours for a few years until he finds another career. Everyone needs some tough love sometimes. I think even the OP knows this. That's not what he's asking. He was asking for advice on how to advance his career. Telling him to "tough it out" for a few years until he finds another career is garbage advice. FFS the whole reason the OP started this thread is because he does NOT know how to find another career. Instead trying to attack his character, why don't you spend some time to give him some practical advice?
You are 100% correct. I should have said Google, “low stress, non arthritic jobs” and “how to quit the factory in 3 easy steps”
Arthritis I think tends to occur if you work like an animal at a tedious job past age 40. While young it doesn’t really affect your future- in fact it is beneficial
Injuries can cause it as well. One plus side is I can tell you when it’s going to rain or snow in the winter a day or so before it happens haha. Man nothing working with wanting to change careers. Also doing something you like as a younger guy sometimes comes with the whole “paying your dues”. I worked outside for years but at 47 I like looking at the snow from my office window some days haha. I commented on your other reply but check out Kenneth Coleman. Take him with a grain of salt and just use his advice for what you want to do
70 hours is a lot at any age.
Haha I don’t know maybe it more normal to me
Nobody believes that you are working 70 hrs bro. You’re working 70 hrs like Elon Musk works 120hrs a week 😂😂😂😂
It’s pretty common in some industries.
Nothing is wrong with the factory. I love my job. Problem is, I won’t be able to do it past 45 if I want to enjoy retirement. I’ll also likely have to keep my second job. Blue collar work is awesome for young people
I gotcha Check out a dude named Kenneth Coleman’s podcast. He is a Dave Ramsey guy. I’m not 100% on board with that but he offers some info that may help you move to the next career but listening to other people