Career options

[Billinsd]

Geology and mining, its what i would have done.

In the late 70s oil got up to $100 a barrel!!! My businessman, developer dad told me that geology was the ticket and it was. He traveled in eastern Wyoming and visited a couple geologists and thought I could get a high paying job and drive around in a truck with a gun rack on the back window and hunt my brains out in my spare time. Sounded great to me!! I was a sickly, spoiled, dopey kid. Seven years later I got my bs in geology and the oil boom was now a bust. My options were hazardous waste remediation or working for civil engineers at unacceptable to me wages. I went back to college and got a civil engineering job 2 years later. It was quick, because I had taken optional hard engineering physics and math in geology. I just needed to take engineering classes, which were easy, since my math, physics, and chemistry background were so strong. I was never strong in geology, too much memorization. I never got an A in geology!!! I've been a registered civil engineer ever since for about 30 years. I have an 11 and 15 year old. Civil Engineering is very interesting, however you either work for the government, which takes infinitely more patience than I have or working for a consultant who works for the government. I pretty much despise government and bureaucracy. However, I'm super anxious and insecure about having a good job. I'm think chemical engineering or some kind of engineering would be good for the future. We have enough oil shale and tough to get oil to keep my kids, grandkids, etc. Employed. However, the crazy socialists scare the hell out of me. They want to ban coal and petroleum, which would devastate this country. Whatever you do if you can, get the best education you can. That's what I'm doing with my kids. I'm grooming them for higher learning. My daughter and I are going to Palo Alto to visit Stanford in a couple weeks. My daughter is working her butt off in high school and volunteering. Wherever she goes to college, whatever she becomes it "should" be good. Best of luck to you!!!

 

[timekiller13]

Another RN. I work in the ED and psych. Psych gig is gravy. ED is a monster and is the most mentally and physically draining job I have ever had. Schedule is decent, like others have said. Benefits are decent, job availability nationwide. So being an RN definitely has its perks. Although, I think a respitory therapist job is the ticket. All RT friends love their job.

 

[Rich M]

Another vote for engineering.

 

[SniperHunter]

In the late 70s oil got up to $100 a barrel!!! My businessman, developer dad told me that geology was the ticket and it was. He traveled in eastern Wyoming and visited a couple geologists and thought I could get a high paying job and drive around in a truck with a gun rack on the back window and hunt my brains out in my spare time. Sounded great to me!! I was a sickly, spoiled, dopey kid. Seven years later I got my bs in geology and the oil boom was now a bust. My options were hazardous waste remediation or working for civil engineers at unacceptable to me wages. I went back to college and got a civil engineering job 2 years later. It was quick, because I had taken optional hard engineering physics and math in geology. I just needed to take engineering classes, which were easy, since my math, physics, and chemistry background were so strong. I was never strong in geology, too much memorization. I never got an A in geology!!! I've been a registered civil engineer ever since for about 30 years. I have an 11 and 15 year old. Civil Engineering is very interesting, however you either work for the government, which takes infinitely more patience than I have or working for a consultant who works for the government. I pretty much despise government and bureaucracy. However, I'm super anxious and insecure about having a good job. I'm think chemical engineering or some kind of engineering would be good for the future. We have enough oil shale and tough to get oil to keep my kids, grandkids, etc. Employed. However, the crazy socialists scare the hell out of me. They want to ban coal and petroleum, which would devastate this country. Whatever you do if you can, get the best education you can. That's what I'm doing with my kids. I'm grooming them for higher learning. My daughter and I are going to Palo Alto to visit Stanford in a couple weeks. My daughter is working her butt off in high school and volunteering. Wherever she goes to college, whatever she becomes it "should" be good. Best of luck to you!!!

Avery intelligent angle, Thinking about the future of the career itself, that just about sums it all but i dont think politicians would be able to force us all to use electronic cars. The battery cells are not strong enough and sufficient or the whole human race. Imagine a world without conbution engines, that isn't happening. Its funny we live in a world where people talk a big talk about environmental wastes but wanna make cars on batteries..

Geology has to do with a lot of reading and memorizing but engineering math is something i always run away from.

 

[260madman]

If I could do it all over again I’d look into the medical field. I’m in industrial maintenance now and it’s great but the work environment isn’t the best most days being exposed to the elements no matter how hot or cold it is. It’s tough on the body but I’ve kept myself in decent shape over the years and didn’t have many problems like the young guys that are out of shape. After an accident I now have problems and will for the rest of my life.

As far as a schedule we work 12s. 3-1-3. Work F,S,S off M work T,W,Th off F,S,S work M off T,W,Th. It’s kind of screwy but works well for my family. Having days off during the week is nice to hunt or do house projects. Take 12 hours of PTO and get 7 days off. Last year we were slow so they gave us off for rifle season and the week of Christmas and New Years.

 

[Braaap]

Municipal firefighter is where it's at. 48/96 schedule with a good amount of vacation and ability to do trades. I can pretty much work my schedule around any hunt I want to do.

Lots of great things about it but it's not for everyone.

 

[Marble]

Not for everyone. Law enforcement, my last 9 years of work I made a 6 figure salary. And at the 20 year mark I had 5 weeks of vacation. Plus able to retire at 49, with a pension that is more than most ppl make a year. But like I said, it is not for everyone..

I agree. Not for everyone.

 

[mlgc20]

I would consider looking at careers in Sales. If your good and hitting your numbers, you can often take off when you want. And with today's technology, you can get your work done on the road. I know guys in Sales that basically take a whole month off during the hunting season.

 

[Huntindog45]

fire fighter.. seriously i want their schedules.

 

[Doc Holliday]

Considering going back to school (I’m 28) just looking for ideas on average to good paying jobs that would allow a guy enough vacation to do a hunting trip or two (out of state) each fall

Do something where you work for yourself.......handyman, contractor, plumber, tree trimmer, painter, irrigation, etc. The only person you have to ask for time off is looking at you in the mirror.

Working for corporate america (like I do) is the worst thing you can do, if vacation time/flexibility is a priority for you.

 

[sram9102]

Depending on where you see yourself down the road, married/kids government jobs are great. I work for a municipality 35 hours a week, no weekends ever, 5 years in and I have 7 weeks of vac/pto yearly and can roll over two weeks. Benefits are great, don't get me wrong I envy some of my friends that are on the fire dept or nurses at our hospital for the schedules they week, but I get to go home every night to the wife and kiddo and will never have to miss out on anything family related due to work.

 

[Studd muffin]

My wife is a CRNA. Will take another couple years after you get your nursing degree. But she makes a lot more than I do and has a ton of time off. If I could do anything medical, that is what I would do.

 

[Poser]

Skimmed the thread. Lots of conventional/average advice IMHO.

Here’s mine:

Google certifications in SEM and Display and an understanding of digital marketing as a whole. Land a job with a forward thinking digital agency and you get unlimited PTO (that’s the trend as of present). Working remote and/or independently is also an option in this field. Also, every outdoor brand including hunting brands of all sizes employ and/or contract digital marketers of all experience levels so you could work exclusively in the hunting industry if you wanted

 

[Matt W.]

I'm working a project here in N Idaho.. We have had a hard time getting underground and aerial utility workers for a fiber install project. Those guys are in high demand, and most companies offer schooling opportunities for hard workers. If a guy doesn't want to take on college debt it is a great field to get into...

 

[Gerard Marcaurele]

I spent 8 years working in the corporate world. The pay was great, but sitting at a desk/computer all day and night was killing my soul. I am now a firefighter and love it. I work a 48 hours, then have 96 hours off. By taking one set (48 hours) off, I get 10 straight days off. It's rewarding (and stressful work) with an amazing schedule.

This is what I’ve been told by a lot of firefighters.

 

[TBarron]

Save your $ on paying to go back tool school. Get into sales and then have the company you work for pay for you to finish your degree. As long as you hit your numbers you’ve got a ton of autonomy and flexibility with your work. I’ve been in software sales for 10 years and it’s been very rewarding.


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[Rs3003]

I’m a electrician and my wife is a nurse. I tell all the high school kids that enjoy the outdoors to go be a nurse. The schedule of 3-12’s is the best. Bunch the work days together and not use the PTO until you want a long hunting season off. I’m envious of all nurses schedules.

 

[Poser]

I’m a electrician and my wife is a nurse. I tell all the high school kids that enjoy the outdoors to go be a nurse. The schedule of 3-12’s is the best. Bunch the work days together and not use the PTO until you want a long hunting season off. I’m envious of all nurses schedules.

There is a downside to going the nurse route though and that is your pay will top out without any real opportunity to make more money without working more shifts. Sure, there are markets that pay more: cities where the cost of living is higher, depressed areas that aren’t desirable to live and even prison nursing jobs or similar that nobody wants unless it pays extraordinarily well. I knew a nurse that worked at the South Pole Station. You can advance to Nurse Practitioner and find a job at a private practice where there is a performance incentive, but that will usually involve working more than 3 shifts (not to mention more school) to hit the bonus numbers and it still has a ceiling on it since you can only see so many patients. Might be wise to also consider how changes in the US health care system long term might effect how health care workers are paid the same way automation will effect manufacturing jobs.

In short, if you’re passionate about health care or just a super practical person who is content to top out in pay fairly early on in their career, it’s a good option. That being said, I still urge the OP to consider a field where income is related to performance and, over time, one can make an increasing amount of money while doing less and less actual work.

 

[CorbLand]

I will also throw out Real Estate. Its ebbs and flows pretty bad but when its good its good. My uncle put in about 7 years of hard work and has built himself a damn good life. He sold 4 houses from his phone and computer on his 6 week vacation to Hawaii. We hunted together a lot and everyday we just had to make it to cell service for about an hour. Nothing like listening to him make 15K sitting on the top of a mountain. I wish I would have just done that out of high school.

 

[brettdunn7]

There is a downside to going the nurse route though and that is your pay will top out without any real opportunity to make more money without working more shifts. Sure, there are markets that pay more: cities where the cost of living is higher, depressed areas that aren’t desirable to live and even prison nursing jobs or similar that nobody wants unless it pays extraordinarily well. I knew a nurse that worked at the South Pole Station. You can advance to Nurse Practitioner and find a job at a private practice where there is a performance incentive, but that will usually involve working more than 3 shifts (not to mention more school) to hit the bonus numbers and it still has a ceiling on it since you can only see so many patients. Might be wise to also consider how changes in the US health care system long term might effect how health care workers are paid the same way automation will effect manufacturing jobs.

In short, if you’re passionate about health care or just a super practical person who is content to top out in pay fairly early on in their career, it’s a good option. That being said, I still urge the OP to consider a field where income is related to performance and, over time, one can make an increasing amount of money while doing less and less actual work.

That’s not necessarily true. Nurse practitioner are also in a lot of hospitals. There are a lot of hospitals that will pay for nurses to go back to school to advance to things like nurse practitioner or CRNA. If you really want to make some money advance to CRNA.

You can also work during Nurse practitioner school for most schools at least. It’s school dependent. I know some CRNA schools don’t allow you to work. Or it’s just not possible.

You can also advance into management, supervisor positions, case management etc. all of which increases the cap.

It also depends on the hospital system you work for. My mother in law has been doing the same RN job for over 20 years and is still getting raises.

I would say a lot of research is needed for this profession depending on how you want to go about it. My wife is an RN. She did months or research especially about the area we just moved to to figure out which hospital systems have better benefits and how they work, etc.


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