Changing jobs in 5 years?

[{CLR}geneSW]

I've found lately that with almost 1.5 years of my enlistment over with, i'm disliking the military more and more. It's not what I do, but it's the fact that I don't think my body or mind can take more then another 4.5 years of this. It would seem that I an prone to shin splints, so in 4.5 years my legs are gonna be hurting every day. The idea of moving every few years is really starting to get to me now that the reality of it is kicking in. Especially if I get orders to Korea for 1 year. I don't know if my wife can take it either if I get those. I mean, she doesn't have a divers license and she doesn't want to get one. She feels unsafe driving, so I can understand that. Basically i'm now looking for a new job, and i've got about 4.5 years to get a degree in it, being able to take 2 classes a semester. That's all my "100%" T.A. will cover. 100% T.A. my @$$. They think that one person cannot take 3 classes a semester if the classes are online...

Anyways. I'm looking for decent jobs that will be in demand, offer good health insurance, and decent pay (i've got a $350 car payment, $100 on car insurance, about $75 on phone...ect...ect). And i've got to be able to start it in 4.5 years total. Ideas?

[DougBob]

What are you experienced in and what do you like doing?

[{CLR}geneSW]

Well, i've always liked helping people, and building computers. But i've noticed that the computer industry seems to be fairly well filled up. With me being only 21 (in june) i've got quite a few options. My own experience is in Munitions (my current afsc is 2w0x1, Munitions System Specialist), and building computers/street repair. I don't think I would mind teaching high school either though.

[Evil_T0NY {CLR}]

I've found lately that with almost 1.5 years of my enlistment over with, i'm disliking the military more and more. It's not what I do, but it's the fact that I don't think my body or mind can take more then another 4.5 years of this. It would seem that I an prone to shin splints, so in 4.5 years my legs are gonna be hurting every day. The idea of moving every few years is really starting to get to me now that the reality of it is kicking in. Especially if I get orders to Korea for 1 year. I don't know if my wife can take it either if I get those. I mean, she doesn't have a divers license and she doesn't want to get one. She feels unsafe driving, so I can understand that. Basically i'm now looking for a new job, and i've got about 4.5 years to get a degree in it, being able to take 2 classes a semester. That's all my "100%" T.A. will cover. 100% T.A. my @$$. They think that one person cannot take 3 classes a semester if the classes are online...

Anyways. I'm looking for decent jobs that will be in demand, offer good health insurance, and decent pay (i've got a $350 car payment, $100 on car insurance, about $75 on phone...ect...ect). And i've got to be able to start it in 4.5 years total. Ideas?

Hey, get a medical discharge for the shin splints.

[Thrashdragon]

Engineers are in demand so can command a pretty good salary, and if you like building things already that might be something you should look into.

The computer field is pretty saturated, with thousands of new graduates every year, and a lot of the non-hardware jobs (programming, graphics, etc.) are going to be outsourced over the next few years.

[Todd98]

Boy seiko sounds like you are cought between a rock and a hard spot. But you seem too be on the right track by starting too look towards and plan your future. As you said you have 4.5 more years too go. Pick something you love that dream job something that you always wanted too do and go for it.

Try too enjoy the places you get too go while you are in the military as you can say that I've been there and share pictures of those places. Some of us will never get too visit those foreign lands and see the sites.

[BKnight3]

Hey, i hear ya. My enlistment was kinda discouraging too. Be glad about the 2 classes a year, my ship didn't do that well, we had the same 3 classes every 6 months almost all the time... BTW, what service are you in? It might determine the driving factor.

[-IRC-MIKE]

If I were 21 I'd go to Law School or either Medical.

If you like to help people and are up for the job, there is now and always will be a VERY HIGH demand for male Registered Nurses. The male positions pay very well and flexible hours. It sounds like something you may consider.

It can be done in 4 years and not only that, your military branch may be more succeptible to allow you to take more classes in such a field. (I don't know how that works)

Factor in this and the fact that you can find work anywhere you want and it is pretty persuasive.

[{CLR}geneSW]

Hey, i hear ya. My enlistment was kinda discouraging too. Be glad about the 2 classes a year, my ship didn't do that well, we had the same 3 classes every 6 months almost all the time... BTW, what service are you in? It might determine the driving factor.

currently serving in the USAF.

I've thought about law and medical both before posting and while the money is attractive, the hours are intense for medical, and law has never interested me. Thanks for all of the input for everybody so far. Just out of curiosity, is anybody here a secondary school teacher? If so could you give me some information about that career field? What it's like, the hours, the general work load. Things you've found out about the job that you wouldn't have expected?

Oh, and before I forget. Tony, I will finish my enlistment off. I'm not going to quit this because of shin splints. If it was something a little more major then sure, but a medical discharge for shin splints never looks good.

[Thrashdragon]

I've thought about law and medical both before posting and while the money is attractive, the hours are intense for medical, and law has never interested me. Thanks for all of the input for everybody so far. Just out of curiosity, is anybody here a secondary school teacher? If so could you give me some information about that career field? What it's like, the hours, the general work load. Things you've found out about the job that you wouldn't have expected?

My father recently took up substitute teaching to keep him busy (he's a retired engineer). He really enjoyed it until he started teaching high school. The high school kids were so out of control that the school called a deputy to keep watch on one class, and the next day there were two deputies, as the first one refused to come back without backup. This is very dependent on where you live, of course, but this was a nice school in a nice neighborhood. The total lack of parenting these days is really showing.

I don't know how you feel about small children, but both my little sisters teach elementary school and find it extremely rewarding. Plus none of the kids are packing heat (yet).

[-IRC-MIKE]

My father recently took up substitute teaching to keep him busy (he's a retired engineer). He really enjoyed it until he started teaching high school. The high school kids were so out of control that the school called a deputy to keep watch on one class, and the next day there were two deputies, as the first one refused to come back without backup. This is very dependent on where you live, of course, but this was a nice school in a nice neighborhood. The total lack of parenting these days is really showing.

I don't know how you feel about small children, but both my little sisters teach elementary school and find it extremely rewarding. Plus none of the kids are packing heat (yet).

+1

I would still say the nursing scene is looking rewarding. A couple of the nurses here at my facility are also ...you guessed it...tech-school teachers. One just quit to go teach full time. Being a nurse does not necessarily mean that you are handling people's innards all day long or anything like that....and none of the nurses here have to wipe asses or anything like that. They basically give a shot here and there and hand out medicine and do some paperwork. They work 8 hours and go home unless they just WANT to work over.

[Hammy]

+1

I would still say the nursing scene is looking rewarding. A couple of the nurses here at my facility are also ...you guessed it...tech-school teachers. One just quit to go teach full time. Being a nurse does not necessarily mean that you are handling people's innards all day long or anything like that....and none of the nurses here have to wipe asses or anything like that. They basically give a shot here and there and hand out medicine and do some paperwork. They work 8 hours and go home unless they just WANT to work over.

Nurses are making 50k and up here in California.
Here is one of my pals:

58k from nursing - works 6 hours a night at the hospital.
102k from tossing Garbage Cans - works 4am to 3pm.
AND he is union.

[-IRC-MIKE]

My sister works 2 x 16 hour shifts a week as a nurse and brings home a GRAND if that tells you anything.

Occasionally she MIGHT have to give a pint of blood to a patient. The rest of the time she just gives a bit of medicine and makes a few recommendations per the doctor's orders and then pushes the pen around a bit. Hand out a little medicine here and there to patients in each room, and pushes the pen a few more times. Before she knows it, it is time to go to lunch... come back in and repeat the same thing.

She says it is rewarding knowing that you have done some good in this evil world. So does teaching.

She works AT the hospitals around in the area, but travels no more than fifty miles. She works for a contract company for contract nurses. They basically have the freedom to float around where needed most and agree or refuse to go .... she takes off when she wants.

Recently a contract came up where a hospital wanted her to come work for 3 weeks @ 16 hours per day ....all expenses paid...hotel, food, and milage...(about 100 miles away) for a measly $10,000.... can you believe the NERVE of them to ASK such a question???? She DID turn it down, however.

[Apache Warrior]

Seiko = Watch Repair. Most are getting into retirement age and there is a shortage.
Apache

[JohnyRico]

I advise you to take a shot at any extra duty you can pull and get experience from it. I got my 1st job out of the Navy because I was the supply p.o. for my division. The 6 years of nuclear engineering hasn't done me much good since. Funny how life goes.