Career Choices?

[richardvg03]

Hey guys,

I need some help... I'm 26 and I need to choose a career now... I'm still going to college but I'm not really going for any particular reason besides the fact that society tells me to go and that I know it will benefit me. So... please tell me what career to choose...

I'd like to make about 60K
Have weekends and holidays off...
and be able to go on vacation/camping a lot...

any outdoor careers???

[Bigdog57]

The IT field might be a possibility - are you computer savvy? Tech schools and community colleges have IT courses. That's how I began. BUT.... I am a State Employee, making just over half your target paycheck.......

Stay away from Real Estate..... you CAN make $60,000, but you'll work like a dog doing it, and have NO time off. Just ask my buddy...... :D

[richardvg03]

The IT field might be a possibility -

Ya... not interested in IT at all... haha!

[renodesertfox]

So, being a photographer must be out of the question too, then? Most weddings are shot on Saturdays, a few on Sundays. Long hours meeting with clients. If you have quality photos and galleries accept you then there are openings and signings which normally occur on Saturdays. Hours upon hours working on websites and long lonily nights working on images. When I was working at the test site, everyday I was on the road at 4:30 AM and returned to Vegas by 7 PM. It was a 90 minute commute each way everyday and then weddings on weekends. Thought about being a photographer?:D:D

Eaglebait has a great idea about working at a national park. They are always looking for the out-of-doors kind of man. too! Just a thought.

[arturo7]

What do you like to do? What are you good at? Do you want to work alone or with a group? Are you good with your hands, numbers, people?

[Eaglebait Ranch]

The "annual" money isn't there, but I worked for school districts for 25 years, first as a h.s. bus driver, then 14 years as an elementary school teacher - Alternative Ed.

I had summers off, and enough time off in the winter to ski. I spent 10 of those summers working in Yosemite Valley - just so I could spend my summers in Yosemite (day hikes and backpacking). An employee quickly learns how to avoid the tourists and have a great summer. Yosemite isn't the only park out there to work in and enjoy over the summer - and get paid at the same time.

With summers off, and school holidays off, I had all the time I wanted to spend with my daughter - something I will always remember.

That's my two cents...........

[nearlywild]

The "annual" money isn't there, but I worked for school districts for 25 years, first as a h.s. bus driver, then 14 years as an elementary school teacher - Alternative Ed.

I had summers off, and enough time off in the winter to ski. I spent 10 of those summers working in Yosemite Valley - just so I could spend my summers in Yosemite (day hikes and backpacking). An employee quickly learns how to avoid the tourists and have a great summer. Yosemite isn't the only park out there to work in and enjoy over the summer - and get paid at the same time.

With summers off, and school holidays off, I had all the time I wanted to spend with my daughter - something I will always remember.

That's my two cents...........

And there's a program specifically for vets to go into teaching. http://www.proudtoserveagain.com/

Have you looked into GS jobs?

[markthenewf]

My father worked for a telecom company back in Canada for years (not as a linesman, but as a lead tech) and they used to ride the rails into the back country to get to remote microwave repeaters towers and such. You get to be outside, get paid to do it, and then get to scout out places others never really would think of going to. Just a thought.

[ryeder]

Good luck in this economy...but whatever you decide on, may sure it is something you have a passion for or it will turn into a daily grind.

[JohnJohn]

Richard,

How about working for the Parks or Forest Service. I'm not sure what they make though. I had a friend in high school go into that and the last time I talk to him he loves it. He a Ranger in one of the National Forests here in Colorado.

[ryeder]

Careers

As far as the Park Service...try this http://www.usajobs.gov/ There are other options available, such as www.workingcouples.com This will give you some options

[John13np]

Re: Career Choices?

I work for the Forest Service here in AZ. It is definitely a great career and you get pretty decent pay also once you work your way up the ladder

I'd be happy to share information if you'd like.

[shawnbebout]

Re: Career Choices?

Whatever the job is, make sure it cannot be shipped oversea's or taken over by a group of non-english speaking workers. I told my step son to start working with animals. Those horse people seem to have lots of money and are willing to spend it to train the horses.

[jpurdy]

Re: Career Choices?

well you have some great ideas here so i'll talk about other things. I decided years ago that not having holidays and weekends off was a great thing for me.
I split the weekends and had Sundays and Mondays off with Tuesdays as my choice for a long weekend when needed. The reason was I had the camp grounds to myself, and I did not drive in the weekend traffic leaving town or coming back. The only thing important was time off. So I see that you need time for your passions like camping and photography and some range time. One more thing once you make your decision and start down a training path you can always make adjustments for direction. good luck
let us know what you decide

[NIFamilyTenter]

Re: Career Choices?

I work in Geographic Information Systems (mapping) and my job meets all of your requirements. The college courses aren't all that hard and there are plenty of jobs all over the nation/world. I would highly reccomend this field. If you want to go the hard way, take GIS and computer programming classes. The guys with that background make the most money in our field but the programming part is not completely necessary.