Brides Helping Brides ™ - For those of you who would like to participate

lisalisa27 Posted: Apr 17, 2007 08:55 PM

For those of you who would like to participate

sell me your career. Why do you do what you do? I need a new career. So tired of being an insurance rep.

i was considering going into social work also.
Any feed back would be great.

Teachers no need to respond. I cannot teach I hav no patience. But I appreciate you all for what you do.

portjeffbride Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:06 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

I suspect you won't want to do this... but I'll give it a shot....

become a lab rat like me.... nice job... (as long as you like science, and prefer to wear jeans and sneakers at work)

entry level: technician - a lot of washing dishes, making buffers, ordering items, and keeping tabs on the finances.

mid level (how do you feel about returning to school for 5-6 years? and then 4-6 years post-doc) -grad student / post doc- you design experiements, write up manuscripts, and as a hobby, try to avoid moody professors by working at odd hours

higher level - academic faculty - fine you have to teach, but it's only for about 3 hours a week per semester. The rest of the time you're directing your grad students and post-doc and writing up manuscipts and grants...

It's an odd lifestyle. Random hours, NO dress code (other than a lot of nitrile gloves and lab coats), and decent pay.

did I mention that once you're faculty, you essentially have NO true boss? It's true, they leave you alone to do what ever. Very peaceful

summary:
drawbacks:
back to school for 6 years with 4-6 years post-doc afterwards

bene's once a prof:
FAB health insurance
minimal supervision
jeans and sneaks
a career with decent income potential
Most of all: you get to become a mad scientist

Bride4Mike07 Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:10 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

I went to school to become a psychologist. While studying, I realized I wanted to work w/ children...Having a mom who's a teacher, that totally turned me away from pursuing that career. So I became interested in Social Work. After I graduated from BA I worked as a case worker for the developmentally disabled...That job was extremely stressful, plus I found myself dealing w/ a lot of paperwork. Although I worked w/ children, the poor and the disabled, what I always wanted to do, the job wasn't becoming rewarding. I was burned out within a year. I had to leave. I found myself becoming my worst nightmare--my mother! LOL....I've been teaching for 10 years now, but have found that it too hasn't been as rewarding as I thought it would be. Now, I'm looking to leave the any profession that would work w/ children. I think I want to work at home, making money. Don't get me wrong... I make great money!!!! I'm just not happy....and YEAH>>>> I have 0 patience!!!! So I too am looking to change careers....sorry I can't sell it to you, but I can give you positive things about being a teacher:
when students tell you at graduation they are grateful for everything you've done for them/ taught them.
when your students return after x amount of years and tell you their success stories.
when your students secretly plan to do something special for you when you're sick, in pain, or simply for a BDay.....That's more rewarding than anything else in the world!

MattandTricia07 Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:11 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

I went back to school to become an elementary school teacher...

during my junior year in college, I had the opportunity to live in LA for a semester and work in the industry. I worked for a television show and I hated it. So I knew it wasn't for me. That got me thinking about what I really enjoyed and that was children. So my senior year in college, I took some electives and continued to take the necessary courses at a community college until I could apply to a masters program.

While there are practically no jobs in elementary education, it's the price I'm paying because it's what I love to do. I am finishing up my student teaching right now and I have to say that I absolutely love being in the classroom. And my undergradute degree did not go to waste because I have so many wonderful experiences to share with my students. And because I majored in PR- I can use some of those skills with my students.

The main thing is, if you are unhappy try to find what makes you happy.

Good luck.

lisalisa27 Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:14 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

thanks ladies so much.

Please keep this going. I need the feedback.

portjeffbride Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:18 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

Posted by lisalisa27

thanks ladies so much.

Please keep this going. I need the feedback.

any other areas you're interested in considering besides social work? Maybe if you narrow your interests down a bit the LIW girls can help you out more? what subjects in school did you prefer? What's your educational background? Would you consider going back to school... if so, for how long would you be willing to go?

CrisiDrue Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:24 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

I'm a bookkeeper (the pay is pretty good) & I quit my full-time job last August to go back to school for photography. I finally & doing something that I absolutely LOVE to do! Definitely try to find something that you enjoy doing every day.

hayleyandsteve Posted: Apr 17, 2007 09:24 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

what about speech-language pathology?

you can work with people of ANY age.. literally. it ranges from birth (early intervention 0-3), to preschool (3-5) to school age, to adults, to geriatric patients!

you can focus on something specific like speech, language, swallowing, feeding, adults with traumatic brain injury, adults with degenerative disorders, motor speech disorders (dysarthria, apraxia), you can work with fluency... you can work with children or adults with autism, individuals with mental retardation, cerebral palsy.... adults with aphasia or other cognitive disorders secondary to stroke....
OR you don't have to choose a focus. you can be a 'generalist' and work with all different kinds of people.

you can work in a variety of settings... school, hospital, private practice, early intervention, nursing home, etc.

there are SO many options, which is why I love my field

and it's very rewarding! depending on where you work, you can have great hours, great pay (especially down the line, if you decide to do private practice.. they can charge whatever... i've seen $75 for 45 minute sessions or 30 minutes even).

and you can help SO many people!

SylvieB Posted: Apr 17, 2007 10:07 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

Posted by lisalisa27

sell me your career. Why do you do what you do? I need a new career. So tired of being an insurance rep.

i was considering going into social work also.
Any feed back would be great.

Teachers no need to respond. I cannot teach I hav no patience. But I appreciate you all for what you do.

I'm a social worker and although I get frustrated at times and feel like screaming, it's what I was born to do.

I've had the good fortune of working in many different areas of the field including, homeless families, Mentally retarded/developmentally disabled individuals, children with mental and emotional psychiatric disorders. I've also worked in a high school with pregnant and parenting teen girls and in a hospital psych ward. Some of these have been internships while doing my undergrad and graduate work.

Right now I have a county job working with senior citizens. Not a population that I would have preferred to work with but I found once I started that I enjoy it and it is extremly fulfilling. My job is pretty low stress and I have a lot of flexibility and make my own schedule. I make pretty good money working for the county and my health benefits rock. But I've also worked for Not For Profit agencies and the pay there is terrible.

Social Work is a great career if there is something inside you that really wants to do it. It's not glamorous and you wont get rich off it, but the way I see it -if you can make 1 persons life better, it's worth it.

Gool Luck with your search!

HeatherRose Posted: Apr 17, 2007 10:11 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

Interior design, I'm not a desk person, cant sit in an office 8 hours a day.. its fun FM me if you want the info on classes and can give you the info.. its a lot of fun, and when you get with a firm, great discounts on amazing furniture and stuff for your home

HamptonsBride Posted: Apr 17, 2007 10:14 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

i am currently a graphic artist and do photography... i have always been creative and enjoy having an outlet for it...but it's something you kind of either have or don't...yes, anyone can learn how to use the software, but not everyone has the 'eye' for how things should look using it...

I also just signed up to take the Suffolk County Police Test...i love what i currently do..but have always had an interest in law enforcement & figured what the hell, if i do well & they call me I'll try something new!

Only drawback...the test is the day after my wedding!

jboota22 Posted: Apr 17, 2007 10:43 PM

Re: For those of you who would like to participate

I am a massage therapist and I LOVE IT! I make my own hours, set my own prices, and everyone loves me! I don't have to worry about unhappy customers ---everyone loves to see me and usually it is the highlight of their week. So I get to help people feel good and relaxed and happy! When I do the work, it relaxes me and makes me feel good too. ALmost every massage therapist I know is so nice and caring, so you most places you work have that same peaceful environment. No one is trying to get one up on their coworkers or stab anyone in the back. It's a great job!