What do you do?

[SRTurbo04]

So what does everyone here at columbus racing do for a living? How much education do you have to get to where you are? Where do you work, and are you happy?

 

Reason why im asking is, I dont know what to do with my life career wise. I have a family to think about and although I have a stable job at the molment things can change at any point in time, and I am severely unhappy in doing what i am currently doing and need to give them a more stable future. Going back to school is an option for me a few years from now and would probably be the best bet over all.

 

I just dont have a career path and its bothersome and kind of scary at the same time

 

Please no bs in here

[oh8sti]

I'm a general badass. I specialize in all ways badassery.

 

 

But seriously, I'm a tour manager right now. And I own a management company as well.

 

 

Work for yourself.

 

Also, read Richard Branson's business stripped bare.

[Akula]

I work in Information Security, as a whole InfoSec is operating at an employment deficit.

 

I have a 4 year degree in Business. I have lots of certs and lots of book learnin Coupled with Military Experience and a decade of chasing data around.

 

I have worked in Silicon Valley Since about 2006 but have never left Columbus. I travel 90% of the time, all over the globe.

 

I enjoy what I do though it comes with the usual frustrations. I am considered Senior Leadership for our Sales Organization.

[jeffro]

Currently a network administrator for a behavioral healthcare Providor. Got hired here 5 years ago with nothing more than a high school diploma and a career center certificate.

 

Also currently in school. Major is electro-mechanical engineering. Not sure if ill ever work in the field, but i like having a well-rounded skill set.

[Green Bastard]

I work in the shipping department for a company that manufactures industrial air conditioning equipment. I'm fairly happy with it, but I feel I could do better and plan on taking some online college courses and see where that leads me. I'd like to head towards some sort of engineering degree, if i play my cards right I may be able to get the company to pay for school.

[Jewtoys]

Engineer, work alone, no degree

[wnaplay1647545503]

Nothing or everything depending on the day and who you ask. I hope to one day get back into the workforce but that could be years down the road. I will no doubt return to some capacity of labor/construction. We currently own the cake shop as well as owning a small painting and remodelling company for the last 20 years which is currently on hold. I will no doubt continue these ventures. I know what your saying about wanting a career or directiom but do not forget that you should put having a good life first and choose a career thats allows you to do that. I know alot of peoe that have a career and a miserable life, hardly seems worth it.

[CRed05]

I've been doing Web design/content management/marketing for about 6 years now. I have a bachelors in Computer Information Systems. It pays the bills, maybe one day I'll start my own gig.

 

Richard Branson

 

One of my heros. I read "Losing my Virginity" and I hate reading books.

[Littleguy]

I'm a Corporate Banker for BB&T Bank. Been in banking for about 8 years.

 

BS in Political Science and BS in Economics from Texas A&M University.

 

I really like what I do because it gives me knowledge for my real passions which are equities and real estate.

[zeitgeist57]

Paul, what do YOU want to do with your career? What are some of your strengths?

 

It's good to get other people's input but I sense your thoughts for this thread are rooted in looking at a "menu" of what others do and you wanting to do something similar. You should figure out your strengths and weaknesses and what you like to do.

 

Went to college wanting to do sales: figure it's the best way to work with people and make money doing it. Been in banking my entire career and love it. Started out doing shitwork and retail banking sucks, but always been a team-player and client-facing and that helps.

[SRTurbo04]

Paul, what do YOU want to do with your career? What are some of your strengths?

 

It's good to get other people's input but I sense your thoughts for this thread are rooted in looking at a "menu" of what others do and you wanting to do something similar. You should figure out your strengths and weaknesses and what you like to do.

 

Been in banking my entire career and love it. Started out doing shitwork and retail banking sucks, but always been a team-player and client-facing and that helps in business.

 

Thats the problem, I have no idea what I want to do. I have only really had two jobs (plus like two small temp seasonal jobs) both of which were chase and discover in a call center. Both these places are very difficult to move up with out a degree which I understand the companys point but its frustrating for someone like me who doesn't have a degree.

[zeitgeist57]

So, my thoughts...

 

If you don't like what you do now, you probably won't like it in the future. I wouldn't want to sell your experience to an interviewer if you hated it. Therefore, I would focus on going back to school as a clean slate, you'll want a degree in a field that you'll like.

 

Do you want to do something hands-on? Are you good at math? Engineers make a good bit of money...maybe become an apprentice for a tradesman?

 

Like talking to people? Maybe look at sales.

 

I guess as I type this out I'm realizing that this is all a waste of time until you (or someone who REALLY knows you well) figure out what you're good at and focus on building a career (and poss going back to school) around it...

 

Every job is going to suck at times...you NEED to love what you do to survive long enough to be successful.

[justinwebb]

Back end fraud analyst for JPMorgan Chase. I also am building our automated system that texts you if there is possible fraud. I look for break ins on peoples account and stop any money from going out. It's interesting to see how hackers get into accounts and sometimes get away with a good chunk of change.

[Rally Pat]

I worked here right out of high school as a paid networking and telecom intern, I got laid off, did data security stuff for mobile phone recycling/refurbishment for a year (hated it), worked for Nationwide's IT Help Desk for a year with Mitch and Skinner (liked the work, hated being tethered to a phone), then I got a call that there was an opening in the IT department at the place where I was an intern. Been here since. Going on 4 years now in this job I think? I love it. Just got a promotion as well.

 

I have an associates in Network stuff, and I almost had a bachelors but ran out of Student Loans. :\

[Farkas]

I've been with Nationwide for almost two years now as a Network Analyst. Not exactly what I wanted to do, but it was my foot in the door that has me in a position to springboard into just about any position I want within Nationwide, as far as my career goes. I have a Associate's Degree in Networking Systems Administration from DeVry, and looking to finish a Bachelor's in the next year or so. Also looking to complete my CCENT and CCNA since Nationwide will pay for all of it for me- CCNIE much further down the road. It's only the beginning for me, but I love it so far.

[wagner]

For my fulltime gig I currently work in the legal industry for a service company. My side gigs include doing freelance writing for PowerAuto Media under several of their titles. I also now started doing work Source Interlink under High Performance Pontiac and GM High Tech Performance.

 

My latest great idea was to start my own apparel company (Pavement Mafia Apparel), that has been an experience to say the least….

 

Education wise I have an undergrad in Business with a concentration in Management Information Systems. I finished my post graduate work (MBA) back in 2012.

 

I’m stuck in this company on a zero growth career track with all these fancy degrees.

 

Just try to stay positive because it really is not easy. I’ve been trying to get a better job and all I get are “we have decided to go in a different direction” e-mails when it comes to what I apply for.

 

I will keep my ear open for you and let you know what I find.

[Miller]

Going on 6 months at Nationwide as a Lead Specialist. I work in Operations and report production information for the Allied Group. The work is mind numbing but puts me in place to become a consultant if I continue to perform. It's been a difficult role to step into and I don't find any passion in my work like I did in the energy business or running my own small company. Nationwide is at least a great change from hating my previous employer. They take exceptional care of you here.

[Sully]

I'm in IT; more-so on the hardware support side. I have an Associate in Electronics from DeVry. Been in IT jobs for 18 years now. My last job, I was the IT Tech Lead over a warehouse and a merchandising building. I was working 12 - 14 hours a day, then online for a few hours after I'd get home from work. Was on-call 24/7, and had 2 people reporting to me. I got paid well, but I was miserable. I couldn't plan anything because I never knew when I'd have to work. Now I'm a tech for Groveport Schools. There are 3 of us in the department. I work 8 hour days. It's very slow-paced. I took a pay cut, but it has been well worth it.

I'm not sure that I want to do IT stuff the rest of my life. But, if I'm not doing this, I don't know what I would do.

[EssFo]

Sr Systems Administrator. I specialize in Datacenter and End User Computing virtualization (VMware/Citrix). I didn't go to college, went the certification route over the last 17 years (MCSE, CCA, VCP-DCV, VCP-DT) My day job is working for a Concrete/chemical company. I also do IT consulting in my spare time for various small to medium companies around the Dayton area.

[mrs.cos]

I have two jobs. First and foremost is I am a housewife. I'm not great at it, but I try. I make dinner, clean the house, wash the clothes, handle all the paperwork, phone calls and home repairs. This includes carpentry work around the house. I build things, repair the sinks as well as other stuff a house needs.

 

Secondly- I am a wedding and family portrait photographer.

I have always loved all the aspects of photography. I took film classes and used whatever camera I could get my hands on. My dad always had cameras laying around.

 

I may one day go get some more education to hp the business end of my skill, but I love it as it is now.

 

I will say that all my life, I've never known what I wanted to do except to be a mom and when mother nature took that away from me I had to figure something out. I don't know that photography is a way of life for me the rest of my life but I know that it works for now. college was never the place for me. I still don't think that I could go back to school even if I really truly seriously wanted to.

 

I have a really hard time with the idea of kids reinforcing the college right out of high school because I don't think that 18 you have any flipping clue about what you want to do for the rest of your life I'm 34 and I still have no clue.

[macpyro2]

Private Investigator for the past 3 years. Two more classes until I graduate with a degree in Criminology from OSU. Love it but is not the most stable income.

 

Certified CCW instrutor and am tossing around the idea to start teaching some classes.

 

Slowly studying for my Airframe and power plant Cert. for aircraft maintenance. I Had 6 years in the Air Force and an associates in Aerospace engineering. Something I can fall back onto if need be.

 

Also started out doing plumbing on the side for a company that where family friends. No proper schooling just basically jumped right in as an apprentice. Recently I have been working full time due to the weather. Great pay and I good skill to have.

 

As you can see at 26 I still don't truly know what I want to do career wise. lol

[Cordell]

I'm an automotive technician now. I have 8-9 years experience. I grew up racing and working on cars, my Dad and Grandfather were both technicians. I have a good mechanical aptitude which makes this job a good fit for me and in the grand scheme of things I can't think of anything else I'd want to do on a daily basis. In the last 4-5 years I decided to take this from a job to a career, I invested in more tools and will continue to do that, I passed 11 ASE tests, took Mazda's classes to be Mazda Certified, and continue to take GM classes to stay certified in their cars. I started out changing oil and working my way up, though I think it's easier for many people to go to school. It will never make me rich but it's an honest days work.

 

I started out in high taking Electrical Tech in vocational school, and went through a 4 year aprenticeship program to be an electrician. I worked construction, mainly commercial buildings. I hated the job. You don't realize how much it sucks to work without electricity, I put up parking lot lights in the dead of winter and the heat of summer. I dug trenches to bury cable, I bent and installed many feet of conduit in all sizes up to 4", hung countless light fixtures, installed huge sections of switchgear to power large buildings. I had frostbite, severe sunburn, and been electricuted doing that job. I don't miss it in the least.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Cordell

[motozachl]

Don't think anyone really cares what I do but this should REALLY help OP

 

 

[airwg2189]

Wealth management operations for JPMorgan Chase. I think I'd like to become a financial advisor eventually, so this current role works great as I get to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff. They're sponsoring my series 7 and paying for school, and the pay's not bad either. Worst case, I've got a license and a degree to branch out with if I end up disliking it in a few years.

 

I started in the call center too, FWIW, Paul.

[Aaron]

Huntington Bank commercial credit card product manager for the last 13 months. Reporting, adding new functionality, P&L, project management, product managment, I review all card clients and either approve them myself or send for senior approval if required, etc.

 

I'm currently composing my resume to start looking for a new job. I like my job, just not who I work for, just time to move one to learn new things.