Well, long story short, I am starting life over . I lost my job a few months back, have a chance to go to school, paid for, and dont know what it is I want to do when I grow up.
I do know that sometimes in life, you get "tunnel vision" with your surroundings. So, with that being said...

If you had to start over again in life....what would you do?

What are some of the jobs out there that are interesting or what do you do for a living ?

 

That's not starting over. Losing your wife and kids and you house. Now that's starting over. Your just making a change. Aint no thang.

 

I think I would have joined the Marines instead of the Navy, but then again if I would have done that I probably wouldn't have the blessings in my life I have now (family). So if it was a possibility, I think the best thing to change would be following my dream and finish flight school and fly for FedEx.

 

starting over? naaaaahhhh, this is DTR!!!

you are shifting gears! you may know your strengths and weaknesses, get the opportunity to fine tune the (brain) engine! have you ever taken the job test that the highschoolers take? it tells you your proficiency for about 12 categories of employment. free. maybe on line even....

I am in public service/law enforcement retired. now i solve people problems.
arbitrations, mediations, etc. because I believe effective communication solves a lot of problems, early.

 

I suppose I should have said how old I am. I am 45 now. Custody of said child at home that I take care of.

I was just kinda looking for different career fields that some of you all have.
Kinda like I know about being a person down at the Keys that takes care of fishing boats that go out on tours. Just looking for the different things that people do that might be something that is interesting, fun , and rewarding.

 

Major in the subjects in school that fit your abilities and interests. For me it was physics, chemistry and math. College was the best thing I had ever done for myself and I'll always be glad I went as long as I did! Then I got interested in solar energy and dropped out to start my own business.

Not sure I'd take the same business path again, but I tend to work to live instead of live to work. Just don't get stuck doing some job that pays the bills and let twenty years slip by. Do something you love to do, and do it well. Get involved. Business opportunities are everywhere.

I did all this as a single parent too. And broke in the beginning. Don't let that stop you! Being a poor single parent is and excellent motivation to get up and get going.

 

I'm in the same boat. Laid off from a company after 26 years as a computer hardware engineer. They decided to start moving our engineering jobs to China.

I'm finding due to my age it's hard to get companies interested in employment. If your close to 50 or over might as well forget it. So with that in mind I'm marketing myself as a engineering consultant in the field of electronics design, layout, procurement and production. After a few months of hard work I landed several contracts (feast or famine).

I'm also looking into NAPA franchises.

MikeyB

 

Sorry to highjack but I took that test in 1975 , got bored and started just checking boxes . The test showed that I was not qualified for much more that a garbage man,
The funny part was that I was already working as one part time.
Now I manage a water plant

Getting back to what I would have did differently I would have not waited so long to start planning for retirement. But as far as jobs I would have gotten more training faster.

 

One thing to remember, from someone who retired from the Army at 42, had 5 jobs in the first four years after retirement - took some searching to figure out what I wanted to do. Do not get down if something like that happens to you. A lot of people who have spent a long time in one job and transition into something else have to spend some time figuring out what that something else is.


Hal

 

I'd sign up to be a PJ...Pararescue Jumper!
When completed your a Dr. in the field, an expert marksman and have more knowledge/training than just about most. A friend of mine is a CMSGT who trains PJs. You can then go to school for your degree and having all the military training/clearance and go just about anywhere!

 

Ya know... I think shifting gears like that, Iwould go EE to complement my ME, and probably go for a higher degree too.

 

Thats where I am at now....limbo.

 

I spend 7 years in college.
I had 5 official majors declared when I declared engineering as a major.
Honestly, ask yourself what your good at, what you enjoy, what are the drawbacks.

Im good at math and problem solving.
I enjoy seeing how things work and how machines work.
I dont mind the 60 hour work weeks and insane travel.

 

I guess I'll ask, when you were a kid, what did you want to do when you grew up? I ask that because that's what I think about now. I'm in limbo now, much like you. In fact my husband and I sat on the deck this past Friday, drinking, grilling and smoking cigars while we discussed it.

When I was a kid there were several things I wanted to be: a cop, a marine biologist, and a cowgirl. I grew up playing sports and I was pretty good. My love is basketball. When time came in high school to decide what and where I wanted to go to college for, I chose Kinesiology so I could go coach basketball. I was an athlete and that's all I knew. At the end of my second semester my freshman year I had a very serious single vehicle accident. I broke my neck and ultimately lost use of my left arm, permanently. After a year or two of recovery it was time to go back to school. I decided I didn't want to coach anymore. It hurt too much not being able to play like I once did and I wanted no part of it if I couldn't do it 100%. I took an offshoot of Kines to Health and Fitness. Got my degree, got married and haven't really worked a day of my life since that pertained to that degree. I did odd jobs I hated and have been unfulfilled since.

Today I own my own business that I enjoy for the most part, but these days I'm finding myself looking for another interest. And it seems that's my trend since my accident - get interested in something, learn it, get good at it, get bored and look for the next thing.

Unfortunately there some jobs I can't do because of having only one arm so I can't go do the cool stuff like law enforcement. Lately I've been getting restless again, thinking about what to do next. I started thinking about coaching again. I'd have to go back to school to get my cert and then there's the not very attractive prospect of working the education system. Mentally I'm in a better place with accepting things I can and cannot do and I just want to be around what I know. But I really don't know. I'm kind of stuck myself.

I guess I really gave no helpful advice. But I sympathize with what you might be going through. I've been thinking back to when I was a kid. What did I want to be when I grew up? Whatever it is, I like building things and being outside. I like to physically accomplish something tangible.

Best wishes going forward.

 

I just turned 45. As a young man, I did 4 years in the US Army infantry. Then I went to college for a couple of years pursuing a criminal justice degree. Dropped out and joined the Marine Corps for 4 years as an infantryman again. After I got out of the Marine Corps, I went to commercial dive school to become a commercial deepsea diver. Made real good money doing that for 13 years, until I was almost killed in an underwater explosion. My injuries prevented me from ever being able to dive again, so after a couple years of healing, I started school again to become an FAA A & P mechanic (airframe & powerplant). Seems to be plenty of work for certified A & P's out there, and I love to tinker with things. I don't think I would want to change anything about my life, I'm happy about the way things have happened, except the part about almost dying!