Need advice for my job choice

[wallace03]

I graduated last May in 2013 with my degree in exercise science with the intent of going to therapy school. However, life is a B and my GPA from my junior college transcript came back in haunted me, therefore i did not get accepted.

After applying for about 5 months or so for jobs that would require my degree and only getting 1 phone interview, because of lack of exp/connection, I gave up and tried going for a second B.S. in computer science only to be reminded why i originally chose a degree that didn't have a lot of math.

Ideally i would like to be an exercise physiologist (45-55k annually), but every employer wants someone with experience and i do not have a connection. My lack of experience doesn't really help. I am currently a personal trainer at 24hr fitness to get "experience" but i absolutely hate it there, and i don't even know if it will look good for that particular job. The pay is inconsistent and low, i also have to constantly sale myself and make phone calls to sale to people. I didn't get my degree in sales -_- and i have an Amiable personality which is the worst for sales jobs.

I am contemplating going and being a process technician (plant operator) which will pay me $25/hr with potential for lots of over time (50-80k annually), and i'll be on the dupont schedule which gives me a week off every month allowing me to travel. However, growing up in an area that thrives off of plants i always told myself i wouldn't work in one when i grew up, but now idk what to do...

[Frost]

Originally Posted by wallace03

I graduated last May in 2013 with my degree in exercise science with the intent of going to therapy school. However, life is a B and my GPA from my junior college transcript came back in haunted me, therefore i did not get accepted.

After applying for about 5 months or so for jobs that would require my degree and only getting 1 phone interview, because of lack of exp/connection, I gave up and tried going for a second B.S. in computer science only to be reminded why i originally chose a degree that didn't have a lot of math.

Ideally i would like to be an exercise physiologist (45-55k annually), but every employer wants someone with experience and i do not have a connection. My lack of experience doesn't really help. I am currently a personal trainer at 24hr fitness to get "experience" but i absolutely hate it there, and i don't even know if it will look good for that particular job. The pay is inconsistent and low, i also have to constantly sale myself and make phone calls to sale to people. I didn't get my degree in sales -_- and i have an Amiable personality which is the worst for sales jobs.

I am contemplating going and being a process technician (plant operator) which will pay me $25/hr with potential for lots of over time (50-80k annually), and i'll be on the dupont schedule which gives me a week off every month allowing me to travel. However, growing up in an area that thrives off of plants i always told myself i wouldn't work in one when i grew up, but now idk what to do...

Jeebus, that is a HUGE palette of jobs you just threw out there. Why don't you pick someone you LOVE to do and stick with that? You keep using money as the standard but self fulfillment is not there. That should be your standard. If you love to do something and do it well, you will find a way to make a living and be very happy doing it.

Stop looking at the $$$ or else it will run/ruin your entire life. It is important to be able to self sustain but this is why you must pick something you love and can excel and self propel in that field.

Your post sounds like you're giving up a little - don't. If you truly love sports/athletics/kinesiology then volunteer for a team or a club locally directly in what you WANT to do. In today's economy, no one will truly turn down a FREE educated labour. Earn the stripes, make a name for yourself and it will snowball eventually. Rep/experience is hard to come by but if you get several glowing reviews, you can now start asking for money.

[jeffchap]

Ditto. Take it from someone closer to the end of his career life than to the beginning: whenever possible, choose something you enjoy over money. Regardless of how much you make, you'll never be satisfied in a job you don't enjoy.



Money can't buy happiness, but misery is free.

[sshole]

Originally Posted by jeffchap

Money can't buy happiness

Ever seen a sad person on a jetski?

[Namuna]

Frost has provided some very sage advice. Follow your love and keep at that...Unfortunately you've got the lack of experience and lack of a connection working against you, which means you'll have to work that much harder.

It also sounds like you've a got a personality similar to mine, "Amiable". Which means we're not the best at selling ourselves and going out there and networking and making the right connections also isn't a strong ability.

If you can do intern or volunteer work, to build-up your experience, then DO IT!! Don't think of it as working for free...But rather working for the experience.

Good luck!

[BRZPDX]

its rare to find something you "love" that pays your bill. Find something you "enjoy", and find joy in new things.

Yes connection is everything, and in certain professions, more valuable than a degree. Invest in making connections (attend all expo's, trade shows, etc) and find an opportunity to pick their brains and make a good impression. Act and talk like you are in the same level of higher class, connect and relate to them. If you need to fly out to go have lunch with someone? Do it, its an investment.

I own my own business now, but I don't think I wrote a resume or filled out an application form in my life.

[7thgear]

asking for job advice on the internet

yeah, that's a good idea.

[utekineir]

Originally Posted by sshole

Ever seen a sad person on a jetski?

[Turbo95eg6]

Agreed as above. OP you become what you do… and you don't want to be Homer Simpson all your life.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Do what you're good at and use the money to do what you love. As a recent college grad, just hope to find a job.

[EAGLE5]

You should look at a PE teaching credential in some state other than Texas. Then you can teach PE. Low stress, OK pay, and good stability in the long run. Texas is one of the worst states to teach in, though.

[Kelbyat07]

I wanted to major in exercise science but went for biology instead. Why don't you go back to your community college and retake some of your classes that you didn't do so well on to raise your gpa?

[EAGLE5]

Every suggestion I've seen here is good. And yes, you should ask friends and family if you're stuck, not just on teh internetz.

[Atticus808]

I always wanted to be a cop but I have bad vision. My plan was to join the military reserves, then police. That didn't work.....

I had no idea what I wanted to do, so i took some travel school and the main thing I took from that was business writing and communication (i don't really care about punctuality and grammar on here, so don't judge!). I then worked as a travel agent for about 2 years making shit money, but developed communication skills.

I went back to school taking civil engineering technology, and during the summer time, I worked as a surveyor making some decent money (biggest pay cheques I've received to date). But I had no summer life because of overtime. Upon graduating, I got a job with a construction company in the oil & gas division. Good money, but I wasn't happy with the job. It was stressful and it just wasn't worth it, I started taking the stress home with me and that was it. I had to find a new job.

Now i'm 6 months into my new job, civil related. Less money, but way less stress. I do look for other jobs cause I do want more money and a place I can move up. But i'm much happier here than at my previous job.

Don't do something strictly for the money. I was contacted by someone who also left the company I worked for, and he said his bosses want to meet with me. Although i'm tempted because it's more money, I'm not really sure about it because it won't be civil. I don't want to do something i'm not really interested in.

I guess what i'm trying to say is money does play a factor in your career, but don't let it choose your career.