Career Choices: Insight Please?

[bronto]

OK, I'm undecided on any kind of major, so I'm looking for something that'll make me a lot (or comfortable amount that'd allow me to pursue my creative endeavors) of money, allow me time to go travelling the world at least once a year, something that doesn't directly contribute to the destruction of our world, something of which i could take these skills i've learned for my work and apply them to my hobbies (i don't expect you to care about answering this one), and most importantly, something that i can feel comfortable and proud to do (AKA no fucking office shit, no jobs centered around a computer screen).

it's a tall order, but at least i'm not asking for a dream job, i'm willing to actually earn my money. i was thinking electrical engineering, but i'm not sure Exactly what an electrical engineer does, besides just a basic idea. i do know they start on about 42,000 though. i was also thinking it'd be nice to do organic chemistry, but then again, i'm not sure if i want to get raped by 10 years of school. i don't mind travelling, as long as i always end up back at home for periods of time. so please, make any suggestions and include the type of schooling i would need and descriptions of specific things i might be able to do in this field.

[BTs_Mysterio]

Credit CareerCruising.com - "Electrical Engineer" :

"Have you ever wondered how all of the electrical gadgets and appliances you use in your everyday life, such as refrigerators, DVD players, and home stereos, came to be? They are the work of electrical engineers. It is an electrical engineer’s job to design, build, and test electrical equipment. Many are also involved in supervising the manufacture of these goods. They work on everything from cell phones to enormous power generators.

Electrical engineers work in a variety of different fields, and their products are found in homes as well as in industry. For the home, electrical engineers design such things as televisions, microwaves, and can openers. They also spend time researching and brainstorming ways to improve existing inventions. Plasma televisions and cellular phones are just two such improvements.

Electrical engineers also contribute to industry. They, along with other engineers, design the most efficient and cost-effective methods for large scale production and manufacturing. Teams of engineers work to build new machines, redesign existing ones, or improve specific parts of a machine (for example, a motor or exhaust system).

Their duties on any given day may entail designing new products on CAD (Computer-Aided Design) software, writing performance requirements for the products their factory is producing, or attending meetings with other engineers or supervisors to discuss new initiatives. They might also need to test the equipment they are designing and building, visit the factory floor to solve operating problems, or create reports estimating the time and cost of engineering projects.

Most electrical engineers specialize in one field, such as communications, electrical equipment manufacturing, or power generation, transmission, and distribution. It is also possible for them to specialize even further, into a specific area within one of these fields."

also from there:

"An electrical engineer’s job does not always take place in an office. Sometimes he or she is required to respond to and solve manufacturing problems on the factory floor. Those who work as consultants may even go across the country to their clients’ factories to inspect or troubleshoot equipment.

On the job, electrical engineers use precise drafting and designing techniques to turn their ideas into products that help consumers. These include computer programs, such as CAD (Computer-Aided Design), which give three-dimensional views of their designs.

On average, most electrical engineers work between 40 to 45 hours a week, depending on deadlines and workload. Most of them can also expect to work a fair number of weekends, especially when they under pressure to meet a deadline. Vacation time varies from company to company, but most electrical engineers have between two and four weeks of vacation a year."

[*NADS Lo$eMoney]

Drug dealing is the best carreer choice for you bronto, I mean you already have extensive product knowledge.

[BTs_GhostSniper]

If drug dealing doesn't work out for you, try being a male gigalo.

[bronto]

god guys i can do that on the side. i'm looking for a serious career come on. and ty myst, i'm still thinking about doing that, but i want to see what kind of jobs would be availiable in the music world...like designing studio equipment or amplifiers. i mean hey, free gear and all the operating knowledge, i can have a recording studio on the side. i'm definately taking a luthiers course as well to design instruments. i'm all about having other sources of income, but i need a main career that i can constantly rely on, as well as be able to fund my other stuff.

edit: maybe i shouldn't be explaining how to make drugs over the internet 

[BTs_Mysterio]

keyword music on careercruising.com reveals:

"Composer
Creating original music for everything from classical symphonies to movie sound tracks and TV commercials.

Musical Instrument Builder and Repairer
Combining a love of music with hands-on skill.

Recording Engineer
Using studio recording equipment to capture music and other sounds.

Sound Technician
"Testing, testing, 1.2.3" -- ensuring good sound quality at sound stages, film sites, concerts and TV or radio stations.

Art / Music Therapist
Using the creative power of art or music to help people deal with physical, emotional and psychological problems.

Music Teacher / Instructor
Teach music in schools, in conservatories, or as a private instructor."

[bronto]

myst, i have the knowledge in that field, just not the tools.

[oBlade]

Most of those don't apply to the average (sorry, rude) person, like composing (duh). Recording is one of the more major ones, but something a lot of people overlook is salesmanship. You can work for a local (and successful, mind you) company selling instruments (more commonly, pianos). It pays well, hours are never bad, and you get to:
a.) learn about, meet, and see performing groups and individuals
b.) understand how intriguing those instruments really are
c.) meet nice people (customers)
d.) wear a suit?

Not to mention as time goes on there will be opportunities for advancing along the same path, i.e., becoming manager, founding your own chain of stores, maybe getting a connection in a publishing company... blah blah blah.

[theweakspot]

the best job is one that you love so much it hardly seems like work.  Take a look at what you are interested in and that'll give you the drive and desire to do it.

If you look at money first, you might end up disappointed man.


Then again, I teach third grade, wtf do i know?

[bronto]

listen, i don't want a career in music. i listen to it, i make it, i know all about the recording process..i feel like turning it into my business would absolutely drain the excitement out of it, and i don't want to be a salesman either. i'm good at everything ok? even if you don't think i am, just pretend so.

[*DAMN Bondo]

Learn Arabic...work for the state department. Great salary, great perks...only a slight risk of death.

[bronto]

it's a damn good idea, i really feel like it's too late for me to become fluent in another language though...maybe not though, i'm 18. i have a czech cousin who pretty much flunked but got herself an awesome job translating.

[KoS.Rebel]

I know most of u wont care, but ive decided to major in software engineering. I love playing games and I always thought it would be a sweet job to make games and other programs so i looked into it. I know it wont be easy but doing a job that u love will be the sweetest revenge.

[bronto]

i think it's cool to do what you love, but i don't ever want something i love to get old. i see it happen to people all the time, including my father. he fucking hates his work now. it shows in his work as well, i like his older stuff a million times better, i won't say anything to him about it though. i think pursuing a job strictly for financial comfort is a great idea, i think it'll help keep me sane and creative. i don't necesarily believe you have to love your work to do it right, and i'm fine doing it for the rest of my life, as long as it is productive and allows me to enjoy the things i really love.

with that said, any more suggestions?

[Mr.Mellow]

Luthier is cool, I was seriously thinking of going to Roberto-Venn to study luthery, but decided to go to college to be a chef, instead. Luthiers work hard and don't make much money, if you study the time/labor/profits. Even the best luthiers have little to show for it. Hmm. What else. Soldier of Fortune is a good career choice, you have mucho experience from playing RS. Also, chef. You could work on a cruiseline and make pretty good money, and you'd get to travel.

[bronto]

mellow HOLY FUCKING SHIT. before i even posted this thread i wanted to be a chef/luthier on the side, but people kept telling me chefs don't make much. well fuck it i'm gonna be a chef mother truckerssssss. let's see, we're both bassists, both will be chef/luthiers, and both *nads.

[BTs_GhostSniper]

mellow HOLY FUCKING SHIT. before i even posted this thread i wanted to be a chef/luthier on the side, but people kept telling me chefs don't make much. well fuck it i'm gonna be a chef mother truckerssssss. let's see, we're both bassists, both will be chef/luthiers, and both *nads.

I think Bobby Flay and Emeril Lagasse do pretty well as chefs.  Go for it...maybe someday I'll see you on Iron Chef America.[/size] 

[bronto]

man i doubt that, i have some pretty shaggy hair people might not want in their soup. i'll probably get a haircut. either way, it looks like the salary is very dependant on experience. starting salary is a little over 30000 most of the time, which i suppose isn't so bad i guess. i don't know how high it can get, but the cruise ships were offering 40 to 50 k per year. i think i'm gonna do that for a few years, hopefully living expenses won't be too much, and just horde my pennies. damn it feels good to finally know what i want. thanks all for the info, especially mellow for reminding me of what i really wanna do...sounds dumb, but i got caught up in the hype and started making things out to be more complicated then they are.

[Mr.Mellow]

No problem, man! That's awesome. And maybe I'll eventually be a luthier on the side, who knows!

[.vooDoo.]

You could always be the guy who hoses down the peep show boths....its a living.