I absolutely do not want to end up in a 9-5 desk job for the rest of my life. I want to find a job that pays well enough that I can live without worrying about finances (so not art or theater or stuff like that) but that is not a desk job.
I am seriously considering nursing because doing something that gives back is very important to me, but all of the programs in my area are difficult to get into. I’m trying to look into alternative career routes but am having a difficult time. I’m also very interested in a career in government. I don’t mean politics, I have no interest in trying to become a senator or anything like that, I mean like local government. From what I’ve been told there isn’t really a routine day in the field even though it would have routine hours. Plus I would still be able to have a career that gives back. But because it’s impossible to find information I can’t tell if that’s reality or just what I’ve been told.
I’m just having a very hard time finding information on careers that would allow me to feel fulfilled and are not routine, stare at a computer all day office jobs. Does anyone have ideas of majors that would allow me to find a fulfilling career that isn’t a desk job??
Everyone wants an interesting job that pays well. I have heard that the best paying jobs right now are medical specialists and financial experts, but they can have low degrees of job/life satisfaction.
You should really choose a major/career that highlights your natural abilities and interests. What are your favorite academic subjects? Hobbies? Talents?
You can do a lot with a STEM major, but this is a very broad umbrella of majors. It is helpful to choose a specific field that lines up with what you eventually hope to do.
For example, I want to be a doctor/clinical researcher and I love math, so my intended major is bioengineering.
I’ve heard positive feedback about those who pursue a major/career in economics and finances.
And then there’s history. I have heard some say that you can do anything with a history degree, and others say that you can do nothing with a history degree.
Sorry, those are just some of my miscellaneous (and rather uncoordinated) thoughts. Feel free to respond with more information about yourself; there are plenty of knowledgeable people on here that should be able to offer you some guidance! For now, that is the best that I can offer. Good luck!
I guess I DID leave out a bit of information there huh haha. Thank you for the insight though!!
I’m extremely good at computer science. Took APCS my junior year and got a 5 on the AP test and maintained an A+ the entire year with minimal effort. Since that class I’ve taught myself more than just java purely out of interest. But the thought of being a programmer for the rest of my life isn’t something I really like. I dunno. I guess I just like it more as a hobby than as a job. If there are other things that can be done with a computer science degree I would love to know all about that though.
Aside from that I haven’t got many useful talents or hobbies. I can sing and dance and am in show choir but that’s not exactly useful. Community service and giving back are extremely important to me. I’ve been in girl scouts since 1st grade and take as many volunteer opportunities as I can find, which is what draws me to nursing or local government. For me to feel fulfilled in my career it would absolutely have to benefit the world around me in a direct way that I can witness, which is what draws me AWAY from computer science/programming. I’m not sure what else to include.
Is the problem that you don’t want a 9-5 job under any circumstances or that you want to do what you like under the condition that it’s not a 9-5 job? Do you like computer science or are you just good at it?
Also, computer science does directly benefit the world in a way you can witness. Facebook, Google and Youtube are all programmed by hundreds of people and the individual features are enjoyed by millions.
As to what to do with a comp sci degree,I don’t know a whole lot but here’s a few that I do know. computer science degree can be used in research in biology, neurology, physics, basically any science. Everything is being simulated and computers and such. It’s also integral to math at the higher level.
I suppose I phrased things in a slightly misleading way. A 9-5 job hour wise would be fine. A desk job that just involves staring at a computer and going to meetings and such and just a totally monotonous day-to-day schedule, not so much. And by benefiting the world around me I mean more like giving back to the community. Although youtube and facebook and such have benefited hundreds of thousands of people, they don’t give back in the same way an emergency room nurse does. I think the best I can explain it is I’d like to have an active role in making a difference and not a behind the scenes role like writing a program that helps accomplish something. I’m sorry I’m having a bit of a hard time articulating my thoughts.
I really like @Coldsummer123 's idea of research. If you could pair up with a team of scientists and run the CS side of their experiments, that could really benefit the world! Or you could pair up with a doctor who leads clinical trials (like I hope to do! See, I’m already networking ). But you might feel that is too “behind-the-scenes.” My suggestion would be to pursue a CS degree and try out internships, network, etc so that you can find a specific occupation that suits your needs. I will see if I can think of anything else…
CollegeBoard has something called “The Book of Majors” that you might find useful. Go through and consider the types of jobs each major leads to. Your GC or library may have a copy.
There are nurses, dental hygienists, radiologic technologists, diagnostic medical sonographers, cardiovascular technologists/technicians, respiratory therapists and physical therapist assistants (altogether about 3.7 million people employed). There’s sales of high ticket items (wholesale, manufacturing - often sophisticated, hence the occupation of sales engineer - and real estate) that entail high earnings for those with ability at that, and there are buyers and purchasing agents (altogether about 2.2 million people employed). In engineering/science, there are civil and environmental engineers, environmental scientists and building/construction inspectors and, in construction itself, electricians, plumbers/pipefitters/steamfitters and brickmasons/blockmasons (altogether about 1.5 million employed). There are police officers and insurance claims adjusters/examiners/investigators (together about 1 million people employed). There are also industrial machinery mechanics.
The above are the specific occupations in the exhaustive list at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm#00-0000 that meet the criteria of my not finding them unduly desk jobs, >40,000 people doing it, >$50,000/year median pay, either at least 5% growth or >50,000 openings projected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) during the years 2014-2024, not supervisory (because that’s not something you can choose), not the (unreliable) petroleum industry and not requiring graduate school. Interestingly, the vast majority of them require education/training that is less than a bachelor’s degree. Some are obviously much more on the ‘giving back’ track than others. (I also used other BLS pages, e.g. http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm.)
I have heard that the best paying jobs right now are medical specialists and financial experts, but they can have low degrees of job/life satisfaction.