Well, I've seen multiple medical and law posts but can't really remember seeing one specifically about careers. Since I'm in the market for a new career and every other story on the news is about how crappy the job market/economy is, I figured I'd throw this out there and see what sticks.
Right now I am fortunate that I have a good job. I've had it for 12 years. It's a desk job. It's in the air conditioning. My employer owns the house I live in. He pays most of the bills as part of my salary. It has a pension plan and health insurance. The salary is more than enough to support a family of 4. The only problem is that it is in Louisiana.
There are many reasons other than the 107 degree heat for wanting to move away from here.
1) 48th in roads/49th in education/49th in graduation rate/47th in standard of living/etc doesn't begin to tell the tale (Thank you Mississippi for keeping us out of last). We have a 50% graduation rate. Currently schools are rezoned every year to dilute poor students into good schools so the poor schools can stay just above the 'minimum requirements'. That's not fixing a problem, that's just hiding it until it is a bigger problem.
2) To see a concert/football game/baseball game/anything we have to pack up and drive 4 hours to Dallas. The only thing we get is a state fair and when the fair comes to Louisiana the workers actually increase our literacy rate.
3) Living within driving distance of my wife's hick family is not ideal. We are both ready for a change.
Basically, we are exploring what it would look like to move to a better place. The only problem is that my job doesn't really exist many other places. So basically if we are going to get out of here I'm going to need a new career. Here are the things I have working for and against me:
For:
**I have a college and master's degree
**12 years stable work experience with one company in a supervisory position
**$50,000ish in savings that can be used for education or a down payment, etc
**A wife with a master's in counseling (but needs further supervised hours for licensing)
**A job currently that is flexible and would allow me the time to go to school/training for 1-3 years.
**No debt with 2 reliable cars that are paid in full.
Against:
**My degrees are liberal artsish
**2 kids which will make a big change a bit tougher
**36 years old so getting up there in years for considering going back to school etc
**Do not like blood, needles, etc....basically anything in the medical field is out
I really think I can learn just about anything in 3 years. I made the MENSA cutoff, and although I didn't set the world on fire with my grades when I was young, I was pretty much 97%+ on just about any standardized test with little or no prep. I know absolutely nothing about computers but would be willing to learn. Basically, what I am looking for is a career that when I am done with training/school I could move to whatever place we thought was best to raise our children and find something in a 30 mile radius. Obviously at 36 doing 3 years of pre-requisites then 7 more years of med/specialist school is out of the question. But even something as involved as pharmacy school is on the table.
So what career path provides a good living, is in demand both now and for the foreseeable future, and has the ability to take us where we will never see another Stuckey's ever again?
pre-edit: Oh, and the people I have talked to always seem to mention finding 'what you are passionate about'. Well, I'm passionate about being productive whether that is crunching numbers or laying railroad track. I'm passionate about providing for my family. Really everything is on the table as far as I'm concerned.