What do you do for a living?

[Mr. Wilson]

What do you do for a living and if you have a degree, what is it?

I'm going for a marketing degree (I was undecided and I had to declare a major to continue taking classes... so I thought I couldn't go wrong with any degree in the business field) but I constantly worry if I made the right decision or not.  I work at walmart with a kid who is my age and he is already an assistant manager there.  I'm not 100% about this but I think he makes about $40,000 which is pretty damn good since I make a little over $8/hour.  Maybe I should have skipped college and just worked full time at a company and moved up the ranks that way.  Its not like I can become a manager while working part-time.  In the 2 stores I've worked for, the managers have moved up the ranks of the company over time and without degrees.  They make a lot of money too.

I don't see myself instantly getting a high paying job with a marketing degree.  Heck, I'm not even a people person lol.  Bah, I wish I could see into the future.  Anyways, what do you guys do for a living and what degree do you all have?  Any advice for me?

[pharmer]

I also work at WalMart but as a pharmacist.  I went through school "undecided" for 2.5 years.  It's very frustrating now knowing what you want to do.  At some point  in your education you must declare a major (when you run out of core classes and electives).  You can always change your major if you find something else you want to do.  I always encourage students to find a degree they can do something with.  For example, I have a friend who received his degree in history and has no desire to teach.  There is really nothing he can do with his degree at this point.  I'm sure a marketing degree is a solid degree that would could open many doors.  As far as starting a career with WalMart, I believe $40,000 sounds about right for an assistant manager.  Managers probably make around $80,000 and up.  You have one good thing going for you right now- WalMart is huge into diversity.  I believe your Asian heritage could propel you right on up the ladder.   One thing to keep in mind with WalMart- you will be working crappy hours.  As a pharmacist in the "box" my hours are better.  However, be prepared to work weekends, nights, mornings, and hollidays.  I always hear our assistant managers complaining about their hours.  If being off on weekends and hollidays is important to you, you might want to look closer at what the marketing degree could do for you. 

[GASlick]

I'm an x-ray tech and a business owner.  I can back up what pharmer says.  If you want weekends, nights and holidays off you better stay out of healthcare.  It's a 24/7 thing.

When I'm not doing x-rays, my business fills the rest of my time.

[Brkeatr]

Retired.....

[GASlick]

Retired.....

aahhhh - the ultimate goal.

[hammerdrill376]

Service and Sales in the pest control industry. I work with about 9-12 clients per day keeping unwanted disease carrying and wood destroying insects out of their homes.

[SBG Math Guy]

Retired.....

I'm a university student studying economics for now.  I want to be a high school math teacher.

Brkeatr we all aim for that career.     You must have lots of time to spend with the grand kids
(and from what I hear it's more exciting to have grand kids than having your own kids, and also kids
love grandpas and grandmothers so I'm sure those grandchildren must feel really special)

[Brkeatr]

Retired.....

I'm a university student studying economics for now.  I want to be a high school math teacher.

Brkeatr we all aim for that career.     You must have lots of time to spend with the grand kids
(and from what I hear it's more exciting to have grand kids than having your own kids, and also kids
love grandpas and grandmothers so I'm sure those grandchildren must feel really special)

Ahh Yes, it is....when you get tired of them you can send them home.....lol.....I was fortunate enough to spend 30 years as a Government employee and retire with a good pension although I know some people would like to hang Gov employees....lol.....

[SBG Math Guy]

send them home? lmao.  I thought your children would always send them
over to your house.......let grandpa and grandma take care of them while
we have fun.    And yes, working for the government gives you some special fruits.

[Brkeatr]

send them home? lmao.  I thought your children would always send them
over to your house.......let grandpa and grandma take care of them while
we have fun.    And yes, working for the government gives you some special fruits.

Unfortunately, they live about 80 miles away....

[SBG Math Guy]

Unfortunately, they live about 80 miles away....

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that  .   My grandparents live across the ocean, all the way in the middle east.
My mother visited my grandmother a few years ago.   From what I hear my grandmother is generally a happy person, and she said she wants one more thing in this life........
to see her own grandchildren!! Well, I still haven't seen her but I want to visit her in a year or so to make
her dream come true.

[J.J.]

I am a physician, specializing in hematology and bone marrow transplantation, but most people probably still look upon me as a professional student...lol...thanks to the mini-alphabet of degrees I've accumulated over the past 20 years...

A.S. (General Science)
B.S. (Biological Sciences)
M.S. (Molecular Cell Biology)
Ph.D. (Molecular Cell Biology)
M.D.

Needless to say, mine was a very circuitous route to the present career niche...and I'm probably going to be branching out again in the near future...lol.

[J.J.]

I'm a university student studying economics for now.  I want to be a high school math teacher.

That's awesome!  We need dedicated teachers soooo badly!! Good luck!!

[Mr. Wilson]

'm probably going to be branching out again in the near future...lol.

I have a feeling that I will be too.  I guess my bachelors degree won't matter as much as my masters...

[marty22]

Masters in Business Adminisration (MBA) here in Finance. No wonder I wound up as a political consultant.