|
Mojo
Stranger

Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 1,676
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: saenchai]
#21839122 - 06/21/15 08:40 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I think the best thing someone can do is first concentrate on what they want out of a career. Once a goal has been determined they can begin figuring out if a college degree will aid them in achieving the goal. College graduates run into trouble when they didn't start with a long term goal in mind before starting school, and they didn't bother trying to understand the field of study and what types of opportunities it can lead to when choosing their degree..
In the case of the OP, I will argue that a degree is a good idea for that particular field. I'm not trying to bash the OP's advice from his grandfather, but I personally feel like the idea of taking some classes and not completing a degree is a particularly bad idea.. I wouldn't pay a dime for college courses unless I had something on paper to show for it..
Edited to say:
Finding A job that pays $XXX,XXX, is much different than finding a great job that you love. I would prefer the latter, even if it pays less.
Edited by Mojo (06/21/15 08:49 PM)
|
nuds



Registered: 03/28/15
Posts: 578
Loc: Australia, NSW
Last seen: 6 months, 35 minutes
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Mojo]
#21839170 - 06/21/15 08:47 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
He's got 50+ years experience in the industry, often working with other chemists with PhD's that he basically shits on in terms of know-how, and after the first 12 months of operating the company is predicted to have earnt $1-2M... for a bit of an idea as to why pursuing this is so appealing.
Of course, money isn't everything, I need to love what I'd be doing. If I were to throw my youth into helping to build and learn with gramps I'd be dedicating myself to this line of work for life just about, which frankly scares the shit out of me. I don't wanna be posting back on this thread in 10 years time saying 'I would have done things differently', having found out once the real stuff began that I don't love chemistry work as much as I thought I did.
Quote:
Mojo said: I think the best thing someone can do is first concentrate on what they want out of a career. Once a goal has been determined they can begin figuring out if a college degree will aid them in achieving the goal. College graduates run into trouble when they didn't start with a long term goal in mind before starting school, and they didn't bother trying to understand the field of study and what types of opportunities it can lead to when choosing their degree..
In the case of the OP, I will argue that a degree is a good idea for that particular field. I'm not trying to bash the OP's advice from his grandfather, but I personally feel like the idea of taking some classes and not completing a degree is a particularly bad idea.. I wouldn't pay a dime for college courses unless I had something on paper to show for it..
Sound advice. My no.1 goal in life is to be happy above all things, and fulfill my own expectations of success (happy, well-off, no debt etc.) I think his line of thinking is that knowledge is more powerful than a piece of paper saying that you have said knowledge. .. If you get what I mean?
|
LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: nuds]
#21840716 - 06/22/15 05:59 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I used to sell to consulting engineers. Actually, not really sell, do all their work in terms of writing a specification, providing same, along with detailed design and drawings of our equipment, quotes, submittals for their approval, start up and warranty services. In other words, they had a fancy office that people visited to spoon feed them information they integrate into "the plans" and act like they are smart somehow when they wouldn't truly know a boiler, combustion, venting, etc. if it bit them on their narrow asses.
Did I need an engineering degree to "help them do their job"? Of course not, but they needed an engineering degree to work as a consulting engineer. Translation, to learn how to suck information out of the vendors and never really learn equipment while being truly pompous assholes to deal with.
In other words, take the family job and quit wasting time trying to learn things from pompous assholes at university. The real world works a lot differently. Of course, the professors who have their grad students doing all the research they take credit for is a good analogy to my example.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
|
Mojo
Stranger

Registered: 07/12/07
Posts: 1,676
|
|
Quote:
LunarEclipse said: I used to sell to consulting engineers. Actually, not really sell, do all their work in terms of writing a specification, providing same, along with detailed design and drawings of our equipment, quotes, submittals for their approval, start up and warranty services. In other words, they had a fancy office that people visited to spoon feed them information they integrate into "the plans" and act like they are smart somehow when they wouldn't truly know a boiler, combustion, venting, etc. if it bit them on their narrow asses.
Did I need an engineering degree to "help them do their job"? Of course not, but they needed an engineering degree to work as a consulting engineer. Translation, to learn how to suck information out of the vendors and never really learn equipment while being truly pompous assholes to deal with.
In other words, take the family job and quit wasting time trying to learn things from pompous assholes at university. The real world works a lot differently. Of course, the professors who have their grad students doing all the research they take credit for is a good analogy to my example.
Who in their right mind wouldn't want to be the higher paid engineer with the cushy job in this scenario? It's a better position than the bitter underpaid person beneath them. Skills and knowledge aside, the engineers still have the fancy office; all because they have one of those "stupid" pieces of paper hanging up behind their desk..
|
DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Mojo]
#21841642 - 06/22/15 01:10 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
At my job engineers often "promote" themselves to technicians because the engineering job is the opposite of what you describe. Its pays barely more or even less than the tech. job, no overtime pay, crazy hours and responsibility with little room for growth or advancement. Its no wonder engineers move into technician roles more often than technicians move into engineering roles.
(Also, nobody gets a fancy office. We are all in the same cube farm.)
|
DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Mojo]
#21841665 - 06/22/15 01:23 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Mojo said: Finding A job that pays $XXX,XXX, is much different than finding a great job that you love. I would prefer the latter, even if it pays less.
Easy to say when you have both!
|
Confucian
...


Registered: 03/31/09
Posts: 1,741
Loc: USA
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: DieCommie]
#21842079 - 06/22/15 03:33 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
I would say my number 1 and 2 are close, but right now I'm gonna put this as #1:
1) If you do marry - marry someone at your educational level or higher, someone that is ambitious with goals, and works full time. Marry "up", not down. All my young friends and family that are doing great and fighting less have 2-income families.
2) Go into a field where you'll get a good job: engineering, medical, computer science, etc.
That's really about it. Don't go to school for philosophy or the 90% of subjects that leave you with no real skills. Also, WHILE you are in school don't have the mindset that a job is gonna magically appear before you when you graduate so you'll remain unemployed while in school. These are the type of people with master degrees waiting on tables. (Unless you are studying engineering, computers, etc., even still, you should remain working while in school full time.)
Edited by Confucian (06/22/15 03:34 PM)
|
memes
Blessed



Registered: 01/11/05
Posts: 27,785
Loc: In a Tree
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Confucian]
#21842187 - 06/22/15 04:09 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Confucian said: That's really about it. Don't go to school for philosophy or the 90% of subjects that leave you with no real skills. Also, WHILE you are in school don't have the mindset that a job is gonna magically appear before you when you graduate so you'll remain unemployed while in school. These are the type of people with master degrees waiting on tables. (Unless you are studying engineering, computers, etc., even still, you should remain working while in school full time, or working in ANY relevant organizations for free - they'll always take free labor.)
|
LunarEclipse
Enlil's Official Story


Registered: 10/31/04
Posts: 21,407
Loc: Building 7
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Mojo]
#21842377 - 06/22/15 05:12 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Mojo said:
Quote:
LunarEclipse said: I used to sell to consulting engineers. Actually, not really sell, do all their work in terms of writing a specification, providing same, along with detailed design and drawings of our equipment, quotes, submittals for their approval, start up and warranty services. In other words, they had a fancy office that people visited to spoon feed them information they integrate into "the plans" and act like they are smart somehow when they wouldn't truly know a boiler, combustion, venting, etc. if it bit them on their narrow asses.
Did I need an engineering degree to "help them do their job"? Of course not, but they needed an engineering degree to work as a consulting engineer. Translation, to learn how to suck information out of the vendors and never really learn equipment while being truly pompous assholes to deal with.
In other words, take the family job and quit wasting time trying to learn things from pompous assholes at university. The real world works a lot differently. Of course, the professors who have their grad students doing all the research they take credit for is a good analogy to my example.
Who in their right mind wouldn't want to be the higher paid engineer with the cushy job in this scenario? It's a better position than the bitter underpaid person beneath them. Skills and knowledge aside, the engineers still have the fancy office; all because they have one of those "stupid" pieces of paper hanging up behind their desk..
Oh, I've got a degree or wouldn't have gotten my sales engineer job in the first place. The money was good depending on sales and I probably made more than most of their engineers in the good years. But yeah, the consulting engineers really did have a cushy deal.
-------------------- Anxiety is what you make it.
|
PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: Confucian]
#21843570 - 06/22/15 09:31 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Confucian said: I would say my number 1 and 2 are close, but right now I'm gonna put this as #1:
1) If you do marry - marry someone at your educational level or higher, someone that is ambitious with goals, and works full time. Marry "up", not down. All my young friends and family that are doing great and fighting less have 2-income families.
I wouldn't have really thought of this - but it is absolutely 100% excellent advice.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
|
TravelerOfSorts
sober pro


Registered: 06/29/11
Posts: 492
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: PDU]
#21845099 - 06/23/15 08:10 AM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
100startup.com
get this book 100 startup I'm exactly in your position I'm studying economics on my own I have a <40 hr a week job for a the summer and I'm saving through bank funds but its bogus because they take a total of 3.5% annually. making minimum wage and putting it all in the bank
-------------------- a soul of solitude but a master of ecstacy in waiting for my rebirth cycle i have hopes that when mushrooms find me it will occur then and i can go about the world as a medicine man walking staff in one hand spaceship in the other a journeyman of nature soon to be stepping up to novice hopefully i will have time to become an expert, and i believe only in death will i become a master
|
PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
|
|
Another piece of advice i would offer is:
Take care of yourself before your job. Work to live, not live to work.
Seriously - prioritize your health and wellness before pretty much everything.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
|
sprinkles
otd president


Registered: 10/13/12
Posts: 21,527
Loc: washington state
Last seen: 3 years, 17 days
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: nuds]
#21846917 - 06/23/15 05:45 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
save money, buy savings bonds, do not get credit cards I never did and I am soooooo glad. All of my friends have been screwed by credit card debit. Luckily i always knew i was impulsive as fuck and avoided getting into that mess
|
PDU
travel kid vs.amerika



Registered: 12/03/02
Posts: 10,675
Loc: beautiful BC
Last seen: 8 years, 4 months
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: sprinkles]
#21847296 - 06/23/15 07:21 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
sprinkles said: do not get credit cards I never did and I am soooooo glad. All of my friends have been screwed by credit card debit.
Disagree - just be responsible.
-------------------- GO OUTSIDE.
|
DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: sprinkles]
#21850421 - 06/24/15 01:11 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
sprinkles said:All of my friends have been screwed by credit card debit.
More likely, they were screwed by their own spending habits and lack of self control. A credit card does nothing without a person behind it using it.
|
chopstick
nobody



Registered: 07/26/08
Posts: 5,081
Loc: Chin's Wok
|
Re: What would you differently? [Re: DieCommie] 1
#21850806 - 06/24/15 02:43 PM (8 years, 7 months ago) |
|
|
Shoulda started my small business sooner, shoulda started investing in cryptocurrencies sooner.
|
|