what career are you in and how did you get there?

hagoonabear

Hi i was interested in just knowing what career everyone was in and how they got there. my reason for asking is I'm 24 and still haven't a clue of what career I would like I have a few interests such as stockbroking, business, art but meh , so hope this thread goes well 😀

sebcity

Reporting & Analytics....huge market for it now.
Went and did science in college, hated it, dropped out. Went back and did computer science and got a graduate position. Learned more on the job than in college. Progressed from there into analytics. Currently doing a masters in it along with learning in the job.

Lau2976

I'm an artist.

I mainly paint but I often sketch and illustrate too. I have to sub my own paintings (selling my own uncommissioned works) with commissions and illustrating (books mainly, but comics too) but all types of art and interesting and require very different skills.

I probably wouldn't suggest art to a lot of people. It's very much a trade. Some weeks you can earn nothing, others maybe 100 and others you can get a few thousand. It certainly ins't a job for those looking for financial security! But if you love it and want to do it the hours of planning and budgeting and networking are worth it

rainbow kirby

Software developer - mostly front end web stuff in my current job, but a fair bit of scientific Python and C++ in my previous one. BSc and MSc in CS after dropping out of a maths degree course, and worked in financial software QA for a while after graduating before getting my first dev role.

Sugar Free

Pharma industry (not manufacturing/QA area).

I got there through a science degree - which wasn't very helpful - and business school, which was very helpful.

Tarzana2

Marketing. Big fat accident.

Did a biology degree. Went into science after, hated it, went back to college to do an accounting postgrad, ran out of funds so had to drop out, needed a job, took a part time basic data entry position that was in an affiliate marketing company. Have worked my way up a bit but am not sure where it can go, as I'm hampered by a lack of any business or marketing qualifications and have no money to get those qualifications. I'd like to delve more into the marketing analytics side of things. Hard to do without any third level stats, maths or computer science education though. :-/

Anyone have any tips of cost effective things I could learn that might be of benefit to me?

Amirani

Finance. Not really sure.

Tarzana2

Lau2976 wrote: »

I'm an artist.

I mainly paint but I often sketch and illustrate too. I have to sub my own paintings (selling my own uncommissioned works) with commissions and illustrating (books mainly, but comics too) but all types of art and interesting and require very different skills.

I probably wouldn't suggest art to a lot of people. It's very much a trade. Some weeks you can earn nothing, others maybe 100 and others you can get a few thousand. It certainly ins't a job for those looking for financial security! But if you love it and want to do it the hours of planning and budgeting and networking are worth it

Art is definitely something you need to passionate about and dedicated to. All the artists I know are broke!

Never understood why some people consider it a doss profession, it takes huge amounts of organisation and planning and preparation, as well as having the imagination and ideas to sustain your career.

Qualified as a Nurse, moved into Pharma (Clinical Trials), then switched to IT. Now I lead a virtual team who analyze top companies IT infrastructure and service management processes and make recommendations for improvements.
I still wake up wondering how the hell I got here.

Lau2976

Tarzana2 wrote: »

Art is definitely something you need to passionate about and dedicated to. All the artists I know are broke!

Never understood why some people consider it a doss profession, it takes huge amounts of organisation and planning and preparation, as well as having the imagination and ideas to sustain your career.

Oh god yes! ha nobody ever really gets it. They think you sit around all day and draw and thats it. Nobody ever realises the marketing and selling both your work and your self that goes into it. I was even told once it was a profession for lazy performers - I wanted to "artist" label without working for it :rolleyes:

And on top of that if you freelance its like running a business! It's really nice to see someone gets it!

Tarzana2

Deleted User wrote: »

Qualified as a Nurse, moved into Pharma (Clinical Trials), then switched to IT.

How did you manage to switch to IT?

boobar

Completed a business degree many years ago

Worked in accounts ...accounting, payroll, credit control etc for about 10 years.

Moved organisation, completely by accident got a chance to work as a junior programmer...took a chance, was good at it, loved it...

Moved on to work as business analyst then project manager...have been doing this now for nearly 10 years....really enjoy it.

heldel00

Qualified as primary school teacher 10 years ago when I was 20 years old. Love my job but hard to accept that there is nowhere to go from it. Very little chance of promotion or diversion away from the classroom.
(And I know we have great hours, great holidays etc ...before ye start!)

Lau2976

heldel00 wrote: »

Qualified as primary school teacher 10 years ago when I was 20 years old. Love my job but hard to accept that there is nowhere to go from it. Very little chance of promotion or diversion away from the classroom.
(And I know we have great hours, great holidays etc ...before ye start!)

Primary school teaching was always what I wanted to do if art didn't work out I hate kids but is love to teach them!

heldel00

Lau2976 wrote: »

Primary school teaching was always what I wanted to do if art didn't work out I hate kids but is love to teach them!

Don't get me wrong I really do love it but sometimes I just wish that there were more options. I mean you can go and do masters etc but you just end up back in a school of some sort.
It's just when I read the likes of that post that said about qualifying as a nurse and branching out from there that I just feel bit trapped.

368100

Assistant manager in a bank (hoping to be manager in a few weeks :-)

8 years in same bank, 5 years experience in 2 other banks....started from the bottom with just leaving cert but due to regulation and furthering promotion prospects have been studying for bankers exams over the last few years.

Tarzana2

Tarzana2 wrote: »

How did you manage to switch to IT?

Project Management

hdowney

changing direction and currently looking for a part time job to see me thru. qualified as a childcare practitioner out of school but now doing History, Archaeology and Classics in Uni.

Brussels Sprout

Software Developer.

Qualified as a Chemical Engineer. Worked in that for 4 years in Ireland and a couple of other countries. Lost a job in the recession. Realised that I actually didn't enjoy my work at all so went back and did a Masters in Applied Maths. Did a little bit of programming in that which got me in the door of my current job. Had to learn a ridiculous amount in my first two years as it was all new to me. Only feel comfortable now after nearly 3 years. The best thing I can say about it over my previous career is that I no longer fear Monday mornings.

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Tarzana2

heldel00 wrote: »

Don't get me wrong I really do love it but sometimes I just wish that there were more options. I mean you can go and do masters etc but you just end up back in a school of some sort.
It's just when I read the likes of that post that said about qualifying as a nurse and branching out from there that I just feel bit trapped.

I know someone who was a primary school teacher. She did a Masters in marketing and management and now works in marketing. You can do a Masters or grad dip in a wide range of different subjects.

The Cool

Officially, a freelance translator.
Unofficially, a writer, accountant, credit control, project manager, IT support, marketer and translator. :P Also do a bit of tutoring which I enjoy.

After my arts degree I did a masters in the field, started an internship as a project manager in a translation company, got a paid contract for the job after a few months. Stuck that out for over a year and soon got tired of office politics and spending two days' worth of my time every month on Dublin Bus; handed in my notice and spent my savings keeping myself afloat until it started paying. A year in and I'm doing fairly decent and most importantly, really enjoy it! Although it's not all been a walk in the park, my boyfriend has supported me quite a bit and I have doubted myself when I've had quiet months. The main thing I miss is having a set payday at the end of the month, so when you're broke you can count down the days til your money's in. I spend too much time emailing clients' accounts depts.

smcgiff

heldel00 wrote: »

Qualified as primary school teacher 10 years ago when I was 20 years old. Love my job but hard to accept that there is nowhere to go from it. Very little chance of promotion or diversion away from the classroom.
(And I know we have great hours, great holidays etc ...before ye start!)

I think teaching primary from 20 to 55, 60 or even older would be very tough.

However, there are positions of responsibility in larger schools and even principal admin positions to aim for.

There are also 3rd level lecturing opportunities, not easy for sure. But something to aim for.

heldel00

smcgiff wrote: »

I think teaching primary from 20 to 55, 60 or even older would be very tough.

However, there are positions of responsibility in larger schools and even principal admin positions to aim for.

There are also 3rd level lecturing opportunities, not easy for sure. But something to aim for.

Yeah I think that's what panics me a bit. Teaching from 20 - 68 years of age!!! I just can't see that I'd be able to do it and I honestly don't think it would be fair on the children I would have. (Imagine me hobbling round an infant classroom at 68 years of age when there would be a young 25 year old leppin round in the classroom next door!)
Management does not interest me now but you never know in the future.

MillField

Working in Software Development for the last 3 months. Graduated from DIT with a degree in Computer Science last year. Lucky to have found a job fairly soon afterwards.

Tom Dunne

Lecturing.

Started off in IT, kinda fell into technical training. Bachelors is in IT, Masters is in Computer Science, currently doing a doctorate in education.