Help me find a new job/career... warning *deep thread*

[Cuda1447]

Alright. ATOT is like my big brother. So here I am, coming to you for advice. I think I want a new job/career. I'm going to give you a quick background on myself, strengths and weaknesses. I'm hoping someone can suggest a career to look into. There are a ton of jobs out there, its just a matter of finding them.


I am 26. I have a B.A. in Psychology which I think was a grand waste of time. I have a steady work history. I am currently steadily employed in a sales position. Throughout college I have always worked in sales and excelled. I was recognized in my company for being in the top 1% in sales this last year (20,000+ employees). I was looking into going into management with this company and starting a career. For non-important reasons though, it looks as if it might be in my best interest to look for another job/career. (Although, things may still work out where I'm at)


Personal traits, skills and weaknesses:

I am always punctual. I find most people in this world aren't. I don't understand.
I'm extremely efficient, much more so than most people I know.
I learn quickly and am very competitive. If someone does a job better than I do, chances are I'll learn what they do, imitate it and eventually improve upon it.
I have very good communication skills.
I don't have any specific weaknesses that I can think of other than horrible hand writing. I literally write like a 7 year old.



Some things that will limit career choices though:

- I am a family man. I only have a wife right now, but I want to start a family soon. I do not want a job that I will work 60+ hours a week. I want to go to work, do my job, do a good job and go home. I will not be a slave to my employer.

- I do not want a job that requires much travel.

- I do not want a job that requires cold calling or any other aggravating, annoying or pestering type behavior.

- I live north of Tampa, Fl. I would prefer to do something outside of the main city. I'm a small town kind of guy, I don't like dealing with inner city/traffic problems. It stresses me out


I'm sure there are other weaknesses and prohibiting factors that I have, but I can't think of any others right now. I am also sure I'll get some bullshit responses, but I'm hoping I will also get some responses that might give me an idea I haven't looked into yet.



*edit* a couple other things


I don't mind something entry level that I can work my way up in, but I will not take any job that pays less than $40,000 a year starting out. I have a minimum that I need to maintain to continue paying my bills. I also want a career, not just a job. I fully intend to move up within whatever company I join and I would like to do so somewhat rapidly. I feel confident once I obtain a position I'll be able to move up easily enough, given the opportunity.


Some careers that I have looked into a little bit....

Financial Advising or some other careers at a financial institution.
Human Resources
Some sort of sales of of a technology product.
Being a trainer/representative for a company that sells a product/server (technology related) in a retail environment.


So yea, those are just some ideas that have crossed my mind. Hopefully someone here can suggest some other ideas to look into..... hopefully.

 

[BoomerD]

Local police/sheriff's department hiring?

 

[Cuda1447]

Local police/sheriff's department hiring?

Probably, but I wouldn't want to do that. I don't really care for firearms and wouldn't want a job that has much of a degree of danger. My wife would have a problem with that. Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[Brigandier]

Have you ever though of working in a bank? Start as a personal banker, work your way to small business and up.

 

[Cuda1447]

Have you ever though of working in a bank? Start as a personal banker, work your way to small business and up.

I most certainly have. One of my co-workers used to be an asst. manager at a bank and she suggested I would be a good personal finance manager. I'm giving it serious consideration. Having never worked in the industry a few thinks that worry me are the hours worked. I guess it depends on which company I work for, but apparently some banks think working 60 hours a week is to be expected. That doesn't fly with me. The other concern I have is the method of selling the bank employs. I am NOT a fan of any sort of cold calling/soliciting. I think its bullshit. I don't want to work for a company that expects a lot of that.

Perhaps if there are any PFR's here that have experience in the industry they could shed some light on it for me? Or anyone who works in the banking industry in general?

 

[bhanson]

What about something like Respiratory Therapy?

Good communication skills -> patient contact
Family man -> only work 3 days a week
Efficient -> save more lives
Terrible hand writing -> use a computer
No travel -> work anywhere

 

[Mike Gayner]

What ever made you think that a B.A. in Psychology would ever be anything other than a waste of time?

edit: Also just so we're clear, you're actually not qualified/experienced in anything at all, correct?

 

[Brigandier]

I most certainly have. One of my co-workers used to be an asst. manager at a bank and she suggested I would be a good personal finance manager. I'm giving it serious consideration. Having never worked in the industry a few thinks that worry me are the hours worked. I guess it depends on which company I work for, but apparently some banks think working 60 hours a week is to be expected. That doesn't fly with me. The other concern I have is the method of selling the bank employs. I am NOT a fan of any sort of cold calling/soliciting. I think its bullshit. I don't want to work for a company that expects a lot of that.

Perhaps if there are any PFR's here that have experience in the industry they could shed some light on it for me? Or anyone who works in the banking industry in general?

I have a friend that has started in that industry, and he started as personal banker. The upfront pay isn't the best, but if you can sell,you will be rewarded. After about seven months, he moved up to small business banker, which naturally takes in larger margins. I think a bank is a good person that has a balance of working for good and working for margins. You still get base pay, but if you're a good banker, you can cash in. His hours are near bank hours, little overtime, so I don't see the worry there. Also, in the end, who will be the last to have money? The Banks!

 

[Q]

Your degree doesn't matter now that you've been out of school and into the workforce, and sounds like you've been successful. In your OP you mentioned some interest in sales with a technology company. With your achievement in your current job (Top 1&#37 you should have no problem getting a job with a tech company in sales, I would think.
Only issue there is another sales position in a new company might require extensive travel, which would be detrimental to your goal of starting a family/having children.

 

[Cuda1447]

What ever made you think that a B.A. in Psychology would ever be anything other than a waste of time?

edit: Also just so we're clear, you're actually not qualified/experienced in anything at all, correct?

I never really thought a B.A. in psych would be that beneficial, but I wanted to do something, anything. I don't have any student loans, so it wasn't look it was a huge investment, other than time.

As for qualifications, I wouldn't say I'm not qualified. I think I'm plenty skilled in a lot of different areas, however, I don't have any Engineering, Doctorate or Law degree. So if that makes me unqualified.... *shrugs*.


I am experienced in starting a small business and failing. I learned a lot about marketing in doing so. I would consider myself to be well above average in terms if computer knowledge, in comparison to the average person. In college I took about 6 business classes, so I am not completely unknowledgeable about the basics of business and finance. With my psych degree I took a lot of classes emphasizing motivational theories and other workforce related psych classes. I think in a very general sense, if I would be in charge of any other employees, that is extremely useful.


I am also a very good interviewer. I think that if an employer is willing to give me a call after looking at the resume, I have an excellent chance of getting the job. I just need to get that first interview. I suppose my sales prowess helps me in this regard.

 

[Cuda1447]

I have a friend that has started in that industry, and he started as personal banker. The upfront pay isn't the best, but if you can sell,you will be rewarded. After about seven months, he moved up to small business banker, which naturally takes in larger margins. I think a bank is a good person that has a balance of working for good and working for margins. You still get base pay, but if you're a good banker, you can cash in. His hours are near bank hours, little overtime, so I don't see the worry there. Also, in the end, who will be the last to have money? The Banks!

That's literally the exact thought process I had. If I want to make good money, what better place to do it at then a bank?

 

[Cuda1447]

What about something like Respiratory Therapy?

Good communication skills -> patient contact
Family man -> only work 3 days a week
Efficient -> save more lives
Terrible hand writing -> use a computer
No travel -> work anywhere

I had never thought of anything like that. I'll do a bit of research on that.

 

[dmcowen674]

I do not want a job that I will work 60+ hours a week.

I do not want a job that requires much travel.

I will not take any job that pays less than $40,000 a year starting out.

In the U.S.?

 

[Cuda1447]

In the U.S.?

Yes sir. Tampa, Fl area specifically.

 

[Farang]

You might like recruiting. I emphasize might, as most of what you do is cold calling. But they are the warmest cold calls you could ever make.

It fits your other criteria, though.

 

[Cuda1447]

You might like recruiting. I emphasize might, as most of what you do is cold calling. But they are the warmest cold calls you could ever make.

It fits your other criteria, though.

What type of pay and career path is their in the recruitment field?

 

[Cuda1447]

bump for more ideas

 

[silverpig]

You could probably do well in a bank, selling RRSPs and other investment products. You can advance in that job quite far too.

If you get bored, you can go back to school and do an MBA and then get a nice bump in salary when you come back. Your employer may even pay for it.

 

[Elbryn]

it doesnt sound like you're trying to get away from sales as a whole. if the case is you arnt happy with where you are now, why not jump ship to a competitor of your current company. the contacts you've built up selling in your existing industry is your big value point whereas anything else you go to will mean starting over.

 

[SearchMaster]

Have you tried a book like 48 Days to the Work You Love?

It couldn't hurt...

 

[Cuda1447]

it doesnt sound like you're trying to get away from sales as a whole. if the case is you arnt happy with where you are now, why not jump ship to a competitor of your current company. the contacts you've built up selling in your existing industry is your big value point whereas anything else you go to will mean starting over.

I don't mind sales, but I am ready for something different. My companies competitors aren't exactly companies I'd want to work for either. I'm not particularly fond of their corporate cultures.

 

[PimpJuice]

What ever made you think that a B.A. in Psychology would ever be anything other than a waste of time?

edit: Also just so we're clear, you're actually not qualified/experienced in anything at all, correct?

Great advice......oh wait, you didn't give any.

 

[Cuda1447]

Great advice......oh wait, you didn't give any.

Its alright man, he's a bit of a tool

 

[Lalakai]

what are some of your hobbies? What past jobs or work were you passionate about? What phase of the job do you enjoy the most: consensus, initial planning, implimentation, review, wrap-up? Do you prefer working with adults, teens, youth? If you majored in psychology, then you have taken the profile tests; what were the results? Introvert or extrovert (without "masking")? Why did you choose psychology as your major?

all of these will help you identify the type of career that will make it enjoyable to get up each day and head to work.

 

[SP33Demon]

Nursing, radiology, teacher, plumbing, or welding. Although you didn't say if you wanted to get more training or not, all of the above will require more education but are worth it in the long run.