Is it to late for me?

[Cadop]

I'm turning 24 on Monday. I currently work at Comcast doing glorified Customer Support (IP Support Rep Tier I). I hate it. I went to a two year tech school and got my Associates.

I have been thinking about other career choices but don't know if it's too late to start or not. First one is something in the medical field. Not necessarily a doctor but maybe some sort of nurse of assistant or maybe even something like an X-ray technician.

My second choice would be joining a branch of the military. Ever since high school I have always thought of going into military not just as a way to pay for school, but possibly as a career choice.

Is it too late to start anything like this? I don't want to be stuck in a dead end job the rest of my life doing phone support.

Cliff Notes:
1. Hate my job and want a new one.
2. Medical or military, are they options?

 

[Kromis]

Military for the win! You know you aren't gonna get anywhere (kidding!)

 

[KaOTiK]

Do something your gonna enjoy doing for pretty much the rest of your life.

 

[Mo0o]

It's never too late. If you're interested in being a doctor you can do postbacc work in a certified postbacc program, take your MCATs and apply. 24 is absolutely NOT old, i think it might even be below average for med school matriculants

 

[Conky]

It's definitely not too late to "change gears". I wish I was still young enough to join the military. I recommend the Air Force. The best part is that after 20 years you get a full pension without having to be 65 to collect it. This might not mean much to you now but, take my word for it, this is a great thing.

 

[imported_Devine]

I'd look into how much schooling would cost for anything medical cause I know thats what my sis did. When she saw those numbers she decided to go into the Air Force for 4 yrs and was lucky enough to get a medical job. She gets out in May and is going to use her GI Bill money to pay for school.

 

[Cadop]

The two branches I always wanted to join was either the Air Force or the Marines. What all goes into applying to join?

Also, what goes into joining? What about my monthly bills, how do I take care of those? I'm sure these are all questions a recruiter could answer but i'm afraid to go talk to one and get stuck doing it if it's not what I really want.

 

[chowmein]

USAF. ask any marine they wish they joined the AF. dont let recruiters pressure you into signing your life away. do what you want to do, chances are if it's a field that's needed i.e. linguist. there is a sign on bonus.

monthly bills, use automated online payments or have a family member take care of them.

 

[uberman]

X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

 

[Cadop]

Originally posted by: uberman
X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

What type of degrees do you need to enter as an officer?

Also, how would I go about looking into something like an X-ray tech?

 

[f4phantom2500]

why dont you do something medical related in the military? my parents met in the air force, and they know a lot of people from all four branches, so i can tell you that the air force is definitely the easiest/best branch. most benefits, specialty first soldier second (army and marines soldier first, specialty second), etc. Also if you want to have a family air force is definitely the branch for you (especially if your other choice is marines). I'm sure there's something you could do involving medical stuff in the air force. just my 2 cents...

 

[chowmein]

Originally posted by: uberman
X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

i hope you have reason to justify your remarks. as an enlisted member of the AF, i get as much respect as anyone else.

however, officers do get paid a lot more, but job security is an issue nowadays. they are getting rid of thousands of 1st and 2nd LTs.

in the enlisted USAF they have medical fields as well as precision mechanics. you can join for 4 years, get the experience/background and take advantage of the MGIB for continuing education.

if you're that worried about your future and career, don't be afraid to explore opportunities.

 

[Cadop]

One thing I'm really worried about is going off to the military and having my bills not taken care of. I'm getting married in May, but as of right now my fiance could not take care of them herself. Same goes with my parents. That is why I am so hesitant to join at this point in my life.

If I were to go back to school, it would have to be part time or night classes.

 

[chowmein]

Originally posted by: Cadop
One thing I'm really worried about is going off to the military and having my bills not taken care of. I'm getting married in May, but as of right now my fiance could not take care of them herself. Same goes with my parents. That is why I am so hesitant to join at this point in my life.

If I were to go back to school, it would have to be part time or night classes.

if you're married going into the military. they have base housing allowance, for pitt i believe it's around a grand a month (depending on area) for rent. then they have base substance allowance for food and such which is normally around 200-300 a month. that's not even your base pay. your best bet is to talk to a recruiter or go back to school.

 

[aidanjm]

what is your "Associates" from tech school? was does it qualify or train you to do? it sounds like you wante do do tech stuff, but ended up in customer service. Maybe you just need to apply for a new job?

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: chowmein

Originally posted by: uberman
X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

i hope you have reason to justify your remarks. as an enlisted member of the AF, i get as much respect as anyone else.

however, officers do get paid a lot more, but job security is an issue nowadays. they are getting rid of thousands of 1st and 2nd LTs.

in the enlisted USAF they have medical fields as well as precision mechanics. you can join for 4 years, get the experience/background and take advantage of the MGIB for continuing education.

if you're that worried about your future and career, don't be afraid to explore opportunities.

I can justify this. For one thing. I outrank you seeing as how I'm older and have had a greater diversity of life experiences. Throughout my life I've hung out with many military people and military brats. I used to hang out with the military recruiters when I was in Frankfurt, Germany. These are guys who are really bummed out for what they've told kids to get them to sign up, but they have pressure to meet quotas.

The military people and military brats say it's all about rank, otherwise you eat...
I noticed you said you are worried about job security. I applaud our people in the armed forces. "Job security" has got to be the worst reason I've ever heard for being in the armed forces.

I may expect to hear education, transferrable skills, etc., but "job security?" Do you believe that you have no skills whatsoever and that there is nothing you can build on? Is your sole pupose for being in the military is because you'd lose a job if you had one anywhere else?

 

[AnimeKnight]

It's definitely not too late for a career change!!

I joined the military @ 24 and now I am 28 I am about to separate from the AF going into a different career. Right now I am an aircraft mechanic and I am thinking about going into information tech. So I can tell you personally it is not too late!

You can also combine both medical and military together. You can try to get a job such as x-ray technician or other medical fields in the military. That way military will pay for your education and provide you with experience.

 

[Cadop]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
what is your "Associates" from tech school? was does it qualify or train you to do? it sounds like you wante do do tech stuff, but ended up in customer service. Maybe you just need to apply for a new job?

Its full name is Associate in Specialized Technology Degree. It's basically a Jack-of-All Trades degree. I actually regret getting it.

Another thing I was thinking about if I join the military is the whole basic training part. I'm not a very physical person. I was active as a child and in my teens, but as of late have done nothing but sit in a chair in front of computers. I'm about 5'8" tall and weigh about 142. I'm not overweight or anything, but I was always afraid I would never cut it in basic training.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: Cadop

Originally posted by: uberman
X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

What type of degrees do you need to enter as an officer?

Also, how would I go about looking into something like an X-ray tech?

Degrees for an officer, ask around, I'm not sure what particular services are looking for in regard to degrees. I do know people who entered the military as officers, but they've shipped out and we no longer communicate.

I've interviewd more than 20 X-Ray techs and that's where I've gotten my data. They are happy, but some are bummed out after they get all their endorsements because there's no where else to go.

Regarding the military, do your research, but be careful. Recruiters have to meet certain numbers of new recruits. Talk to recruiters, military people, officers and college counselors.

A good place to start would be to find an X-Ray technician program at a community college and explore it.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: Cadop
I'm turning 24 on Monday.
Is it too late to start anything like this? I don't want to be stuck in a dead end job the rest of my life doing phone support.

It's never too late. I was sick of school when I graduated from high school. I've worked all kinds of jobs all over the place.

I went back to school when I was 32. I now have advanced degrees and have worked as a professional for 10 years.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: AnimeKnight
It's definitely not too late for a career change!!

I joined the military @ 24 and now I am 28 I am about to separate from the AF going into a different career. Right now I am an aircraft mechanic and I am thinking about going into information tech. So I can tell you personally it is not too late!

You can also combine both medical and military together. You can try to get a job such as x-ray technician or other medical fields in the military. That way military will pay for your education and provide you with experience.

If you have your A and P certificates in order you can really do well certifying aircraft in the civilian world.

 

[aidanjm]

for god's sake, the last thing you need is being shipped off to Iraq. The US is going to be stuck in that quagmire for decades. Which means if you sign up, you'll end up there, surely.

 

[Wapp]

/\/\/\/\/\/\ DO NOT LISTEN TO THIS GUY /\/\/\/\/\ This is the biggest piece of disinformation and I wish people would stop spreading it. If you join the army or marines, yes you have a strong chance of going to Iraq. AF or Navy, not very likely and if you do end up there it's not for as long as the other branches nor will you likely see any action.

Originally posted by: uberman

Originally posted by: chowmein

Originally posted by: uberman
X-Ray tech can be a good choice. You can pick up other endorsements for different macines like CT Scan and MRI. You will eventually realize you can't go anywhere else, you've got your endorsements, so who cares. You're making money and living comfortably.

The military, ewwww! Unless you have college degrees and enter as an officer, otherwise you'll just be kicked around. It's all about rank and file.

So, there are two good choices. You don't want to spend too much time in college, X-Ray tech is good. You won't need to.

If you're an obsessive student that wants to spend many years in college you should get a degree or degrees and enter the military as an officer.

i hope you have reason to justify your remarks. as an enlisted member of the AF, i get as much respect as anyone else.

however, officers do get paid a lot more, but job security is an issue nowadays. they are getting rid of thousands of 1st and 2nd LTs.

in the enlisted USAF they have medical fields as well as precision mechanics. you can join for 4 years, get the experience/background and take advantage of the MGIB for continuing education.

if you're that worried about your future and career, don't be afraid to explore opportunities.

I can justify this. For one thing. I outrank you seeing as how I'm older and have had a greater diversity of life experiences. Throughout my life I've hung out with many military people and military brats. I used to hang out with the military recruiters when I was in Frankfurt, Germany. These are guys who are really bummed out for what they've told kids to get them to sign up, but they have pressure to meet quotas.

The military people and military brats say it's all about rank, otherwise you eat...
I noticed you said you are worried about job security. I applaud our people in the armed forces. "Job security" has got to be the worst reason I've ever heard for being in the armed forces.

I may expect to hear education, transferrable skills, etc., but "job security?" Do you believe that you have no skills whatsoever and that there is nothing you can build on? Is your sole pupose for being in the military is because you'd lose a job if you had one anywhere else?

I think what the person you are quoting is talking about is job security in the air force. Lots of jobs are being cut and either you re-train into a different job or separate.

 

[uberman]

Originally posted by: Wapp

I think what the person you are quoting is talking about is job security in the air force. Lots of jobs are being cut and either you re-train into a different job or separate.[/quote]

I don't know what he means, I only know what he said.

 

[Cadop]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
for god's sake, the last thing you need is being shipped off to Iraq. The US is going to be stuck in that quagmire for decades. Which means if you sign up, you'll end up there, surely.

I understand what you are saying and am fully aware of that fact, but please, don't turn this into a flame war.