whats a good field

[longhorn_92]

Go to the book store, and buy a couple books from two authors: Dan Miller, and Dave Ramsey.

Dan Miller:
48 Days to the Work You Love
http://www.48days.com/

Dave Ramsey:
The Total Money Makeover
http://www.daveramsey.com/

These guys are excellent authors, and will help you to have a plan for your life, and your money

........


No offense to an earlier poster that said to look for a job you can see yourself doing for the next 50 years, but I prefer to find something I truly enjoy - something that makes me excited to get out of bed every days. "Use your skills, abilities, and passions" - you may not have many skills, but everyone has abilities and passions - you just have to find out what makes you tick - what makes you excited to get out of bed every day.

When people are truly happy with their work, they are usually more successful at what they do. The love of their work tends to carry over into what they are doing, and people notice that - be it your employer, or your customers.

I've read this whole thread, but I'll come back to this post.

This is excellent advice.

You can also download Dave Ramsey on podcast as well. I've been through Financial Peach University as a student and a coodinator. Dave has a way of giving you great advice in a no nonsense manner that makes sense. He also doesn't let you get by with anything either.

In all honesty, I really think that you need to pick something / anything and stick with it for a while. Whether its a job, church, hobby, etc. Dive into it with your whole self. Make a 6 month commitment with yourself to honestly put forth the best effort that you can. This is one of the hardest thing for someone to do with their lives. At the end of that time, assess what you've learned and how you want to apply it.

You have received some excellent advice on this thread if you'll drop your defensiveness and hear what folks are saying.

I didn't go to college until I was 21. It then took me 5 years to get a 4 year degree. It then took me 7 times to pass the CPA exam. This basically made me a CPA about 8 years later than a lot of my peers. I still surpased most of my peers that had better grades, a better college, a better high school and completing the CPA exam on the first try.

You know what got me through it? Knowing that I was competing with me and my abilities. Not my coworkers. Anytime my thoughts fell to that, I felt defeated. Attitude is everything. My attitude has gotten me every job when my resume should not have gotten me in the door. I have surpased most of my peers that had better grades, went to a better college and completed the CPA exam on the first try

Persistence, perseverence and a plan will get you where you want to go. It's how you act in between that determines that kind of person you are.

Outstanding advice!

[tallmike]

Lunchbox-
Stop and take an objective look at this thread and the last thread you had dealing with this topic.

You ask for advice and everyone offers pretty much the same advice and its all sound advice. Instead of listening to any of it you offer an excuse each time about why you cant do this or that and in the end you decide to ignore the entire thread of knowledge offered to you by guys who have been there. Were we all mechanics? No, but we have all started at the bottom of our respective professions and worked up from there.

Take a good look at yourself, chances are you are the reason for your professional failures. Not the industry, your old boss, the good old boy system, the "man", etc... The problem is right there in you and thats great news because that means the solution is there too so its something you can fix yourself.

If all of the advice offered is the opposite of what you want dont ask for the thread to be deleted, just take a close look at your situation and decide how you can fix it.

[Kerbouchard]

In all honesty, I really think that you need to pick something / anything and stick with it for a while. Whether its a job, church, hobby, etc. Dive into it with your whole self. Make a 6 month commitment with yourself to honestly put forth the best effort that you can. This is one of the hardest thing for someone to do with their lives. At the end of that time, assess what you've learned and how you want to apply it.

You have received some excellent advice on this thread if you'll drop your defensiveness and hear what folks are saying.

I didn't go to college until I was 21. It then took me 5 years to get a 4 year degree. It then took me 7 times to pass the CPA exam. This basically made me a CPA about 8 years later than a lot of my peers. I still surpassed most of my peers that had better grades, a better college, a better high school and completing the CPA exam on the first try.

You know what got me through it? Knowing that I was competing with me and my abilities. Not my coworkers. Anytime my thoughts fell to that, I felt defeated. Attitude is everything. My attitude has gotten me every job when my resume should not have gotten me in the door. I have surpassed most of my peers that had better grades, went to a better college and completed the CPA exam on the first try

Persistence, perseverance and a plan will get you where you want to go. It's how you act in between that determines what kind of person you are.

edit for wording

lunchbox, you have received advice from exactly the same people as you requested. The people who worked their way up from where you are now. You can achieve any goal you wish to achieve, but the first step to achieving that goal is to define it. Once you decide what you wish to achieve, and what you are willing to do to achieve it, there will be no stopping you.

So much for bowing out of this thread, but I wanted to show my appreciation for lumberjack's well thought out answer. As for this thread, I would hope that you would be able to accept constructive criticism from people who have been in your shoes before. If you cannot, you will not be the first to repeat others' mistakes.

I will also agree with TallMike's post, in that, I hope you change your mind as to having this thread deleted. I would suggest that if you take a hard look at your situation, you will find yourself agreeing with most of the advice given.

But then again, the advice is worth exactly that amount you paid for it.

Good luck.

Regards,
Kerb

[lunchbox]

back to what i really want to know is whats out there industry i may not have heard of perhaps theres some job that i can use my mechanical skills


i would like working on the ship channel or in the oil fields like i said before i filled out the apps but found a brick wall
i dont even know the names of the companies out there.

anyone work on the tug boats???

[Excaliber]

back to what i really want to know is whats out there industry i may not have heard of perhaps theres some job that i can use my mechanical skills

Since you appear not to know where to start your job search, you clearly need career counseling. Visit your local unemployment office. They'll put you in touch with a specialist who will help you assess your skills in a way that matches what companies are looking for, and point you in the right direction for where you might productively look. They also have training available for resume preparation, application completion, preparing for an interview, and other critical skills. Since you mention that you've filled out multiple applications and have hit a "brick wall" consider that there may be something there that employers don't like to see. A sloppily prepared application with lots of misspellings and coffee stains would be one example, but there are lots of things to look for. A good career counselor can definitely help here, and the unemployment office services are free.

You should also be learning to use and search major job posting sites like http://www.monster.com/. There are tens of thousands of jobs posted there, and they change constantly. With internet access and sites like this, job searching is MUCH easier than ever before.

The fact is no one is going to track you down, bang on your door, and hand you a 100K job - just ain't gonna happen. Companies are in the business of generating profit by delivering product. You get hired by showing them that you can make a significant contribution to either delivering their product or making a profit. The key is what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. If you want it, you're going to have to get out and work for it - and work hard. Good jobs aren't easy to find, as many of our members can attest. It takes effort and perseverance - and lots of them!

[lunchbox]

back to what i really want to know is whats out there industry i may not have heard of perhaps theres some job that i can use my mechanical skills

Since you appear not to know where to start your job search, you clearly need career counseling. Visit your local unemployment office. They'll put you in touch with a specialist who will help you assess your skills in a way that matches what companies are looking for, and point you in the right direction for where you might productively look. They also have training available for resume preparation, application completion, preparing for an interview, and other critical skills. Since you mention that you've filled out multiple applications and have hit a "brick wall" consider that there may be something there that employers don't like to see. A sloppily prepared application with lots of misspellings and coffee stains would be one example, but there are lots of things to look for. A good career counselor can definitely help here, and the unemployment office services are free.

You should also be learning to use and search major job posting sites like http://www.monster.com/. There are tens of thousands of jobs posted there, and they change constantly. With internet access and sites like this, job searching is MUCH easier than ever before.

The fact is no one is going to track you down, bang on your door, and hand you a 100K job - just ain't gonna happen. Companies are in the business of generating profit by delivering product. You get hired by showing them that you can make a significant contribution to either delivering their product or making a profit. The key is what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. If you want it, you're going to have to get out and work for it - and work hard. Good jobs aren't easy to find, as many of our members can attest. It takes effort and perseverance - and lots of them!

good plan i haven't thought about the unemployment office sounds dumb but it just never crossed my mind

[Excaliber]

back to what i really want to know is whats out there industry i may not have heard of perhaps theres some job that i can use my mechanical skills

Since you appear not to know where to start your job search, you clearly need career counseling. Visit your local unemployment office. They'll put you in touch with a specialist who will help you assess your skills in a way that matches what companies are looking for, and point you in the right direction for where you might productively look. They also have training available for resume preparation, application completion, preparing for an interview, and other critical skills. Since you mention that you've filled out multiple applications and have hit a "brick wall" consider that there may be something there that employers don't like to see. A sloppily prepared application with lots of misspellings and coffee stains would be one example, but there are lots of things to look for. A good career counselor can definitely help here, and the unemployment office services are free.

You should also be learning to use and search major job posting sites like http://www.monster.com/. There are tens of thousands of jobs posted there, and they change constantly. With internet access and sites like this, job searching is MUCH easier than ever before.

The fact is no one is going to track you down, bang on your door, and hand you a 100K job - just ain't gonna happen. Companies are in the business of generating profit by delivering product. You get hired by showing them that you can make a significant contribution to either delivering their product or making a profit. The key is what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. If you want it, you're going to have to get out and work for it - and work hard. Good jobs aren't easy to find, as many of our members can attest. It takes effort and perseverance - and lots of them!

good plan i haven't thought about the unemployment office sounds dumb but it just never crossed my mind

You're not alone. A lot of folks don't think about it at first, but unemployment offices have some really great resources that I think will be a big help to you in your search for rewarding work. Good luck!

[mr.72]

I think the biggest thing that will help is an attitude reboot.

1. High value skills are not attainable in just a couple of years. Whatever skills you have now, those are entry level skills. Expect to be treated to an entry-level job. Often times, entry level jobs suck. Get used to it, stop whining about it, and get to work.
2. The way you gain high value skills is by gaining experience. You gain experience by remaining employed. This doesn't do you any good unless while you are employed, you recognize the difference between the way you work and the way those who get ahead work, and you grow
3. Stop with the excuses, take responsibility for your own failure. You will not grow until you can recognize and contend with your own weaknesses. It doesn't even matter if someone else is causing your failure, you can only change yourself. You will always have to interact with other people and their failings for your whole life. Blaming them for their failings doesn't get you ahead. Overcoming your own failings and finding ways to succeed in spite of others' failings are your only tools for advancement.

[Commander Cody]

You might try some of the major trucking companies. Maybe Enterprise Transportation Company in Texas City, or Service Transport on Almeda Genoa. These companies are always looking for a good mechanic. I worked for both of these companies a good while back as the Director of Maintenance. I enjoyed the work but I moved into the health care industry many years ago. These are good companies that you might enjoy.

[KBCraig]

1. High value skills are not attainable in just a couple of years. Whatever skills you have now, those are entry level skills.

Two recent graduates, one with a bachelor's degree and the other with a master's degree, enter the job market for the first time. After a couple of months job searching, each takes the best offer they've received. By coincidence, they start working at the same employer.

Q: How can you tell which is which?
A: The one with the master's degree is the lead fry cook.

Everyone starts off in crappy jobs. It doesn't matter where you start, just start!

[mr.72]

LoL.

When I was working doing tech support and part-time writing code, I had the great opportunity to learn from a lead engineer who told me many important things. Among them was "what companies value from an engineer is someone to whom they can give a project and know that it is going to get done". Period. I work shoulder to shoulder with many people that are far more educated than me but there is very little that I have to do in my daily job that you could have learned in college. The majority of it takes time in the workplace to learn, and your ability to keep learning every day.

Well needless to say I took this opportunity to learn from this lead engineer, and from my boss at the time (CTO at the company), and after I was laid off from that company I went on to a better company where I turned leaders and managers into mentors one after the other until I was the lead engineer myself. Anyone can do this but most people don't. It is much easier to complain about how it's someone else's fault, there is a "brick wall", you just don't get the lucky breaks, it's not fair, nobody respects your skill set, or it's somehow a personal thing, whatever. But the best way to get where you want to be is by saying, and believing, "I don't have the job I want because I am not good enough to get it, and I haven't earned it." Then you get better, and you earn it.

[WildBill]

Two recent graduates, one with a bachelor's degree and the other with a master's degree, enter the job market for the first time. After a couple of months job searching, each takes the best offer they've received. By coincidence, they start working at the same employer.

Q: How can you tell which is which?
A: The one with the master's degree is the lead fry cook.

One of the engineers at work has this bumper sticker posted outside his cubicle [the first two degrees are actually bachelor of science, but the bad word filter won't post this way]:

B.A. Physics: Why does it work?
B.A. Engineering: How does it work?
B.A. Accounting: How much does it cost?
B.A. Liberal Arts: Do you want fries with that?

[boomerang]

i dont even know the names of the companies out there.

Phone books, trade publications and the internet are good places to start.

[Daltex1]

I remember when I first started my Printing Trades class in High School, The first day of class the teacher said"Take out your book, and toss them in this trash can here!" And we did. The thing he taught us on that first day was, you are not going to learn anything from this book, the only way to learn is to jump in and learn on the press itself. We never touched that book the whole 3 years I took those classes. I now look back and know I learned more from that man than I have anyone else in my life. He taught me work ethic, morals and how to be a good person.

[DoubleJ]

how bout the medical field? you can get grants/stafford loans for all nursing/med tech schools that I know of.
not to mention some colleges have BachSci programs (Midwestern Uni has Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Radiology, AND Dental Hygiene).