Career decision/advice

**derrinx** · 12-13-2008, 03:06 PM

Here I am in the middle of an economic recession about to graduate in may, with no job lined up and the prospects looking grim. I am a financial economics major, and I was originally planning to planning to get involved with an ibank or a hedge fund. However, due to recent economic events, hedge funds are now kaput and 3 of the big 5 ibanks went under. My friend, who is an air traffic controller up in boston recommended that I look into doing that, he makes 85k a year and he is 23. He is going to have a stable job for the rest of his life and soon enough he will be making 100k+. Not to sound cocky but I feel like I am overly qualified for that kind of job, but reality is starting to set in that I am an inexperienced college kid without a job and minimal internship experience. Nobody is hiring right now and the prospect of a decently paid gov't job is beginning to seem more and more appealing. What do you guys think? Should I rough it out and wait for things to turn around? Or settle for the secure, comfortable, less rewarding job.

**Tide** · 12-13-2008, 03:42 PM

You think you're over qualified for a job that pays 85k a year just because you have a college degree, after you admit that you are 'inexperienced' and with 'minimal internship experience'? Yeah. OK. Probably ought to do a severe attitude adjustment before going on interviews.

Unless it's at a municipal airport with a couple flights a day, an air traffic controller is long hours, and high, high stress. You've got to be able to multi-task (putting it lightly), make rapid split second decisions that can/will affect peoples lives in a manner of life or death. It's a tough job with high incidents of drug and alcohol addiction because of the stress.

A college degree is the equivalent of a high school diploma 30 years ago. It's nothing special these days. Hell, I won't even interview someone unless they have a 3.00 GPA or better. The smart thing to do is to go to grad school.

**derrinx** · 12-13-2008, 05:49 PM

I was thinking about the grad school thing too. It would give me time to mature as a person while giving me an advantage when I enter the work force. I'm just saying the work force I planned on entering 3.5 years ago is not the same it used to be. I'm not putting down any ATC's out there, I am aware it is not an easy job. It's just that I spent the last 2 years learning about economics, finance, and accounting. Being an ATC does not employ any of the skills I have spent countless hours polishing. Does it make sense to throw it all away?

**SouthernBornThriller** · 12-13-2008, 06:00 PM

Sadly, in the economy we're in right now money and desire are no longer top priorities. Job security is. I guarantee you that the 1600 Sony employees, 10% of Yahoo's employees, the Google layoffs, etc who got their computer science degrees 10ish years ago during the internet boom never expected to end up in the unemployment line at Christmas. A lot of them were doing what they wanted to do and making damn good money at it.

When it boils down to it though, right now trying to get on with a bank or something is gambling whether or not there's gonna be food on your table. Bottom line - I'd rather not enjoy work and have a roof than not work at all and wait out the recession in a box.

It's one reason I enlisted in the military last month. Wasn't the only reason, mind you, and I'd been considering it for years, but the straw that broke the camel's back so to speak was that I was in college, and honestly...scared to graduate and enter the work force with the economy looking the way it is. If nothing else, I know I have job security in the military, and can still finish school anytime (paid for nonetheless) once things start looking up.

My plan now is to just wait out this mess in uniform and either finish up my college while I'm in, or as soon as I get out.

I kinda rabbit trailed a few times there, but the bottom line is that job security is the biggest priority right now.

**TransAm11973** · 12-13-2008, 06:18 PM

air traffic controllers have one of the hardest jobs out there.......go sit in for a day....then tell me you are over qualified..........

**derrinx** · 12-13-2008, 06:27 PM

You people are missing the point here. First of all I'm sorry if it came off like my impression of being an ATC was that their dumb uneducated people. That wasn't my intention. My question, which I'd like advice on, is it it worth to throw away everything I learned in the past two years for a secure job with the gov't?

**twozs** · 12-14-2008, 05:39 AM

how soon we forget http://www.usatoday.com/news/washing...vignette_x.htm

**knightryda01** · 12-14-2008, 05:44 AM

Why not go get a job that pays your bills like the atc and continue your schooling? Get the job and continue to look for something in your desired field. You don't have to settle for anything.

**Packy** · 12-14-2008, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by derrinx

Here I am in the middle of an economic recession about to graduate in may, with no job lined up and the prospects looking grim. I am a financial economics major, and I was originally planning to planning to get involved with an ibank or a hedge fund. However, due to recent economic events, hedge funds are now kaput and 3 of the big 5 ibanks went under. My friend, who is an air traffic controller up in boston recommended that I look into doing that, he makes 85k a year and he is 23. He is going to have a stable job for the rest of his life and soon enough he will be making 100k+. Not to sound cocky but I feel like I am overly qualified for that kind of job, but reality is starting to set in that I am an inexperienced college kid without a job and minimal internship experience. Nobody is hiring right now and the prospect of a decently paid gov't job is beginning to seem more and more appealing. What do you guys think? Should I rough it out and wait for things to turn around? Or settle for the secure, comfortable, less rewarding job.

First off what makes you think you could be an ATC? You have no training as one and you would basically have to go to school again for that career. You need to stay somewhat in the realm of the business aspect okay. Also remeber it is how you market yourself. I know plenty of people who had degrees in underwater basket weaving and they made it into insurance firms and other bigger time companies because the marketed themselves well. Good luck and make a good resume/CV and start looking for jobs in the area where you would desire to live in first then branch out from there. You gotta have a plan!

**whoa guy** · 12-14-2008, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Packy

First off what makes you think you could be an ATC? You have no training as one and you would basically have to go to school again for that career. You need to stay somewhat in the realm of the business aspect okay. Also remeber it is how you market yourself. I know plenty of people who had degrees in underwater basket weaving and they made it into insurance firms and other bigger time companies because the marketed themselves well. Good luck and make a good resume/CV and start looking for jobs in the area where you would desire to live in first then branch out from there. You gotta have a plan!

Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the face!

**StuntmanMike** · 12-14-2008, 08:19 AM

Secure job....85k....what are you throwing away? Plenty of people have jobs that have nothing to do with your degree. In fact IMO the whole purpose of a degree these days, unless you are in something specialized, is to just get your foot in the door somewhere.

ATC looks like a hard job to me, that's a lot pf pressure. One screwup and 300+ people could die just like that. I remember seeing somwhere that ATC's have the highest reate of suicide.

Actually, not sure if it's true, couldn't find it on google.

Did find this though, interesting story:
http://articles.latimes.com/2001/mar/25/news/mn-42562

Check out the movie "Pushing Tin" with John Cussack and BillyBob Thornton, they're ATC's in it.

**DUBB** · 12-14-2008, 09:36 AM

Originally Posted by derrinx

You people are missing the point here. First of all I'm sorry if it came off like my impression of being an ATC was that their dumb uneducated people. That wasn't my intention. My question, which I'd like advice on, is it it worth to throw away everything I learned in the past two years for a secure job with the gov't?

most likely unless you feel like working at a convenience store for the next couple years til the economy works itself out

**derrinx** · 12-14-2008, 09:52 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. The more I think about it and do research on it the more I'm leaning towards going to be an ATC.

**Packy** · 12-14-2008, 10:08 AM

Originally Posted by derrinx

Thanks for the advice guys. The more I think about it and do research on it the more I'm leaning towards going to be an ATC.

Its a good choice in a field that will not go away...

**310stanger** · 12-14-2008, 11:43 AM

I sure hope that everytime I go in an airplane, my plane isnt directed and given the go ahead by someone that is in the position because its good pay.

**Y2KSS1363** · 12-14-2008, 11:48 AM

Think about accounting, you're already more than half way there.

It may be boring, but it will pay the bills.

If you work hard, you can advance.

In a few years the hedge funds will be back.

Best of luck!