If you could do it all over again (Career wise)

[andywire]

I would have been more ambitious starting out in my career. I would have moved sooner while investing in learning and gaining more exposure early on. Either that, or I would have picked a different career altogether... Something where I could travel. My dad recommended the merchant marines when I was 19. Kind of wish I would have explored that.

[statisticsnerd]

I would have joined the Navy or the Coast Guard out of high school. The pay wouldn't be that great, but free on-base housing, VA health benefits and a retirement after 20 years isn't a bad deal. Plus, it would be an interesting way to make a living, much more interesting than crunching numbers in a cubicle all day.

Also, a lot of guys learn trades while they are in the military that can translate into good civilian jobs when they get out. My grandfather was an aircraft mechanic in the Navy, and that is what he did when he got out. He made a decent living and retired in his late 50s.

[Serious Conversation]

Ten years ago puts me at 17 and graduating high school in a few months.

I would have left TN that summer and never looked back. The economy wasn't great here in 2004, but it's been utterly gutted and crime has gone through the roof. East TN is no longer a place to live unless your elderly or an addict.

I would have gone to a school in the upper Midwest, west coast, or New England. These are the healthier areas with vibrant economies and an educated population

I would have changed my major from Econ to accounting. I'm not sure if it would have helped, but it couldn't have hurt. I was never suited to be an engineer or in medicine or in tech.

Above all I would tell everyone I know that you have only one chance and must get it perfect, or be confined to the underclass permanently.

[RDH35]

Honestly, career wise, I should have stayed in the military for 20 and then retired as I loved my career field. But I wanted to have children and the position I held didn't lend itself to having small people depend on me (deployed every year.) So, I chose the kids, got out and let my husband stay in for the career track.

I love what I went to school for and wish I could do it on a consistent basis. The career just doesn't move around the country well.

[House4kids]

Originally Posted by Novila

Yeah, I would go back and nix the 4-year BA liberal arts, and instead get a 2-year degree in health administration. I'd have had less to repay in loans, plus make the same or more $ than I do now as regular admin/sec. AND much more job opportunities, and job diversity. And "medical coder" still sounds better than "secretary"

If I could do it over - I would have finished my degree while active duty and in addition getting fully certified in Medical Coding - I did that while in USAF and loved it.

[Athair]

My whole career has been 1 fluke after another so I wouldn't dare tempt fate by doing it all over.

Although, I was offered a permanent teaching position once which I turned down in favor of traveling. I have never had a 'permanent' job (tenure) and maybe if I accepted it and forgot about taking a holiday (which ended up being 18 months of Europe/USA/Canada) my life would have been different...

...But it was only because of the exact timing of the holiday (and arrival home) and circumstances directly related to it that I ended up falling into a higher paying job than the permanent offer ever would be, an employer-paid-for Masters degree, work from home up to 4 days per week and so on. The salary gap between the permanent position and the position I fell into upon my return has at LEAST evened out the loss of income incurred during my holiday, even factoring in potential career progression/raises etc.