Sharon Said:

What guidelines should I follow for choosing a career?

We Answered:

A lot of community colleges have broadcasting degrees. Maybe you'd want to go into radio, if not DJing, then working behind the scenes.

Erin Said:

Should money be the prime factor when choosing a career?

We Answered:

Choose one you enjoy, but money should play a part too. If you don't make enough money to live on, you won't enjoy it for long. And, a job you hate won't seem worth all that money if you're suffering.

Guy Said:

Having trouble choosing a career please help?

We Answered:

It's great that you are starting to think about this early enough to keep all your options open. Lots of people discover that they are sensitive to blood and things. Think about why you wanted to be a nurse? Was it because you like science, you are interested in the medical field, you want to help people? There are all kinds of other jobs in each of those areas that don't involve blood.

See if your school has a Career Center - someone in Student Services should be able to help you by having you do some career exploration and assessments. Your goal is not to pick a "job" right now, but to find out what really meets all your needs and interests, and what they have in common - then you can make sure you are taking the right courses, and spend a bit of time narrowing down your selections.

Keep up with your music - you may find some way to include your passion in your work (ie music therapy), but if not, it can still be a very important part of your life.

Karen Girard, CCDP, CEIP
www.careerplanningforstudents.com

Gabriel Said:

If you were choosing a career working with animals would you choose dog groomer or Vet assistant?

We Answered:

I'd prefer to be a vet assistant. All that they are associated with is doing what's best for the dog. Groomers too often are paid to make dogs look like clowns and that's not good!

Papaw

Bruce Said:

Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions to be made in life. What factors affect your choice?

We Answered:

I had always did lawn mowing,planting and trimming shrubs, shoveled snow, repaired bicycles and cars. Did some roofing and carpentry work. And a whole lot of painting inside, outside, metal roofs etc. So in high school I took wood shop, metal shop, welding, ag mechanics, and architectural drafting. This made me think I was pretty good with my hands and would get a mechanic, construction or painting job. Well when I was 16 I got a part time job in a local butcher shop so a couple months before I graduated the next spring I was offered a full time job as a meat cutter, butcher, sausage maker and delivery man. Also had some responsibilities to keep up the company equipment (mechanical repairs). Decided I didn't have enough to do so I got another full time job in a factory. Total time in butcher shop was 7 years. Then started tree trimming + removal along with truck and saw repairing. Did this for 10 years then when I decided to get married I quit the tree service and stayed at the factory. During my 25+years at the factory I did almost every job in the plant ending up as the maintenance man. (over the years at the factory I averaged 60-65 hours a week). Now my last career I didn't have to choose, it was chosen for me. Now I'm 48 years old and retired (disabled). Ticks me off cause I love to work and can't.