Do you enjoy your job?

[fiffer010]

Re: Do you enjoy your job?

Thank you al for posting and hope to hear from more of you. Here is the answers to my own question. Remember my school is my top priority over work.

What do you do? Animal Nanny ( walk, feed, clean up after animals while owners are away at work,vacation, or what ever other activity long enough to need services)

Where did you graduate?Currently going to a CC and then transfer to SJSU

GPA? 3.0, trying to raise to 3.5

What degree did you earn? Currently thinking about economics then MBA in marketing. But we all know how that can change.
starting salary and current salary? $12 dollars for 30 min visit. work anywhere from 10-50 visits a week. Average is about 30. A little less then 20,000 a year. Same salary as when hired.


And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job? Oh man I love my job. Right now I am watching a 4 month old lab. My instructions are to walk for 15 minutes and play for 15 minutes. How sweet is that?

Hopefully I will enjoy my 'career job' as much as I do this one.

Re: Do you enjoy your job?

What do you do? Membership Coordinator for a Non Profit
Where did you graduate? n/a - 1/2 way to associate's degree
GPA? Umm about A/B average, don't know %
What degree did you earn? n/a yet
starting salary and current salary? $27,500 and $44,200 now - been there 2 1/2 years, had some promotions.

And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job? ABSOLUTELY. I work for a boss that believes in fairness, acknowledges each person for their hard work, pays us well, has an annual Staff Appreciation Day in NYC for dinner and a Broadway play, automatic annual increase for cost of living plus whatever else you deserve in addition to that, annual bonus, I get to travel, went to Vegas last year for free, everything paid 100% (brought my SO with and he was paid for too)... wonderful people, sounds corny, but truly 'family.' Even have friendships with some of the well known customers that we see frequently at meetings. It will be difficult to ever find another job like this. No micromanaging, complete and total trust, high morale.

[TBH]

Re: Do you enjoy your job?

What do you do? Librarian/archivist

Where did you graduate? Masters from Rutgers (undergrad unimportant)

GPA? Don't know. Mostly A's, some B's.

What degree did you earn? Master's in Library and Info Science

starting salary and current salary? Started at 32K in 2001. Now would be earning about 40K if I was full time.

And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job?
Hmm. Well. Yes, I do, mostly. I work two part time jobs. One as a reference librarian, which is a lot of one-on-one teaching and also classroom teaching. That job is really tiring but rewarding and fun. At least once every shift somebody says to me, "wow, nobody's ever explained that to me before. That's going to help me so much with all my assignments." I feel like I'm making a big difference in people's lives.

Other part time job: Archivist and cataloger. Work with historical documents. Good coworkers, interesting work, very flexible, but sh***y working conditions and huge evil beuroctatic university.

Would recommend to anyone who wanted a relatively low-stress but low-paying job. You won't get rich, esp since you need a master's degree to be a librarian and the salaries are much much lower than the typical business major makes right out of college.

[abowers]

Re: Do you enjoy your job?

What do you do? I am a Preschool Teacher
Where did you graduate? Nazareth College, Rochester NY
GPA? 3.0
What degree did you earn? B.A. Psychology
starting salary and current salary? Starting: $10.00 (August 05) Current: $10.25/hr.

And the most important, Do you enjoy your job?
I enjoy my job right now, but it's not what I want to do long-term. I am doing this for a year before hopefully going back to college to get my Master's in School Psychology to become a School Psychologist in an elementary or middle school.

Prior to this I was a resident counselor at a Runaway and Homeless shelter for teens, where I was paid $8/hr. I liked what I did but it was difficult to not take my work home with me, as I worked with an always changing at-risk group of teens. Probably underpaid for the work I was doing, but the hours were flexible and ranged from 5 hour shifts to 12 hour shifts, and included overnight shifts if I wanted them.

[The Budget Man]

What do you do?

Help people discover how to budget in a way that suits them.

GPA? Don't know. Mostly A's, some B's.

What degree did you earn?

Bachelor of Education Diploma of teaching

starting salary and current salary?

$2.45 per Saturday morning packing groceries while still at school.

And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job?

Love it. Today I've been emailing back and forth to a person in Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef and another two people in the United States. Most of the work is crunching code for the Personality Budgeting Program which is now used in 43 countries around the world.

[PRICEPLUS]

I do a number of things and yes I have a college degree! I usually enjoy the work I do. I like some aspects of it more than others though!

[MonkeyMama]

Interesting Thread...

What do you do? Accountant
Where did you graduate? Public University
GPA? 4.0+
What degree did you earn? Bachelor's
starting salary and current salary? $32k vs. $72k
was paid overtime then and still am now.

And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job?
Yes Indeed!!! I love my job.

The only thing I am really not enjoying lately is the lack of qualified accountants, work load is crazy. Future looks bleak (As far as working less, maintaining less responsibility - I Am completely thrown to the wolves as usual). At the same time you can't beat the job security and crazy rise in pay as a result - just got my CPA a few years ago, and my income has doubled since. Just enough to make a little more than the new kids out of school - good field to get into right now, if you enjoy numbers! We need some HELP.

Oh yeah - I could have taken the $60k job out of school (boring) or if I Wanted some super high stress and to never see my family, the $100k job today. But I Am indeed luckly to be in a field where working less hours and settling for less stress pays pretty darn well. Just happens to be my field of choice - loving my job was always far mopre important to me than the pay.

[pearlieq]

What do you do? write database logic

Where did you graduate? small liberal arts college outside Chicago

GPA? Don't recall for sure. 3.5ish if I had to guess. I was a big time slacker in college.

What degree did you earn? BA in Psychology

Starting salary and current salary? $31,500 to start, $54,000 currently.

And the most important, Do you enjoy your job? I do. I like my company, I like the people I work with, and I usually enjoy the work too. There are some things I'm not so crazy about, but on the whole I'm very fortunate!

[tabbycat31]

My last day at one of my jobs is tomorrow.......... I was working for a collection agency, it did not pay well (not on commission) and I was super stressed out, and the abuse I've been taking from customers has been effecting my personal life, so when I gave notice, I felt like the weight of the world is off my shoulders.

My other job's as a tax preparer. I love it but it ends April 17.

[Coleroo]

What do you do? - I am a payroll / scheduling specialist for a non-profit organization that provides communication services for deaf & hard of hearing people

Where did you graduate? - a technical college a few miles from my home; I am going back to a university this summer (been accepted as a junior! yay!)

GPA? 4.0

What degree did you earn? Business Management and Marketing; will be starting on my early childhood education degree this summer!

starting salary and current salary? 7.75/hr.... $10.90 / hr

And the most important, Do you enjoy your job?

I LOVE my job. We provide a great service, and even though Im not front line, it gives a good feeling. My center is awesome too - the people here are so fun to be with. I laugh every day, and all of us on the management staff are close. I guess I was very lucky to find a place with a great culture.

[nanamom]

What do you do? SAHM MOM who homeschools
Where did you graduate? Duquesne University BS in Education, Cornerstone Masters of Theology, currently 3 credits and one thesis away form MDiV.
GPA Undergrad 3.0, Current 3.9
What degree see previous questions
Starting Salary and current Salary Ummm, my DH gives me his paycheck does that count?
I love what I do. I have only taken one job in my life that I didn't like and it was to feed the kids. I believe it is very important to work where your heart is, no matter what you earn. We could do alot more if I was paid but we choose to have me stay at home while DS2 is young (like up to 18 or so)

[Fizgig]

What do you do? - Engineer working on human space flight

Where did you graduate? - State University

GPA? 3.1 (Engineering programs grade HARSHLY. 2.6 was my department average.)

What degree did you earn? B.S. Aerospace Engineering

Starting salary and current salary? 41k (2001), 62k now

And the most important, Do you enjoy your job?

I adore it. It's such a rarity to have a job that is personally important to you, and I feel lucky going to work every day. I could be making double my salary if I were working on intercontinental ballistic missles or something, but I'd feel awful every day.

[Scanner]

What do you do?

I hope you don't mind me being a little verbose here. I am a chiropractor and a radiology technologist. I hold both licenses and split my work between both fields right now. I am in a state of transition and come Monday morning, a radiology group is voting on bringing me in to function as a makeshift, hybridized, bastardized radiology practiticioner assistant as I go for even more long distance education. I may be doing some minor procedures and may (<------ operative word) have an opportunity to read and sign interpretative statements in the future.

I would be combining all my education and experiences from diffferent fields to this newly emergent profession/field.


Where did you graduate?

University of Delaware - BA in Biological Sciences
Logan College of Chiropractic
Cumberland County College - AS in Radiology Technology


GPA?

God, you are set on embarrassing me, huh?

2.7 at Delaware
3.0 at chiro. school
3.3 at rad. tech school

My academic career is less than stellar.


What degree did you earn?

See above.


starting salary and current salary?

My salary over the years has been ups and downs. As DisneySteve laments, insurance/managed care have all posted 20% profits every years and practiticioners across the board have taken hits as the years progress.

My starting salary was 0 to give you a fair answer, maybe even a loss the first year (actually, I think I made 11K). My current salary is around $60,000/year, no bennies but I only work about 28 hours/week, with maybe one overnight and two weekend days per month.

If the career transition comes of light, I will make 80-100K/year plus benefits as a RPA. I also plan to lecture post-grad. and use my chiro. credential to lecture to other RPA's on orthopedic x-ray. This is a 5 year goal though. I eventually expect to make $100-120K/year with my position within the group and my part time business of "seminars."


And the most inportant, Do you enjoy your job?

I bore easily and need a creative outlet. I would say I have been bored with chiropactic now for quite some time. So, on a scale of 1 to 10, I give it a 5. Although it's rewarding to help people get out of pain immediately, straighten up immediatly upon exiting hte office, develop long term, trusted relationships but it's pretty much the same thing - low back pain, neck pain and headaches. And things don't change much in the field. Scientifically and technologically, it's a stagnant field. I just need more intellectual stimulation. And when you become bored in practice, it starts to suffer, I'll admit. Chiropractic is a kind of field where you need to be constantly schmoozing to drive more business into your office. While that was fine for 2 or 3 years, I don't want my entire career to be about it.

Still, it IS satisfying to work with your hands, make independent decisions. . .I should be thankful for that (as I type this out). I just think I will do better in a group setting than a pure solo setting like I have been in for 10 years.

I enjoy collaboration.

I expect the new RPA/DC job to be a 9.5 on a scale of 1 to 10. I am very excited. The opportunity to create and synthesize a unique career is exhilerating.


If you are uncomfortable discussing any of these it is perfectly fine. I am currently in college and am still looking to what field I want to go in. I know what degrees it takes to make a very desirable salary; but why work somewhere you hate and takes away from family. Any information you can give would be much appreciated. God bless and have a wonderfull day.

Not, not at all uncomfortable (well, than other than asking about my average GPA, LOL)

I like your attitude on looking at degrees from a "business perspective" - a return on investment. I think with the cost of education, you need to be "business-like" in your decisions. I don't want to pick on anybody's field, but I know "social work" used be kind of picked on - you spend 80K on a degree that lands you a 20K/year job or something.

That's not fair. But I am sure some people enjoy the rewards that come with that job. But from a business standpoint, it doesn't make much sense.

I would say if you want to make a "desirable salary" and that's #1 (and nothing wrong with that), I would point you towards the business degrees. America is a country that values big business, both economically and politically favored in that regard.

Since we have all posted here, what's your definition of a desirable salary? Just curious.

WIth the chiro. degree vs. the rad. tech degree, just from the monetary standpoint, the rad. tech. degree makes better sense from a return on investment standpoint.

Good luck with your research.

[crabbypatty]

I don't want to pick on anybody's field, but I know "social work" used be kind of picked on - you spend 80K on a degree that lands you a 20K/year job or something.

That's not fair. But I am sure some people enjoy the rewards that come with that job. But from a business standpoint, it doesn't make much sense.

LOL the numbers aren't quite that bleak but it is a good point. (I know you weren't picking on SW, but it's am opportunity for me to chime in)

SW starting salary is probably about 35k with a 60 credit 2 year FT masters (pretty much required in the field, as is licensure) But you could get undergrad and grad degree's at state schools at a reasonable cost much less than 80k. Advanced placement classes in undergrad shave off a year of grad classes, further lessening cost of tuition. And if you work for social services right after undergrad they often will pay your grad tuition, plus many jobs offer loan forgiveness programs.

Other financially related benefits are associated with social work. No one expects you to dress in designer clothing, there is little shmoozing on a golf course, business lunches etc. Also, you see firsthand how other poeple live. Perhaps this motivates you to manage your meager salary wisely. It may also "prove" to you that you can survive without a lot of luxuries.

All that being said, it's tough going when you choose a profession with a low salary. Feeling good about the work you do and knowing you are making a difference doesn't protect you from worrying about how to pay the mortgage. It's also very discouraging when you know that even if you are the most effective money manager, you just don't earn enough for certain luxuries.

If it is very important for you to maintain a certain lifestyle, choose your profession accordingly.

[Scanner]

CrabbyPatty,

Yes, I hope I am not coming off as judgemental. I know there is a difference between a job, a career, occupation, and a vocation (like being a mom or a minister). I think social work is as much a vocation as it is a career/occupation. At every point of most people life, you pursue one or the other. I have a friend who has also left chiropractic after a nasty divorce with bankruptcy and is pursueing a PhD in Physical Education. He wants to write, do research and teach.

His starting salary is expected to be 38K. Now, I'm sure colleges have generous benefit packages.

But jeez, I don't know, after all of his education and maybe most of all, lost earnings during the time spent developing that degree, I want better for him than that. So I am kind of worried about him. The college also puts stipulations on outside income (such as non-college affiliated lecturing) But he's as happy as a pig in mud so who am I to judge?

All the more reason to have your financial house in order - I think every college should teach personal financial management as a graduation requirement whether you are going to be a mom, doctor, lawyer, priest, social worker, whatever.

Because lotsa degrees anymore is no guarantee of a positive net worth. "Professions" have taken a downturn the last 10-20 years. It used to be you made it to a "profession" and you had it made.

Not so anymore, IMHO.