Be Honest...Did Any Of You Luck Into A Great Career/Job?

patscorpio

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MA/CT/Nigeria #byrdgang #RingGangRadio
My story..i do have the right degrees and everything...this is more of a "fate" type thing

2 jobs ago I was working at a software company as a project coordinator. I was making about 70K by that point, which was cool and all. However a lot of bullshyt going on that soured me on the company. The biggest thing was there was a ceiling I was hitting and no one in the company seemed interested in helping me past that. The manager who I reported to was a micro manager who was pissing me off to end. So I was like I need to make moves outta this company. It took me 3 years to do it. There were days where I wanted to quit, but I could not afford to be not working without anything lined up. I was applying to all types of things man. There was one place i applied to and they called me. It was a for business analyst position. I didn't even remember the job listing but when they read it, it didn't sound like it was for me. So i politely said I wasn't interested. i thought it would be that. Some months later, that place called me again and asked if I was interested in a follow up about the business analyst position. Again nothing had changed, I wasn't interested and turned them down politely.

The work environment eventually turned toxic. I was going into work pissed and leaving pissed. I was butting heads with my manager and some customers were beginning to complain about me. It was nothing personal to them but it took its toll so I was talking to them in tones they didn't like. I knew it was only a matter of time before an incident would send me packing. Jobs I really wanted they were not hiring me man. I was beyond frustrated. By chance, that place called me out of the blue again asking me about the BA job. this time I was like "ok lets do it". I figured any place would be better lol. Did a phone interview in my car with the hiring manager for about 30 mins. They asked me to come in, on my birthday no less, for an in person. I was only suppose to meet with the head of HR and the hiring manager. No more than a hour to hour and a half. I was there for almost 4 hours meeting other people. I had an inkling after I had left that this would be something different. I had one more roadblock, they wanted to speak to my then current manager for a reference. I thought they were joking but they weren't. Luckily I had become close with the office manager. She was somebody who I vented to a lot. She offered to be that "manager" for me and to let her know when they would call. Arranged that 2 days after my in person interview. She told me that the call went well and she really laid it on thick. The following week, HR called me with an offer and emailed me the paperwork.

The salary offer was a 30K increase. So the money was nice. What was even nicer though was the benefits. Easily the best benefits I ever had to date and they cost me next to nothing. When I started, I learned about the company's bonus structure which was very generous. Monthly, Quarterly, and the lucrative end of year bonus. There were also some other perks too. I levelled up something serious being at that company. I don't work there anymore but I'll never forget what it did for me to take me to the next level.
 

sayyestothis

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Baltimore, MD "The Greatest City In America"
100%

No degree.

Financial Planner.

Worked my way up from a teller position in a bank which I only got from a family friend to all the bs retail banker jobs to befriending and getting close enough to the Fiancial Planner that covered my office to getting him to bring me on as a junior partner to learn and get licensed to going out on my own with an established book.

Hustle, network and befriend people above you when you can.....I went from making $12 an hour in the beginning to now around $250k a yr in the matter of 13 yrs.
 

semicko82

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very much so.

I took the initial step as far as joining the military and then realizing my old career field of aircraft maintenance wasnt getting me anywhere.. But ever since I crossed over into Cyber, its been one lucky break after another. Talking to the right people, being at the right place in the right time, all that jazz.

Ive have multiple job opportunities constantly around or at 6 figures :wow::mjcry:
What type of aircraft maintenance were you involved in?
I’m in sheet metal by the way
 

Vandelay

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When you say you worked your ass off what exactly does that mean?

Because communications is such a bullshyt degree unless you're in a handful of markets in the country, i had to scrap at the bottom in other industries. At one point I was working 3 jobs, 80 hours a week. Even as I caught my stride in my career, I often work 60 hours a week.
 

Ciggavelli

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Houston
I'm looking into careers after the military and UX is one of the careers I'm interested in

What does the average day looks like?
In your experience, what skills and personality types excel in this career?
What is the typical career trajectory?
What are the pro and cons of the career?
  • Running studies with participants, analyzing qualitative and qualitative data, writing reports, presenting the report, suggesting next steps
  • Qualitative and quantitative research methods are needed, as is at least a masters degree. Additionally, you need to have a pleasant personality when interacting with participants. I’m an introvert, and I can still skillfully lead sessions with participants.
  • Career goes UX Researcher, Sr UX Researcher, Lead UX Researcher, and then you go into managing whole teams
  • Pros: You get to do research all week, if that’s your thing. People look to you to make decisions about next steps. Depending on the company, you can test a wide variety of cool new tech. Pays well
  • Cons: You have to deal with the occasional rude and dumb participants. Even if the are straight up mean and disrespectful, you have to keep your cool. Also, you need to be good at public speaking, as a bunch of people will be watching you work. You can’t get nervous. There are tight turnarounds, and your work schedule is dictated by participant availability. So you’re working real early and in the evenings at times.
 

Marc Spector

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I wish I could cross train into cyber security

are the 2A career fields still banned from cross training? :picard:

If so,

come over to the ANG my guy. :mjgrin:. drop that palace chase packet to a Flying Unit with cyber and then go over to their cyber operations SQ.



If not, then just get your certs (sec+, Linux+, and Network+) in the mean time, then be a contractor when your contract is up.:yeshrug:
 

semicko82

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are the 2A career fields still banned from cross training? :picard:

If so,

come over to the ANG my guy. :mjgrin:. drop that palace chase packet to a Flying Unit with cyber and then go over to their cyber operations SQ.



If not, then just get your certs (sec+, Linux+, and Network+) in the mean time, then be a contractor when your contract is up.:yeshrug:
We can cross train towards the end of our contract, but my plans are to get my certifications, and do IT in the civilian life
 

Marc Spector

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We can cross train towards the end of our contract, but my plans are to get my certifications, and do IT in the civilian life

I will say this bruh bruh
Try to get that TS/SCI. Even if it means going ANG or crosstraining on Active Duty.

That shyt makes a difference. Especially when trying to do Defense or State Department Contract work.

Look into Microsoft getting the JEDI contract.....they will need IT professionals with TS/SCI's to work on that project. And theyd rather not spend the money getting all of the Red dots and Chinamen clearances.....They will more than likely create a program to funnel DoD IT Experts straight in.
 
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