So, This Board Convinced Me Not To Go. The Burden Of Debt Is Heavy. Let's Brainstorm
dwismos (Jul 27 - 6:00 pm)
some things for those who have decided not to take the magical "law school pill" to pursue.
-Open your own business, or at least work toward that goal. 150K in nondischargeable student loan debt is a lot worse than the kind of debt that can be wiped after a business fails.
-Take an entry level job somewhere. Anywhere. Bounce from job to job until you find something that grabs your interest, if necessary. Then, work your way up.
-Learn a trade. Become a plumber, electrician, auto tech.
-Get a paper route.
-Become a barista, but pay attention to how the business runs. Eventually, maybe you could use those skills to open your own business.
-Become a massage therapist.
-Become a paralegal. If you love the law, maybe you can still work in the field and make as much as many attorneys while carrying less debt.
-Become a garbageman and make bank. Seriously, in OC and elsewhere, these guys clean up, literally and figuratively. Please excuse the pun, but it was a solid one, so FU if you don't like it.
-Pursue a career in entertainment. So many dbag shitheads who've met maybe one person in the industry claim to want to go into entertainment law. Well, it's not going to happen for pretty much everybody who wants to do this, so maybe you can get a gig working as a lot runner or set builder or something if you are interested in the field. Even those gigs are sometimes challenging to land. Or, go to New York Film Academy. Ha ha. Just kidding. That would be a terrible idea.
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some things for those who have decided not to take the magical "law school pill" to pursue.
-Open your own business, or at least work toward that goal. 150K in nondischargeable student loan debt is a lot worse than the kind of debt that can be wiped after a business fails.
-Take an entry level job somewhere. Anywhere. Bounce from job to job until you find something that grabs your interest, if necessary. Then, work your way up.
-Learn a trade. Become a plumber, electrician, auto tech.
-Get a paper route.
-Become a barista, but pay attention to how the business runs. Eventually, maybe you could use those skills to open your own business.
-Become a massage therapist.
-Become a paralegal. If you love the law, maybe you can still work in the field and make as much as many attorneys while carrying less debt.
-Become a garbageman and make bank. Seriously, in OC and elsewhere, these guys clean up, literally and figuratively. Please excuse the pun, but it was a solid one, so FU if you don't like it.
-Pursue a career in entertainment. So many dbag shitheads who've met maybe one person in the industry claim to want to go into entertainment law. Well, it's not going to happen for pretty much everybody who wants to do this, so maybe you can get a gig working as a lot runner or set builder or something if you are interested in the field. Even those gigs are sometimes challenging to land. Or, go to New York Film Academy. Ha ha. Just kidding. That would be a terrible idea.
Reply
TiredofStrugglin (Jul 28 - 9:26 am)
set building? set builders often have BFAs, specializing in stage/set design. i know a bunch of theater managers, carpenters and electricians... the techies, if you will. it ain't easy to get into, and you don't just apply off the street. most segue through their undergrad programs or lateral from prior similar jobs. it's a career for these people.
yeah... it's just like everything else: almost impossible to get your foot in the door without a connection.
Reply
set building? set builders often have BFAs, specializing in stage/set design. i know a bunch of theater managers, carpenters and electricians... the techies, if you will. it ain't easy to get into, and you don't just apply off the street. most segue through their undergrad programs or lateral from prior similar jobs. it's a career for these people.
yeah... it's just like everything else: almost impossible to get your foot in the door without a connection.
Reply
retsiger (Jul 27 - 10:02 pm)
• you could do something law related: Pick a legal specialist category and learn how to do it with the feds, go work as a highly paid paralegal at a private firm. Ex: FDA clearance analyst, will take 4-5 years to work into a position; or EPA policy analyst or enforcement analyst, US Coast Guard permit evaluations
• medical - optometrist
• science - get an engineering degree
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• you could do something law related: Pick a legal specialist category and learn how to do it with the feds, go work as a highly paid paralegal at a private firm. Ex: FDA clearance analyst, will take 4-5 years to work into a position; or EPA policy analyst or enforcement analyst, US Coast Guard permit evaluations
• medical - optometrist
• science - get an engineering degree
Reply
Frida2 (Jul 27 - 10:04 pm)
Do something in sales/customer service if you have the right personality for it. All it takes is the right personality and presentation. Education will neither help you nor hurt you for this type of job. My hubby makes about $100,000/year in this type of job at a car dealership, but he has been at it for 10 years and the economy totally sucks, so I am not suggesting it is easy right now.
Let me add I would be happy to make half that as an attorney. I feel like I will never catch up to my husband income wise.
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Do something in sales/customer service if you have the right personality for it. All it takes is the right personality and presentation. Education will neither help you nor hurt you for this type of job. My hubby makes about $100,000/year in this type of job at a car dealership, but he has been at it for 10 years and the economy totally sucks, so I am not suggesting it is easy right now.
Let me add I would be happy to make half that as an attorney. I feel like I will never catch up to my husband income wise.
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timetoleavet14 (Jul 28 - 9:50 am)
Ugh, sales. Depressing to even think about. If you're going to sell cars, might as well be a real estate agent - commissions are higher.
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Ugh, sales. Depressing to even think about. If you're going to sell cars, might as well be a real estate agent - commissions are higher.
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Frida2 (Jul 28 - 10:04 am)
Cars are more recession proof than real estate because cars are more of a necessity than real estate (at least in Cali where the public trans sucks). There have been lots of lay offs at the dealerships (mostly lower paid support positions) but all the valuable sales people have retained their jobs and are doing fine (just having to do a bit more of their own grunt work). I agree with you that it would be horrible to do sales. But it just depends on your personality. It is perfect for my husband. You do not need any higher education to be an effective sales person. But you do need social skills and sometimes getting some higher ed might help with that.
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Cars are more recession proof than real estate because cars are more of a necessity than real estate (at least in Cali where the public trans sucks). There have been lots of lay offs at the dealerships (mostly lower paid support positions) but all the valuable sales people have retained their jobs and are doing fine (just having to do a bit more of their own grunt work). I agree with you that it would be horrible to do sales. But it just depends on your personality. It is perfect for my husband. You do not need any higher education to be an effective sales person. But you do need social skills and sometimes getting some higher ed might help with that.
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HungryJoe28 (Jul 31 - 1:26 am)
Frida2 - my spouse is thinking about going into auto sales. She wants to sell higher end luxury cars, and honestly, she really knows a lot about the German and Japanese luxury cars - including the technical mumbo jumbo. Her background is in marketing and has worked closely with salesmen within a Fortune 100 corporate setting. So she knows how to communicate with the type of personality that would be interested in purchasing, let us say a higher end foreign car. Frankly, I think she would be good at it if given the opportunity (local high end auto dealer is looking for salepeople at present.) Do you think she could get a position doing that without prior auto sales experience?
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Frida2 - my spouse is thinking about going into auto sales. She wants to sell higher end luxury cars, and honestly, she really knows a lot about the German and Japanese luxury cars - including the technical mumbo jumbo. Her background is in marketing and has worked closely with salesmen within a Fortune 100 corporate setting. So she knows how to communicate with the type of personality that would be interested in purchasing, let us say a higher end foreign car. Frankly, I think she would be good at it if given the opportunity (local high end auto dealer is looking for salepeople at present.) Do you think she could get a position doing that without prior auto sales experience?
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Frida2 (Jul 31 - 4:49 pm)
In this economy, who knows. When my husband got the job in 2000 he was basically hired on the spot without sales experience. Since the pay is commission the risk is low to the employer. If you aren't good at you quit or are fired. If you are good at it, everyone makes money.
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In this economy, who knows. When my husband got the job in 2000 he was basically hired on the spot without sales experience. Since the pay is commission the risk is low to the employer. If you aren't good at you quit or are fired. If you are good at it, everyone makes money.
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HungryJoe28 (Aug 1 - 12:47 am)
TY - makes sense; in sales it is sink or swim. You either do well or leave and take a job riding the zamboni at the hockey rink.
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TY - makes sense; in sales it is sink or swim. You either do well or leave and take a job riding the zamboni at the hockey rink.
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EmmanuelGoldstein (Jul 28 - 10:20 am)
why do any of that? I would try to maintain and grow a network of contacts. Social networks are the real wealth for most people in america. Take advantage of unemployment insurance. Learn a trade or skill that will give you temporary work and then get laid off. My dad worked as a union plumber and very often had months-long layoffs WITH unemployment benefits.
The thing is that americans work too hard. Get into a place in life where you can take off multiple months frequently.
Live cheap. Live with family. That would be my advice.
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why do any of that? I would try to maintain and grow a network of contacts. Social networks are the real wealth for most people in america. Take advantage of unemployment insurance. Learn a trade or skill that will give you temporary work and then get laid off. My dad worked as a union plumber and very often had months-long layoffs WITH unemployment benefits.
The thing is that americans work too hard. Get into a place in life where you can take off multiple months frequently.
Live cheap. Live with family. That would be my advice.
Reply
pharmstudent (Jul 28 - 11:41 am)
become a debt collector. I'm sure they will hire you. After you learn the ropes you can set up your own business. I think it's recession proof.
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become a debt collector. I'm sure they will hire you. After you learn the ropes you can set up your own business. I think it's recession proof.
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Donald13 (Jul 30 - 1:18 pm)
Your not going to get any of those jobs. Most local and state govts. are not hiring and laying people off.
My suggestion is to look into health care jobs that don't require medical school. Don't ask me what because I have no clue. Nursing schools have 10 times more applications that open seats. X ray techs can't find jobs. Maybe you can consider physical or occupational therapist. I'm considering respiratory therapist. All you need is an associates.
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Your not going to get any of those jobs. Most local and state govts. are not hiring and laying people off.
My suggestion is to look into health care jobs that don't require medical school. Don't ask me what because I have no clue. Nursing schools have 10 times more applications that open seats. X ray techs can't find jobs. Maybe you can consider physical or occupational therapist. I'm considering respiratory therapist. All you need is an associates.
Reply
frugal_and_puzzled (Jul 31 - 1:04 pm)
> Nursing schools have 10 times more applications that open seats.
Can you source/cite this statistic?
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> Nursing schools have 10 times more applications that open seats.
Can you source/cite this statistic?
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Donald13 (Jul 31 - 1:21 pm)
"Ocean County College has 2,500 eligible students waiting to get into its nursing program,... About 120 students are accepted each semester, or 240 per year."
"Only 36 freshmen are accepted each year into The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s nursing program,... Program Director Cheryl Eisele said they have received at least 300 applications each of the past two years."
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/press/article_5287c0a8-5662-11df-86f5-001cc4c03286.html
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"Ocean County College has 2,500 eligible students waiting to get into its nursing program,... About 120 students are accepted each semester, or 240 per year."
"Only 36 freshmen are accepted each year into The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey’s nursing program,... Program Director Cheryl Eisele said they have received at least 300 applications each of the past two years."
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/press/article_5287c0a8-5662-11df-86f5-001cc4c03286.html
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hungryjoe28 (Jul 31 - 10:45 am)
I shouldn't feed the trolls, but LexCorde, kudos once again for your priceless observations. Never fails to give me a good laugh.
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I shouldn't feed the trolls, but LexCorde, kudos once again for your priceless observations. Never fails to give me a good laugh.
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trailoftiers (Aug 1 - 1:20 am)
this guy has become such an instant hit. i mean you have to enjoy the persona. what can you say??
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this guy has become such an instant hit. i mean you have to enjoy the persona. what can you say??
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douchomatic (Jul 31 - 2:02 am)
Break into the porn industry. There are so many opportunities online to take advantage of.....man, LexCorde, you really are annoying.
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Post a message in this threadBreak into the porn industry. There are so many opportunities online to take advantage of.....man, LexCorde, you really are annoying.
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