Compensation without a degree...

[BK911]

Originally Posted by Soukus

The keyword in there is "campus." Are you teaching? Are you the building and ops engineer? I've never thought there was as much money in academia as there is in the private industry.

Although, I had an SAE advisor at the University of Illinois who enjoyed driving Ferraris and Porsches while he was teaching engineering....he also consulted for Penske and other racing teams.

I am in the private industry. Gubmit subcontractor for DOE. I make a decent living, but the union guys make a KILLING!! I guess this is true for most unions. Couple year experience pipe fitter or mechanic is >$80k. With over time a lot of these guys pull in >$100k.

[dhoward]

Historically, I've had some pretty good hobbies.
Oh wait...

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by Soukus

I would start by looking for an environmental firm (google - pipeline survey, environmental survey, etc) in your area. See if they are hiring and try to get in without additional educational expense. Otherwise you'll need to get some education in environmental sciences. If you market yourself to the survey firms well, they may see a potential in you to help them long term. Someone with knowledge (or can research) of local history and training in archeology and/or environment and can do the field work would be of some value to a consulting firm.

You have to figure out your objective. Do you want to put your history digree to any use at all? Or you just want to have a good job and enjoy history as a hobby?

Thanks for the lead, I'm looking into it now

[nostatic]

Originally Posted by audiman08

I was going to teach Social Studies. However, I did a little work in a museum and loved it, so I decided to change my focus to curating or archival work. The museum I worked at lost city funding and became reliant on private donations. One curator and an educator were laid-off, leaving only one curator. Governments will cut costs by eliminating non-essentials first, like art and history museums. Liberal arts falls under non-essential in most fields outside education and psychology. I worked for a year in the public school system, and I know I don't want to teach. That's about it in a nutshell.

Have you looked in other parts of the country? If you really love that line of work, then you'll likely have to be willing to move to pursue it.

Often doing what you love and doing what pays well are two very different things. People have to decide which is more important. Also, mid course corrections are almost always possible, but it takes a lot of work and some faith and luck.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by Soukus

Sounds great, Tom. I'm sure you've seen me post about this before, but it is only going to get better for a young guy like you as the years pass. The wave of retirement is already starting....

...did you hear that? It's opportunity at your door!

Yep. The age gap between my generation and the old folks is huge. There is definitely a 20-25 year gap in the work field. Once those retirements kick in we are going to be the "senior" geologist with less than 5 years experience. Same thing with the Pet E guys.

I am trying to get into shale gas where I think there is more of a future.

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by nostatic

Have you looked in other parts of the country? If you really love that line of work, then you'll likely have to be willing to move to pursue it.

Often doing what you love and doing what pays well are two very different things. People have to decide which is more important. Also, mid course corrections are almost always possible, but it takes a lot of work and some faith and luck.

I've looked out of state, I think D.C. would be the best place to go. The wife's career makes moving that far difficult though. I think I will adjust my career goals, rather than make her. Thanks for the advice.

[emcon5]

Originally Posted by slakjaw

75k ? uh no I would say he makes good money. with overtime I did in the 60s last year. 75 would be nice.

You make more money than he does. Minnesota ≠ Southern California.

I have a 2 year degree that is completely unrelated to my career field, and I make decent money. Not uncommon for IT.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

I am trying to get into shale gas where I think there is more of a future.

Just be sure to keep your options open. Shale is definitely hot, but it's a finite supply. Maintain or create a line to storage. There are a lot of storage engineers who will soon retire (including a lot of storage executives). Those storage fields will not be disappearing....think of them as a big round (ball) pipeline...so long as there is gas too move, some of it will go through storage.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by audiman08

I think I will adjust my career goals, rather than make her.

Smart move...good luck.

[cstreit]

Spot on Soukus....

Remember that thread earlier about the girl graduating Northwestern $300k in debt with a Sociology degree?

No way would I have gotten to where I am professionally with an ITT certificate. Not saying there is something wrong with that, but college is an education:

1. Proves you are motivated to complete a hard task without parental supervision.
2. Proves you can manage money and act responsibly
3. Proves you can learn "higher" material

I never used a ton of the direct material I learned in college (Info Systems) but it trained my thought processes.

Originally Posted by Soukus

I don't mean to single you out, but this story is too common.

First, would you have had the money to buy all those homes as investments when you were 18 yrs old? If not, then you really didn't have the opportunity to make millions.

2nd- Were you assured a $50K/yr job at 18 yrs old? If not, then college was the right decision.

Finally, why did you choose poli-sci? Were you going to gen a law degree after? How was a poli-sci degree going to make you $50k/per year back then? This is the big problem with college and what kids and their parents don't realize.

You are not guaranteed a job after college. It was never like that,meven in the 80s. Chosing a "useless" degree and wasting 4-5 years of tuition and time was not the fault of the colleges...it was the student's and the parent's fault. Some parents are tickled silly over the thought of their child going to college, but don't about think nor appreciate the bigger picture...

Basically, if you don't have a career plan before college and you chose a degree that can't be marketed and will not be in demand in 4-5 yrs, rethink college.

[nostatic]

I don't believe that any degree is "useless." But people need to have realistic expectations. College has little to do with content and more to do with process.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by audiman08

That has not been my experience, unfortunately. I've almost completed my master's degree, I've interned at a museum and created my own exhibit (which included extensive archival research and writing), and I've joined The State Historical Society of Missouri and other professional organizations to network with people in my field. I've put out more resumes than I can count; with federal, state, and private museums and historical sites.

Still, I haven't been able to land so much as a tour-guide position. I've shifted my focus to landing government or civil service work because historical work is simply unrealistic in this economy. I can't speak for sociology or other liberal arts, but I would dissuade most anyone from working toward a history degree.

Where are you located at in Missouri?

[74-911]

How many have degrees that have never been put to practical use ?? But definitely opened some doors.

Example:
BS in Microbiology/Chemistry - 1968

Joined USAF in 1968 to stay out of the Army and Vietnam. Because I had a degree, was sent to computer programming school by USAF then to a choice assignment at Randolph AFB where I got 3+ years of heavy programming experience.

Left USAF after 4 years and worked for EDS for a couple of years.

In 1978 started writing programs for insurance agencies on nights / weekends with a couple of guys was in USAF with. After 2 years we incorporated, soon had over 30 employees. We sold the business in 2003 and I retired.

Did I ever use my degree? NO, not for a single day.... but just having the degree was worth it's weight in gold for the doors it opened. And yes, made over $100K / year for many years.

[MotoSook]

I agree Todd, but in the context of the discussion, "useless" is for those degrees that don't result in gainful employment. Of course you could argue that some component of their education makes them who they are; therefore, any failure or success can be partially attributed to the "useless" degree.

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Where are you located at in Missouri?

I'm from Springfield but I've lived in Lebanon since I got married.

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by nostatic

I don't believe that any degree is "useless." But people need to have realistic expectations. College has little to do with content and more to do with process.

I should rephrase, I wouldn't say liberal arts degrees are useless...they are just not as desirable to employers as technical degrees.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by audiman08

I'm from Springfield but I've lived in Lebanon since I got married.

Ouch. No doubt that is definitely a tough place to land a job related to history.

[audiman08]

Originally Posted by Rot 911

Ouch. No doubt that is definitely a tough place to land a job related to history.

Definitely, I worked at the History Museum for Springfield-Greene County. There is nothing in Lebanon/Laclede County...I'm here because my wife works here...but I'll keep trying

[A930Rocket]

I did for many years, but not lately...

I've mentioned it before, but my degree is in management and I have been working in residential and light commercial construction for 20 years. My degree hasn't helped me at work at all, but it was a personal goal to achieve. I learned everything on the job, starting by sweepomg houses and picking up construction debris to buildnig homes and managing neighborhoods. While residential is dead and no jobs available, there are some for commercial, but they all want a degree in engineering, construction management or architecture (plus experience).

Now I'm looking to other fields of work and anywhere that's hiring. Hint! hint!

If I had to do it over again, I would have joined the military (like USAF) or get a degree in engineering/construction management and then join the military.

[rattlsnak]

Surprised no one has brought up the white collar vs blue collar issue. A lot of plumbers, mechanics, etc in their prime, make over 100K a year, while people with degrees are making half that.

BUT...

25 + years later, the white collar guys will be playing golf on Fridays and making over 100K and the blue collar guys will be busting their a$$ and making less and less every year.