Job and Career Advice

[Thorn14]

Hi everyone.

A week ago I left burger king to get a job as a medical filer at some medical office. I thought it would be better.

I was dead wrong. Long story short, I quit after a week after how terrible it was, and now I have no job.

Luckily I don't have a car or payments, and I still live with my family, but I obviously need to do something.

I graduated a community college with an associates in 3D Animation. It was fun but I dont know if I love it, and you need to love it to get into this field.

Also there are no jobs for it in Michigan. There were going to be some, but the tax breaks for movies in Michigan were killed, and so did the jobs. I dont feel confident enough in my skills to move to california, nor do I have the desire to do so.

So I'm considering changing to another degree, but I have no idea what I want to go into. I was looking at maybe IT but I know nothing about it.

I don't suppose anyone can offer some advice? I am a very fast typist with 110 WPM and about 10,000 KPH, so I'm hoping maybe I can get a job with that sort of skill set.

[RubySlippers]

Every think of working for yourself?

With this economy and the fact you quit one job then in no time dropped the other job is not going to look good to an employer, I would be thinking I hire them they don't like the work they will just quit on me to. Plus there are not alot of jobs out there I always had to work for myself being disabled or not work at all its sometimes what you have to do.

A degree is also not necessarily going to help you and you may end up with a debt you have to pay back with no or a job you settle for like at a Burger King and yes I'm being serious.

So I suggest look at your skills and find out how to turn those into an income working for yourself its not like you have alot of expenses so this could be a good option.

[Thorn14]

Doing what though?

Also I left Burger King with good standings, I was there for 4 months and gave a two weeks notice.

I just wont put my other job on any resume or whatever.

[Anjasa]

Transcriptionist work pays well for a fast typist. Medical and legal transcriptionists are the most popular. That's if you wanted to go the self employed route. Have you considered asking BK if you could have your job back? If you left with good standing, they'll probably be understanding.

[Funguy81]

i would say go back to BK if they are willing to let you back in. it will give you something to do, plus money while you figure things out.

[Thorn14]

Considering they had me work like...6 hours a week, I doubt they'd want me back.

Im gonna apply for some jobs at my college, and maybe take some classes in IT.

Does anyone here know about IT and can elaborate?

[RecklessRapscallion]

I do! So you wanna do IT eh? Well the thing you need to work on is getting tech certifications and work experience. In the IT field it is not a degree that has sway but the certifications you study for and earn. Employers want to know if you are capable on maintaining their technology. The first step you need to do since there are jillions of certifications is to get your A+ cert. If you are not computer/computer hardward savvy I recommend taking I class. I have been building computers since Junior High so I just bought a book and studied for a few months. After that I highly suggesting getting the Network+. A+ Proves that you know the inner workings of a comp and you are competent in fixing most computer based issues. Network+ means you can administrate computer networks. Network+ will land you the better jobs too since EVERYTHING! Is networked, once you get those two certs you should do your own research and figure out what you wan't to specialize in. Like you can learn programming, or counter hacking and all of that good stuff....

I hope that was helpful if you wan't information on the study book I used I would be happy to drop you a link.

[Thorn14]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[setphaserstofun]

If you want to move into IT, then specialisation I would suggest is something you need to think about.


Would you prefer customer facing or back room work? Would you want to get your hands dirty inside a PC? Problem solving a customer's need to make Word or Excel perform backheels?


I got into IT through an Apprenticeship course, working four days a week and going to college one day a week - I'm not sure if you get those so much in US as I'm in England and I've worked at the same place for nearly seven years working my way up the ladder in a variety of roles.


I half agree with RR above that certifications have sway but work experience is another biggie. Starting on a Helpdesk (or ServiceDesk as they seem to be dubbed these days) is somewhere to work up from and if you can get training while you work - even better.


I also noticed you mention you have a qualification in 3D animation; being an expert in certain applications and supporting others in how they use it is another alternative to using it full time for its purpose.