Looking for a career choice

[Nissan_Fanboy]

Hey guys, so im pretty much going to write a novel here.

Dear Beyond,

I am currently going into grade 12, 17 Years old, and am looking further into my education. I have been going back and forth between choices and simply cannot decide and am looking into some insight from the wise beyond crew.

I am a very good student, honor roll, math is a strong point, and i have always enjoyed working on cars. Ever since i was little, i always loved helping my dad with changing oil and everything little thing that i could. At the same time, i am inlove in trucking, and heavy haul, seeing as thats what my dad did for 30 years and is managing now. I have wantedm to get into mechanics, but my dad doesn't want me going into something like that, seeing as he thinks my "smarts" could go into something more technical.

I love math, and have gotten through pure math 10 and 20 with a breeze. I find it exciting working with numbers and especially with the financial unit. I enjoyed working with money and figuring out the outcome of things, for example mortgages and intrest rates. I have always been a fan of money, and watching it grow. Ever since i was a kid, i have saved and saved and have a very strong understanding of the value of money. Seeing as i have boughten everything i own at this very moment. My car, my Drumset, computers, basically everything i own. I have a very good understanding of it and appreciate it very well. Possbily a business course, or an accounting course at SAIT could be an option.

I want to go into something where i am working with my hands and having to think technically about things.

Another option was going into the police force. Just a thought.

I really can't decide, i had a couple career things come up on those surveys, Network Specialist, and alot of computer related careers. I enjoy working with software and working through the bare bones of the computer. I have worked with many different OS's and am a keener when it comes to learning as much as i can.

I have a very good work ethic and love learning new ideas and information.
I am currently a cashier, doing the easiest thing ever, and i don't want to be there for my whole life, knock on wood. haha.

I am just looking at ideas and what you guys think i could really enjoy.

Thanks everyone if you actually took the time to read.
-Chase

-Don't criticize me for my grammar or spelling.

[badatusrnames]

If you're a thinker that can do math... go for an engg degree, or at the least do one of the tech programs at SAIT.

[Nissan_Fanboy]

Originally posted by badatusrnames
If you're a thinker that can do math... go for an engg degree, or at the least do one of the tech programs at SAIT.

Yeah, i was thinking about an automotive engineering degree, but have once again gone back and forth.

Im so confused on it, hopefully grade 12 will make a big difference.
Also money plays a huge part :thumbsup: i loveeee big paychecks

[drewb]

Finance & or Economics.

[TomcoPDR]

An accountant

[gqmw]

If you like math and number crunching, investing and money growth you should really consider a career in business. Finance, econ, accounting all possible choices for you.

[themack89]

I was in the same boat as you, everyone was telling me to go into business, engineering, etc. because I was able to do it and have a good math sense. Unfortunately that didn't fly for me, I didn't really see a challenge in pursuing something I was naturally good at. I already knew no matter what I did I would be good with my money because I had started studying financial vehicles to prepare myself in that regard, so my salary wasn't going to be an issue.

So really what it boiled down to was the challenge. I just picked something I know a lot of people think they couldn't do, and also thought I couldn't to, I went rigging. Best thing that's ever happened to me. I learned what its like to actually earn your living, what types of people are out there, learned a shit load about the patch (and boy is there a fuck of a lot to know), etc. A great experience and equally one that has made me want to vomit at times.

I'm just saying buddy, either go for a challenge or go for something you know you will love. It depends a lot on your personality, but life is here only once, so make it an adventure. Don't let yourself get caught doing something boring or non-fulfilling. Forget your salary, you'll figure the money shit out on separate terms no matter how much you make.

Hope this helps.

P.S. I did 2 years of business university and said enough. It ain't for me. I went to school for the wrong reasons, those institutions should be there for you to learn, not upgrade your salary.. The whole thought of that culture sickens me. I'm going to go back in about 5 or 10 years to study Probabilities and Game Theory though (I think it's interesting).

[davidI]

I'd definitely recommend Engineering over Business. I went through Business school and regret it. I work with all sorts of Engineers with cool jobs - many of whom work with their hands every day.

Engineers can become businessmen but businessmen can't become engineers. You'll have to bust your ass in University, but it will pay off.

Even if you end up wanting to be an auto-tech or something, you'll be able to do that with mechanical or electrical engineering.

[core_upt]

Keep your love for cars as a hobby; pay for it with the money you make in engineering.

Math is a minimal is business - most of it is analysis and implication and reporting - not math.

Engineering will see you doing far more calculating and 'math' work.

[Neil4Speed]

DavidI has a really good point here

"Engineers can become businessmen but businessmen can't become engineers. You'll have to bust your ass in University, but it will pay off."

Another option say, if you do Engineering and don't want to do the Engineering work, is to do a CFA after, still satisfying your love of numbers and giving you some unique advantages in an oil company.

A suggestion not mentioned yet would be Actuarial Science (great job market, very hard program).

[ercchry]

Originally posted by Nissan_Fanboy

-Don't criticize me for my grammar or spelling.

something to keep in mind...

if you are going to attend Uni you will NEED strong humanities skills to make it through first year... SAIT might be the best route for you

[msommers]

^^After some of the reports I've read for other students, he'll do fine lol.

Something to consider as well may be a stock broker. CA may also be up your alley. Job security there is fairly good...as my Ma jokingly says, "they will always need someone to count the money" lol.

Best of luck.

[Shlade]

Id say accounting.

Police force your not going to get on. No offense to you but even after you finish High School their going to look for somebody with experience in a field like that and age definetly matters.

Im waiting for a Deferral just because of my age. But my backround might help me out.... and CPS is one of the tougher places to get on with tho.

If you really want Police... apply with OPP. They need guys and Ontario is a damn big place and youve got a load of options if you want to move around.

Just my $0.02!

[aram1000]

As mentioned above, i am an engineering grad working on my cfa, if you want big paychecks it takes time for the most part, though there are those who get lucky getting them sooner. While money is important, its nott he only thing. i was like you in grade 12, and i ended up going into engineering because i liked cars and wanted to do the shortest program which had the potential to pay well.After lots of hard work, and some years in limbo, its starting to pay off. Take your time, you're young, explore, this isn't make or break time. People will tell you all sorts of things, but really, don't stress. Engineering i think is a good base degree, there are lot of career path options, and its actually a rather versitile degree, and as said above, engineers can become business men. There are quite a few ceo's who start out as engineer's or have an engineering education. Hope this helps, good luck with your decision.

[Nissan_Fanboy]

Thanks for the input everyone, everyone has actually helped me alot.

I will check into engineering degrees and such.
For an automotive engineering degree, what are the base requirements?

Any sciences?

[kamakurakid]

Robotics or a poker pro, use the second career to freak out your parents when they get pushy.

And when you get your boatload of cash buy this:

http://www.iconaircraft.com/video-a5-flight-2.html

[Graham_A_M]

Oilfield accounting, or some form of specialized business accounting.
I know a few guys that make absolutely silly amounts of money while finding ways to reduce taxation for businesses.

[kamakurakid]

Originally posted by Graham_A_M
Oilfield accounting, or some form of specialized business accounting.
I know a few guys that make absolutely silly amounts of money while finding ways to reduce taxation for businesses.

A creative accountant is as important as it comes, can be CSI at times.

[[GaGe]]

Sounds like you'd enjoy finance alot more than accounting.
Either that or mechanical engineering.

If you're an honor roll student, shouldn't have a problem getting into mechanical engineering. Finance will need a 80-85% average from high school if you want to get in.

[blah23]

You should also think about where you would want to work in the future. Calgary is full of engineers, so expect a strong bias towards that. If you want to live in Toronto or New York, finance is king.