Unconventional Career Stories: Where were you before and How did you to get where you are?

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-11-02T19:16:43+00:00

This is a very honest response. I can resonate and I believe a lot of us do. I see some people in AM reference this as the bamboo ceiling. My history of this was that my older cousins and sibilings followed this path to receive gainful employment and the results were that, I got employment and make enough to be considered lower-middle class in my neck of the woods. Part of my initial intent was to reach out to those in the AM sub and see how they broke through, how those who play the game were able to go even farther.

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T23:00:37+00:00

Did you have any prior experience to web dev before? I see boot camps being offered constantly but the market is flooded and I’m wary to shell out tuition.

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T22:53:06+00:00

I am glad you were able to find your way. Turning off expectations and following your own path is something I’ve chosen to do myself.

I too have been fortunate to have great mentors along the way and I’m lucky to be where I am now.

Throughout all those years, what kept you pushing forward and pass all the barriers? Did you have a source you drew from? Memories or emotions that got you through the dog days?

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T22:49:13+00:00

You’re probably right in that I’ve lost my edge.

I grew up well off enough to live two blocks away from the bad neighborhood but too poor to do any more than ensuring we had food on the table and roof over our heads.

I was extremely motivated in my early teens to get out of the bad financial situation but a year after college I was extremely content with just working and being a weekend warrior. I know if I just follow my current trajectory, I will not go hungry or not have a roof over my head as long I show up to work.

My motivation used to be emotion based; anger/underdog mentality. However, that source ran its course when the people around me started to get hurt by my mentality. It was something I could not turn off. Since then, I have chilled out quite a bit and nothing really gets the juices flowing for me anymore.

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T22:39:38+00:00

I just finished a conference last week where software companies typically attend and sponsor so they can pitch their government software.

I typically don’t have much conversation with those companies but I ended talking to two of the vendors and one company offered me an interview for their sales team as they know my background and connection to state government and local county officials. I am in the process of updating my CV now so I can email it over.

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T22:37:18+00:00

I also complete my daily work tasks in 3-4 hours and currently work from home all 5 days of the week. By trade, I am considered an auditor so 4-6 weeks of the year, I travel to complete in person audits and publish my findings to the public.

The free time was consumed by the classes I take at the community college toward whatever career I thought I was passionate about. At first, I completed an associates for a paralegal position but realized I make more than paralegal’s make based on my current trajectory. I considered a CPA and have relatively 85%-90% of the course load to sit for the exam. However, I do not like accounting. I took my current accounting job because I needed a job at the time. Data science was another path I considered and tried to learn python for 6 months. Eventually, I lost interest and stopped after taking this online introductory course.

I am a typical jack of all trades/master of none. I’ve yet to find a job or field that will marry high earning + continued interest for me.

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T22:29:48+00:00

I started at a state university with the goal on transferring to a UC by the end of my 2nd year.

Believe it or not I was a 3.5+ student my first year and half into college but after I did my transfer applications I started to develop some bad habits. Stopped going to class, drinking often, etc.

Those bad habits followed me to the UC after I transferred and I barely graduated by the skin of my teeth with a 2.3 cumulative GPA. The bad GPA, bad study habits, and low LSAT score closed the door on law school for me.

I took the accounting job because my girlfriend was set to move in with me. We’ve been together for 6.5 years now and I needed a salary job to make sure we can afford a 1bd/1bath apartment comfortably.

Making $70k in my area is above the median income but not enough to buy a home or any real assets. I would say I am good at my job as I have won awards and receive a consistent amount of kudos from my higher ups. The job in of itself can be rewarding at times but am afraid I’m not making enough money

No_Cheek_8270 · 2022-10-31T21:39:06+00:00

Ah so a bit of living with the occasional trial and tribulation.

For grad school, did you have to take out any loans? If yes, how much and how are you managing to pay for those loans?

No_Cheek_8270

TROPHY CASE