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Career Questions help needed
I am 25 and am getting and Interdiscipinary studies degree with an emphasis on social and behavioral sciences. Meaning I have taken all the general ed requirements, almost all the courses to become a business and marketing teacher (decided I didn't enjoy it), all the classes to become a Consumer and Family Sciences teacher (with the exception of actually student teaching, my critical assesment werent passed and the department was going to let me redo them , I got frustrated so I quit) and now decided to the Interdis degree so basicallly I can just graduate. My classes mainly focus in business, CFS and Agriculture (minor).
My deal is I am not sure what kinds of jobs I could get with this mismash of classes.
So, I thought about doing dental assisting. I found a program in which I could be done with by September if I started in July, that meets on Saturday a month from 8 am to 5 pm.
Or I thought about becoming an RN my school offers a nursing degree for people who already have a degree. That would take my probably 2 1/2 years to complete. My downside with being a nurse is the hours, I would like a daytime job if possible, so I could be home with my family at night.
Or I thought about getting an assiocates degree in dental hygiene that would take me 2 years to complete.
Which option do you think would be the best? And why? I am struggling with my decision and really need to get something going soon. Thanks in advance.
Re: Career Questions help needed
RN, hands down. You will by far have the most career options with this degree. I'm also nearly certain that this is the career out of the three that also pays the best (although I'm not very familiar with what a dental assistant does as opposed to a hygenist).
There are RN positions that are daytime. Maybe you will need to work odd hours at first, but with a family the ability to work evenings and weekends, and even to find something part time, is a positive rather than a negative in my opinion. My mom is a nurse, and she stayed at home but worked part time on evenings and weekends when my dad was able to care for me. When I was in middle school she went back to daytime hospital work, but then decided to become a school nurse so she could have summers off and never have to work a holiday. There really are many options, and the career prospects will be better.
My SIL is a dental assistant and did a similar program. She loves it but really doesnt make much money at all and is toying with the idea of going back for dental hygiene. I would just go straight to hygiene if you can do the schooling, there is alot more money there.
As for RN- the pp is right. RNs make good money, are extremely flexible in scheduling and are always in demand. As long as you are interested in this line of work, I would take that route.
Is it possible for you to talk to professionals in this field already to see if you can get a flavor for the type of day/work involoved to see if you will like it before you proceed? I thought I wanted to be an RN way back in late high school so I went and spent a day with my best friends mother who is an RN in an emergency room. I quickly changed my mind and now I'm an accountant......
GL in your decisions!
With your degree of indecisiveness and impatience, I would be reluctant to throw more money at classes you may or may not enjoy until it's so late you've got an even larger mish mash of classes. You don't even mention that you like RN or dentistry. My recommendation would be to start testing yourself in the real world to see where it takes you. It will help you identify what you do and don't like about the real world before you start closing in on your target career. And hey, at least that won't cost you any more money. For one, your degree does not need to directly relate to the career you choose, or eventually end up in. Career paths are rarely straight lines, and you don't have to commit to anything you don't enjoy.
To answer your question, you'd be well suited as any generalist-an analyst, a government employee, a business analyst, a sales person, and maybe even some kind of teacher or professional trainer. General degrees can be used for anything. Good luck!
I agree with this, and the other similar comments.
Find a job that sounds interesting and go for it. Our current administrative assistant has a degree in the sciences...I started out as an admin and my degree is in English. Do you want to be an admin (or whatever other entry-level job) forever? No, probably not, unless you love it (and Executive Assistants are amazing, skilled, and incredibly important people). But it pays the bills while you figure out your next step. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I finished college, didn't really know what I could do with an English degree. As I've followed my interests, my career has just sort of happened. Now I'm a web content strategist/analyst/writer and I LOVE it.
I grew up in a place where everyone has a "skilled trade" type job. My parents were concerned I'd never have a job with an English degree. Hell, my mom is a Dental Assistant
. Sometimes you have to sit back and let life take you where it wants. IMHO, you've already spent enough time in school for now.
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