Gabby Abby
Gabby Abby is here to be your digital career counselor. A tenacious researcher with the ability to find the truth behind any situation or the answer to any question, Abby enjoys helping people find the right career or the right educational opportunity. Abby is known for dishing out helpful real world advice that is both entertaining and honest.
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Dear Gabby Abby: I recently started my first “real” job. How do I know I’m in the right career?
GabAb Sez:
Does the thought of waking up in the morning make you want to vomit? When you talk about your job do you sound as uninterested as if you were describing potpourri? If you answered yes and heck yes, you might be in the wrong career.
Here are more serious considerations to keep in mind: You want a career in which you’re motivated to always learn more and advance within your occupation. You want to care about your work and gain some sort of satisfaction from it. Read More >>
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4 Comments to “Gabby Abby”
What are the main reasons for continuing your life long dream of going back to college. Need to know for a speech class.. thanks
There are plenty of great reasons to go back to school or finish a degree. First and foremost, it will help you advance your career. For many of today’s most promising careers, such as nursing, accounting, or teaching, you need a degree in that particular field to get hired. But even if you don’t end up going into a specific field, having a degree will be a huge asset in the job market. It will set you apart from other job candidates, give you a strong critical thinking foundation to use in the workplace, and may even single you out for future promotions. (Not to mention school is a great place to network, make contacts in your future field, and even get job-search and resume advice.)
In addition to helping you land a job, having a degree can increase your financial security. In most jobs, degreed employees make a higher wage, and therefore earn more over the course in their life-time than co-workers without a college education. They are also more likely to land an advanced position, such as a managerial job, than someone without a degree.
But having a degree doesn’t just help people looking for jobs. Even if you’re already employed and happy with your compensation, going back to school can help your career. Taking classes can be a great way to learn about new technologies, concepts, and strategies that apply to your field, which in turns makes you more valuable to your company and may even single you out for a promotion or a raise. In today’s economy, it’s vital to stay on top of the latest developments and give yourself every edge over the competition.
Going back to school can also be a great option for someone who wants to make a career change. Let’s say you’ve been working as an office manager for years, when all along you really wanted to become a veterinary technician. Going back to school will give you the experience you need to make start that new career. And with so many schools offering online and distance learning programs, it’s easier than ever to go back to school on your timetable. Many people are even able to keep their full-time jobs while completing their online degree requirements. (For more information on the benefits of online programs, click here.)
But most of all, you mentioned that going back to school has been a life-long dream for you. If that’s the case, the satisfaction of hanging that diploma on your wall will mean more than any job or paycheck ever could.
For additional reasons for going back to school, read “Top Ten Reasons Why People Go Back to School.” For tips and advice on going back to school, click here.
Dear Gabby Abby,
I am almost 50 years old and recently lost a waitressing job because the restaurant went out of business. The job was convenient (having 2 young children)and relatively profitable. Well, the kids are now in middle school so it’s time to get my career back on track. I have a B.S. in marketing from a highly-regarded university, and a background as a successful sales executive (before children). We now live in a country-ish area without much in the way of business or industry. I was interested in pursuing a new career in the heatlth field, but am discouraged that it will take approximately 3 years to complete the educational requirements (I have no science background). I have also considered starting my own small or internet business, but I have no ideas as to what might be a good idea on which to focus. I am at a point in my life where I really need to start earning for my childrens’ college educations and saving more for retirement. So, it doesn’t really seem practical to spend 3 years and lots of money pursing a health career at this point in my life. I really feel like I need to take control of my life and start some kind of a business and start making some serious money. I can’t simply find an office job around here for $15-$20 per hour–I need to earn more. I need some suggestions regarding the focus of my business. I don’t think I have any special skills or interests. Please help!
Dear Lisa,
It sounds like you want to accomplish two things: 1. Get on a career path that will help start meeting your financial goals and 2. Do it quickly. You mentioned that you were interested in the health care industry, which could be the perfect place to achieve both. Although some careers in the health care field do require extensive training (as you mentioned), there are also positions that only require a certificate or an Associate’s Degree, which would only be a one to two year time investment on your part. Here’s information on two of our favorites:
• Medical Imaging Technologist – Median Annual Salary: $61,980
As a lucrative, relatively easy-to-prepare for sector of the health care industry, this group of careers (which includes sonography, nuclear medicine, and x-ray technology) is already a desirable sector of the economy. Furthermore, the level of demand for imaging technologists makes this an especially promising area in the growing healthcare job market. In many cases, an Associate’s degree is all you need to get started.
• Surgical Technologist – Median Annual Salary: $38,740
Surgical Technologists enjoy a dynamic workplace life, benefiting from excellent compensation, vital responsibilities within the operating room, and strong advancement opportunities. Moreover, they do so having completed a very reasonable amount of education–they can often earn a certificate or Associate’s degree in as few as one or two years.
There are many additional health care positions that only require on-the-job training, a certification or an Associate’s degree – and that are available to take online, including home health aide, dental assistant, dental hygienist, medical administration assistant, medical assistant, or pharmacy technician. I imagine all of these jobs would be available to you in the area you live in (even though you’re not in a major city). For a complete list of these opportunities and their requirements, visit http://www.myfootpath.com/career-profiles/.
In addition to the health care field, there are a variety of other careers that you can start with just 1-2 years of additional schooling or training and that you can take online, from teaching to hotel management. (You’re in a good position since you already have your bachelor’s degree). For a list of those careers, click http://www.myfootpath.com/jobs/a-new-career-in-two-years-or-less/.
Lastly, I think it’s great that you also have the desire to start your own business. However, you’ll want to remember that starting your own business can be a lengthy and expensive endeavor. After start-up, overhead and marketing costs, many small businesses take the first few years to find their footing and don’t actually start to show profits until the third of fourth year of operation.
I say this not to discourage you, but only because I know time is of the utmost importance to you, and in the end, going back to school for a year or two might actually have you cashing paychecks faster than you would if you started your own business. (Additionally, getting a job in health care or another field would help you start a 401(k) and save for retirement, whereas you wouldn’t necessarily have that option with your own business.) And, because health care is a rapidly growing field, it offers the stability and growth potential that I think are in line with your financial goals.
If you do decide to start your own business, I would suggest focusing on a hobby, special interest, or skill. Do something that you love, and the business will follow. So ask yourself this: what do you enjoy doing in you free time? Do you enjoy making jewelry, working on graphic design projects, trying out new ice cream recipes? Many of the most successful small business owners are those who take hobbies and transform them into full-time jobs. And most importantly, don’t sell yourself short. Your past experience as a sales executive will be a huge advantage. Use those skills to help market yourself and your product.
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