Oh, I forgot to put in what I am doing these days. I quit my job after 10 years due to medical issues (getting older, really could not do my job anymore) to go back to school. I am working part time as a cashier for a Murphy's USA here in Ellijay. I will finish my AA in Business in April, plan on taking a month off, then starting my BS in Green and Sustainable Business in May 2011. Will be finished with that in November 2012. From there I hope to move west where that degree will actually mean something. rofl

I'm a social worker x 15 years and love my job. Up until 2 yrs ago I worked in a psychatric hospital, inpatient as well as outpatient, mainly with kids and teenagers. It was a job that took over my life, and that was good and bad. On the good side I was doing something meaningful that feels like a calling to me, being there for people when they are at their very lowest. On the opposite end, because I was working tons of usually unpaid overtime (even my vacation days sometimes) in an emotionally draining field, it interfered with other areas of my life so that I was not able to have a well-rounded life. It was my husbutch, BB, who finally enouraged me to find something that was also meaningful work but which was not a job where I did nothing BUT work in life. This involved taking a pay cut and I sure was nervous to do that. However, my Honey's confidence in me helped me take that step, and I'm grateful I did ever since. Shortly after I left, the hospital where I worked closed down. Now I work at a small school for kids who have been kicked out of all the public schools. Many of them are foster kids, often born on drugs, and living a life in poverty. This school is the last stop on the train metaphorically speaking. It is a chance for them to get a lot of attentive academic and emotional specialized help with the hopes that they can make it in the community after some time instead of needing to go live in a lock up or be a drop out (We do GED training too.). Even though I work summer school too, I get out in the afternoon which is unheard of for me, and I don't work weekends (plus, gotta love school vacations). I get to make dinner for BB and me every night, and I love that. The school is underfunded and thus I'm not paid a lot but it's a great community of kids and staff. One thing I like that is different from the hospital is that a lot of the staff have had rough childhoods like the kids, and there is not the class/race difference between staff/clients that was more present in the hospital. I feel so lucky to have not only a job but one that I'd want to do whether paid or not. I feel it is a privilege that I get to walk through the doors each morning and be with these special kids. Sometimes the principal gives me the key at the end of the day to lock up because he knows I'm gonna be the last to leave :)

I've looked at that too, both the medical admin and court recording

I think I need to pay for a state test or two and see where I fall, then go from there.

Thank you :)

I spent 20 years in the hospitality industry (waitressing, bartending, banquet manager, front desk, restaurant GM...you name it), followed by 10 in the non-profit field (meaningful work, making a difference in people's lives, but working essentially 5 jobs for the pay of half of one).

About halfway through my non-profit career I decided that, as a single mother, I needed more money, better benefits, and a way to give my son more than his day to day needs. I went back to school, and ended up earning a MS and MBA....and took a job in a medium-sized corporation.

While not everyone who works with my company would agree, I feel like I won the job lottery. I work full-time, have good benefits (although our medical insurance has gotten worse each year), and a great deal of freedom since I work remotely from my home. As an added bonus, my work is meaningful....and I know that what I'm doing enhances the lives and health of many people, so I don't have to feel like I'm just pushing papers around for a paycheck.

I'm a project manager, which I love...it suits my bossy, controlling side. But working remotely lets me be the kind of mom I want to be...a total win-win.

While my company has done 4 rounds of layoffs in the time I've been with them, I've survived them all (luckily the numbers were small)...and I've been fortunate to get promotions, as well as raises and bonuses each year.

I feel for everyone who's struggling out there....and heartily recommend getting training or a degree, no matter what age you are. I went back to college after having been away 20 years, and got my MBA at age 45. It was the best choice I ever made (and yea, I'll be making my last student loan payment when I'm 70). :)

even if pay is better i think i would have to stay a campus cop than go out and be a street cop(or whatever they are called) at our age just bc im not as fast as i used to be and i wouldnt want JO to worry so much---there is too much ignorance in the world right now for me to take that risk....rather catch the kids early and set them on right path

so sorry to hear this... i did not realize Lyme disease was a lifelong altering disease...i sure hope Jo caught Roosters soon enough so he doesnt have problems all his life....good luck in ur job search
as for me...i think i am going to go back to school like Jo suggests...i have chronic pain which gets worse daily- so between that and the stress of dealing with the employees (im surprised i have had a heart attack yet bc my blood pressure is always thru the roof anymore when i am at work) it would be in my best interest....i love what i do--or did till i moved here,but i think its finally time to realize things/people arent gonna change and if i wanna live a long happy life driving JO crazy i need to switch careers ASAP

I think I'm pretty blessed. I work for the state DNR. It's been busy with all the goofy out-of-state hunters. We just finished up the fall turkey, goose, & duck season and now deer & pheasant are in full swing. Summer is nice but those same goofy out of state hunters come up here with their families to camp. I just wish they'd remember that people actually call this place home and to treat it as if they were a guest there.

so sorry to hear this... i did not realize Lyme disease was a lifelong altering disease...i sure hope Jo caught Roosters soon enough so he doesnt have problems all his life....good luck in ur job search
as for me...i think i am going to go back to school like Jo suggests...i have chronic pain which gets worse daily- so between that and the stress of dealing with the employees (im surprised i have had a heart attack yet bc my blood pressure is always thru the roof anymore when i am at work) it would be in my best interest....i love what i do--or did till i moved here,but i think its finally time to realize things/people arent gonna change and if i wanna live a long happy life driving JO crazy i need to switch careers ASAP
Yes Lyme's disease is a lifelong illness and altering process and yes I hope that Jo caught Rooster's Lyme's disease early enough and thank you for the encouragement it means a lot it is really tough out there to find a job even with education. And I'm well educated too..

bumping and replying..
 

I moved within the past year and used up my savings and retirement to do so. If was something I did just because I wanted to try something new. I wanted no regrets and wanted to live my life and get out and see the world after I obtained my bachelors. Here I left thinking cool I'll get a job right away and I'll have all my money I left with. Wrong! It took me about 4 months to get a entry level job and I used up all my money to live in that time. I am now working about 4.00 less per hour. I feel they don't pay their employees shit in this state and they are an at will state which means they can do what they want and fire whoever they want for whatever reason.

So now I am currently working full time in hospitality in a guest services position of a 4 star hotel. I also do sports and entertainment security when called upon and when needed with a different company. I would love to get a job in my area of study but I need some experience underneath me and make a few changes to get there, however I feel it is doable when committed to doing it. I love my security job and that is where it is for me. I am currently looking for more security work. I put in a transfer at the hotel where I work and everything was fine, I was ready to go, until I got a call (unprofessional) that it is conflict of interest to be in a relationship with someone that also works for the company and be a security officer. That is something I understand, but what I don't understand is married people working in the same department, managers having relations with associates when they are married to someone else, supervisors partying it up with their coworkers. I asked them how am I a conflict of interest in the two separate departments that we work in but all that is not? I would agree if the policy was fair and equal all across the company but I find it bullshit that they pick and choose who has to follow the conflict of interest policy. I asked for clarification and documentation for which I was told, "oh, um let me find it." and I was asked, "It was brought to my attention that you are having a relationship with someone that works here. can I ask you who it is?" To which I replied, "I find it odd you are asking me that because I keep my personal life separate from my work life. We are both very professional at work. Go ahead and ask whoever told you, they probably know." Wow, was I furious. Not because of the policy. Because I know what it means and somehow Security and supervisors/managers are held to a higher standard but because I feel targeted because of my identity and who I choose to date and someone felt the need to go and hate about my life and now I cannot transfer and feel somehow they don't give a shit if we just quit now. We both will be looking for other jobs as we do not agree with the discrimination and favortism in this company. I will tell everyone, including the HR manager how I feel. I told her when they have a board of directors meeting to go ahead and tell everyone. This is not the first time I had issues with this company. I explained to them I am transgender because they have specific uniform requirements for each gender which they were ok with at first and now they seem to be hassling me with this shit too.

So anyway with my job and my goals, I will continue to look for security/law enforcement work because I feel that is where my heart is. The pay and benefits matter little to me right now. It is my happiness and being in something that enjoy and love that matter more.

Short version for now
 

Overworked
Underpaid.

I have 2 "jobs". On one I'm am independent contractor. The other is my repair shop. Both my bosses are asses. Lol

I was laid off a month ago. No clue what I want to do.

I am my own Boss
 

Update: A little over a year and a half later, I have been promoted twice. Just got promoted to head cashier ($4.00 hour/increase) and today was my first day officially as such. First promotion was from PT Cashier to FT Customer Service Associate lvl II.

I also enrolled in school last fall. Only going PT 2 classes at a time online - last year as such because we had wedding plans and then buying a house, and then she was out of work injured for 7 months. Proud to say I have an overall GPA of 3.8 (damn A-) out of 4. Enrolled this semester on a whim (I *did* want a break) for three classes. Feels crazy to me, almost did 4. Will look into winter and summer classes to try and make up the difference of not going FT. Going for Liberal Arts: Humanities and Social Sciences. Could not settle on something more specific. I hope it will still be able to help me =/

Other: I'm in graduate school.

Hey, I remember that sweet life!

A word of advice. Never leave. The real world sucks.