I seek career ideas

[Mr Silver]

Cap, the above pic was partly a joke, since you hadn't actually said anything about your interests/strengths at that point, but it was also an honest suggestion. A year ago, I decided to join the Navy, and after enlisting in March, I finally ship out in November. I have no idea what UK opportunities are like, but have you considered the services?

No, the reason why (and feel free to laugh) is because I do not agree with war and wouldn't want to be in a position where I'd have to take someone elses life. The service life is appealing to me but there are no guarantees that I won't see combat. So the services are out.

 

[Mary Ann]

I graduated with a degree in "media arts" and fell into the TV news business... it's fun, but there's no money in it.

I had the same issue with my last job as a family worker at a children's centre. The work was challenging and I enjoyed it, but the pay was shite. I quit that job and am now studying law, and with hard work and some luck I'll be solicitor by the time I'm 50. Even if I can't find a solicitor job the law degree should help me land a better-paid job. Working for peanuts is fine if you have few responsibilities, but it's no good when supporting yourself or a family.

If you like music, would you consider becoming a music teacher, either freelance or in a school?

 

[Gaith]

No, the reason why (and feel free to laugh) is because I do not agree with war and wouldn't want to be in a position where I'd have to take someone elses life. The service life is appealing to me but there are no guarantees that I won't see combat. So the services are out.

I don't laugh at you for saying so at all. I don't agree with many wars myself, but in representative democracies, your military belongs to you whether or not you agree with what the civilian leadership orders it to do. There's a great book that helped convince me to enlist called AWOL, in which it was argued at one point that the only people who shouldn't strongly consider serving are 100% pacifists, people who wouldn't take up arms to defend even their homes against invasion, who'd rather die as peacefully protesting martyrs than fighters. To those who honestly feel that way, and would have the courage of those convictions, I have nothing but respect.

That said, there are many military occupations that don't involve direct combat, from coast guards to the vast majority of naval and air force positions. If, like me, you have no interest in combat but aren't a 100% pacifist either, you may do well to look into such opportunities, especially if, also like me, life in the services appeals to you.