Career Path & Job Titles

With the way the market has been for the past several months, I've begun to rethink my career path. I used to want to get into hardcore computer work, but it has become increasingly competitive, and sometimes I just don't feel like my mind and body were built for that field. Even though I love working with computers, I realize I mainly enjoy doing it for entertainment purposes, and because it's easier to do work on a computer.

I really don't know what field I want to get into if it's not computers. One of my lifelong dreams was to be part of a game development company.. like Electronic Arts, the parent company of Maxis who makes those ever-so-addictive Sim games that I play. If I really wanted to get into that, I would probably have to get into programming, or find some really good connections. I don't know if I have any nerves left to start out at technical support there, even if I had a chance.

So... I've been thinking and thinking... and I still can't decide where to go next. I don't think "computer desk jobs" are going to be as easy to find anymore, and I dread to think of what other occupations pay for someone just starting out. After all that thinking... this is all I could come up with:

NOT INTERESTED:

- Retail/Retail Management
- Food Services/Management
- Manual Labor/Janitorial
- Secretarial
- Low level tech support
- City Services
- Telemarketing -- HELL NO

INTERESTED:

- Computer Consulting
- Web Design
- Recruiting
- Human Resources
- Counseling/Mentoring
- Project Management
- Office Management
- Accounting
- Database Administration
- Executive Management
- High level provisioning
- Network Administration
- Network Operations

As you can see... I can't seem to lose interest in some computer-ish type jobs. Those are the ones I feel most suited for, but they're not very specific and don't require that much skill. I want to do something that requires some expertise and is harder for other people to learn. Oh, and I guess I'm also still interested in the computer field since the pay is still better than some of the other fields I could also get into. I know the salaries for tech jobs have really gone down, but right now, I don't know where you could find a non-management retail job that pays at least $40k a year and doesn't require busting your ass that much. Maybe the computer field has really spoiled me.

When I think of a job or my career... I try to think of introducing myself to another professional or on a game show. What would I want to say or what would I want them to say about me?

"Rosalyn Khuu is a ______________ from the lovely state of Texas!"

What sounds respectable in the blank?

Full-time Mother? Not so bad
Dishwasher? No of course not
Customer Service Rep? Nah
Telemarketer? NOOo
School Teacher? Sure
Senior Project Manager? Yeah sure
Psychologist? Yep
Competitive Bodybuilder? Sure
Newspaper Editor? Yes
College Student? Yep
Layaway Associate? nope
Software Game Tester? Heck yeah

I know I shouldn't REALLY worry about my job title as much as just having a lot of security for the future, but sometimes I have this whole pride thing that forces me to strive for a job title I can live with. There are so many jobs out there that are necessary for the world to work the way it does, and so many stuck-up people like me who don't want them. But thankfully, there are people out there that are willing and don't worry about the stupid things that I do. Maybe it's because I'm a girl that I'm like this, or maybe it's just how I grew up.

Anyway, are there any other interesting fields out there that pay decently, don't require customer contact, and have a lot of job security? Email me if I missed any.

By the way.. Chris and I felt that $10/hr should be where minimum wage is at.. and even at $10/hr, it's got to be hard to live a decent life.. especially if you have a family and a home to pay for. I can't believe it's still $5.15... but if you're still a high school kid, living at home, and have all your other expenses paid for.. $5.15/hr isn't so bad I guess. I'm just concerned about all the people who are on their own and trying to build their own lives.