Monday, January 5th, 2009

[jast]

That reminds me, I wanted to ask: what kind of social work did you want to do, mrbeany?

QotD: my most life-changing decision ever is still a bit ahead and I don't know yet what it's going to be. The last moderately life-changing decision I made was... eh, I don't know. All of the noteworthy changes in my life that I can think of sort of just happened.

[Caravan Ray]

I worked in the computer industry for a time... I was thinking of doing something totally different -- like social work different

That's funny, my wife's brother did that exact thing. Computer stuff to social work. It seems to be sticking in his case, though... I am amazed that somebody else did also, it seems so random.
-bill

I wouldn't say random. I would say polar opposites.

Computer job - Social Work
technology centered - people centered
highly paid - poorly paid
a lot of men in the industry - a lot of women in the industry
high stress, and everyone demands higher output - high stress, and everyone is supportive
marketing department sells to people despite needs - the product is getting people to the services they need
math skills very highly required - few are really inclined to like or do well in math (*)

If you want to get away from the computer industry, there really isn't a place much further away from it than social work.

(*) I only said that last one because an instructor specifically pointed out that most people in the field aren't that good with math. This wasn't something I personally made up, and it was also backed up by the number of my classmates taking "refresher" math courses.

Who do you think you are fooling Beany?
You lie like a pig in mud.

There is only one reason someone moves from a computer job to social work.

THE CHICKS.

It is a known scientific FACT that in the entire history of the world that no computer nerd has ever got it on with a lady. HOWEVER - those oh-so-sensitive social worker types with their stupid little beards and their turtle-neck sweaters are up and down like the Assyrian Empire.


You can't fool me. I used to be a civil engineer. I saw ahead of me a lifetime of nights out with the boys watching the footy. Then I became an environmental scientist - K-ching!!!! - POONTANG CITY BABY! I wear courdaroy - and sometimes I have a moustache. The chicks dig it!. Throw in the whole "Internet Rock Star" thing - and we're talking Al Gore crossed with Phil Collins. That spells SEX to me baby....

(...oh. my wife is calling...yes, I'm come to bed dear...just answering some emails.....)

[Caravan Ray]

So I'm thinking about giving up this job search and turning one of my hobbies into a full-out career. I'll talk about it more in another thread later if people seem interested, but this is all a lead-in to my question of the day, which is:

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What was your last major life-changing decision? How long did it take you to arrive at that decision? Knowing what you know now, would you have acted differently?

Actually Jon - I have an enormous amount of empathy with you.

I think I was exactly as you are now back in 1991. I had just graduated from Uni with an engineering degree, at a time, because of recession - there was massive unemployment. At the time, over 80% of all recent civil engineering graduates were unemployed because of the downturn in construction.

I spent 8 months completely unemployed - then finally got a very menial job as a filing clerk in the Department of Social Security. Then I got other other menial jobs in the construction industry. Then I did a Masters Degree in Environmental Management. Then I did more menial jobs. And eventually I did all sorts of weird shit. Now - through pure dumb luck - I seem to be an in demand sort of guy who gets jobs anywhere - but I would still rather just sit at home playing guitar and watching telly.

I understand totally why you wrote:
And this blogger, who apparently gets millions of hits a month, says that employment is one of the worst things that could happen to me. It's a little offensive to be told that when I don't know where my next month's rent will come from

My first reaction is to say - "that bloke is a tool" - get a job, any job - and other work will come from that. (but I got to admit - I read that blog, and he impressed me too!)

Anyway - you sound a lot like I used to. So that means you will never listen to a bloke like me. But - just in case you do - from someone who was there - I repeat my advice - just go with whatever happens and have fun. If things are not going to plan - fuck it... change your plan.

[roymond]

Social Work:
the product is getting people to the services they need

A lot of the people I know in social work say this may be an ideal, but is rarely achieved. Our experience with a son in EI and special programs is also that outside of private services, providers are generally overwhelmed with administrative and bureaucratic BS. And my wife's experience with adults is similar, although if they are able to, they can advocate for themselves much better than many parents do for their children.

That said, my hat is off to social workers in general. It's tremendous work.

[JonPorobil]

a lot of useful stuff

Thanks, Ray. The good vibes and moral support mean a lot to me.

Lately, I've been feeling like I'm at some kind of crossroads, only I can't see the paths, and there's something pushing at me to keep moving, like a crowd or something (ever tried holding onto that front-and-center position at a packed standing-room-only show?), but I keep trying to hold my ground...

Sorry to go all emo on everyone.

Anyway, I've been thinking a lot about what Steve Pavlina said about jobs, and one thing occurred to me: His industry, his life's passion, is something he can do with virtually no supplies. His current business empire was started with a net capital investment of $9, to register StevePavlina.com. That's great, if your passion is writing and you have some useful knowledge to write about. Writing is free. You can blog from a public library computer even if you're homeless.

But what if what you're good at is cooking? Then, to follow Steve's business model, you need to produce value and deliver it. But to deliver value, as it pertains to food, you need a kitchen and health department permits. If your value is in music, you need instruments and equipment. For most non-blogging businesses, you need a building. And it's really easy to say:

Seriously, you are better off being broke and homeless, so you can focus on creating and delivering value from that place. You’re much worse off if you have to waste day after day showing up to work for someone else.

But for most people, creating and delivering value implies an initial monetary investment of most than $9. For most people, it requires their life savings or more. Knowing that makes it a lot easier for me to brush off the bad advice.

[roymond]

Seriously, you are better off being broke and homeless, so you can focus on creating and delivering value from that place. You’re much worse off if you have to waste day after day showing up to work for someone else.

I've said this before on these boards (well, the old ones I think)...the best jobs allow you to grow on the job and the even better ones demand that you grow on the job. Stocking groceries does not. Being a security guard does not. Menial labor jobs do not. Collecting tolls doesn't. Flipping burgers doesn't.

But being a floor sales rep at Barnes & Noble does. Moving up to book buyer, then managing a book store does. Working with books, researching people's needs (and yours while you're at it) keeps your mind alive and furthers your agenda. Interaction with customers and suppliers extends your experience in new and unknown ways. Plus, can you say discounts? I worked at B&N and Schirmer Music Publishing while I was in school and they both did wonders.

An entry level job at a foundation does. While there are plenty of menial tasks going on in any job environment, you always have opportunities to step up and do that thing someone needs, which is just outside your scope, and then that opens new doors. Plus you interact with creative people who get things done, possibly while achieving something worthwhile other than contributing to stock holders' interests.

A personal assistant to some mover and shaker offers great opportunities. Contacts, a model to observe and being in the center of someone's life work can only be good. Depending on the place and the person of course. But a museum, planetarium, university, hospital, etc. is a virtual petri dish of experience and open doors. And lots of different types of people and jobs are to be found.

Anyway, I'm an optimist about this stuff. Seriously, set yourself up for growth and it will happen. Restrict it and it won't.

[HeuristicsInc]

Yeah, I read some of his words on that page and I think he's living in dreamland if he thinks that everybody could do that. It's pretty ridiculous. If everyone in the world followed his advice we'd all be dead.
-bill

[JonPorobil]

Roymond, very interesting perspective; thanks for the advice.

[mrbeany]

That reminds me, I wanted to ask: what kind of social work did you want to do, mrbeany?

I was thinking something with old people. They're the ones with money, and a voice, so they seemed like the best bet.

[mrbeany]

There is only one reason someone moves from a computer job to social work.

THE CHICKS.

It is a known scientific FACT that in the entire history of the world that no computer nerd has ever got it on with a lady. HOWEVER - those oh-so-sensitive social worker types with their stupid little beards and their turtle-neck sweaters are up and down like the Assyrian Empire.

Well, it is true that in many of the classes I took I was the only male student.

I have to say, it certainly did seem to help things... and it would explain why it wouldn't be needed once I met my (now) wife...