Career advice (again!)

[Hunter's Moon]

College is around the corner and I still don't really know what I want to do. I'm pretty sure I want it to be in the medical field in some way. All jobs that interest me have something to do with health care. I'm stuck though for many reasons.

 

First, I wanted to be an Occupational Therapist. I had my heart set on this for about a year. I wanted to work with Special Needs children. My issue - I work great with children, not when their parents are watching though. It's just awkward for me to "handle" someone elses child while they're there. I feel like every move I make is under close inspection. I also don't know if I'd be able to make it through the field work (Mental Health & Geriatric). Plus, with so much money invested, I want to know 100% that that is what I want to do. I'm not 100% though.

 

Second, I wanted to be a Clinical Laboratory Scientist. The local CC offers a 2-year Associate's degree program to become a Lab Technician. This job appeals to me because it is very hands-on and not doing one thing all the time. My problem: Not many job openings in my area, although the CC does offer career placement.

 

Third, I was really interested by Health Information Technology. No schools in my immediate area offer this though and I refuse to travel to a different area a few hours away just for an Associate's. Only one of the colleges has dorms. The other two don't and I wouldn't be able to afford living on my own.

 

Fourth, I was interested in Medical Assisting because it involved administrative duties as well as clinical, like taking vital signs and drawing blood. My issue, online I see a lot of people saying to beware Medical Assisting because pay is generally $10/hour. My state is #3 on a list I saw for highest paid Medical Assistants but I'm still worried. The doctor office I go to, there are Medical Assistants everywhere. So, I'm sure I could find a job, but the pay still bothers me. It also bothers me that people say don't bother with Medical Assisting, just become an RN. I cannot handle vomit or stomach serious injuries seen in ERs. I know I wouldn't have to work in an ER, but I feel that that kind of stuff still comes with the territory.

 

Fifth, I was interested in Billing and Coding. The CC offers an Associate's that prepares for the Certified Coding Associate (or Asst.) exam. Most people won't hire someone with that credential if they could hire someone with the higher credential (Certified Coding Specialist). I emailed the program chair and asked what percentage of graduates go on to get jobs in the field. All she said was "most A and B students get jobs shortly after graduation". That didn't really answer my question and what about the other A and B students? :confused:

 

I really think I would enjoy Health Information Technology or Medical Assisting but my mind is bouncing constantly between all of these. I can't find a Health Information Technology program and all the online ones are expensive!! With Medical Assisting, I'm worried about the pay being low and getting replaced by an RN. I really think I would enjoy being a Medical Assistant though. If I knew the pay wouldn't be low, I would definitely jump. But so many complain that it is.

 

I just don't know what to do. I'm so torn. I am not an extreme extrovert, nor am I an extreme introvert. I suppose I enjoy being alone a bit more, but I also have sudden urges where I want to be out and surrounded by people. I am very friendly and wouldn't mind working with people on a day-to-day basis. I love research. It is a passion of mine. I also enjoy medical literature. I read many for fun and love researching different special needs. That is why I thought I would enjoy Occupational Therapy but I worry I will burn out and end up wasting money on a degree.

 

I may become a Pharmacy Technician within a year, but that is still hanging in the air. My supervisor at the Pharmacy is trying to find all the information she can on becoming a Pharmacy Tech. without a degree and I've been doing my own research but I may not know what my chances are for awhile. That would definitely impact my decision.

[JFSinIL]

Since you know the area in which you hope to major/work, you are ahead of many kids who go off to school "undecided". Aim high, for a four-year degree., to start - if the math/science turns out too hard or you decide it is not for you you can always backtrack towards a two-year degree. The basic courses should be about the same for any program.

 

My first kid to go to college hated chemistry in high school, thought he'd be a history major, changed to biology after enjoying the teacher in AP Bio, and is now a biology major at at LAC, possibly pre-med, ...and has loved the first year of college-level chemistry. He went from B+ to A+ and was recommended for lab proctor as a sophomore next year.

 

Point is - do not judge how much you think you will like or do in college-level maths or sciences based on any work you have done so far. Aim for the highest degree - you can backtrack if needed. Harder to aim for a two-year degree now then decide the four-year is what you wanted.

 

Just start. You do not HAVE to declare a major or KNOW exactly what you will do right this minute. That is kinda what the first year or so of college is for, anyway.

[Hunter's Moon]

Since you know the area in which you hope to major/work, you are ahead of many kids who go off to school "undecided". Aim high, for a four-year degree., to start - if the math/science turns out too hard or you decide it is not for you you can always backtrack towards a two-year degree. The basic courses should be about the same for any program.

 

My first kid to go to college hated chemistry in high school, thought he'd be a history major, changed to biology after enjoying the teacher in AP Bio, and is now a biology major at at LAC, possibly pre-med, ...and has loved the first year of college-level chemistry. He went from B+ to A+ and was recommended for lab proctor as a sophomore next year.

 

Point is - do not judge how much you think you will like or do in college-level maths or sciences based on any work you have done so far. Aim for the highest degree - you can backtrack if needed. Harder to aim for a two-year degree now then decide the four-year is what you wanted.

 

Just start. You do not HAVE to declare a major or KNOW exactly what you will do right this minute. That is kinda what the first year or so of college is for, anyway.

 

But with money in mind, this isn't always possible.

 

For Occupational Therapy, my first year would be different than other first year students not in the program because the OT major is a Bachelor's in 3 years, Master's in 2.

 

I was looking at Biochemistry/Biotechnology to become a Lab Technologist instead of Technician, but their hours at work are also longer and involve a lot more responsibilities I wouldn't enjoy (such as, supervising Technicians).

 

It isn't that I hate my science and math courses either, I just struggle with them. I'll be doing Chemistry over in the Fall because I barely scraped by with a C+. I know that is passing to some, but that is the bare minimum for any science program I've looked at. I don't want to scrape by, I want to grasp it and understand it inside and out and I don't think I could do that with each course being one semester. My brain just isn't wired for math and science. I'm better with English.

 

Every major I'm looking at though, I wonder if I'll really love it 5 years down the road, 10 years down the road, 20 years down the road, etc. I know that I don't have to pick a career for life now, but it would definitely be nice. The OT program is about $150,000 for all 5 years. I'm sure I'll qualify for need-based aid and probably even some academic, but I still don't want to spend any money on it and then decide it isn't for me, you know. Now, if I apply and get a full-ride somehow (:svengo:) I would jump at the chance because it is something I can see myself doing. I just don't know for how long. I worry my personality isn't right for it. I'm not bubbly and energetic. I'm friendly, but calm and serene and people sometimes take it to mean I'd prefer not to be with them. I'm also generally quiet around new people. I'm not the take charge person you would expect an OT to be. But, I can take charge if necessary.

 

I also see myself enjoying Medical Assisting though. That isn't offered at the Bachelor's level. My issue is not employment (there are a lot of MA's around here and lots of job postings), but the money issue. When I see people saying they started off at $10/hour, that makes me wonder how much they're respected.

[debbiec]

"I worry my personality isn't right for it. I'm not bubbly and energetic. I'm friendly, but calm and serene and people sometimes take it to mean I'd prefer not to be with them. I'm also generally quiet around new people. I'm not the take charge person you would expect an OT to be. But, I can take charge if necessary. "

 

Having a child with special needs and involved with the special needs community in my city, OT's come in every personality type, the main thing is to genuinely love what you are doing. Some (special needs) kids do really well with the bubbly type and some kids do much better with someone who is more serene, but firm and in control We have had OT therapists of both types, and really, depending on the diagnosis, one personality type may be preferred over another for a patient. Word of mouth gets out quickly in the special needs community (or mine anyway) about what various OT therapists are like and if they are a good fit for their child. I live in a large medical city and have several friends who are fabulous OT therapists. They are all very nice (young) women who work with special needs, and I would only classify one of them as "bubbly." :)

 

Self-conscious about working with kids when parents are watching: that will change when you build confidence in your classes and training in what you are doing. I do things now that I would NEVER have thought I could/would do based on my personality (which sounds similar to yours). Parents bring their kids to OT because they need help; help an OT therapist is able to provide that they cannot.

 

I appreciate your concerns (about that) but at the end of the day, I would go with what you love if you can afford it.

One of the best bits of advice I heard once about choosing a career path or making a choice between jobs (and cannot decide with most things being equal) ~ "which job would you do for free." The point being, sometimes we can be driven by other things that we are not aware of and forget to find something we truly find meaningful, which in turn would reduce the amount of career changes that you would like to avoid.

 

Have you thought about shadowing someone in the various fields for a few hours this summer? An OT therapist, a medical coder, etc? My high school senior is doing this (somewhat reluctantly though he admist it IS helpful, because he walks out with a sometimes different feeling about the job than he initially had).

 

I do not know a lot about OT as a career, but it seems most of the OT's I know have had a lot of flexibility in their jobs when needed (various working venues, and hours) which was nice when they married and had children to not be tied in full time, but still allowed them to work part-time and keep up their licences. Again, shadow a job and ask around.

 

Just throwing some things about there. I'm not well informed, but just making some friendly suggestions.

 

I believe OT makes fairly more money that a coder and some of the other things you mentioned, and if you are paying back loans, that might be a consideration. You might also consider when with some of the other jobs, if you would be a contract employee (with few benefits) or a full time employee with full benefits. Just something to consider and think about on the practical side.

Edited June 27, 2011 by debbiec

[Hunter's Moon]

"I worry my personality isn't right for it. I'm not bubbly and energetic. I'm friendly, but calm and serene and people sometimes take it to mean I'd prefer not to be with them. I'm also generally quiet around new people. I'm not the take charge person you would expect an OT to be. But, I can take charge if necessary. "

 

Having a child with special needs and involved with the special needs community in my city, OT's come in every personality type, the main thing is to genuinely love what you are doing. Some (special needs) kids do really well with the bubbly type and some kids do much better with someone who is more serene, but firm and in control We have had OT therapists of both types, and really, depending on the diagnosis, one personality type may be preferred over another for a patient. Word of mouth gets out quickly in the special needs community (or mine anyway) about what various OT therapists are like and if they are a good fit for their child. I live in a large medical city and have several friends who are fabulous OT therapists. They are all very nice (young) women who work with special needs, and I would only classify one of them as "bubbly." :)

 

Self-conscious about working with kids when parents are watching: that will change when you build confidence in your classes and training in what you are doing. I do things now that I would NEVER have thought I could/would do based on my personality (which sounds similar to yours). Parents bring their kids to OT because they need help; help an OT therapist is able to provide that they cannot.

 

I appreciate your concerns (about that) but at the end of the day, I would go with what you love if you can afford it.

One of the best bits of advice I heard once about choosing a career path or making a choice between jobs (and cannot decide with most things being equal) ~ "which job would you do for free." The point being, sometimes we can be driven by other things that we are not aware of and forget to find something we truly find meaningful, which in turn would reduce the amount of career changes that you would like to avoid.

 

Have you thought about shadowing someone in the various fields for a few hours this summer? An OT therapist, a medical coder, etc? My high school senior is doing this (somewhat reluctantly though he admist it IS helpful, because he walks out with a sometimes different feeling about the job than he initially had).

 

I do not know a lot about OT as a career, but it seems most of the OT's I know have had a lot of flexibility in their jobs when needed (various working venues, and hours) which was nice when they married and had children to not be tied in full time, but still allowed them to work part-time and keep up their licences. Again, shadow a job and ask around.

 

Just throwing some things about there. I'm not well informed, but just making some friendly suggestions.

 

I believe OT makes fairly more money that a coder and some of the other things you mentioned, and if you are paying back loans, that might be a consideration. You might also consider when with some of the other jobs, if you would be a contract employee (with few benefits) or a full time employee with full benefits. Just something to consider and think about on the practical side.

 

Thank you for this.

 

Generally, I'd like to get to the point in OT where I can work with infants and toddlers with developmental delays/Down Syndrome/Cerebral Palsy/etc. I am thinking I would have to get involved with the 0-3 public school program.

 

I did apply to one school for OT and will be applying to another within the next few weeks. I figured I'd apply before the deadline, and if I'm accepted, I'll have until May 1st to think on it.

 

Growing up, I knew an OT. He was our next door neighbor from the time I was a baby to the time I was 10. He worked at my elementary school, and then I met up with him again in 8th grade when I saw him at my middle school. He took me out of preschool sometimes with the other children he was working with and let me join in :lol: I remember a lot of the activities that were done. I'll have to see about getting a hold of him. I don't know if he is still working in the field, but he'd still be very useful.

 

Thanks :001_smile:

[debbiec]

Thank you for this.

 

Generally, I'd like to get to the point in OT where I can work with infants and toddlers with developmental delays/Down Syndrome/Cerebral Palsy/etc. I am thinking I would have to get involved with the 0-3 public school program.

 

 

Thanks :001_smile:

 

My son has Down Syndrome and we had OT in the pre-school years, mostly through OT's that worked with the state's early intervention program (making you a state employee with great benefits). Some came to our house and some came to the two day a week program he attended. In my humble opinion, they had the best job ever! :D