What would you suggest to someone who is about to enter college?
I know that 'follow your passion' is probably the best answer, but what would you pick if the passon was not a factor.
20 replies (most recent on top)
The No Major major is the one for me. I think it will take me places
Trades in general have superior job security without incurring massive college debt. You don’t need to be a union to be an auto mechanic or a plumber. Can’t do those jobs remotely from India and the Philippines. Plus, most states have licensing requirements for trades which create barriers to entry for outsiders.
Cyber Security or something related - tons of jobs, good pay, good advancement opportunities
history
Commercial refrigeration repair. You'll always have work no matter where you live, and it doesn't cost a fortune to get into the field.
Canada is not #1 in fresh water, but go ahead and keep telling lies.
And the whole "learn a trade so you can't be outsourced" argument is hilarious. Trades are just as political as offices are, so sure you might have a marketable skill, but unless you have a buddy in the union, good luck getting one of the good jobs.
Don't believe me, look into becoming a longshoreman.
Water resources engineering. From water reclamation to salt water conversion water resources will be the next big shortage the whole world will be dealing in. Value out compared to energy in is on the cusp of salt water conversion to fresh water. Canada holds 3/4 of all fresh water resources in the world.
IT guy here. Stay away from IT - anything that can go over a wire can (and will) go offshore.
Don't "follow your passion". That's terrible advice. Better advice is "follow the money", then you can afford your passion. Never turn your passion into "work".
Also suggest that college is not the best route. Nowadays college has become little more than political indoctrination, with students graduating heavily in debt with degrees that are worthless in the job markets of the real world.
Instead, look into trade school. Focus on something that requires a skill AND physical presence (so it can't be outsourced).
OP,
Are you good at science. or math, or more creative interests? Decide that with yourself and use that in your decision. "Follow your passion" is still sage advice. It has proved successfull in all disciplines. If you do what interests you and also what you love, and your good at it the money will follow. It always does sooner or later.
It depends on how far you want to go.
The trucking and warehouse industry pushed all that " just in time" inventory BS years ago to create more trucking business. This was a total fraud that most US companies fell for hook ,line and sinker. This is what really created the supply chain problems we have now. Companies relying on trucks to replenish their inventories daily which was a big failure waiting to happen. Not to mention our roads and highways being unnecessarily clogged up with trucks 24 × 7.
@jsu+1fDptwmU
Truck driving has maybe a decade left at most. Every major automaker is pouring money into how to automate trucking and it sped up after their mo--nic show in Canada.
Follow your passion is probably the worst advice. Choose a major that will allow you to earn a good living right out of college. Use your free time and hobbies to follow your passion. College is too expensive to major in something that doesn't lead to a job/career.
Doesn't matter what you study, focus on networking with the rich/legacy kids at your school to get hooked up with their parents businesses.
Otherwise you're in the rat race like the rest of us.
Do you not have family or friends, OP? Seems like a post for Reddit not a layoff site.
Is that disengenuous or disingenuous?
Get a Bachelors of Fine Art in Musical Theatre (I did). Useless you say? I actually use it every single day to navigate the swaths of disengenuous KoolAid drinkers and disingenuous candor flingers while wearing several different hats and wearing a myriad of different faces to stave off the corporate elite. I’m as fake to them as they are to me.. I’m just aware of it.🤷🏻
I think the person first needs to think about what type of life he/she would like to have. Some people are happiest living off the grid. Some people want a lavish lifestyle. The health industry is one of the fastest growing fields, but I personally would never want to work in that field. If the person is interested in science, I would recommend something in engineering or artificial intelligence. Google would probably give you multiple articles on the topic.
Forget College, unless you want to carry debt for a worthless degree the rest of your life..
Go to trade school and learn a trade
Truck driving or crane operator
Information Technology. Lots of opportunities to telecommute and there’s a wide variety of jobs within the field. It’s needed in many industries.