Joining the Navy

[Kullervo]

Lately I feel things with my job and my life in general have been coming to a head. I'm sick of my dead-end job, I hate not being able to afford anything, and I really just don't know what I want to do with myself. I can't really afford school, so the Navy seems like a good alternative. There I would be able to find a real job and possibly some direction for myself. It also wouldn't hurt to be able to travel abroad, which is something I sorely want to do.

Does anyone have any experience with the Navy/the military in general? Sarge, I know you hear me.

[Mozart]

I have thought about it since I have nothing going as well and no hope to go to school...but at the same time...ehhh

[MishaK]

Lately I feel things with my job and my life in general have been coming to a head. I'm sick of my dead-end job, I hate not being able to afford anything, and I really just don't know what I want to do with myself. I can't really afford school, so the Navy seems like a good alternative. There I would be able to find a real job and possibly some direction for myself. It also wouldn't hurt to be able to travel abroad, which is something I sorely want to do.

Does anyone have any experience with the Navy/the military in general? Sarge, I know you hear me.

Are you sure you don't qualify for any scholarships? There is quite a lot of money out there waiting to be taken, you just have to know where to look. If you are going to go the military route, at least do an ROTC program and have the military pay for you to get a decent education first.

[Kullervo]

Are you sure you don't qualify for any scholarships?

I don't think I qualify for many, and the ones that I would qualify for wouldn't be sufficient to pay my way through school without me being dangerously in debt by the end of it. I was not a very good student, and spent most of the time daydreaming and navel-gazing instead of doing homework — I'm suffering for it now.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I'd seriously recommend thinking about what you really enjoy doing, what you want to do with the rest of your life, and how you plan to get there! Maybe you are interested in cars and would like to be a mechanic? Maybe you like working with your hands, building things? You already expressed an interest in motorcycles (which I have nothing against, so long as they don't split my eardrums!)

Don't discount so-called "blue collar" jobs and don't discount skipping college alltogether if you are not interested and don't think you'll be happy there! College is not for everybody, period. Everyone would be much better off if more people realized this. And also, college (or at least four-year colleges) are not the only way to gain job skills.

If you're interested in trades, you could certainly take some classes at community colleges (for relatively little expense, at least compared to 4 year colleges and universitites), to get a little background, then do a bit of networking and look for internships or apprenticeships with successful practicioners in your future field! Most people are somewhat flattered to find you are interested in what they do, and that you might like to learn from them. Expect to pay your dues at first, doing fairly mundane tasks for not much money!

Good car mechanics, electricians, plumbers, builders, contractors, landscapers, etc.etc. will always be in demand and can pretty much live anywhere they like. And you have a good chance of making a very comfortable living if you're good at what you do and have basic people skills (politeness, punctuality, professionalism, etc.)

Scholarships are available for trade schools, and apprenticeships too!

[M forever]

Lately I feel things with my job and my life in general have been coming to a head. I'm sick of my dead-end job, I hate not being able to afford anything, and I really just don't know what I want to do with myself. I can't really afford school, so the Navy seems like a good alternative. There I would be able to find a real job and possibly some direction for myself. It also wouldn't hurt to be able to travel abroad, which is something I sorely want to do.

Does anyone have any experience with the Navy/the military in general? Sarge, I know you hear me.

It would be helpful if you let us know a little more about what your current job is, what education and job experience you have so far, what interest and aspirations, what you would ideally and/or realistically like to study and do for a living some day. Then I think we can give you much better and more specific advice.

[Kullervo]

It would be helpful if you let us know a little more about what your current job is, what education and job experience you have so far, what interest and aspirations, what you would ideally and/or realistically like to study and do for a living some day. Then I think we can give you much better and more specific advice.

I have a high school education, and all my past jobs have been crap retail positions.

I really don't know what I want to do. I'm interested in history, languages, culture, and other general things like that, but there isn't anything that seems like it would make a viable career for me.

[Kullervo]

I'd seriously recommend thinking about what you really enjoy doing, what you want to do with the rest of your life, and how you plan to get there! Maybe you are interested in cars and would like to be a mechanic? Maybe you like working with your hands, building things? You already expressed an interest in motorcycles (which I have nothing against, so long as they don't split my eardrums!)

Don't discount so-called "blue collar" jobs and don't discount skipping college alltogether if you are not interested and don't think you'll be happy there! College is not for everybody, period. Everyone would be much better off if more people realized this. And also, college (or at least four-year colleges) are not the only way to gain job skills.

If you're interested in trades, you could certainly take some classes at community colleges (for relatively little expense, at least compared to 4 year colleges and universitites), to get a little background, then do a bit of networking and look for internships or apprenticeships with successful practicioners in your future field! Most people are somewhat flattered to find you are interested in what they do, and that you might like to learn from them. Expect to pay your dues at first, doing fairly mundane tasks for not much money!

Good car mechanics, electricians, plumbers, builders, contractors, landscapers, etc.etc. will always be in demand and can pretty much live anywhere they like. And you have a good chance of making a very comfortable living if you're good at what you do and have basic people skills (politeness, punctuality, professionalism, etc.)

Scholarships are available for trade schools, and apprenticeships too!

Thanks for that. It's all very sensible advice, but I don't think a trade is for me.

[M forever]

I have a high school education, and all my past jobs have been crap retail positions.

I really don't know what I want to do. I'm interested in history, languages, culture, and other general things like that, but there isn't anything that seems like it would make a viable career for me.

Looks like you really have no other choice but to join the Navy then. Good luck, and try not to get killed!

[tjguitar]

I've lived in a household where pretty much "You're going to college" is the way....Doing otherwise is pretty much not an option.


I don't have any idea what I want to do with my life but I am majoring in music because it is interesting to me. I don't really want to get a career in this field, but who knows.

But the thing is, I've talked to many, many counselors/psychologists and they all say the same thing: that it doesn't matter what you get you major in, as long as you got it in something.  Ultimately, employers just want to see that you applied yourself and worked hard and earned your degree. Obviously it is helpful to get background in something you want and move forward with, but life doesn't always work out that way. I was thinking about getting a masters in library science and becoming a music librarian--or even just a regular librarian?  But who knows thats still a few years away.

I think a lot of life, especially the workforce, is more "who" you know than "what" you know, but unfortunately not everybody is that lucky.


I would have loved to get a job out of high school...go to communtiy college and get a certificate in something fun, but like I said that was not an option in my house. I definitely would not be going to college if I was the one who had to foot the ball, and I feel really bad when I hear about how my friends have to work extra jobs to pay for college and parents aren't willing to help out. But thats life I guess.

[Mozart]

I feel really bad when I hear about how my friends have to work extra jobs to pay for college and parents aren't willing to help out. But thats life I guess.

Working and doing college just isn't an option if you like to sleep.

[MishaK]

I don't think I qualify for many, and the ones that I would qualify for wouldn't be sufficient to pay my way through school without me being dangerously in debt by the end of it. I was not a very good student, and spent most of the time daydreaming and navel-gazing instead of doing homework — I'm suffering for it now.

Don't just discount the possibility that there is the right scholarship out there for you. Seriously, do yourself the favor and do a solid couple of days of research on this before giving up on college entirely. Not all scholarships are based on high school grades alone. There really is a ton of money out there for grabs that doesn't even get claimed every year because people don't necessarily know about the existence of certain scholarships. Don't be so bummed by your prior academic record to become complacent and not look up what scholarships are out there. Some colleges are also far more generous with financial aid than one would think.

[Earthlight]

I'm interested in history, languages, culture, and other general things like that, but there isn't anything that seems like it would make a viable career for me.

Do you have any flair for languages at all? That might be something to talk to the recruiter about. The government in general is desperate for anybody who can read a shopping list in, say, Russian or Arabic.

I hope Sarge or some active/long-time military person floats through here and can tell you more of what to expect and ask about.

[Kullervo]

Looks like you really have no other choice but to join the Navy then. Good luck, and try not to get killed!

So what did you do? Have you been completely successful in every venture throughout your entire life? Why do you feel you have to be condescending to me?

[MishaK]

Do you have any flair for languages at all? That might be something to talk to the recruiter about. The government in general is desperate for anybody who can read a shopping list in, say, Russian or Arabic.

I don't believe they care about Russian much anymore. There is still an oversupply of Russian translators. Arabic definitely, also Kazakh and Uzbek are very hot.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

But the thing is, I've talked to many, many counselors/psychologists and they all say the same thing: that it doesn't matter what you get you major in, as long as you got it in something.  Ultimately, employers just want to see that you applied yourself and worked hard and earned your degree....

This is exactly why you and others at your stage in life need to talk to some people in the real world. The sad fact is that the great majority of employers could not care less what you did in college, what your GPA was, or that you were captain of intramural football team. Most employers don't care whether you "applied yourself" or whether you lied, cheated, and BS-ed your way through school.  (In fact, unfortunately, if you did, you will appear to be very good managment material!) Really, the most important consideration is whether you have the skills, knowledge, and maturity necessary to do the job and to make a positive contribution to their bottom line! Regardless of what your degree is in, or how hard you applied yourself, most employers are going to want to see some real-world experience (possibly a lot of it!) before they'll even think of giving you a job. As, I have said elsewhere, many entry -level positions now require Masters degrees!

In today's world, most people will have more than one employer, and many will have more than one career. The old days in which an employer would take primary responsiblity for your training, would give you a pension and a bit of job security are over. There are too many people, too many qualified graduates, for that! I hate to sound like a curmudgeon and to discourage you, but the alternative is that you will listen to these counselers, and not think about the consequences of aimlessly going through school, racking up a huge amount of debt, not acquiring necessary skills to get a job, and suffering for it in the long run!

None of this is to say you can't dream big, and get what you want out of life. Just don't put too much stock in your counselers' advice here!

[Solitary Wanderer]

Something I did when I was in-between careers was to go through the Yellow Pages A-Z and jot down all the possible vocations that interest you; literally write down everything thats remotely interesting to you. You'll turn up many things that you'd never have otherwise considered.

I don't know the situation in the States, but often a short course at night school or tech will get you an attendance certificate in an area that interests you then start pursuing job opportunities in that direction. The certificate will show you're keen and someone will give you a break

The idea of joining the armed forces sounds like a last resort to me  

Good luck

[M forever]

A friend of mine here who was in the Army went through the Russian translator program in Monterey. He showed me his study material and the kind of tests they had to take. That was definitely a little more than reading a shopping list. He speaks Russian really fluently even though he hasn't used it much during the last 10 years. But they hammered that into the students in 1 1/2 or 2 years or so, in mega-intensive training courses. Definitely not something for somebody who likes to do a little bit of this and a little bit of that, quite apart rom the fact that they probably really don't need quite as much Russian translators anymore as they used to back then (that was in the 80s when he took his course).

So what did you do? Have you been completely successful in every venture throughout your entire life? Why do you feel you have to be condescending to me?

I wasn't being condescending at all. I meant that seriously. You have no defined aims, no really specific interests, no qualified job experience of any kind, no particular skills, no interest in learning a trade, no money to go to college, what else do you want to do apart from continuing to work in "retail crap jobs"?

My personal experiences won't be of much help for you. At your age, I had the opposite set of problems. I was very deeply interested in a number of subjects, played the bass like a young devil and already made some reasonably good money with that (for the kind of lifestyle I had then), was massively interested in technical subjects and a few other things, had already worked several years in arthouse cinemas as a projectionist since I was 15 (not the kind you find in largely automated multiplex cinemas today, the old school kind who could run and adjust everything manually, and that was paid really well back then) and had a lot of experience working with sound systems of diverse sorts, so I also had a really hard time figuring out what to do, but not because there was nothing that really held my interest, but because of the exact opposite. I thought long and hard about studying either music or electrical engineering and it was really hard for me to make up my mind. For a while, I also thought pretty seriously about studying archaeology (no joke), but I then decided to study music and sound engineering on the side.

To answer your other question, no, I haven't been successful "in all my ventures", some things work out for you, some don't, but then you just battle on. But I wouldn't call what you have under your belt so far "ventures" of any kind, it looks more like the avoidance of "ventures".

You seem to be pretty sensitive and defensive about not really having been active in doing much so far, that tells me that it is high time for you to get your ass off the couch and kicked a little. It appears to me that the Navy might help you with that.

[tjguitar]

This is exactly why you and others at your stage in life need to talk to some people in the real world. The sad fact is that the great majority of employers could not care less what you did in college, what your GPA was, or that you were captain of intramural football team. Most employers don't care whether you "applied yourself" or whether you lied, cheated, and BS-ed your way through school.  (In fact, unfortunately, if you did, you will appear to be very good managment material!) Really, the most important consideration is whether you have the skills, knowledge, and maturity necessary to do the job and to make a positive contribution to their bottom line! Regardless of what your degree is in, or how hard you applied yourself, most employers are going to want to see some real-world experience (possibly a lot of it!) before they'll even think of giving you a job. As, I have said elsewhere, many entry -level positions now require Masters degrees!

In today's world, most people will have more than one employer, and many will have more than one career. The old days in which an employer would take primary responsiblity for your training, would give you a pension and a bit of job security are over. There are too many people, too many qualified graduates, for that! I hate to sound like a curmudgeon and to discourage you, but the alternative is that you will listen to these counselers, and not think about the consequences of aimlessly going through school, racking up a huge amount of debt, not acquiring necessary skills to get a job, and suffering for it in the long run!

None of this is to say you can't dream big, and get what you want out of life. Just don't put too much stock in your counselers' advice here!

My dad owns a business...I think he'd have a clue.  The stats show that those with degrees end up making more. Of course stats dont necessarily mean anything, but what esle is there?

Those who have a degree are going to have a better chance of getting that job than someone who doesn't.  Of course experience means everything, but everyone has to start somewhere....thats the hardest damn part....

[Kullervo]

what else do you want to do apart from continuing to work in "retail crap jobs"?

Where I come from, retail jobs are all you can get.

But I wouldn't call what you have under your belt so far "ventures" of any kind, it looks more like the avoidance of "ventures".

It's not so much avoidance as it is uncertainty and lack of opportunity. Who would want to hire someone whose last job was a Walmart Supercenter? The point of joining the Navy would be to gain that needed experience.

You seem to be pretty sensitive and defensive about not really having been active in doing much so far

Not defensive, just frustrated.