Everybody has their own degrees of limitations of what they would do for money. Someone has to clean those dumpsters, if it pays well, more power to the dumpster divers. They won't be thinking of their trash endeavors when they spend the money on what they want or need.
I'm on the development side, so not sure how much I can help. I can vouch that experience rules in IT. Who you know also still applies as well though, so definitely work on your networking. There are TONS of people wanting to do IT work, but you need to know people to get the jobs you want. I came out right after the .dot bust, so I had hell finding a job. I ended up accepting a job as "the computer guy" at a small company for 22K a year. Wow, what a letdown right? Well, self-teaching and b/c of networking, I got a real development position and it just went from there. I moved from place to place gaining good experience, not only learning good things, but also taking note of what NOT to do. I'll also reinforce what someone else said. Be honest about what you do and don't know. You will earn a bad rep fast if you come in and say you know something and end up not knowing jack. Put the time in early on when you can. It pays off later, when you have other commitments such as family and care more about a work-life balance.
OK, fine, but studies have proven that if you are miserable daily with what you do then you will be unhappy in all aspects of your life. You might can sell yourself out for awhile but it will eventually catch up to you. Also, once you start making 100k per year you will realize that it may not be as wonderful as you thought it would be. But, its hard for me to tell you that if you haven't been there. Clean those dumpsters baby.
35. Wife. No kids. Look I'm not saying making 100k is bad, I'm just saying it may not be as glamorous as some think it is, especially since it seems so many of you are willing to sell your soul to get there. I'd take 70k and happy over 150k and miserable. You'll never be happy doing something you hate 40-50 hours per week no matter how much money you are making. If you hate it you will hate your life. Maybe it is my age (35) & the fact that I'm older than most of you I have that wisdom. Don't ever sell out for money. I've done it, I hated it, I'll never do it again.
Looking at those studies don't pay the bills as the saying goes. Selling yourself out sounds like a slacker's term for doing work. Going to the copier was too much of a strain, huh? Your general life stories are all well and nice, but actually vacuous and narrow minded view of the real world...you related to DD?
I get what SacTown is getting at I think, and I mentioned it in my post as well. As you get older, some value work-life balance more. Some people are workaholics. More power to you. I put in my time early on, showing up early and staying through to the next morning. I don't plan on going back. On the other hand, some people love the long grind.
You mad bro? $70k/yr pays the bill fine. It's not like he's advocating slacking at home and joining OWS.\ Personally I advocate not letting things at work get to you so much. I think a lot of people expect too much of work and so they get disappointed and end up malcontents. Work is work. Find something like you enough. If you're lucky you'll find something you really like or love. Unlucky and you won't like it as much. But if you absolutely hate it then you have to change jobs, if you have the ability.
Nah, just poking fun at his over use of the selling soul phrase. It's as if he sees someone actually busting their hump for the Man as "selling their soul". When did I say 70k doesn't pay the bills fine, my point is that he thinks it's "selling your soul" if you happen to have jobs like cleaning dumpsters for it, cause he assumes you hate your life for doing it (wait a sec, studies have shown that, my bad). And I say to each their own. I won't begrudge someone else for doing what they got to do to pay the bills (crimes and unscrupulous actions notwithstanding).
I didn't take it that way. It was The Real Shady that said he would clean dumpsters to make $100k. The Real Shady was the one that implied that cleaning dumpsters is one of the most horrible things he could think of. SacTown went off of that to notion to say it's not worth doing something you consider 'most horrible' just for money. I don't think SacTown was knocking blue collar work specifically. If your only way of making a living is cleaning dumpsters, then do what you have to do. If you have other options AND think cleaning dumpsters is the worst thing in the world... why would you stay... if you have options. In SacTown's case, he did have options and he took them.
I know what he was saying. I actually think it's a good idea to go for the money grab job at least once in your life, everyone needs life lessons on their own. They can make up their own minds when they cross that road. But again that does imply that you will have options.
