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 Expert
Posts: 1304
 
| I'm sure I've posted this in the past or have seen others post this as well but I'm looking for some career/job direction! I'm a junior in college majoring in Agribusiness Management and Rural Development with a lot of flexibility to take any class offered by the ag college here at my university that I want (I've been taking a lot of animal science/management courses). I feel like I'm very broad and diverse so I have many interests but can't seem to make up my mind on a specific path or career goal to go towards. I currently work at Southern States and as a caregiver and have worked for a Kubota/Massey Ferguson dealership this past summer as well as other minimum wage jobs like Tractor Supply and as a lifeguard, fast food worker in high school. I have been volunteering at an animal hospital for a good while too. Not only am I interested in agriculture, beef cattle, etc but I also am interested in special education or education in general. Very different from my degree but I'll be talking to an advisor next week about the masters program offered here and I've started taking some classes to minor in it and see if I like it. I've thought about teaching agriculture too. I still though am having a hard time focusing on what specific goal. I don't have to make the most money out there but I would like to be able to support myself and be able to eventually make enough to have a horse again and show in the future. I would like a happy medium between doing what I like but making decent money to survive, and I'm not the fondest of spending boo-koos of money on more and more education because I'm pretty debt free right now and have my scholarships that have covered my bachelors. I live in WV by the way close to the MD/PA border. Any thoughts on any careers I haven't thought about or what it's like to be a teacher in these fields? |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
 
Location: Florida | Friends don't let friends become teachers. I have yet to meet a teacher who wants their child to go into teaching. You will be underpaid, overworked, unappreciated and micromanaged. I am speaking from 35 years experience.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1074
| AMEN Vickie! Teaching isn't the job it used to be. I would recommend staying in school and finishing your Masters, especially if you can afford it.
Have you thought any about USDA jobs? Have you checked with your State Agriculture Extension? |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 746
Location: Missouri | I have a degree in Animal Science and Ag. Business. I felt when I was looking for a job that most of your career options were more Agronomy based or sales/marketing (seed, chemicals, etc). I found the university or most of the better-paying USDA jobs required a master's, but the compensation was not great compared to the expense of Master's degree.
I do not use my degree at all.
If I were to go back and redo my education part, I would probably go into nursing or something of the sorts. However, I am happy with where I work.
I worked at an Elementary school for a year after college and although I loved the children, I would not wish teaching in the current system on anyone. |
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 The Vaccinator
Posts: 3810
Location: Slipping down the slope of old age. Boo hoo. | Get an Accounting degree. The field of accounting is growing by leaps and bounds and ALL businesses require Accountants/CPAs within their business and outside of their business. The pay is excellent and lots of room to grow....
I would not recommend teaching. I agree with what others have said... poor pay and long hours during the school year.
Accountants don't just do taxes -- they do cost accounting at businesses, strategic planning.... analysis costs..... etc. It is actually an extremely interesting career. Don't sell yourself short by saying you do not need a lot of money -- you need to make as much as you can -- so you can stash away money for your retirement years! Live small, save big.
So refreshing to read that you are basically debt free for your education - try very hard to stay that way! I know 50 year old who still have $30,000 or more of college loan debt -- and no retirement savings. Scary.
You sound like the type of person I'd want to hire...... good luck to you! |
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 On the Countdown
Posts: 2934
Location: Texas | I have a Agribusiness/Animal Science degree and I teach. If I didn't teach at the campus I taugt at I wouldn't be teaching I don't think. I teach at a disciplinary campus and love it! When I leave at 3:30 I don't have to worry about anything until the next morning when I walk in. My boss is super and lets us off when we need it, small campus and we all pitch in. |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Thank you for all of the advice everyone! Is teaching really that bad?! I've heard the good and the bad when it comes to that. I actually was set up to have an internship with our county extension office at home this summer but I really hate to go home and have to waste money on rent for my lease and not use it, and our house is up for sale so I don't wanna take the risk of not having somewhere to stay. So I asked if I could maybe intern with them for 2-3 weeks around our fair in case they needed an extra hand and I'm waiting to hear back, and I still will try and get an internship here at school with one of the county extension offices around me. I also have a list I need to knock out once I get a free day and print out my resume. It includes some USDA county offices around me, some tractor dealerships (since I previously worked for one this summer), a local horse stable, and a few other places I believe. I wish that I was dedicated and smart when it came to accounting or anything somewhat math related! I don't do very well with math; English and reading are my stronger skills. I did poorly in my accounting class and did the best I could to pass! I really appreciate you saying that! And I'm going to try my hardest not to go into debt. I can be very cheap and like saving money so that will help me! I'm really trying to pray and think about my future and what paths I need to take and goals I need to reach, but I think I may over think a tad too much sometimes and it's making things difficult! I've actually considered nursing but nursing school is expensive and my mother was a nurse and I saw the toll it took on her. I'm considering a masters degree or some kind of secondary training depending on the road I decide to take. What are disciplinary campuses? Alternative schools? I'll have to do some research and more googling. So much to think about. Thank you all! |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| My dad was a principal for over 35 years, I have good friends who are retired principals - they USED to have an AWESOME retirement plan and great benefits. Now they are underpaid babysitters to a bunch of unruly brats who have no manners. No WAY would I go into teaching today. |
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Location: naz, tx | The USDA is a good option. I work as a clerk in the NRCS and the people who work in this office make good money and have a lot of good benefits. It's a pretty interesting job. There is a lot of planning and map making in the office, but you also get to go out in the field part of the time too. I'm sure it's different work in other parts of the country. In our office we do a lot of irrigation and pipline designs. Other places do more rangeland work..... Anyways, it's worth checking into! I taught high school for two years, and I love this quiet office so much more than the classroom! |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
Location: Where I am happiest | You could combine the 2 and teach Ag. |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | I don't think teaching ag would be bad. I would say teaching core classes that have state tests would be where its a PITA. I taught high school science and changed careers. I loved it but... |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | Given your background and interest in special education, have you considered working with a handicapped riding program? http://www.pathintl.org/ |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1100
Location: Southeastern Idaho | Vickie - 2015-01-19 11:51 AM
Friends don't let friends become teachers. I have yet to meet a teacher who wants their child to go into teaching. You will be underpaid, overworked, unappreciated and micromanaged. I am speaking from 35 years experience.
Ditto. Until the main stream feeling of "anti-teacher" changes I wouldn't want my children to go into teaching. I have taught for 15 years. The red tape and restrictions are only getting worse, I feel that we no longer are doing what is best for kids. Even though many great teachers I know are doing their best to keep kids at the forefront. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1210
Location: Kansas | I'm a teacher and I love coming to work! Do I make good money? No. Do I wish I would have chose a different career? Only on paydays when my entire paycheck goes towards bills and I have none left over. But I leave work happy!! Now I just need to find me a sugar daddy... ;) |
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Expert
Posts: 1304
| Sorry it took so long to reply!! I've considered therapeutic work with horses and have looked into volunteering, I just need to go and see whether I would enjoy it or not. I have also looked into teaching ag but remember an ag teacher telling me DON'T be a teacher so that thought is also in the back of my mind! I'm very torn but am currently trying to figure it out and do some soul searching on what I need to do. I'm looking for internships and caught wind of one I will apply for once available. Very many different paths and it's confusing to me, thanks everyone! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 920
| I teach art. I like it most days. Kids are different too. No enthusiasm on their own. I enjoy it though and get a lot of fulfillment from it. I think that makeup for some of the pay. Plus the summertime is an added perk. I know several teachers work a side job. I would like to find some extra. Nothing strenuous. Lol. I also enjoy feeling like a bright spot in some of these kids day. Some don't have much, not even a loving family. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Vickie - 2015-01-19 12:51 PM
Friends don't let friends become teachers. I have yet to meet a teacher who wants their child to go into teaching. You will be underpaid, overworked, unappreciated and micromanaged. I am speaking from 35 years experience.
I had to laugh at this. I have taught for 39 years and would not recommend it at all. Kids do not want to learn anything and parents side with the kids. Too much drama not enough learning
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | If you're looking at volunteering to see if it would be a fit, It may be a drive for you. But we volunteer at Lift Me Up! in Great Falls, VA. I think you would be surprised at how great you feel once you leave.
http://www.liftmeup.org/
Edited by Crowned Image 2015-01-27 8:29 AM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 838
Location: Georgia | My husband is an Agriculture teacher and he's loves his job. However being the wife and mother of our two children, it becomes very stressful. He's gone at least 1-2 nights per week to contests or livestock shows and also 1-3 weekends per month depending on the time of year it is. His job is very rewarding and I love to see the connection and imprint he puts on his students, but be prepared to put in a lot of long hours. Depending on your area/state you choose to teach in, you will also have summer work as well. Whether it's working at the barn with summer livestock or working at the cannery. My husband teaches in Gilmer County Georiga which is Apple county and they run their cannery almost year round canning fruits, veggies, and meats. If the state pays well, you will be granted what's called extended day/extended year. Luckily my husband makes quite a bit extra from that. It's a very great and rewarding career, but very demanding. I do love being an Aggie wife though! |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| barrelrider - 2015-01-19 1:23 PM AMEN Vickie! Teaching isn't the job it used to be. I would recommend staying in school and finishing your Masters, especially if you can afford it. Have you thought any about USDA jobs? Have you checked with your State Agriculture Extension?
BOOM. THIS ^^^
Check out USAJOBS.GOV to give you a good idea of what the education requirements are and also for the pay you could potentially make. Check out the Rural Development programs, the FSA programs, NRCS etc. You most certainly will make substantially more in the federal goverment with a Masters than a Bachelors.
Google the local extension agents in areas you feel like you could excel, ask to shadow them for a few days? Extension can be a nice cross between teaching and informing the public but also pulling down a decent paycheck depending on the state you get lined up in. |
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boon
Posts: 1
| My undergrad degree was in business, and I spent 15 years with the same company. The last two years was not fulfilling. I did the alternative cert route and became an English teacher. It was the best move I've ever made. Yes, it is hard work, 70+ hours per week. I am an urban educator by choice, so I feel that carries some extra burden. However, do not do it for the schedule. I work year round, with my summers being utilized to add bells and whistles to my lessons for the next year. Depending on your state the retirement is generous as well. See if you can job shadow some teachers before you make the jump. |
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OT-Career thoughts (teaching included)