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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
   
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | You should just marry a rich dude. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| Accounting...there is and always will be a need for an accountant and the hours for the most part are good (if you work for a CPA firm that does taxes or auditing you'll most likely work some weekends and have to do some traveling at times during the year). Getting your CPA will open a lot of doors, too. I'm doing pretty well salary wise with just a bachelor's in accounting, but feel the need to complete my CPA. If you decide that accounting is for you and you want to pursue your CPA be sure to know your state's requirements prior to leaving school. Most states require additional credits; Oregon requires enough credits that it makes sense for most graduates to pursue a Master's Degree. I don't have my Master's, but screwed around long enough in college trying to determine what I wanted to do that I have enough credits (don't go this route...LOL). The CPA will open doors, but just having my degree in accounting has allowed me to work in public accounting, banking, and private industry. I've never worked weekends, but have done some business travel. The other nice thing about accounting is most companies have the ability to allow their employees to work remotely. So there are times that I have a task that has to be done, but really want to be gone on a Friday and this has allowed me to complete the work at home and still be able to have a three day weekend. Or stay home because I have a sick horse or need to take care of family things. | |
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Veteran
Posts: 195
| GWR - 2014-07-21 12:06 PM
Accounting...there is and always will be a need for an accountant and the hours for the most part are good (if you work for a CPA firm that does taxes or auditing you'll most likely work some weekends and have to do some traveling at times during the year). Getting your CPA will open a lot of doors, too. I'm doing pretty well salary wise with just a bachelor's in accounting, but feel the need to complete my CPA. If you decide that accounting is for you and you want to pursue your CPA be sure to know your state's requirements prior to leaving school. Most states require additional credits; Oregon requires enough credits that it makes sense for most graduates to pursue a Master's Degree. I don't have my Master's, but screwed around long enough in college trying to determine what I wanted to do that I have enough credits (don't go this route...LOL).  The CPA will open doors, but just having my degree in accounting has allowed me to work in public accounting, banking, and private industry. I've never worked weekends, but have done some business travel.  The other nice thing about accounting is most companies have the ability to allow their employees to work remotely. So there are times that I have a task that has to be done, but really want to be gone on a Friday and this has allowed me to complete the work at home and still be able to have a three day weekend.  Or stay home because I have a sick horse or need to take care of family things.          Â
I'm a CPA that works for a non-profit. Although I don't usually work weekends, our year end is June 30th, which equals working almost every single day during the month of July (including the 4th). It means missing a lot of family time and barrel races. Just something to think about. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1599
| I was the girl whose parents had to force to finish college because I swore all I was going to do was train horses. To this day I am so grateful I finished my degree (in Animal Science). I too was lost for awhile but fell into Project Management in the aerospace industry. I LOVE it, and I do agree with the "man job" thing. I work hard but finally have the $$ to do what I love and live comfortably. Very blessed!
ETA: A 4-year degree WILL help you get ahead no matter what it is or what you decide to do. I would not be where I am without one, even though it's unrelated to my field.
Edited by lopnaround 2014-07-21 4:01 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I am only 21 so I will try to help you out here. I went to school for Marketing as my parents were going to rip me limb from limb if I didn't get an education. Do I think my education helped me get my job? Not really but it gets your foot in the door. I have a kick ass resume which really helps too. I work for a restoration company, what we do is when your house burns down or you have a flood, and you claim insurance, we are the guys that fix your house to the way it was. We also do private renos and whatnot. I think insurance is a great field to be in as we all will always need insurance. I am a PMA(Project Managers Assistant) and while I don't make the big bucks quite yet, I am salaried so can work the hours I want, as well as a company phone and unlimited use of their vehicles, trailers, equipment etc. my bosses are great but I am also good at my job.
All I can say is don't take the easy route, you wont last very long at an easy, mindless job. Do something you enjoy and get an education. Good luck!!!  | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 316
| Dink - 2014-07-21 12:49 PM GWR - 2014-07-21 12:06 PM Accounting...there is and always will be a need for an accountant and the hours for the most part are good (if you work for a CPA firm that does taxes or auditing you'll most likely work some weekends and have to do some traveling at times during the year). Getting your CPA will open a lot of doors, too. I'm doing pretty well salary wise with just a bachelor's in accounting, but feel the need to complete my CPA. If you decide that accounting is for you and you want to pursue your CPA be sure to know your state's requirements prior to leaving school. Most states require additional credits; Oregon requires enough credits that it makes sense for most graduates to pursue a Master's Degree. I don't have my Master's, but screwed around long enough in college trying to determine what I wanted to do that I have enough credits (don't go this route...LOL). The CPA will open doors, but just having my degree in accounting has allowed me to work in public accounting, banking, and private industry. I've never worked weekends, but have done some business travel. The other nice thing about accounting is most companies have the ability to allow their employees to work remotely. So there are times that I have a task that has to be done, but really want to be gone on a Friday and this has allowed me to complete the work at home and still be able to have a three day weekend. Or stay home because I have a sick horse or need to take care of family things. I'm a CPA that works for a non-profit. Although I don't usually work weekends, our year end is June 30th, which equals working almost every single day during the month of July (including the 4th ). It means missing a lot of family time and barrel races. Just something to think about.
Yes, you are right. There are times that we have to put in our time and work more than at other times during the year, but I don't think there is a job out there that at somepoint during the year you're not going to have to put in some more hours than other times. Like in banking, my busiest time that I worked the most was during our renewal season, which luckily since it was mostly an ag lender that time was January and February. Or if you work for a public accounting firm doing taxes you most likely will put in a lot of hours from February to April 15, but then it seems like the rest of the year you have plenty of time to do things you'd like to be doing. The company I work for now, the busiest time is during our month end and year end, but even with that I would say I still don't averge much more than 40 hours a week because then there are times that we're not as busy and I work less than 40 hours some weeks. I am fortunate that our year end is December 31 and our parent companies year end is March 31, which are times of the year that I am not worried about having to work more. I do have a friend who is the controller for a large company and she has her CPA. She works A LOT...I mean 10 hour days and at lest 3 Saturday's in the month. I think that comes down to knowing the company you are working for...you have to ask the right questions when you interview or you decide you are willing to do that because the money you make makes it worth it to work that much. | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 204
| I'm an Accounting Analyst at a private company and make just as much if not more than a CPA without as many ridiculous hours as a public company. I had originally planned on taking the CPA but just decided it wasn't for me. If I could do it all over again...I'd probably do HR or something else with that involves more extroverted interaction (I'm a very outgoing person and not a fan of sitting in front of a computer for 8-10 hours a day lol)...I chose accounting because I was good at it and knew it would pay well. It's not horrible or anything..it's just not that fulfilling to me. But that's just me. Luckily the company is awesome and the department I'm in is a blast so it makes it a lot better! My company also encourages rotating positions every few years - so while I may not LOVE what I'm doing now, I have a chance to move around and find something I do love! So when you're debating career choices...do what you LOVE...I know that sounds cliche but it's true!
However, I am grateful I did choose a career that will let me go wherever I want! And since I have the business background from my accounting degree I've been thinking of switching to Marketing or HR when my life is a little less hectic (plus I'm only 25...lots of time to figure life out!)...that's the beauty of a business degree! Good luck! Enjoy college - those were an AMAZING 4 years!
Edited by TheMidasTouch 2014-07-22 9:38 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 204
| GWR - 2014-07-21 4:10 PM Dink - 2014-07-21 12:49 PM GWR - 2014-07-21 12:06 PM Accounting...there is and always will be a need for an accountant and the hours for the most part are good (if you work for a CPA firm that does taxes or auditing you'll most likely work some weekends and have to do some traveling at times during the year). Getting your CPA will open a lot of doors, too. I'm doing pretty well salary wise with just a bachelor's in accounting, but feel the need to complete my CPA. If you decide that accounting is for you and you want to pursue your CPA be sure to know your state's requirements prior to leaving school. Most states require additional credits; Oregon requires enough credits that it makes sense for most graduates to pursue a Master's Degree. I don't have my Master's, but screwed around long enough in college trying to determine what I wanted to do that I have enough credits (don't go this route...LOL). The CPA will open doors, but just having my degree in accounting has allowed me to work in public accounting, banking, and private industry. I've never worked weekends, but have done some business travel. The other nice thing about accounting is most companies have the ability to allow their employees to work remotely. So there are times that I have a task that has to be done, but really want to be gone on a Friday and this has allowed me to complete the work at home and still be able to have a three day weekend. Or stay home because I have a sick horse or need to take care of family things. I'm a CPA that works for a non-profit. Although I don't usually work weekends, our year end is June 30th, which equals working almost every single day during the month of July (including the 4th ). It means missing a lot of family time and barrel races. Just something to think about.
^^^This! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| TheMidasTouch - 2014-07-22 9:40 AM GWR - 2014-07-21 4:10 PM Dink - 2014-07-21 12:49 PM GWR - 2014-07-21 12:06 PM Accounting...there is and always will be a need for an accountant and the hours for the most part are good (if you work for a CPA firm that does taxes or auditing you'll most likely work some weekends and have to do some traveling at times during the year). Getting your CPA will open a lot of doors, too. I'm doing pretty well salary wise with just a bachelor's in accounting, but feel the need to complete my CPA. If you decide that accounting is for you and you want to pursue your CPA be sure to know your state's requirements prior to leaving school. Most states require additional credits; Oregon requires enough credits that it makes sense for most graduates to pursue a Master's Degree. I don't have my Master's, but screwed around long enough in college trying to determine what I wanted to do that I have enough credits (don't go this route...LOL). The CPA will open doors, but just having my degree in accounting has allowed me to work in public accounting, banking, and private industry. I've never worked weekends, but have done some business travel. The other nice thing about accounting is most companies have the ability to allow their employees to work remotely. So there are times that I have a task that has to be done, but really want to be gone on a Friday and this has allowed me to complete the work at home and still be able to have a three day weekend. Or stay home because I have a sick horse or need to take care of family things. I'm a CPA that works for a non-profit. Although I don't usually work weekends, our year end is June 30th, which equals working almost every single day during the month of July (including the 4th ). It means missing a lot of family time and barrel races. Just something to think about.
I'm going to jump on the accounting bandwagon as well. I have my bachelor's in accounting, as well as my MBA and CMA (Certified Management Accountant). I have been working for a private company as an accounting manager, and I can't say enough good things about my job and the people I work for. Yes, there are times during the year where I have to work weekends and bust my tail, and the work itself is demanding, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I have an amazing staff, and like a previous BB mentioned, I have the ability to work remotely from home say, if the weather is bad, I have a sick horse, etc.
Good luck!
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 Veteran
Posts: 135
Location: louisiana | miraclequarterhorses - 2014-07-19 12:31 PM
Okay, so I'm struggling with finding a major. I want a job sufficient enough to support my equine habit, but I don't want to be a brain surgeon lol. What do you ladies do, or what would you suggest? This year will be my freshman year of college and honestly the only thing I've considered is nursing.
my friend is going for a respiratory therapist, and I also have another that is an x-ray technician
Edited by jw1990 2014-07-22 12:16 PM
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 Ima Fickle Fan
Posts: 3547
Location: Texas | If I had to do it all over again, I would go into speech therapy. HUGE demand, great pay, high job satisfaction, and you can really set your own hours for the most part. | |
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