I made a mistake

[tvanho]

I could fill pages with my backstory, but I'll leave it short and sweet for now. I joined the military in 2004. There are slight times where its not bad(the days I have off), but I'm sure all the other INTPs here can imagine what a nightmarish job this is for an INTP. So I'm looking to get out here in the next year and a half, go back to school and get another job. But now I'm running into the hardest part for INTPs: figuring out what to do for a career.

I love computers and IT and if there were any entry level jobs out there, I would do that in a heartbeat(I'm actually doing distance learning for Computer and Information Science right now and am about halfway through my bachelors), but there aren't any jobs. Not for new grads, anyways, trust me, Ive checked.

I'll be 30 and have a wife and a kid to care for, so important to me is actually being able to get a job after I'm done with school, so another passion of mine, architecture, is out the window. I'm seriously thinking about going to a Community College for two years and becoming a Physical Therapy Assistant. The pay is decent and there are plenty of jobs out there. Any thoughts on that or my situation in general?

 

[TimeAsylums]

Computers definitely your best option, I know literally zip about the job market so I can't add anything there. I can imagine the horror of having an SJ military life for an INTP. Anyway, for short term I guess PTA would be fine, but obviously not until retirement right? So whatever your temporary or short term situation, computers will still be there long after.

I suppose browsing through @Architect's stuff or waiting for him to see this would work, er his thread Ask Architect

oh, and welcome to the forum!

 

[Pyropyro]

Welcome tvanho. Looks like computers would be good for you.

 

[tvanho]

Thanks for the welcome!

Maybe you're right and the best option is just to get something for the short term and wait until the job market opens up again for inexperienced computer jobs. I doubt PTA would be too long term, but who am I kidding, is any job long term for an INTP?

 

[Analyzer]

Do you enjoy programming/software or more of the hardware/IT kind of stuff?

 

[Duxwing]

Ask Architect, our resident computer wizard.

-Duxwing

 

[Valentas]

If you can't find work, then create your own.

Start freelancing.
Build reputation
????????????
Profit and happiness, no?

 

[tvanho]

That ask architect thread is pretty crazy, I might pop in there at some point.

My preference is completely with programming, I love every aspect of it. I absolutely know what I WANT to do, that's not the issue. My dream job would be programming video games. The problem is that from everything I've read and all the research I've done, aside from there not being any jobs for new graduates, I'll be between 30 and 35 with no experience when I would be attempting to enter the programming scene, and anyone will tell you, I might as well be 80 at that age, programming is a youngsters game.

The freelancing is an issue with that I'm also trying to support a family and need solid work with benefits. The obvious solution would be to stay in the military, I understand that and struggle with that thought every day, but its just not something I want to do anymore.

So basically I guess to sum up, I'm asking what kind of job would be good for a mid life career changer family man INTP? I just realized how difficult of a question that is for anyone, not just an INTP, oh well, its worth a chance asking, right?

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

Isn't there some sort of program that subsidizes veteran university education?

 

[walfin]

We should get SpaceYeti in, he's also a US army guy.

 

[tvanho]

There is and I fully plan on using it, it will pay for all the schooling I need...but, what to study...?

 

[scorpiomover]

Some computer companies hire on the advice of Human Resources, which usually wants someone who has been working in that precise field for the previous 6 months, and prefer someone with a degree.

However, the IT industry was built from people who were hobbyists much like yourself, who showed exceptional talents. All the jobs that I got, I got, because they either knew me personally as a computer whiz-kid, or they tested me, and I walked the test.

I actually know someone who got a job in a Java-based company at £40,000 a year, starting salary, because he just walked into the MD's office, and told him what he thought was wrong with the company. Mind you, this guy was really jammy. In university, he always seemed to get a woman, no matter what. At one point, he told me that he was dating 6 women at once, but had to give them up, because juggling them all was too hard.

As to what to study, I studied maths, not Computer Science. It certainly opened a lot of doors for me, because maths is highly regarded for anything requiring accuracy. Computer Science might help as well.

But I'm not a high-flyer like Architect. Best ask the super-successful IT people.

 

[BigApplePi]

We should get SpaceYeti in, he's also a US army guy.

@SpaceYeti. You've been referenced in this thread.

 

[Pyropyro]

Thanks for the welcome!

Maybe you're right and the best option is just to get something for the short term and wait until the job market opens up again for inexperienced computer jobs. I doubt PTA would be too long term, but who am I kidding, is any job long term for an INTP?

I think an INTP can have a long term job if said job can hold the INTP's penchant for novel projects and new intellectual stimulation.

 

[Etheri]

Edit : I just realised I replied in the completely wrong thread... My bad =/ Sorry!

WELCOME <:

 

[SpaceYeti]

other INTPs here can imagine what a nightmarish job this is for an INTP.

Nightmarish? I'm in, dude. It's not nightmarish. I mean, I'm not going to claim it's super-happy-fun-time, but it's also certainly not "nightmarish" (combat zones having a special sort of caveated exception). What's your MOS that your job is so horrible?

 

[TimeAsylums]

When I read the title of this thread I was expecting:

 

[tvanho]

Air force enlisted military police. Its certainly true that not every position in the military is bad( I actually had two great years that made me reenlist and that's where the real mistake comes in) but I think in general most INTPS would be put off by the military. Just in general the non stop micro management and requirement that I micromanage others and get completely into their lives. I've literally been told I am my subordinates parent right now. Im a pretty private person and I hate people getting involved in my personal life if i dont invite them in(INTP trait? Im not sure) and I hate just as much being forced into other peoples lives. ugh. Either way, I need to do something different.

edit: I realize I was being too general saying the military as a whole would be nightmarish to any INTP. Any industry will have jobs that an INTP would find acceptable, I'm sure. I suppose I've just become jaded with the military as a whole, but I do feel that any other INTP would find my specific situation extremely upsetting.

 

[TimeAsylums]

^Agreed. lol that would require so much (mental)compartmentalization and restrain.

 

[SpaceYeti]

... my specific situation...

Which is... ?

 

[tvanho]

Which is... ?

Everything I just explained about my current job situation in the main body of my post prior to my edit.

 

[SpaceYeti]

Everything I just explained about my current job situation in the main body of my post prior to my edit.

Well I didn't catch all that, then, and I don't see it there now. If you have a reason not to share, cool, but I'm actually having what might be called a "ball" in the Army. Granted, it really sucks, and my happiness is almost assuredly just my resilience and ability to be happy in the face of BS, but, ultimately, it's all attitude anyhow.

 

[Architect]

My preference is completely with programming, I love every aspect of it. I absolutely know what I WANT to do, that's not the issue. My dream job would be programming video games. The problem is that from everything I've read and all the research I've done, aside from there not being any jobs for new graduates, I'll be between 30 and 35 with no experience when I would be attempting to enter the programming scene, and anyone will tell you, I might as well be 80 at that age, programming is a youngsters game.

You've got this completely ass backwards. This is the greatest boom in IT & programming, you have a passion for it, and you're telling me that you'll be dead and over the hill at 33.5? Are you kidding me? I'm in my late 40's and I'd have started in it if it meant I was coming into the field at my age.

There are so many ways to find opportunity in software these days. You'd probably be especially dimwitted not to spend every spare moment you have coming up to speed in writing software.

So basically I guess to sum up, I'm asking what kind of job would be good for a mid life career changer family man INTP?

You're not even at mid life yet bucko.

 

[Valentas]

I agree with Architect. You need to stop listening to old grouches talking BS(see my thread I just made lol) and think for yourself. If you love the field, then go for it.

Do you want to be happy? Then go and do what makes you happy. ... The abundance of info makes others heads spin. You need to take a look to yourself and do whatever hell you want.

 

[RaBind]

Haven't worked in the IT industry but from what I've been told by my teachers it's a field that's in demand. The emergence of new languages and extensions to languages is probably the cause. Probably not gaming though, I'd think that's quite a competitive area.

 

[tvanho]

You've got this completely ass backwards. This is the greatest boom in IT & programming, you have a passion for it, and you're telling me that you'll be dead and over the hill at 33.5? Are you kidding me? I'm in my late 40's and I'd have started in it if it meant I was coming into the field at my age.

There are so many ways to find opportunity in software these days. You'd probably be especially dimwitted not to spend every spare moment you have coming up to speed in writing software.



You're not even at mid life yet bucko.

That's somewhat reassuring coming from someone in the biz( I assume). My biggest apprehension being that I can't find one job for software engineers or programmers that don't require 3-5 years experience. I'm guessing by your post that I am either looking in the wrong spots, searching the wrong way or there's a way to gain this experience that I am oblivious to. Whichever the case, I would be most gracious for the help!