If it paid better, what would you like to do

[Nikia]

Some of us are unhappy with our jobs but stay because it pays alright, which cannot be said for the alternatives. Still, I am really considering ditching my job anyway. Feeling disappointed that I wake up alive on work mornings isn't a good sign. Who cares that I am in debt and can barely pay the bills anyway if it is coming to what it is coming to?
I am milling over the possibilities. I don't think that I want to work in a restaurant, which is usually hard during busy times. I don't want to work for Walmart obviously. I've had fatigue problems as it is so heavy labor might not be for me. I think that it would be cool to work in a book store, but a lot of people seem to think that too and I never see signs or advertisements. I am typing a lot faster now so I might qualify to do data entry through a temp agency and is what I think that I would do if they would hire me.
Really, I'd rather be a writer, but don't know if I could make any money at that, let alone above minimum wage.
Does anyone have other ideas? Even if you aren't advising me directly, what would sort of job would you rather do if pay wasn't a factor?
Also, is there a good way to explain to the temp agency or retail store that you need some time away from your career path because of mental health issues, in a way that doesn't sound like you have serious problems or are lazy?

[benburch]

1. I'd rather run a Liberal/Progressive talk radio archive!

Oh wait. I do!

And the pay is crap.

In 2000 I made $130,000 as a software engineer.

This year I will make about $24,000 running White Rose. (At http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org )

I am largely listener supported. Only problem is that for every one generous listener who makes a appropriate small donation to White Rose, there are 100 who listen and never even think about supporting what I do.

It can be very frustrating.

[Nikia]

6. Unfortunately, I don't make much more than that as it is

Nothing pays well around here. If I could interview well enough, I could make $30,000-$40,000 as a quality manager. I pretty much have all those responsibilities right now, but they simply give me a cost of living raise if I am lucky. I cannot advance in my company. The truth is though, I don't think that this is really the career for me. Although some of my problems are associated with the company, I think some of the problems are inherent in the nature of the job, the whole quality-production conflict, with most companies favoring production and hoping no one notices, but blaming quality when they do notice.
I have almost 5 years in quality assurance in the food industry now and a BA in biology. Entry level lab jobs are paying around $10/hour and are dead end and at the few interviews that I have gotten for these, they suggest that I am over qualified just by my duties and demand my wage history, at which point they remind me that they are only paying $10/hour.

[stlsaxman]

11. Ben thank you for your great work!

as soon as is financially possible I will (AND STRONGLY URGE OTHERS TO!!!!) make a donation to WhiteRose...

want the best liberal talk w/o commercials? Malloy, Randi and so many others...

go to: http://www.WhiteRoseSociety.org

we now return to our regularly scheduled thread...

[bearfan454]

2. I want a job where I make a lot of money and

I don't have to do anything. Seriously. CEO's make a lot of money and run their companies into the ground. I'll just take the money. I won't ruin the company.

[Catch22Dem]

3. Drinking on the beach

Doesn't pay shit though.

[NoMoreMrNiceGuy]

4. Walk the doggies

Dogs make me feel good. They lift me up when I'm down. Thats what I'ld do. I've thought about starting a business doing it but don't have the nerve.

[RandomKoolzip]

5. Be a musician.

I'm tired of survival jobs. I wish I could just play music for a living (I'm really good at it).

[Nikia]

9. Could you play at a local bar?

I am not sure what you play or if your instrument usually needs a band with it, but you might want to stop by places who do have live music and ask to do an audition.
My dad was a musician, part time when I was growing up. He made as much on weekends playing as he did at his full time factory job or more. My high school neighbor made $300 per evening playing piano at a nice restaurant.
There are possibilities there.

[RandomKoolzip]

10. That was a long time ago.

Human musicians are no longer needed; they got Karaoke and DJ's now.

Believe me, technology has wiped out an entire generation of musicians.

I'm still looking, though.

[Wcross]

7. I too am looking to do something else.

I don't think I was put on this earth to work in a tire factory. It pays well for the area I'm in (60k+) but it is a rare day I don't get banged up or cut or suffer some other injury. It is a hot dirty environment and the supervisor is a stress junkie and he seems to think other people enjoy it too.
I am looking at my options right now. I would really like to work at home. I have some acerage and could board horses or open a dog boarding kennel. I also have an interest in stocks, I am looking into day trading also. I have a rotating work week so I would be able to test my ability on my days off before I take the leap.
If worse comes to worse I can continue on with what I am doing and will be able to retire at 57 (16 years from now) with a pension and my 401k.

[Schema Thing]

8. A Cowboy in Hawaii

is still what I want to be when I grow up.

[kedrys]

12. I'd do more of what I'm doing now

I'm freelancing, and I'm getting by okay, just need more clients. Sometimes hustling for clients takes time away from stuff I can bill for. It's hard to balance.

Good luck! :hi:

[Southsideirish]

13. Be a sculptor.

[RPM]

14. Pontificate on an online Website

that would rock.

[LSdemocrat]

15. Political operative