Career advice

Actual God · #1 10-16-2007, 10:43 PM

I have two job-offers. I love money, but I really really really don't want to work in finance forever.

1) Sales and trading at Merrill Lynch in Chicago. Approx 100K in first year.

Pros: Big money, potential for huge money in a couple years. Stimulating work? Chicago.

Cons: Potential of getting sucked in, sidetracked from other pursuits (business ventures, novel-writing). Difficult to move to another career? Money-crunching drudgery? Burnout.

2) Speech writer for governor of my state. I'm 23, so obviously I'm not like writing all the big speeches, but I'm there doing important [censored]. Approx 37K

Pros: Might actually be valuable work. Could lead to sweet Washington jobs.

Cons: Boring cold city. Probably dumb work like press releases. Politards.

Thanks.

Actual God · #2 10-16-2007, 10:47 PM

Also wondering if it's a bad time to get into trading. 50/50 chance of crash ftw.

stinkypete · #3 10-16-2007, 10:47 PM

is there a question in here? i don't think anyone here can tell you what you want to do.

Actual God · #4 10-16-2007, 10:49 PM

[ QUOTE ]
is there a question in here? i don't think anyone here can tell you what you want to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, of course not. I'm agonizing, so I'm seeking outside opinions.

dazraf69 · #5 10-16-2007, 10:52 PM

Well I wills ay this much. That 37k seems like its not a big concern of yours but after some time it will. I am a teacher who thought the reward of teaching would over come the lack of profitability. Now I am doing everything I can to make a career change to something that will give me more financial reward. Take it for what its worth.

I agree with spete. No one can tell you what to do.

stinkypete · #6 10-16-2007, 11:00 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
is there a question in here? i don't think anyone here can tell you what you want to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, of course not. I'm agonizing, so I'm seeking outside opinions.

[/ QUOTE ]

on what?

PRE · #7 10-16-2007, 11:21 PM

I would go with #1.

Actual God · #8 10-16-2007, 11:41 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
is there a question in here? i don't think anyone here can tell you what you want to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nah, of course not. I'm agonizing, so I'm seeking outside opinions.

[/ QUOTE ]

on what?

[/ QUOTE ]

comparing the options. seems pretty obvious to me, maybe not

BDaws · #9 10-16-2007, 11:56 PM

I would go with number 1.

I don't know since I'm just a college kid, but I think you could make a lot more contacts in finance for future business ventures than you could as a speech writer. Also, the analytical and quantitative nature of trading would lend itself better to starting a business, right?

Another positive is your superiors can very easily identify how you are performing in job 1. In number 2, the promotions and all that would probably be swayed more by politics.

Just trying to add something constructive. I don't really know what I'm talking about though.

Actual God · #10 10-17-2007, 01:07 AM

alright i realize this is pretty dumb, mods please delete