Post: #1

I've been working as a real estate appraiser since college graduation and while I earn a solid middle class income, it doesn't seem like there's much room for growth unless I want to become a manager. Also, my parents can't hook me up with anything - my dad's a professor and my mom's a housewife.
Any suggestions?

Post: #2

Certainly not the military or a a government job. Many outsiders have a perception that the military promotes the good people and gets rid of the bad. That is absolutely not the case. It's come down to seniority and politics for the most part.

That said: Programmer or most trades. Something where the job is largely defined by you and you alone and your ability to get it done. Something where getting the job done is valued above all else and no can half-way bullshit their way through it (like a lot of paper-pusher/"intellectual"/white-collar jobs).

But growth is relative. Even the most experienced skilled labor types have an income limit as workers. Usually 150-200k tops.

The only way to go beyond that generally is to be an investor or business owner.

Post: #3

Why not look at other options in the Real Estate industry?

There's plenty of avenues you could explore in that area, including starting up your own operation.

Post: #4

(03-30-2016 10:12 PM)johnbozzz Wrote:  I've been working as a real estate appraiser since college graduation and while I earn a solid middle class income, it doesn't seem like there's much room for growth unless I want to become a manager. Also, my parents can't hook me up with anything - my dad's a professor and my mom's a housewife.
Any suggestions?

Start a company.

Post: #5

With your expertise in real estate, why not looking at starting an online marketing channel to help build up your reputation and own client base? Go the website route as a side effort. You're not going to immediately get rich, but you'll end up building a following you can monetize later. Offer tips, guidance, etc. Have a facebook/twitter presence. I assume that if you had the client base, you'd be making more money if you were your own appraiser as opposed to working for someone else. Building an online presence, particularly in your state, will help you make a transition if that's your goal. It's a crowded space for sure, but there's always room for people who can fight into the top 20% of their field.

As far as jobs with more upside, high end sales jobs often have mobility and a more direct reward cycle - rather than turning in a generic 8 hours that has the same pay check no matter what, you have much more incentive to bust your ass. I'm out of touch with it now, but I had a job in the 00's where I worked with several med device sales folk (one who was selling dermatological lasers and another selling gastro intestinal cameras) who were doing really well. I'm not sure if the healthcare reform has screwed that market yet.

Post: #6

Almost any finance or sales related job. Although politics can be intense in some of those roles (e.g. anything regulatory related, or in some large firms) for the most part those jobs are judged solely by how much money you bring in.

Quote:Certainly not the military or a a government job. Many outsiders have a perception that the military promotes the good people and gets rid of the bad. That is absolutely not the case. It's come down to seniority and politics for the most part.

Linked before but VERY worth repeating for anyone who is considering the military.

http://johntreed.com/blogs/john-t-reed-s...s-generals

Post: #7

BOH in restaurants

Post: #8

You say you've been working in the industry since college, but you don't say how long that is?

The guys above are saying the exact same thing that popped into my head when I read your post. If you can get a good handle on how your industry operates while you're working essentially means that you get paid to gain the knowledge necessary to start your own company.

The reason I ask the question is because if you've only been working for a year then you're probably not ready.
Would taking a managers position give you access to a deeper knowledge of how your industry works?