[Dust to Dust]

I went to school and received my BA in criminal justice and a certificate in child advocacy. During that time my goal was to work with children who have been sexually abused. Again, at that time I felt inspired to help kids who were just like me.. I was molested at the age of 3 and I just wanted a job where I can make a difference in someone's life. I interned at a hospital that took care of children who were abused. They worked with medical, physical and psychological examinations. It was those few months where I realized it was too much for me to handle mentally. It was different when you read about it in books..it was still disturbing to me but it was just disturbing. In that hospital..the screaming and cries that I would hear while I was at my desk brought back flashbacks..and I'd go home having nightmares every single night. I even had a few night terrors. This internship was during my last semester at college and that was the degree that I graduated with.

Given that I have this degree that I have no idea what to do with... I want to do something with it. I tried thinking about other career paths that interested me...like nursing or teaching..somewhere where I could make a difference..and not just sit behind a desk and stare at a wall like in my dreadful office job. I've found that a lot of these jobs require certification... I plan to move to NY this year..and I just want to have a job where I can apply my strengths to. Does anyone have any reccomendations about these types of career paths and their likings of them? There are many medical centers and schools with where I'd like to move to..I just don't know if I can afford to go back to school. My girlfriend suggested moving in, then a year or two later going back. I just want to be able to work and make a living and enjoy life with her. She deserves that mpre than anything and so do I. I hate working 3 jobs but if it came down to doing that if it meant living with her, I would. I just need some guidance career wise. Any thoughts?

[shezbut]

(((hugs)))

That is hard. I'm sorry. I looked online, to see what I could find. With some additional schooling, you could become a Court Reporter, and they make really good money with better than "banker's hours"! Something worth considering ~ especially if you aren't wanting to put a lot of additional time (and $) into education.

Another possibility that you may want to consider is paralegal. No licensing is required, but some know how and understanding of the laws is critical. Here's some info from Criminal Justice Degree Online

A paralegal (or legal assistant) works in private law firms or government agencies. Depending on their experience and education, paralegals can perform many of the same tasks an attorney would. Paralegals help lawyers prepare for hearings, trials, depositions, and meetings. Additionally, paralegals may also investigate the facts of a case, draft pleadings and motions, or conduct legal research.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), it is projected that employment of paralegals will grow by 18 percent between 2010 and 2020. This growth is attributed to things like law firms cutting costs by using more paralegals to reduce overhead, and corporations hiring paralegals as part of an in-house legal system to avoid the high cost of having law firms on retainer.

Competition for jobs is expected to remain strong, but paralegals who are formally trained, have experience, and who are specialized will have the best job prospects. Aundrea mentioned that freelance paralegals face a different set of challenges in the fact that, even though they have the freedom to be their own bosses, they don’t spend as much time doing actual “paralegal work”—this is because they have to balance their roles as paralegals with being entrepreneurs.

The BLS also reports that the average annual salary of paralegals was $46,68 in 2010, while the lowest 10% earned less than $29,460, and the top 10% earned in excess of $74,870. Actual salaries vary, depending on geographic location, degree level, professional experience, and the size of your employer.

Most paralegal training programs will offer you an opportunity to participate in an internship in which you can gain practical experience by working in a corporate legal department, a public defender’s or attorney general’s office, a law firm, or a nonprofit legal aid organization. Internships typically are for several months, and can sometimes lead to a permanent position.

There are not any licensing requirements to become a paralegal, however, most employers expect paralegals to seek voluntary certification through the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). If you are considering a career as a paralegal, you may enjoy taking courses like introduction to criminal justice, courts and criminal justice, and legal foundations of the trial process.

There are several other possible jobs that you can read up on through the link as well. Very best wishes to you ~ good luck!

[benson123]

I have a degree in criminal justice and paralegal/legal assisting. I really think it is all wrong for me now but that is done so I have to move on. For you though paralegal is a good suggestion. The job is challenging though depending on what kind of law it is and size of the firm. Insurance is another idea. Working in claims. Lots of investigation and helping people. There is also dispatch with police stations. I know that was highly suggested when I was in school. Check out city websites to see what is available out there. I don't know how you feel about retail but many big box chains have what is called an asset protection manager. Some pay really well. Basically loss prevention and safety management. These are suggestions for things to look into from my experience. I haven't worked in asset protection but know from people I have talked to in retail these jobs are out there. Not so much a loss prevention position, but the asset protection manager gig. I hope some of these suggestions help.

[jadzea]

I don't know anything about the job so I could be way off base. Could you be a parole office? Maybe you could work with juviniles.

[hvert]

I highly recommend getting a job in the field you think you might be interested in before committing to a second degree program or a certification process. As you've seen, what sounds good theoretically can turn out to be an unpleasant reality!

Also, a lot of employers will pay for your certification if you are in a field that has a shortage of people with that skill set.

I would look for a job in the field I was interested in, even if the position was a bit lower, with a company that offered tuition reimbursement.

[Dust to Dust]

Thanks guys... its been such a rollercoaster lately. I used to think my bachelors was completely useless lol..but now its being used for something. Im going back to get my teaching certificate The more Ive been a nanny the more I realize how much I love working with kids and making a difference in their lives. Wish me luck?

[Travelinglady]

Sounds like a plan. Best wishes. Teachers make a great deal of difference.

[RTerroni]

IMO Degrees really don't mean that much, if you really want a certain job, and you can show the people in charge that you will do a good job you can get almost any job (obviously with some restriction for instance you can't become a brain surgeon without any formal education )

[Nighttiming]

Probation officer is an option certainly. That would provide you with an opportunity to provide guidance to an at risk population and have a positive impact on the rest of their lives. It's a critical time for a young person if they're on probation.

[Nighttiming]

A position with the dept Health and human services? get yourself a government job

[healingme4me]

Good Luck, with the teaching certification. You can branch off, with grad school or continuing education, because the core of the bachelors is roughly the same for everyone who has one. Even with nursing, there's accelerated programs where you can get a second bachelors degree in 16 months, provided you have the chem and biology classes going into it. That's something, I've considered, once I get this phase of my life settled. Another avenue, was nutritionist, for me, there's ways to get an associates on top of the bachelors, in order to get certification. I've a couple things to explore. Mines a BS in Management with a minor in Behavioral Science. But the cores, of these degrees are all the same and that's what matters, sometimes.