So it's been suggested to me that I go back to school yet again and get either a marketing degree or a graphic design degree (well, a masters of either anyway) and maybe get a job in advertising? I don't really know if that's the best job for creative types but all I know is that like everyone else I have to get a job I don't really want and hope I can get a job I actually want in 10 or 20 years since I don't have a strong urge to teach (besides I'd have to go back to school and/or move to do that anyway and I love the place I live now). It's not that I dislike school, but I've already spent 7 years in college and I don't want to keep throwing money away going for even more graduate degrees for no reason.

Does anyone know anything about working for an advertising/marketing firm and whether I absolutely have to have a degree in marketing for that?

Also, how many degrees/years of college does it take for a creative type person to be able to get a decent paying job? Would it help if I got doctorates too or would that make it worse?

[Maranara]

One place I would recommend for anyone is look up on google the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook. You can look up any job under the world and it will tell you what education you need, what starting salary looks like, the types of places to hire entry level people, and whether the demand for that job is rising or falling. It is a very valuable resourse.

[Perna]

I would not recommend advertising or marketing for a creative type such as you; it would be like recommending someone who loves to write go work with a publishing company and become an editor. You have to stay with your preliminary "interests" and make them work in some way. If you think you want to go back to school, take voice lessons and learn to sing in front of audiences! Do something that will help you in the way you want to be helped? Figure out what you'd really like and then work toward it. I like the book Wish Craft by Barbara Sher and her other books; they helped me envision what I wanted and ideas on how to get there.

But there isn't a way to make them work…at least not within any reasonable amount of time. I have to get a job in something now that makes enough money to survive with a little left over so I can save towards a house. Housing is fortunately cheap where I live. I'm going to apply for a couple jobs at the local newspaper…not writing jobs and not jobs that probably pay much. But at this point, I can't wait around for a job I want, I have to just go with the best I can get. Although, with the degrees I have, they probably won't think I'm qualified either, but I guess I'll try.

This was all supposed to work out eventually because originally I was going to teach. But I don't want to teach anything outside of private lessons and it takes a while (it may be impossible where I live) to get a decent return on your efforts. It's a supplementary income anyway, not primary. This was all a stupid idea…you should NEVER go after what you like unless it's medical, IT, programming, or engineering. I wasted 7 years of my life and I'm skilled and talented in two areas that are completely worthless: music and writing.

Oh these jobs are of the clerical/editing type…but beggars can't be choosers. I have too much pressure on me know to stop wasting my life and make a living wage to keep waiting around for something good.