I quit my job... now what should I do?

I worked as a car rental agent while I was in college. It was a desk job with flexible hours. The pay was good, and I got a commission for selling the optional insurance. I worked at the airport, and at the downtown office. Advancement was good, with regular raises. Met lots of interesting people, like the diamond merchant who wanted to use cash for a security deposit, and showed me a handful of beautiful diamonds. I got to deadhead a few cars – if we got a car from another city, and they had one or more of ours, we would write up a zero dollar contract and drive for free to the other city to make an exchange. We also got first dibs on any cars that were available for sale.

Don’t go in the military without visiting an officer recruiter first. Don’t go to an enlisted recruiter unless you are really interested, and none of the officer recruiters from any branch of the service want you. You may want to look at being a supply officer, or some other administrative position, rather than a regular (Navy ‘line’) officer.

You should give up reading adventure novels. They have polluted your mind with false stories of the drama and nobility of Army Rangers and Navy Seals. Basically, these people are in the business of killing. Killing humans. Killing humans as efficiently as possible. In the process, they often get killed themselves. It’s rarely pretty, often uncomfortable, and the exciting parts you’re hoping for will make you wet your pants.

Do you qualify for unemployment? If so, you can skate and party for a while before being forced back to work.

Danalan: I have friends who are both. It seems to me, from what I know, and what they’ve told me, that they are two of the most noble, courageous positions a man could hold in the service of his country. While I may not care a lick for the Government, I love my country, and would do my very best to serve her, death willingly included.

–Tim

How about, 2nd-shift PC-support and/or help desk tech? Many College Blvd. places near you need 2nd and 3rd shift people to sit in a room and ask people who call in at midnight “Is your computer plugged in? What sound does it make? It’s shooting fire out of where?” These tend to pay about $8 per hour, but have the advantage that often there are no calls, and you are allowed to study for a class, do homework, read, etc.

Depending on where you live, game testing might be an option. If you’re in the Bay Area, or Los Angeles, there are quite a few companies looking to hire good testers, and they’re usually very flexible when it comes to hours. It’s what made me into the man I am today.