# If you have a degree, are you working in your field? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 11, 2004, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552 "2004-07-11T12:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![PookahMacPhellimey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pookahmacphellimey/32/3175_2.png) [@PookahMacPhellimey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PookahMacPhellimey)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552/61 "2004-07-13T11:42:36Z")
BA in Philosophy and English. MA in Ethnomusicology. Working for a financial company, so resounding “no” there. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552/62 "2004-07-13T13:51:35Z")
BA in Elementary/Early Childhood Education. I taught school for a year and a half then decided that I couldn’t do this for 40 years. The kids were great. It was everything else about the job that sucked. So, I started teaching adult education (GED prep) classes at a local tech school. As a part of that job, I started teaching a couple classes in adult basic education at an organization that provided employment training for persons with disabilities. I really liked that and when a position as Program Manager came open there, I was asked to take the job. From there I went on to get my MEd in Rehabilitation Counseling, which I still do, well sorta. I am the Assistant Director for a private-non-profit agency that provides residential, occupational, respite and support services for persons with disabilities. My job is all administrative now, but it’s still in my field. I am the rules/regulations and policies/procedures sob. Everybody hates to see me coming. I also have fiscal responsibilities and some HR responsibilities. I have less and less face to face contact with those we serve and I miss that, but somebody’s gotta mind the day to day stuff. I just spent 15 minutes talking with a plumber about replacing toilets in one of the women’s restrooms. Envy my job people! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Nutty\_Bunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d07c76/32.png) [@Nutty\_Bunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nutty_Bunny)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552/63 "2004-07-13T18:41:58Z")
I have and AAS in Accounting and I’m using it. I’ve been in accounting for 12 years now and I’m a Controller for a small giftware company, making a lot more than I thought an Associates would allow me to make. I hate the people I work for and would rather work for a company or a non-profit that made me feel like I was doing something something worthwhile, but I’m staying for the money. That wasn’t your question, though, was it? To sum up, yes, I’m using my degree. ---
**Author:** ![Miabella](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@Miabella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miabella)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2004, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552/64 "2004-07-13T20:08:48Z")
I have a B.A. and an M.A. in Economics, and I work for the federal government as an Economist. The best part is that the gov’t paid for my grad school tuition. Your tax dollars at work! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-have-a-degree-are-you-working-in-your-field/254552.md?page=3)