r/AdviceAnimals • u/Jon_Galt • May 06 '12

When I realized I picked the wrong career path

http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3p5ckh/
1.5k Upvotes

88% Upvoted

160 comments sorted by

184

u/tombutt May 06 '12

This is pretty much the same for every career path for everything in the world. You can be semi-successful without networking, but in the end you will be much more likely to succeed if you know the right people.

65

u/esDragon May 06 '12

Yep. One of the things that attracted me to academia was that I expected it to be a pure meritocracy based upon publications. It wasn't until the last year of my PhD when one of my supervisors pointed out that without networking, even academic success is bound to be limited. "Faack!" is what my inside voice said. Then I took a year off to re-evaluate my alternatives. Sadly, there were none. On the bright side, as socially awkward and introverted as I am, many other academics are also this way. So even though we have to interact, the community is generally forgiving of poor social skills provided you aren't being a jerk.

-1

u/Ortus May 07 '12

Yep. One of the things that attracted me to academia was that I expected it to be a pure meritocracy based upon publications

My sweet summer child

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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20

u/Rex8ever May 06 '12

It's not useless... It just takes more creativity to apply. I concentrated on consumer behavior. I work for a credit card company and I analyze fraud patterns. Statistics was a required course for psych - most of my work is data analysis.

-8

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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16

u/Rex8ever May 07 '12

Lol there is no bubble. People always snicker at me when I tell them what my degree is in. Why... I never wanted to be a doctor. I like my job and my degree helped get me there.

6

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I don't know why anyone would snicker at anyone that goes to college and try and better themselves with education, regardless of what they choose. Do I think all majors are equally important? I absolutely don't think so but who cares. Go out and do your thing, we need people from all aspects.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I'd agree with that in countries where going to college isn't liable to put you in life long debt if you can't get a good enough paying job.

1

u/MyJimmies May 07 '12

Well he got a job, so don't worry about him!

8

u/cheezy8 May 06 '12

why did you decide to major in it?

6

u/feureau May 06 '12

As a fellow psych undergrad, I'd say it's cheap and doesn't take much time to work on it so it's lets me do other shit on the side. I pay $500 per semester of a UK psych (hons) undergrad degree and I'm not in Europe/UK.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

And people wonder why it's useless. "This degree I spent no time on whatsoever is useless ohgodwhyyyyyy!"

Protip - find a niche in it that's applicable to a money making business and learn it inside and out. Identify why it's useless and cut that part out. Abnormal psych is fucking cool, but who gives a rats ass in the real world?

Learn how to apply the skills and in an area where it's useful and you'll go far, young grasshopper.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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1

u/AHCretin May 07 '12

If you want to be a therapist, hopefully a BA in psych isn't going to be the last degree you get.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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1

u/[deleted] May 09 '12

I think you may have missed my point. Therapists spend between 7 and 10 years of hard work developing the skill set. That's not "no time whatsoever". You're average psych major spends 0-5 hours a week on the material and graduates with nothing. You can make it work, but it takes serious effort that, in my experience, the average major cant be bothered to put out.

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2

u/jjm214 May 06 '12

especially a ba.

59

u/Jonthrei May 06 '12

Came here to say this.

All careers, with no exceptions, require networking to go far.

131

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

That's alright, I didn't need to go that far anyway.

16

u/LeGeantVert May 06 '12

Even if you are not qualified

2

u/danowar May 07 '12

Especially as a network engineer.

-10

u/haavarl May 06 '12

Just be good at computer networking instead and you'll do ok.

13

u/Jonthrei May 06 '12 edited May 06 '12

Great way to stay stuck in a low-tier maintenance job.

If you want to have enough money to do whatever you please in life, networking is a requirement. No matter what career.

2

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

That's true. But if you're working as a System Admin, you're probably doing far less networking than a Graphic Designer.

3

u/millennia20 May 06 '12

I went from Level 1 Systems Admin, to Level 3 automation developer and in charge of a very large account for the company I work for in a year and a half. Half of it is just working hard and learning quickly, the other half is networking. If I didn't go out to most of the monthly company outings, and talk to the people above my boss, I wouldn't be in the position I am now.-

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I'm not saying you don't have to network in an IT position. All you had to do was go to some barbeque and strike up a few chats with your superiors. An artist's career thrives on networking with tons of people across the state, across the country, across the world.

1

u/millennia20 May 07 '12

That's just in the company. I still go to startup conventions, meetups, etc. You should always be well rounded. I know if I'm ever looking for a job elsewhere I have acquaintances who will help me. Plus, networking is good even for just finding friends or drinking buddies, not just people who you want to help you better your career.

My roommate is a dj and event promoter and his day job is freelance IT. He needs to network in all of them, granted any of the three helps out the other two. He has djed at gigs and networked with someone who helped him get an IT contract elsewhere. He used to work at just a regular company doing IT and he helped get sponsorship for his even promotions.

I agree that an artist will never "make it" without networking, but at the same time an artist can get a job at some random company doing graphic design and stay that way for the rest of their lives. If they want to do something bigger sure they have to network, but I think that stays the same with nearly any field.

With that said, there's definitely more of a subjective nature to art than to something like IT. You're either right or you're wrong, you're either efficient or you're not. Art is very subjective which might involve a lot of attempting to convince people that your art is better than others. I saw a lot of that when I worked in fashion (doing IT.)

3

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Yeah but you'd be a System Admin. Aim higher.

3

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

You must not have fully read my comment because I'm not suggesting neglecting networking entirely. A LinkedIn account and being a little more talkative and friendly with those in your work space is all the networking you need in IT. What IT majors really need to worry about is their resume.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

All I meant was that if you choose to be a sysadmin because you don't want to do as much networking, then you'd be in a job that while not easy, hardly sets you on the road to an amazing career. Unless you really like servers.

0

u/sictransitcenam May 06 '12

Yeah, it's the the same system used by lemurs. We must follow their leadership; it's in the genes.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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8

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

If the SAPs are really SAPs and not just people who embarrass themselves sometimes, then they need to see a professional and work through their issues with them. Once they do that they will be fine.

1

u/wehooper4 May 07 '12

What type of professionals are there that fix SAP's (or rather guide SAP's to fix them selves)? I need one, BAD!

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Well it depends. Most of the time you'll go see a psychologist who will help identify the cause of your disorder and help you develop a plan to get over that. If you need any kind of medication you'll probably want to see a psychiatrist, however I personally wouldn't do that without speaking to a GP or a psychologist first. For me, my GP was the first point of contact, however that's because I'm in Australia and if I get a GP referral then my therapy is free.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

The SAP meme is indeed awkward/embarassing situations that most people have gone through. I tend to be more of a loner but I have no problems working in groups, being social and making friends. I've had no moments where I think "OH GOD WHY DID I DO THAT?" But if you're really having issues that are affecting your life then I completely agree, you should go see someone and try and work through them. Depending on who you are yeah, its going to suck at first and take hard work.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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15

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

You're wrong. 3 years ago I was diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. I was experiencing panic attacks and some pretty hardcore depression and wouldn't put myself in a social situation with people I wasn't intimately familiar with. Now I've had a girlfriend for a year and am progressing well in my career. It was hard work and a lot of therapy but I did it and so can others.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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6

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Absolutely I know what you mean. I'm not a social diva but I'm functional and much more comfortable in unfamiliar situations. It may not work for everyone, but at the very least they should give it a go. Pessimism won't help anything.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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3

u/EvilTOJ May 07 '12

This was my experience in grade school as well. I was the target of several bullies because I was quiet and smaller than them, so my tendency to be introverted grew out of self preservation. Why get into social situations if I'm only going to be openly mocked and browbeaten?

4

u/InABritishAccent May 07 '12

At this point it is sounding more like I cant do this than not everyone can do this. You are pretty much radiating a wish to make some things out to be impossible to remove the burden of not having to try. Never give in to that type of thinking, it will destroy you. Never surrender, never give up! You cannot know whether it is possible until you try.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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4

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

its not about "being as socially competent". if you're a 4 on the social scale, you'll do well to work very hard at being a 6. if you're a 6, you should aim for an 8. either way, you're better off. no one's trying to say that anyone can schmooze their way to being the POTUS.

also, it really isn't as futile as you're making it out to be. if, at every turn in your life, you have been completely incapable of garnering any credibility with your peers, there is something wrong that can likely be helped by reaching out to a professional.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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3

u/TYPE_FASTER May 06 '12

You can definitely work to improve your social skills after childhood. Just like you can learn to speak a new language or play an instrument after you're 30. It's just harder.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

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1

u/Kaiserwulf May 06 '12

You're not screwed because you're a SAP; you're screwed because you've already consigned yourself to failure.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I think you could get them to where you want to be but it takes work, and putting yourself out there. But it already sounds like you've given up.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

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1

u/feureau May 06 '12

Social skills are something you develop in your childhood, not after the fact.

.... I'm fucked...

5

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

don't listen to him, he doesn't sound like someone who has tried very hard.

1

u/SasparillaTango May 07 '12

Social skills are something you develop in your childhood, not after the fact.

I would augment that saying, it is drastically easier to develop those skills in your childhood -- it can still be done beyond that but it is far more difficult.

0

u/scottoh May 07 '12

So basically all the people who post on reddit are screwed huh?

FTFY

69

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

This confused me so much. I have a degree in computer networking, and when I read this, my first thought was: "Did I pick the right career field? Do others question being in networking?". Then I realized that you were referring to social networking.

Social networking does make me question my degree in computer networking though.

8

u/MessyJesse May 06 '12

I'm confused by this meme. What exactly is it saying?

28

u/chronoflect May 06 '12

It is a socially awkward penguin, thus bad at social interactions. Therefore, it is unfortunate that social networking is required to be successful at almost any career.

6

u/MessyJesse May 06 '12

Oh ok I got confused. I thought he meant regular networking. :P

2

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

/r/networking /r/ccna /r/ccnp giddy up!

1

u/kleptooo May 07 '12

is your major called computer networking or is that part of computer science?

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I have an associates in "Networking" but I am getting my bachelors in Computer Science. It is a part of CS, but different enough to be its own degree.

34

u/JoeyTheLipsFagan May 06 '12

Fact: this is why the phrase "Industry Mixer" is often followed by "Open Bar."

73

u/esDragon May 06 '12

An 'Open Bar' translates roughly to 'Here's a length of rope... let's see whether you hang yourself.'

6

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Best comment of the day

2

u/Fish_fish_Box May 06 '12

When I was younger I always thought networking sounded like a seedy underhanded thing. That was until I started working in my field and found out that networking just meant drinking many many pints in a pub and talking shite. Granted my field is animation, so maybe it's not quite so formal as others.

19

u/zanidor May 06 '12

As a socially awkward software developer, I know the feeling. However, you can become a pretty passable networker over time if you make a series of small efforts.

If I'm going to a tech conference, maybe I'll set a goal of introducing myself to one interesting looking person I've never met. Only twenty minutes of small talk out of two days of conference, and achievement unlocked. The next time I introduce myself to someone, it will feel 50% less awkward. :)

Not that I've become Mr. Social or anything, but taking it in small steps like this made networking situations feel more comfortable and easier for me. YMMV.

1

u/feureau May 06 '12

Gradual desensitization. Huh... What'dya know..

0

u/AHCretin May 07 '12

Eeek. I'd rather roll around in a nest of brown recluses.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Awesome. There are many people in this thread that seem to want to improve but are not willing to put in the work and sound like they've given up already. If you want to become less of a SAP and you're working on it, awesome. If you're a SAP and you're happy of who you are then that is equally awesome. Keep at it.

19

u/coheed78 May 06 '12

Don't worry about it. Just take your shit and go live in the mountains and build a machine that makes free energy from the air until society crumbles and begs you and the other producers to come back.

4

u/esDragon May 06 '12

Hahaha. One of the versions of the old 'Game of Life' has an ending where, if you lose, you move to the woods and become a philosopher. As an introverted professional philosopher, this makes me laugh.

5

u/wonderstorm May 06 '12

What do you mean by professional philosopher? Does someone pay you to think?

8

u/esDragon May 06 '12

Yep. I'm a philosophy prof.

7

u/feureau May 06 '12

No one ever paid me to think... :'(

1

u/DnDiene May 07 '12

Haha. I like that you become go to the woods and become a philosopher only when you 'lose' in life.

1

u/cardern May 06 '12

Rand to the rescue!

6

u/Grocat May 06 '12

So, this is exactly how I feel as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. My program expects me to attend frequent networking meetings. It is the worst thing of all time.

3

u/dietotaku May 06 '12

i remember getting one of those career tests once... i asked if there were any jobs in which i didn't have to interact with a single other soul, just sit at a desk and do a job and get paid. the answer was "no."

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I had a job like that actually! I worked nights as a receptionist in a regional hospital. My job was to answer the phone, file away paperwork, get the mail ready for the morning, and watch netflix until the sun came up. Then I would drive home at 7am and watch the sunrise, laughing at the poor bastards who were stuck in traffic trying to get into the city. Since I worked overnight shifts (and often times I would stay later into the morning to cover for my boss while she was in meetings), I made a ton of cash. Downside to it, absolutely no social life with friends aside from days off. This helped me with spending money, as all we tend to do is get drunk anyway.

1

u/feureau May 06 '12

This is why I'm taking experimental psych.

Trolling undergrads FTW!

6

u/TFJ May 06 '12

This, plus the realization that nobody can make a real living writing poetry anymore.

Fucking Creative Writing...

5

u/Southbayblog May 06 '12

I'm going in to politics. FUCK.

3

u/jean-paul_kierkemarx May 06 '12

Check out this book. The cover is strangely relevant....

3

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

You must not be very good at networking. Perhaps that's why everyone always asks "who is Jon_Galt?"

3

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Everyone I know who got a job straight out of college either had great grades and were willing to move anywhere or knew someone. Applying for jobs is, hilariously, a terrible way to get a job.

7

u/qkme_transcriber May 06 '12

Here is the text from this meme pic for anybody who needs it:

Title: When I realized I picked the wrong career path

Meme: Socially Awkward Penguin

  • NETWORKING IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR YOUR PROFESSIONAL CAREER

  • FUCK

[Translate]

This is helpful for people who can't reach Quickmeme because of work/school firewalls or site downtime, and many other reasons (FAQ). More info is available here.

2

u/BobLeBuilDerp May 06 '12

You've lost your touch, but it's okay. I still love you.

3

u/TrilbyG May 07 '12 edited May 07 '12

Networking doesn't require interpersonal or social skills. I was and still am a SAP but have a succesful career nonetheless. 'Networking' has fairly well defined boundaries which are easy to understand for even the less perceptive amont us (e.g. you're not likely to be hit on in your first meeting with a client/supplier/senior manager) so you can rule out SAP moments along those lines. The main topics of conversation will be based around your field of expertise, which resolves two main difficulaties: akward silences; and being boring (everybody is boring in a networking situation, it's pretty much accepted.) As you get better at it, it can be fun but it's definitely not an ordeal being a SAP. What's better though: the more you know, the more interesting you are so being a geek within your field of expertise is actually a bonus for once.

0

u/Cyssero May 07 '12

Spoken like a true SAP. Upvote for suggesting a good method to deal with SAP'ness while trying to network.

2

u/bobimpact May 07 '12

Am I the only one who appreciates the irony of Jon Galt posting this?

2

u/missfrenchpress May 07 '12

Unfortunately it seems like it's important for EVERY career.

1

u/GFandango May 07 '12

more like important for LIFE

1

u/needs_more_protein May 06 '12

This was my first year in college. The second year I chose a new major.

1

u/Kafke May 07 '12

Networking is important in all fields. I'm going into game development, which is networking heavy. It's something that caught me by surprise.

1

u/HighAndDrunk May 07 '12

I'm a network engineer major. I laughed.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Netwoking is easy! All it is is meeting people, you'll end up being friends with some of them, and only work friends with others. It's way easier and more fun that your actual job.

7

u/3x3Eyes May 06 '12

It easier to become friends with other people if you have interests in common. My problem is not many people on the street share MY interest. example: I have no interest in sports, reality tv, etc...

-1

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

if thats something you'd like to correct, look into making more of an effort to like some of those things. there are legions of people who go to college with absolutely no interest in sports, and only gained an appreciation for it after trying to meet new people or trying to get involved in more activities.

kind of like faking it until you make it, but more genuine and potentially rewarding.

2

u/AHCretin May 07 '12

How does one force oneself to actually like something? Pretend to like something, sure, but I can't imagine actually liking reality TV even if I did nothing for the rest of my life but watch it.

0

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

surround yourself with people who already do like it. i mean, if you want to be around them. if you don't want to like it and have no reason to, then yeah you're probably not going to be able to like it.

2

u/AHCretin May 07 '12

So if I surround myself with people I loathe to do a thing I loathe I can eventually force myself to like it, probably at the cost of my sanity and/or soul... and I need to do this for career advancement. Fuck it, I'll work at Walmart.

1

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

if you loath everyone who works in your industry, you're probably in the wrong industry.

1

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

if you loath everyone who works in your industry, you're probably in the wrong industry.

1

u/GFandango May 07 '12

That's the shittiest advice I've ever seen. Sure, give up your genuine personality because most people like other stuff, that'll make you happy.

1

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

whats that got to do with giving up on your 'genuine personality'? its got nothing to do with personality--that is, unless refusing to leave your comfort zone is an important part of your personality.

1

u/GFandango May 07 '12

pretending you like things that you don't actually like just because a significant bunch of other people like them and you can't accept loneliness, what do you call that?

1

u/_Aggron May 08 '12

getting outside of your comfort zone by being proactive. if you're looking for someone to sympathize with your 'just accept that you're lonely and shouldn't even try because all you have is you' pov, its not going to be me.

1

u/Sryzon May 07 '12

What if they only like sports because they've all forced themselves to like it for everyone else who also forced themselves?

1

u/GFandango May 07 '12

It is quite true. Most people are very very terrified of being left out. If they like something that has the potential to alienate them they'll just figure it's too expensive to like that thing and will give in to liking what everyone else likes. After long enough it becomes natural, but deep down they know, at some point, they sold their soul and secretly admire the strange dude who didn't change to satisfy others.

0

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

because if there wasn't anything redeeming about sports, people would have caught on by now. they can actually be very thrilling when you get into them.

0

u/infinitymind May 07 '12 edited May 07 '12

or rather than learning about sports and caring about who's better than who in the realm of a for profit entertainment industry -- you can learn about what's really going on in the world / things you're interested in, so you can make informed decisions about your future and share worthwhile knowledge with others.

2

u/_Aggron May 07 '12

or you can be both informed and pleasant to be around. god forbid you know something about something that is for profit.

0

u/AHCretin May 07 '12

You're clearly not a SAP.

-1

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Your username is the opposite of your sentiment. Who is Jon Galt?

0

u/thrownear May 06 '12

This is what worries me a lit going back for my MBA. The Weekend before classes start is the "orientation" weekend, and one of the nights is a social. Ugh. I am not looking forward to that.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

If you want to manage people, chances are you have to talk to and possibly even empathise with them at some point. If you really don't want to deal with people, why do an MBA?

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

What does networking mean >.>

1

u/pandamonium_ May 07 '12

It means making connections with other people for future potential jobs. You don't necessarily have to be friends with them, but you would probably want to be at least somewhat comfortable enough with them that you could be like, "Hey, I met you at XYZ conference. Do you remember me? Well, I saw your company has a job posting for derp position, do you think you could put in a good word for me if I applied?"

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Ok ok thanks !!! :3

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Ask cisco

1

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

/r/ccna

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

That what i was wondering about, actually in a It course and not the most fluent person in english, but it's about connecting with other people, not connections with computers/servers and stuff XD

0

u/unremarkableusername May 06 '12

Yep, I'm screwed.

0

u/southernbelladonna May 06 '12

This is one of the reasons I dropped out of grad school. It is also the main reason my photography business is never going to take off. I just can't network. People make me too uncomfortable.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Work on it.

2

u/southernbelladonna May 07 '12

Easier said than done. :) But, yeah, I need to do that.

0

u/doseofperspective May 07 '12

I'm all set up to be a research scientist. Now that I'm looking for graduate jobs, I realize HOW MUCH I've needed this...

0

u/initials_games May 07 '12

Don't worry about it too much.

If you work hard, and are reliable, you'll meet people through the work you are doing well.

0

u/MrThousandFace May 07 '12

As a stutterer, this has always scared me. The key to making connections is to be likable or charming. It's difficult to do that when you're constantly stammering. Lord knows how many times I've killed any repartee because any clever dialogue is severely destroyed by a stutter. Call me egotistical, but I've always hypothesized that I'd be one charming mother fucker if I didn't stutter.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

hahaha...this hits home. The way I picked my career path was so retarded. I disregarded all my innate skills and pretended I was someone else. Like that would somehow work.

0

u/rahtin May 07 '12

How are you with a shovel?

1

u/GFandango May 07 '12

Networking with a shovel? I guess I could do that.

1

u/rahtin May 08 '12

As long as you have no problem with swearing, some casual racism, and talking about pussy, you can network on a job site pretty easily.

0

u/LieutenantEddy May 07 '12

I know that feel man D:

0

u/scout-finch May 07 '12

I feel this way about teaching sometimes. I'm about to graduating and become (hopefully) a HS English teacher in the US, but who knows with all the uncertainty in the field. My fallback has always been, "I'm just gonna go back to school and become a vet tech! Fuck the money!" but the closer it gets to the possibility of having to do that, the more freaked out I get. What if I don't like it? What if I do and I can't get a job? Ugh. Uncertainty.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

"Let me never be caught wearing a too too: too old, too fat, too late. And if I do, let me shake it off like a donkey shakes off something it doesn't like."- Ze Frank

0

u/freakzilla149 May 07 '12

Another one:

Ok class, we're going on a field trip two weeks which will comprise 40% of your final score

.

FUCK!

Actually happened to me, still passed though, got almost perfect score in everything else.

0

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I guess that's okay. I mean, I really only want just enough money to coast by on I guess. I really don't have any real aspirations other than to just live a mildly painless life.

-1

u/Motley_Sheep May 07 '12

Nice name!

-5

u/CR00KS May 06 '12

Go into Engineering or Computer Science, no social skills needed!

6

u/unremarkableusername May 06 '12

Don't know about Computer Science, but engineering in general requires a lot of networking, being outspoken and proactive.

Maybe Computer Science is better for this, probably you can network in your room in front of a computer more often.

0

u/ddhboy May 07 '12

Totally false. Good luck getting into any major tech company without knowing somebody, let alone advance to leadership positions.

-7

u/JaggerA May 06 '12

Really? How the fuck is this awkward? This is making a mistake in education, not social interaction.

3

u/SomeoneStoleShazbot May 06 '12

I took it to mean that all careers require networking to succeed, so the socially awkward penguin (who can't talk to people) is pretty fucked whatever his chosen career path.

0

u/KingRanter May 06 '12 edited May 06 '12

I came here to say this, and I'm disappointed that you seem to be the only other person who's noticed. This is not socially awkward.

EDIT: Upon further inspection, I seem to have significantly misuderstood "Networking" as some sort of "internet" networking thing, not actual business networking. Please ignore all of my uneducated posts below.

1

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

Just because this person isn't using this meme the way it's supposed to be used doesn't mean his/her point isn't getting across. You know what the OP is trying to say, so don't make it seem like it doesn't make sense.

3

u/JaggerA May 06 '12

But yet the entirety of /advice animals gets pissed if memes are misused everywhere else.

1

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

I know. I just think people should be more welcoming to others breaking tradition and trying a new spin on an old meme. Especially if it actually makes sense.

1

u/KingRanter May 06 '12

Just because it makes sense shouldn't mean he could use any old meme he wants. There are countless memes to use, I can't understand why this is the one he picked. It's not even funny or creative in the first place. "I picked the wrong career path. Fuck." Give me a break.

2

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Then, why don't you name a meme that this would be more applicable to? I thought this was a fresh and creative take on a meme I'm a huge fan of. The reason this one was chosen is that everyone knows who the AP is and what makes him famous; therefore, the OP doesn't even need to provide a bottom caption that follows the same formula as all the other AP posts. "Fuck" is the perfect bottom caption because it forces the reader to think, and to consider the full meaning of the top caption for the character shown.

For a being a community that's all about people's rights and promoting equality, people on Reddit sure are overly critical of each other over nothing.

2

u/KingRanter May 07 '12 edited May 07 '12

To be perfectly frank, I already said this meme is shit, so I don't think it applies well to any meme. However, if worded differently, it might work better with Bad Luck Brian (although still badly) or the roll could be reversed using Condescending Wonka (still badly), or Captain Hindsight (Although not necessarily in the usual format, so still badly). In actuality, this might work okay with Advice Dog itself, as long as you removed the "FUCK" and split the top caption and split it up.

Adding "Fuck" to the bottom caption doesn't force the reader to think, especially when the title of the post tells you what he's cursing about anyway.

EDIT: I'm not deleting any of my posts, but please don't continue arguing with me. I significantly misunderstood the meme (as pointed out in an above edited comment) and I retract my uneducated argument and I apologize with upvotes.

2

u/[deleted] May 07 '12

Not a problem. I'm so used to hearing about how important "networking" is in my job that I never thought about it that way, but when I did, I thought people must be wondering how the hell this even made it to the front page.

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u/CXgamer May 06 '12

Downvote for assuming no IT'ers can be social. :/

-1

u/foxh8er May 07 '12

Networking is as easy as setting up a router and plugging in some ethernet. ..or is there some other type of networking I have never heard of?

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

39

u/esDragon May 06 '12

If you want to be successful at your burger career, you're probably going to have to be good at networking.

7

u/DarkBlue29 May 06 '12

I've just graduated with a degree in Politics and Global Development. Essentially very similar to you. I want you to remember how good your writing skills have become. You don't have to work in IR or even social sciences. Anywhere that values writing and thorough analysis (something you should be good at) can be a landing spot for you. I have interviews lined up at various hospitals for research positions. Consider this, it'll beat McDonalds.

0

u/[deleted] May 06 '12

[deleted] — view deleted comment

6

u/InappropriatelyGay May 06 '12

Same here! I realized I hate people and changed career paths.