Boy, I wish I had more words of wisdom for you Shifting. I feel your confusion as I am in the process of changing careers for more financial security as well as to feel more fulfilled. I've never been very motivated by money but would now like to work smarter not harder.

I'd say talking with a good career coach can be worth its weight in gold (took me till I'm almost 40 to realize why I keep hitting a financial wall and feel so stressed in my different jobs). I was doing what I was good at but not what would ultimately fulfill me (big difference that we often overlook because we are often shown either or choices. Either you are good at it or you are not and you hate it. There is a third option, something that you may not be good at and actually never even thought about doing but it challenges you in a way that is fulfilling).

Not sure if this is of interest but just throwing it out. My husbands job is pretty secure and stable, he's a Physical Therapy Assistant. It was a two year degree (he already had a few other AA's so it was just a few years on top of those). We do a traveling program (have for the last 4 years) to raise his income and travel (he likes to spend, good thing I don't, lol). He pretty much says what he wants and where he wants to work and we travel to that location for 6-12 mos (most of the money is tax free for traveling therapists). He can easily go into the massage field from here or become a full Physical Therapist. Anther gift with this degree is his job security is highest in beautiful retirement communities :D Although his dream is still to only work a few days a week when I start making some real money. He also has never had a desire to justify why or what he wants or does (ENTP and youngest child) and it works well for him.

Shif,

I think I can help you.

Warning: My advice is long, but I think useful.

I myself am currently pursuing a major in accounting. I can say to you that having been through that class on Microsoft Excel (and likely Access, Powerpoint, and Word as well in that class). I have only taken two basic accounting classes (financial and cost) at The Ohio State University, the business school of which is supposedly ranked 14th I believe in the country. I currently have a part-time internship (8:00am-5:00pm Tues-Thurs) for a CPA and some associates. I have a 3.8 GPA. What I have learned in class so far in accounting has helped me very little at my job. I audit non-profits, look up IRS tax laws for my boss for his clients, fill out tax forms, and work on Quickbooks and Excel all of the time. I also started and run a homeless ministry. I serve folks on the streets, analyze food inventory, write grants, report how it is doing fiscally to the church staff using accounting.

Now that I have given you an idea of where I am coming from, here is some info:

First of all, you said that you like accounting. Do you like doing accounting, or do you like the profession of accounting for its necessity and usefulness and integrity that it provides one with? I ask you this because to be quite honest, accounting is not my strong suit, and I just believe that accounting is work, good work, but work not necessarily meant to be enjoyed. I do not know if you plan to major in accounting, but I would not really recommend that you go all the way and get a CPA and work in audit or tax. Save that for the "guardians" (i.e. the SJ temperaments, especially ISTJs). INFJs, do not make very good accountants, because it (in my opinion) is a profession that cannot satisfy an INFJ, because it has very little human element in it.

Secondly, if you would like to work in human resources, you would likely work in a large firm where human resources is necessary. If you are pursuing a degree in human resources, I suggest you have another degree to complement it. Human resources is, in a lot of companies, about recruiting and referring. So, if you have a degree in say accounting, you will have a better idea of the type of person who should be a good accountant to hire when your boss asks you to hire an accountant. The same can be about getting a degree in finance, marketing, operations management and logistics, etc. Human resource people can be very dispensible in business, because they are often viewed as “impractical” (Just something to be cautious about there).

Thirdly, with all of that seemingly speculative and somewhat informative information, here is what I suggest [(Remember, I am 21 years old and in college, not in my 30s with a wife and child, nor 2 jobs while taking classes (you are a trooper)]:

Shif, I suggest that you stick with business. That is, get a degree in a business field, such as accounting (most preferably, since it is so flexible and valuable), human resources, finance, etc. I went through that computer class while taking an honors accounting class (both classes were like 2 course loads each) while taking 2 other classes and being involved and committed to numerous student activities (though they weren’t as tough as jobs or children, they were time consuming). I got my ass kicked for the first 4 weeks of the quarter. I started with D’s in both classes those first 4 weeks. I dropped my honors accounting class and smoked that computer class, finishing with an A- by week 10. My point is Shif, if there are any classes that you are taking that are not necessary or can be taken later, drop one. You may think that you will fall behind, but think of this computer class as two classes. Take the class you can drop (if you can drop one) next semester additionally with easier classes, to somewhat ease the burden. Get that computer class done. IT IS ACTUALLY USEFUL FOR WORK.

Get that business degree. Then get a Masters Degree in Social Work. I believe it would take 2 years. I do not know what your views on that area are, but from my experience with it (the homeless ministry) and a social work class, you can get a Masters in Social Work with pretty much any undergrad degree. The business degree as an undergrad will allow you to work in say a clinic, working with patients one-on-one with their problems and using your say human resources knowledge to refer them to places. You can use an accounting degree to set up an information organization system (a way of making sure the place won’t shut when it gets audited because of poor organization or poor money tracking practices) in a hospital or non-profit organization, be a development director with knowledge of budgets and ideas of how to PRACTICALLY help the organization (many non-profits/ Social work places are not always practical with money from my audit experience). Your salary could be anywhere from (in Florida?) 35,000-60,000 to start. It may not be great, but you will likely not work as much and your work will be fulfilling depending on where you work. Many INFJs are in social work.

Lastly, my social work teacher (an INFJ) was a marketer for J.P. Morgan Chase and now has just completed his Master’s in Social Work doing research and advocacy for the aging gay men population who are often out-casted by society. He loves his work and was not satisfied with the business lifestyle. He is in his late 40s, but told me he thought the social work degree was all worth it, as opposed to just money.

Shif, listen to yourself. Take my advice with a grain of salt. Remember, I am 21 years old.

What are your 2 jobs (If I may)?

Hi,
I started in bussiness school when I was 18 yrs old, even though I always loved music I also thought I wanted to work in HR and since everyone advised me that it would be hard to make a living as a musician I decided to study Bussiness managment. So I enrolled at university and 2 yrs later after I failed accountability twice I switched my career and graduated from communication sciences, which was more appealing to my INFJ interests. Anyhow my first real job was at an HR consulting firm, some years later I started a Training and development consulting firm (which was what I really liked about HR) and although I was fascinated about concepts like the learning process, I didn't enjoy working with corporate people.

Anyways, I though I should find out more about the learning proceess and enrolled in a permament education master program ...there I began to question what I wanted to do with my life ... again ... and 5 years later we bought a music school, which I run and it is just the best thing, in the end I am working and living in a music environment and finally have created my INFJ playground, where I can observe and think about the learning process first hand. We still have our training and development firm, but with the economic crisis we are barely surviving, all our income basically comes from the school.

The best advice I can give you, is to really understand who you are and find out what you really want to do (use your intuition), dont think about money, think about passion, only that will keep you motivated and only that will make you be the best you can be.
Then set a goal, make a plan, do the plan, check results, and get there ... dont worry everything will work out fine in the end ... its just life

Hope that this helps, (this has been the longest post Ive ever written in a social website ... )
Best,
Alejandro

Thank you so much for all of your replies and information and life experiences. It has helped tremendously. I haven't posted until now b/c I have been very sick with a bacterial infection. Through this illness I have realized that I am naturally motivated to help people and I want to do something that is more in line with my personality and soul.
I am going to go to a career counselor and see what would be a good fit at this point, in finishing a college degree.
I know after reading these posts and thinking about my own personal feelings of fulfillment, that business school will leave me feeling empty and frustrated, only trying to look towards more education to balance out the desire to help others.
I am also exploring the more creative side of me and deciding to share more of myself through music and art. I am gathering prints for a local show with an another photographer and possibly starting to play the flute more with local bands. Maybe just recording at first, not sure I'm up for a show. I think I just swayed way to one side of myself trying to fit into an expectation and knowing that the art and music did not afford me my financial security in the past, but my perspective has changed quite a bit and I am deciding to not base my efforts on income but on happiness. Happiness is the only thing I truly can control in my life so why choose to be miserable?
Coming up with a new plan and action does take some energy but the change is very motivating and encouraging.
Thanks again. Each of you has given me so much inspiration.

I went to career counseling and ended up changing my major to "Organizational Leadership". Which is an interdisciplinary degree that combines all the bits and pieces of business that I love with all the social science dynamics and classes that I also love, leaving out all the "business management" aspects that just left me cold. I am so excited to find a good fit. I am looking forward to starting school again in a week and the classes are exactly what I have always had in mind taking.
I have about 8 more classes and a senior project and I will be done, so all in all, I feel great about this!
Most people who get this degree go on to work for non-profit organizations in leadership development, directing or managing volunteers, developing programs for non profits, event planning, public relations, and human resources.
the only thing I am regretting is not knowing about this program earlier, but...better late than never!
Thank you all for your input, it helped me immensely through this transition.