I'm the type of person who prefers to operate with a set of rules. What type of job would you recommend?

Law enforcement? Banking? Government?

Well, those are jobs that involve strict rules, in theory, but people will always ask for special treatment from you. And people always want to break the rules.

Try accounting – you work mostly independently.

I immediately thought that too @livelaughlove21 but I think @DaphneT is frustrated by dealing with rule breakers. Those jobs would guarantee she had to deal with people either breaking rules or trying to get her to bend them.

I can’t think of a job where rules exist and people don’t try to circumnavigate them. I will keep pondering on it.

@Bellatrix I realized that shortly after answering, so I edited my answer. :)

Ahh, I responded before you edited. Even in accounting people cheat. On their taxes, commit fraud etc. I still can’t think of a job where people won’t break the rules. I think it’s human nature. Even a kindergarten teacher has to deal with littlies wanting to break the rules.

While so far our responses may not be helping you @DaphneT, it’s a good question!

First off, congratulations on realizing how you prefer to work! No kidding. People make themselves miserable in expectations that don’t suit them.

As long as you know you like expectations laid out but you can also think on your own to make a good judgement call, I recommend a paramedical career. Radiology, Pharmacy, Surgical technician… endless list really. Everyone is on board with the “musts”, procedure is damned clear and regulated.

^^ Yes! Great answer @Blueroses. @DaphneT now you just need a little retraining!

The medical field.
I don’t like it because it is to limiting. When I left it was like, woo hoo! Nothing I do is going to kill anybody!

Flip side of that @Judi is “woohoo! I followed all protocols and someone lived today!”

Scientist. Now stricter rules exist than the laws of physics.

Computer programming. You must follow the rules of the computer language you are working with, or your program won’t work.

@ragingloli I defy physics but physics always wins. Fuck gravity.

Perhaps you could write manuals or rules guides. This kind of technical writing is needed in such industries as gaming, automotive, technology (esp. software), and many others—and it depends not so much on creativity as on the ability to express instructions clearly and concisely.

Be self employed. Ultimate freedom job. Maybe a realtor or some other profession where you are your own boss.

Careers that provide structure.
well defined schedules no surprises, where everything is provided, such as food shelter etc
Military Career does that and even provides advancement (education).

You could always be an IRS auditor. They have got 73,608 pages of rules to enforce, and Congress keeps making more all the time. If you like rules, you should take to the IR$ like a duck takes to water.

Can you tell us what your academic background is?

@Blueroses I defy gravity every day, and I win.

@bob_ I’m fighting that battle too. The problem is gravity can wait. But yeah, @Blueroses knowing your CV would help a great deal in suggesting a good direction for your career.

@ETpro Um, I was asking the OP.

Thanks to all of you for your insights, better than paid therapy. I will have to spend some time cogitating on how I got so far off track. I’m in retail as a cashier because the part-time aspect works best for taking care of Mom. I happen to have an ancient degree in computer science with a side of accounting. Back in elementary school I was voted as most likely to enter law enforcement. Maybe I should look at housekeeping or dispatcher to keep that part-time aspect. Must cogitate.

There are plenty of part time jobs in hospitals.

People don’t break rules or try to get special treatment in the medical field? Ha…who knew?

I was thinking more along the lines of a field the OP could enter into without going back to school for 8 years, but the only medical profession I can think of where you don’t have to concern yourself with anything but your job and the body in front of you is an MD.

Computer programming is a good one, especially if you already have a degree in computer science.

If you’re looking for part-time, the dispatcher job you mentioned sounds interesting. So does house cleaning – you set the price and mostly work independently.

A pharmacy tech or phlebotomist doesn’t take a lot of schooling.