To find absentee owners with lots of equity, which field would you recommend using?

I see that you are licensed electrician, so starting in this field would probably will be easiest.

I was hoping if any current agents on the forum could share some insight on some key things that they learned upon entering the sales agent field. 

Now as time go on you could get a great listing and field agent who will know their market as well as good contractors from your state or any other state to network with too duplicate what you are currently doing in your local market.There is a guy his name is Sean Terry who is teaching this online google his name to find him online this will help you accomplish what you're trying to do.Hope this could be of help to you.God Bless!

I love searching for deals, matching buyers with properties, recognizing the potential of a property, imagining the possibilities for my future portfolio…and I feel completely blessed to be able to work in a field I love.

This exercise basically eliminated the idea for me of jumping straight into rentals since I'd prefer not to work in my current field for more than a year after my discharge from the Navy.I like the path you chose with a basic marketing campaign and a flip to start.

If you stay in journalism, that may help with creditworthiness by staying in the same field. 

She has little to no experience in real estate, other than her own property, and her "deal analysis" is based on numbers and calculations that are completely out of left field.

I moved here for a job and currently work in the logistics field.

I have the drive i just need the field experience.