If you are going to work for someone else I would suggest lightwave. If your going to work for yourself I would suggest Carrara. You can make anything in either. I think you would be more likely to get a job knowing lightwave. I think you could get started faster (producing models) in carrara.

I use carrara for anything non organic and 3dcoat or zbrush for anything organic. This seems to work well. Carrara simple does not have the film credits that lightwave does and is not yet an industry standard in the eyes of the companies.