The challenge to picking a career when you are in high school / college is that you largely do so blind. Over time as you gain experience you learn that there is a difference in "work" and the "work environment". You may enjoy the work but cannot abide the environment. You also learn that just because you are good at something does not mean you actually enjoy doing it; it may just be a talent as opposed to a gift. Many people by their mid-thirties are not working at a job that matches their college degree. And that's when the chase begins.
Before you know it, you are chasing a paycheck from one career to the next. Instead of asking "what fulfills me" we start asking, "How can I get the most money for the things I can do?". Or to put another way, "How can I sell myself to the highest bidder?"
I am trying to take advantage of this economic downturn and period of unemployment to STOP. LOOK. And LISTEN. To really ask myself how I want to spend the second half of my career-life. And I may have had an epiphany this morning . . . . I listed every job I have ever had and wrote down what I liked and disliked about them. Every. Single. Job. Some of the likes and dislikes are obvious and others are more subtle.
This is where you come in. If you wouldn't mind taking a look and chiming in if you know of a career that might be a match I would be greatly appreciative (I figure there is some odd career out there that I have never considered).
So without further ado:
LIKES:
Variation in work
Caring for people in need
Learning new things
Responsibility
Not confined to one office all week
Challenging
Public speaking
Teaching / training others
Opportunity to intellectually grow
Study and research
Writing
Inspiring others
Helping people
Emotionally caring for others
Business casual
Salaried (additional small commission is okay)
Moderately Independent
Regular work hours (a little on call time is okay)
DISLIKES:
Mindlessly shuffling paper
Not stimulating
No Respect
No privacy in work space
Irregular hours
Regular long distance travel
Sales
Paying my own taxes
Work weeks consistently over 50 hours
Being on call 24/7
Servicing Salesmen
Corruption / Dishonesty / Cronyism
Thanks!
8 comments:
Matt,
Have you ever read the book, "What color is my parachute?"
I'd do that, and also do the worksheet!
As for your dream job, a managing broker would be perfect for you!
Hey, thanks Jon. I will definitely add the book to my list!
I must say, I was doing research (not related to your blog) and your blog from July 25, 2011 came up and I could not believe how the photo touched me. Your daughter is like a little angel. Absolutely beautiful. Then I enjoyed some of your blog posts and you had pictures of her haircut, etc. There is something very special about her. You are blessed. I normally don't put my comments out there but her face just captured my heart and I had to say something. I have two kids of my own - one "typical" and one "wonderkid" and I, too, am very lucky. Anyway ... just had to comment on your beautiful girl.
Ok ... now ... back to work. lol!
Sounds to me like you need to work with people. Like some sort of social work job or working in a home for the elderly. I did home-care for a teen who had autism once and it was very fulfilling. A friend of mine has a job helping the mildly disabled find and keep jobs. Just ideas.
Yeah, something helping people. I have considered going into health care or disability advocacy . . .
In this economy I decided to take a line from JFK and asked less about what my job can do for me and instead started asking what I can do for them.
That's also how I've found a little better work environment. We're all still a bunch of jerks but we encourage each other to clean up our act when we're working together.
I've also found that raises are practically extinct but if your willing to do the work of 2 people then overtime is readily given. And frankly, without overtime I'd be deep in the red.
Anyway, set reasonable goals but stay flexible. There's always some guy right behind you willing to work twice as hard for half the money.
Good luck!
My vote is some kind of counselor - a guidance counselor, admissions counselor, youth counselor, etc. I even saw a foreclosure prevention counselor job posting. Weren't you in real estate a bit ago?
Check out this link - http://www.quintcareers.com
Good luck!
My first thought was "something to do with people" and my second thought was "maybe people with various disabilities" then my third thought was "some kind of couselor"... but I see that ALL of those have been listed already, so I guess I'm not offering anything new.
People though. That seems to be a big obvious resounding YES.
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