Schnob
I am looking for a new job. My New Year's resolution was to have a new job by now. Does anyone have any ideas? I don't want to go back to school. I don't want to work
in a boring office. A "fun" office would be okay. Maybe something out of mental health. A change. Though I love working with the people I work with. Yesterday one of my guys wrote down for his strenghts re healthy living: "drink 8 glasses of water a day, eat ranch dressing." I love that but...maybe something different now. Since '98, a bit of the ol' burnout on me edges. Not crispy yet, but like the Beatles (and, as Stephen Colbert says, Tom DeLay), I'd like to leave when I'm still "top of my game." I've got a resume. I'm checking Craig's List. And Idealist. But I'm starting to suspect those are dead ends and I'll need to start getting the newspaper. Blah. Is there anything more depressing than flipping through the Want Ads? There is not. I've just kind of lucked into most things in my life ... Will it happen again? Suggestions? Leads? Anyone want to be my patron?
posted by pete. @ 11:22 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Hey, Pete!
I, too, do not know what I want to be when I grow up. I do know of a helpful book, however. It is called 'Do What You Are' and it is based upon the Meyers-Briggs personality assessment. (This does not determine IF you have a personality, but what KIND of personality.)
Then, based upon those traits, it makes suggestions as to fitting career choices.
For example, if you are an INFP (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Perceiving)you might like these occupations:
Arts/ Creative (designer, journalist,writer,musician, artist etc...)
Education / Counseling (counselor, social worker, librarian,teacher,mediator...)
Religion (religious educator, pastor, missionary...)
Health Care (dietician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech pathologist,home health social worker, massage therapist...)
AND THAT WILL BE 5 CENTS,PLEASE!
Pete,
Happy Birthday to you! This is pretty heavy to be thinking about on your birthday. I wish my gift to you could be the perfect job. What about that space store with the writing activities in the back? Not-for-profit organizations that write with people for empowerment purposes (there are several of those in Chicagos--teenage moms, women in literacy programs in housing projects, homeless newspaper like Streetwise). I don't know that these kind of jobs pay much, but writing while working with a population you have experience with could be very rewarding.
What about journalism? Public radio? Freelance reporter. My friend Joe Dempsey does all kinds of unusual freelance writing (some for academic types--doing research for history books like letters to a civil war leader etc., as well as review bands and other types of things for the Citypages in DC). Maybe you could talk with him--his birthday is the 23rd of this month about how to get into that kind of gig. He works a lot and I don't think he makes much money or has much job security, so again, potential downfalls.
How about working at a university center for writing--where college kids come in and get help writing their essays etc. At least that kind of job would have benefits (after a while). Teaching at a community college? Teaching at a private 2 year college? How about just regular old research assistant at a university? No benefits, but could be fun.
I think conceirge is a GREAT job. You get free drinks/food in restaurants, tips, tickets to shows (via kickbacks!), and you get to tell other people what to do. My friend Alex did that for awhile (without any experience in a city she was unfamiliar with at the time) and got lots of free stuff and city knowledge out of it. And come to think of it--doorman at a fancy hotel isn't a bad gig either--whistle for cabs, give the valet guys keys to fancy cars, welcome visitors and chat up tourists. I mean, could get dull, but think of the characters you would meet and the ones would be flowing from your pockets!
What about working for Amazon--surely someone has to come up with ideas for what you should buy based on what you bought before.
Okay, I have to get back to analyzing accountability policies and their influence on teacher behavior in high poverty schools (you could do that--I would pay you $20 to finish this article!). I'll keep working on it. In the meantime, love to you and Happy happy birthday!
Wow, thanks a lot you guys. Very helpful, gave me plenty to chew on. I really appreciate it!
I am so happy that I left my job in mental health.
Have you thought about becoming part of that bureaucracy people are always talking about?
http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/personnel/employment/
http://www.metrokc.gov/ohrm/jobs/AllJobs.htm
http://access.wa.gov/employment/getajob_government.aspx
And there is always monster.com.
t
Pete,
You're a walking encylopedia of musicians, bands, albums and cds; and Seattle obviously has an awesome music scene. Any chance of a career path using that knowledge? Radio stations, clubs, recording studios? You could open up a new/used vinyl and CD store. Maybe there is some way that you could combine your music knowledge with your poetry and writing skills?
I wish I knew any details to offer on this idea, but most of the actual musicians I know are 6 and 8 year old violinists.
sonic boom!
i think you would be a really good teacher. and you have a masters degree, so you could do that. you would get good benefits and lots of time off. plus, you could teach english and poetry, which is what you know.
This is how I would decide. Ask yourself what you would want to do if you could do anything at all. (I think we talked about this and your answer was own a book store.) Maybe you aren't able to open a book store right now, but you could get closer to that goal by working in or managing a book store. Maybe a small, independent book store where you would feel like the owner! I think you would be great at that.
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