A challenge
Ok - I have a challenge for my handful of devoted readers and favorite bloggers. My path towards finding a rewarding and manageable career continues to twist and turn. When I get down I lose the perspective I need to keep an open mind towards what I might do to support myself (and eventually, a family). While I have some long-term steps in place (grad school late next year), I am still searching for the job or tasks themselves that will make me feel like I'm doing what I am here to do, or at the very least using my skills and not wanting to shoot myself multiple times throughout the work day.
So, what do you think? What are your ideas? What jobs are out there? What sounds interesting to you? What balances wanting to help the world, but needing to live comfortably (and pay your bills!)? Any and all suggestions and insight welcome - I trust you guys!
Ok wait - I suppose I should throw some things out there to keep in mind:
1) I can't stand the site of blood (I'd be all over nursing if I could!)
2) I need to work with people in some way - working by myself drives me insane (or worse, to nap).
3) I want to feel some sort of international tie-in to my work if at all possible.
4) I'd love a flexible schedule - I fear spending your standard 8-9 hours a day at an office, sitting at a desk, just doesn't work for me.
5) I have a creative side that is just DYING to get out.
Let me know if I should throw some additional parameters out there - I don't want to be too limiting, but I am looking for my dream job afterall!
So, what do you think? What are your ideas? What jobs are out there? What sounds interesting to you? What balances wanting to help the world, but needing to live comfortably (and pay your bills!)? Any and all suggestions and insight welcome - I trust you guys!
Ok wait - I suppose I should throw some things out there to keep in mind:
1) I can't stand the site of blood (I'd be all over nursing if I could!)
2) I need to work with people in some way - working by myself drives me insane (or worse, to nap).
3) I want to feel some sort of international tie-in to my work if at all possible.
4) I'd love a flexible schedule - I fear spending your standard 8-9 hours a day at an office, sitting at a desk, just doesn't work for me.
5) I have a creative side that is just DYING to get out.
Let me know if I should throw some additional parameters out there - I don't want to be too limiting, but I am looking for my dream job afterall!
Labels: help
posted by Mood Indigo at 2:41 PM
14 Comments:
In my head, you are working for a charity.
My head isn't much on specifics.
But, in it, you seem happy and look great.
I would agree. Non-Profit. Something that runs events, like MS or something of the like.
Is there any way you can get a job that would also be good experience in your grad school field? I can't see you going to grad school for something that doesn't fit your requirements, so I think a job in the field would not only help people but help you once you finish school.
open a cafe. done. nonprofits are nice---i work for one---but you'll need a place you can be creative without having bureaucracy.
I want to say teacher ....
Peter - you know me so well :) I think this is definitely in the works. My involvement with charities thus far has not included any compensation - but I think my degree will help and the experience I've been building with involvement thus far.
Sarahleigh - Events planning has always intrigued me - especially for organizations like these - a great suggestion!
Megan - This is a fantastic idea and I need to pursue it. I think I've been putting off jumping into a job search of this nature because I haven't moved yet and I'm trying to take advantage of the job I have, but I really need to get going on this and it makes TONS of sense!
Anon - I would love to be part of a cafe culture - but this is HARD work. I'm not resistent to hard work - but you need to KNOW this is what you want to do to make a cafe profitable. What I could see myself doing is perhaps helping with the design of cafes eventually, if I pursue interior design...
Airaim - I emailed you about this :) I've always worried I'm just not a good teacher. But man, I'd love to be a part of a school calendar, so I'm still looking for jobs that would fit what I would be good in that setting. I'll leave guiding young minds in the classroom to the natural teachers like you!
Become somebody's agent! Some people have much talent locked beneath strata of neuroses and second-guessing, and find it hard to self-promote... you could be their gateway to glory!
You can be self-directed BUT work with people personably; be on the move; need only to draw the amount of blood that is effective; strategize and daydream etc.
You seem to have ample stock of charisma and wit... and you might meet renee zellwigger and her border-line psychopath kid.
PLUS... it won't interfere with school and you'll have access to those subterranean caverns of creative energy.
Teach English in Japan. You'd sharpen your teaching teeth, make lots of money, and learn new things. Far from the guy though.
You know, I've been thinking about this a lot too. The problems with non-profit as I see it are no money and structural (and other kinds of) inefficiency.
What's your focus going to be in grad school?
by the way. I'm an interior designer. ask me whatever you want.
The first thing that popped into my head was "fund-raiser", but I guess that's obvious and has been covered!
If you were artistically inclined Art Therapist would make sense.
Hmmm...
Perhaps journalism? It isn't a given to make it as a journalist - fiercely competitive - but it certainly would suit.
S'mat - Wait, Renee Zellwegger has a kid!? J/k (although I didn't know that!) but this is a very interesting idea. It kind of takes the pressure off me and my career and puts it on someone else - I like that! Are you looking for a rep? ;)
Eve - that's a definite option. I have a friend who taught in Ecuador and it really amazed me the teacher in her that came out. I'm a bit nervous about going abroad again before I go to grad school (which will be in Africa) because I want to be near my family for the next year. But long term, I might look into this.
I don't know which school my scholarship will be at yet (they tell me in December) but I'm hoping to study Sustainable Development.
Unslaked - I guess I better give fundraising a serious thought! I have some contacts in this area so I need to check it out.
Art therapy is a great suggestion - I actually considered music therapy in college and then decided to pursue conducting instead which I promptly failed at. And journalism is tempting - but I don't know enough about it to not be scared off by the competition. I should find someone in the field to interview and see if I might get past that and see what it really comes down to in terms of making it.
Sarah Leigh - I am going to email you!
Thank you guys - keep the thoughts coming, this is awesome! And, if anyone needs any blog post ideas of their own, I'd love to hear how you ended up doing what you're doing, or on the path you're on. Let me know if you post something!
What about joining the peace corps and doing microfinancing? (Two year commitment though.) I know a guy who did that in Senegal, and worked for a credit union. It kind of made him bitter, but I imagine he was already like that.
Eve - that's not the first person I've heard who came out of Peace Corps embittered! I've always wanted to do Peace Corps - but the two years got me. I've had neices and nephews since I was three, and the idea of being gone for two whole years just made me feel like I'd be missing too much (not to mention my dad's age - he had me late). Still - it is also an option that's always in the back of my mind - even if it takes me a number of years to follow through! It would be a fantastic way to get exposure to micro finance...
If you cannot find yourself a job that allows you all those things, keep in mind you could (and maybe should) volunteer for something you believe in. We can't always be in a position to add meaning to our lives, but we can do other things outside of our job to feel fulfilled.
Good luck!
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