When I was using Google asking how to start a blog your name came up. I took your message to just begin and ran with it. That was a few months ago and I still do not feel as though I have a direction or voice yet but I truly enjoy it as a creative outlet.
I have read many of your posts and the other day came across one where you were talking about Twitter. I have an aversion to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, all the Pinterest, all of the social media for the masses. I have taken the Myers Briggs test 4 times professionally and always an INFP. Since you are a Myers Briggs fan do you think Introverts are on Twitter or is it the 75 percent Extroverted population that find it so lovable?
I have a choice now between:
a) Going back to school for 3 years to get a degree in speech-language pathology – and the school I was accepted at is across the country. What I would gain is a career that would be intellectually engaging, be in a field that’s growing (career stability) and be a in a field where I can take a couple months off a year to travel or do other hobbies (because I could work in a school district). I really would rather work less with more time to travel, camp, hike, sew, and do other pursuits.
b) Stay at my current job which is ok. I’m in human resources, but not all that successful in a corporate culture, haven’t been promoted in 5 years, but I meet the job requirements, and since I’ve been with this company so long I get about 5 weeks of paid time off a year. What I could do by doing this is – pay my house off in 4 years, continue living 3 houses away from my sister, maybe start a little Etsy business in my basement, and my boyfriend lives here, so we could easily continue our relationship. But as far as working until retirement — I don’t know if I could do what I do forever.
Right now I make 65K/year…and would make about the same working year-round coming out of school. If I I can make $17/K a year while going to school, I could pay for college and out with no debt – but my savings account depleted.
I’m stuck because if I have to work for the next 20-25 years – I would much rather be a speech-language pathologist. But what I really want more than a career I love – would be to be married and have a kid – and I’m 33 so my clock is running out.
Any thoughts on what to consider?
I’ve been doing informational phone appointments with people who are employed in the industry I hope to be in (financial services). I’ve been very lucky to have “chemistry” with all of my contacts. However, I am not sure how to follow up with them as my graduation date (and need for employment!) approaches.
How does one follow-up with contacts after an informational phone appointment? Does one ask for a job? Ask for more contacts? Ask if the contact knows of any jobs? Ask for an in-person meeting?
A recent post on your blog talks about having challenging goals for which you can focus your energy on. You also mention you need to be able to make money doing it. Does that mean the only worthwhile goals that you focus on and try to reach everyday are ones that you can eventually make money from?
My husband graduated 5 years ago and got a job at his current company and loves it. I’m an avid reader, so I know you’d approve of the reasons why: He’s always learning. He’s thrilled to have opportunities to travel, and even live, abroad. We’ve both made good friends with a few of his colleagues. It’s close to our families, and he has a ten minute commute. There’s bullshit like anywhere, but we feel like it’s worth it. And he just got a promotion and a big raise.
The trouble is, he’s happy to stay there indefinitely as long as they pay is good but I worry that in the modern job market, he’ll seem odd for staying at the same company – his first job out of school! – for much longer. Can that be a bad thing? If so, can you mitigate it by diversifying a resume with other things like being active in industry organizations or volunteering?
Could it possibly make sense to give up so many good things for the benefit of having more diverse experience?
Do you have advice for trying to relocate across country and find a job? Does one need to lie and say you are actually in the new town? It seems like they can find that out in a background check. They seem to be more interested in local candidates, even when I stress I would pay for my own move.
I just cannot afford to quit and go live in the town in order to interview because of overhead.
I have an interview that is three hours in the morning and three hours in the afternoon with six different people. I have done interviews much shorter than this one and I was dog tired at the end. I’m not even sure why a company would have me come in for such a long time because it seems like overkill. What is the best way for me to prepare for this interview?
My husband and I moved across the country last year – from a city of 2,000,000 to a town of 80,000. I am finding the transition very difficult. Besides missing our family and friends terribly, our new town is, well, just quiet. I do not see anything interesting or positive in our new home town, and I am miserable. We moved because of a job opportunity for my husband, so moving back isn’t an option right now.
I finished my BA in English more than a year ago, and I want to work in PR. Even though I’ve sent out more than 5000 resumes, I have only gotten one interview…
Can you take a look at my resume and tell me if I can make it better?
I don’t know what to do to find a job. Do you think you can help me?
I was recently fired, and I’m finding it tough to answer questions regarding my unemployed status to potential employers.
I worked for my last company for 10 months. My numbers were high and my clients had only positive things to say regarding my service to them. I always knew that there were some issues with my fit in the company culture.
Out of the blue i was asked to meet with my line manager and his manager for a drink one evening at the hotel they were staying at. I met with them and they were extremely awkward and i knew that something bad was coming. They said that I was being asked to leave the company effective immediately and that i would be paid 3 months salary. I asked what the reason was and both guys eye-balled each other and didn’t reply.
So I wished them well, asked for a good reference from my line manager, and I walked out.
I have been in touch with some potential companies and some headhunters with regards to new possible positions and the first question that always comes up is “why did you leave your last position after such a short period of time?” With some headhunters I have been honest about what happened in the hopes that they may be able to offer some advice from their expertise but most of them just say that they will find it hard to place me in a new position.
One head hunter advised me to say that my role with the last company was a “set up” role where I was employed for one year to establish the brand in the market using my industry links, marketing skills and product knowledge and that I was now free to pursue other options now that the set up was established.
Do you have advice on how I can overcome this hump?