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In addition to the "I am telling Mom" approach, you can learn strategies and techniques that curtail this kind of behavior at the moment when it is happening, not a week later.
Confrontation and Power Plays are a thing in the workplace and its best to learn a few strategies for dealing with it.
Start here: Secrets to Winning At Office Politics.
Well - you're not giving anyone anything to work with. You're just saying - pick something where I can make $15 an hour.
Go get a job as a trash collector, go to work for a landscaper, learn to drive truck and get a CDL. There are literally thousands of jobs that you can make $15 an hour.
Here - http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=%2415+Per+Hour&l=michigan - There are literally 11,000 + job postings for you to start with.
I wouldn't write-off career growth in the IT/Software industry just yet. If you want to stay and grow in the IT/Software industry you're going to have to take on more responsibilities and keep building competencies. For example, if you're eyeing the CTO role, you need to start doing CTO stuff.
The other option is taking risks outside of this field (like real estate), as you know from B-school, your Returns is dependent on the alpha (risk). This obviously depends on your personal tolerance for risk.
I created a simple framework for how to prioritize your possible pursuits in the post "Finding your Career" below. It sounds like you might be in #1 but closer to the X axis. If you decide to stay in IT, you might need to go up-left (into #2) before going right again. (you need to be logged into LinkedIn): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpproduct#post-container there are other career related posts that might be helpful for you as well, click on “See more”.
Why don't you try taking an online course in accounting before making any major decisions? Coursera has a good one starting in a couple of weeks.
Also worth noting that accounting is a lot more learning (often arcane) rules and much less "crunching some numbers".
You should see if Toastmasters is in your area... I find the best way to overcome a fear or weak skill is to practice it. Which, granted, is the hardest thing to do, but no pain, no gain!
Also, read First, Break All The Rules - it's technically for managers, but I've found that it lends itself really well to self examination as well :)
Many large financial institutions will take on fresh graduates from a plethora of backgrounds. Look in to graduate schemes by the large Wallstreet banks e.g. Goldmann Sachs, J. P. Morgan & Chase, Morgan Stanley etc. These positions are definitely sought after, so be prepared that you might only be able to enter the world of finance as an intern.
Also you have a decent skillset to enter finance, as being comfortable with numbers, math and statistics helps.
Another route, which might suit your skillset more is to become a quant, or quantitative trader. These are often referred to as the “rocket scientists of Wall Street”, basically they create complex statistical models to trade with. The majority of quants come from a mathematics, statistics and physics background, so they might be more interested in hiring somebody from a non-finance background.
In regards to learning more about Finance, Investopedia is a great resource. There also seem to be a decent amount of courses on Finance on Coursera.
Lastly, pitch your unique strengths: all these finance guys look through the world in one way. You are unique in the sense that you come from a different background. You're able to use different analysis and methodologies than other applicants. You are inter-disciplinary, and you believe you can use this to your advantage.
Good luck OP!
If push comes to shove, you can always go work for IATSE.
http://iatse.net/member-resources/local-union-directory
You don't even apply. You just fill out paperwork and you're "hired." I loved working for them when I could, but there are some down sides.
1) It's very chaotic. Even if you become a journeyman after a couple of years, it's still unlikely that you'll have have a "set schedule."
2) When you start, you basically have to wake up at like 6 am every day and "call in" to try to get work.
3) You always have to be on your A game. You'll be "invited back for work" more frequently depending on how well you work.
4) There are some venues where people really seem to flip their shit over nothing. Most of the time people are really professional, but I had a couple of jobs at one venue once where everyone was just seconds away from flipping out all the time.
There are some great benefits to it, though, too:
1) ANYONE that can move can do this work (it's mainly loading and unloading trucks to start).
2) It pays really well, usually. The lowest paid position I ever worked was 16 an hour and that was back in 2004.
3) If you "stay with them" and they like you, you'll likely end up being able to work as something like a sound engineer. My friend does that through the local where I live, and he makes about 80,000 a year with benefits and plenty of time off.
4) Most of the people you work with are pretty awesome.
Good luck on your quest. I'm pretty much in the exact same place. If you want to learn more about computer programming btw, check out Code Academy. It's totally free and it's actually really good.
As people have mentioned, contracting and freelancing are great options.
I would also say you might want to check out the book called 'The 4-Hour Workweek' by a guy named Tim Ferriss. I have read the book and personally not everything he talks about has value for me, but it is still a good resource to get started thinking about freeing up your time.
I would stick with plumbing and study computing on weekends and evenings. There are plenty of online degree and certificate options as well. Plumbing is an extremely valuable trade that will be in demand worldwide. Years ago, I looked into immigrating to Australia. Unfortunately, my PhD in Economics gave me no special consideration as it wasn't an in demand skill. However, if I had known plumbing, electric, or HVAC, then I would have been a shoo-in. You might also give "The Millionaire Next Door" a quick read to see who is really making it to millionaire status.
I would recommend a book called So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport. "Follow your passion" is actually pretty shitty advice for most people. Mr. Newport lays out a pretty good case against it, and also shares an alternative approach to finding satisfaction in your career.
> But do salaries vary as much as the cost of living
For the record I'm not America :P So I can't really give any specific advice. But to answer the question; Not as much. Entry level positions generally are the same across the board. Location will make it easier to get a position (or get a position).
Salaries and cost of living don't scale equally at all. That's in either direction. Your salary comes down to, how well you can justify your cost to the business, how well the business is doing at the moment of negotiations, how much your manager/boss likes you, what the industry is willing to pay in your area.
Also I am assuming here, but this sounds like it'll be your first job out of study. Just take anything you get as long as you can pay the bills for 6 - 12 months then start chasing more money.
The rule of 1/3 on housing is your maximum. You want to minimise this as much as possible. I did a half ass search for rooms to rent in New Jersey you can get what look like liveable rooms for less than 1k a month. But going back to your original question of salaries,
Entry level positions for "digital marketing assistant" seem to be about 30 - 40k a year.
Source: http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=igital+Marketing+Assistant&l=new+jersey (look at the left hand column, 42 jobs the 30k+) San Francisco it looks to be similar: http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=digital+marketing+assistant&l=San+Francisco%2C+CA&radius=25 But San Francisco has a reputation of being much more expensive to live in.
Look at post-baccs like this one or masters rather than a second bachelor's. Since you already have some experience with computers and a strong STEM background, this might be the better choice. Also, try taking some online classes like these to make sure you have the basic CS skills and to make sure this really is the career path you want before dumping time/money/effort into a more serious program.
That is completely possible. Maybe try learning some more programming on your own to see if its something thats worth pursuing further? Try exploring some free resources like CodeAcademy.
Programming would certainly provide you with a steady job/income but in the gaming scene seems to be more of a toss up (from what I have observed). Games and game studios frequently get canceled or closed. This might be more of an issue with AAA game development. Perhaps smaller studios have more stability.
Do what makes you happy. Don't work in a job or field you do not like just because your family would like it. If they were truly supportive they would encourage you to do whatever you'd like.
Yes, LinkedIn. That's steps one, two, and three. Don't be shy about adding people- the threshold is MUCH lower than, for example, Facebook. So not just people you know, but people you'd like to know, and even just people whose companies you've done business with.
You sound pretty marketable, so... I would try not to get my hopes up for this... but you literally might have recruiters coming after you without even trying. It happens a little in my field (property claims adjuster), but I hear it's a damn nuisance for programmers.
The thing about LinkedIn is that just spending time there regularly can improve your odds. I mean, obviously, take care to use a nice-looking photo, enter all your certs and other searchable keywords, and the basic stuff. But after that, every time you view someone's profile, it has a chance of notifying them, "KSBluesFan viewed your profile!" It's a real subtle, non-intrusive way to get lots of people to pay attention to you. And getting noticed is the hard part about getting hired.
Also, join the industry groups, there are regularly posts along the lines of, "I need a COBOL Dev in Omaha or KC, message me!" These ones:
Good luck!
Well I found this: http://www.indeed.com/q-Community-Manager-Video-Game-jobs.html
It's not much but I hope it'll help.
As a heads up the gaming industry is super competitive so getting any job will be difficult. However with that being said if anyone is qualified it's probably you.
Can you program in VBA? There are plenty of VBA programming jobs at a variety of employers out there, try indeed.
Also, what about starting an Excel consulting practice?
http://www.indeed.com/m/viewjob?jk=9a046b933b6cac06&from=serp
How about something like this? Your it experience will help you get the position, and then it opens the door to the business world. A couple years in this position will go a LONG way toward changing the future for you.
- Set working hours, especially a cutoff time. This helps to keep you focused and motivated.
- Use Trello to stay organized.
- Be open with your boss/coworkers/clients and maximize on fast communication.
- Keep your workspace neat.
- Don't forget to take breaks. The Pomodoro method works well for most people!
I did an analysis on this, especially on Twitch, and posted about It. My conclusions are:
- both youtube and twitch has a bit of winner takes all. You need dedication, consistency, and a whole lot of luck.
- you have to be good on camera if you're showing yourself or doing commentary. The best are pretty authenticate and found the right niche.
- if you're going to try, expect to fail and plan to get something out of it. If you learn the skillsets of building followership, measuring the analytics, get them to do stuff, these are marketable skills for community/social media manager or digital marketer roles. So in case you fail, you have lots of experience you can tell.
- Twitch and career related posts that I wrote that might be of interest.
Yes you can. And you can also switch to software product management if you like. I wrote a post to help an aero eng major with the transition (you need to log into LinkedIn to see, click on see more for the transition post) https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpproduct#post-container
I think you'd make a good product manager or project manager/scrum master. Both in the software space. Look into these and see if You're interested. I have several posts to help you explore (you need to be logged into LinkedIn, more posts if you click on see more): https://www.linkedin.com/in/vpproduct#post-container
Agreed that it makes sense to address this sooner than later. I'd suggest take a little time to do some research on top of what you've already done. Do other companies in your area with similar job titles also pay more? Does your PayScale report suggest that someone with your skills and experience would make more than you're currently making? Additionally, think about the accomplishments you have had so far at the company that show how valuable of an employee you are.
With all this information, set up a time to discuss it with your manager and show them the data that makes you think you are worth more than your current salary. Done diplomatically and with data, I think your chances of a salary adjustment are good. If your boss sees how valuable you are, they won't want to underpay you for the risk that you leave for a different job. And if they're not willing to listen, well you know that the market will pay you more elsewhere.
Here are a couple articles that may also be useful to you:
https://lifehacker.com/5894784/what-to-do-when-you-think-youre-underpaid
Two things.
First, identify positions you'd ideally be applying for right now.
See what skills, areas of expertise, etc. they have in common. This is the set of skills/experiences you need to focus on developing. It might even give you some ideas for your project(s). For example, if a company has a public API and you use it to complete a big data project, that gives you lots of great things to talk about in the interview phase.
Second, map the skills/experiences you identified in the step above to courses, training materials, books, etc. The thing that immediately came to mind is the Udacity Nanodegree in Data Science, which was developed with assistance from industry partners including Facebook.
A+ is not a waste of time, especially not if you study the material rather than just studying to pass. A+, Net+, Sec+ should get you a help desk job somewhere. A+ alone will probably get you into Geek Squad. Repairing computers as a family technician requires about 5% of the knowledge that A+ covers.
You should get a head start on learning some of these programs now while you decide the type of undergraduate degree you should pursue, rather than waiting until you enroll in a program to take the related coursework. You're justified in your reasoning for wanting accreditation, and you should certainly acquire it, but you can at the very least start getting your feet wet.
Since you're already familiar with Access, SQL should come naturally to you as it's also a relational database system. This site will serve you as a decent introduction to SQL. There are several other resources you can find through Googling that will give you additional practice.
Learning Python and how to impliment it should be your approach when learning it. The learning aspect will cover the basic formalities you need to write code such as the proper syntax, introduction to for loops and such. Then comes the implementation. Since you're looking to be a data analyst, you should understand the ways you can use Python to analyze data. In this regard, Python is a very powerful programming language as it is very rich in features that will help you accomplish data related tasks.
I just started learning R, so I'm not too familiar with how it differs from other programming languages besides the fact that it is more devoted to accomplishing math/statistical related matters.
I use a spiral notebook (or a legal pad) in conjunction with evernote. If you are looking to get organized I might recommend the book Getting Things Done by David Allen and the secret weapon system.
For my own use, I usually go through a 1/2 to a whole page a day. Taking notes on what I'm working on and how things are organized. I start each day with a short summary of what I did the day before and what I plan to do that day (usually derived from a longer todo list and my calendar). Always date your notes, it helps you go back and figure out where/when things are.
Also for your paper notebook find a paper type you like. Most people use/buy college ruled, but I really like grid paper, and my fiancee takes note in unlined books. Carry a good pen with you, one that can write on the note book when its folded over and you are holding it, and carry the book with you to all meetings (and generally all the time at work).
I'm not a fan of going back to school just to get focus and a better degree, so I'll start from there. I think if you know what you want to do, and a degree is a clear path to getting there, go to school, if not, get experience. With a degree, and experience at what you are doing, why not look into other options with a different product, at a place you can grow? I'm constantly looking at remote jobs and see them for business development all the time. On the other hand, you might enjoy some kind of work in finance and sales, they are often combined for several companies. I think the trick here is deciding what you would like to do next, not forever. What sounds interesting, what would you like to try? Then seek an opportunity to do that. Tools of Titans is an awesome book. I also follow Ramit Sethi and Growthlab, you could get a lot from considering starting your own business, by reading some of Ramit's content.
I'm gonna tell you something that helped me out. You don't find out what you enjoy unless you try a lot of different things. And the things things you start, you have to finish. The human brain is great at predicting the outcome of something without really knowing what the actual process is - that is the anxiety you're feeling. That feeling of being lost. You will dislike most of the things you start, but finish them anyway. You will pick up new skills, and the majority of the skills will translate to other opportunities that you find.
Regarding your degree: having a college degree gives you an edge, however, unless you want to be a doctor or an engineer - the major really doesn't matter. Just finish and don't be so hard on yourself. Assume that you're not incredibly unique, that everyone you meet often has the same thoughts float through their head. Staying inside your own head doesn't help. Get out, try new things, finish or fail and then try something else.
In the meantime pick up these books, it will give you some confidence and get you out of your rut: 1. How To Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, 2. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, 3. The $100 Startup. Read them in that order. The third book will give you some tools to start a small business so you can generate some income. If you can't afford the books or have a bookshop, ask your parents to lend you some money because you want to learn some new skills and apply yourself, buy them off of Amazon. After you get some confidence, you will feel more comfortable applying yourself and will find your groove. I hope this helps.
Is getting a degree out of the question?
Construction management would be a good career path that would combine your interest in architecture/building, desire to produce something concrete, and it sounds like you've got a background in management that would have some soft skills you could tap into. But this would likely involve getting a bachelors degree.
Otherwise, as far as trades, what state are you in? States with strong unions will often have meetings where you can go and hear about options for getting into a union trade. With the trades you would get a job as an apprentice and work your way up through experience and classroom work. There are alot of interesting trades, but often with construction you need to be willing to go to where the work is -- so long commutes, possibly. There is a ton beyond just carpentry, plumbing, electrical --- there is welding, ironworkers, heavy equipment operators, even oddly specialized stuff like guys whose job is to operate elevators on construction sites.
Also - recommended reading: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I read it on an airplane several years ago, so a bit hazy, but I remember it talking about why the modern workplace is so unfulfilling and tapping back into some of that desire to produce something concrete. For some maybe it's a change in career, but maybe for others you keep the stability of the job and develop a passion/interest in something hands on on the side. Maybe dabble in furniture making? I see a local guy making custom farmhouse tables and marketing them on facebook, and he gets enough orders now to probably quit his dayjob and stay busy for a while. A way to get started without buying all the tools would be to search to see if there is a makerspace in your area.
Best of luck!
Find something you're really, really good at and passionate about. Wallflowers bloom when the soil's fertile. Customers just care about what you can sell them, not necessarily who you are. Have expertise and you'll have something you can sell. Bonus points, being quiet gives you an "air of mystery."
Live within your means and expand your means. Millionaires who aren't high-income extreme salesmen are often small business owners who nestled into their chosen local niche. The Millionaire Next Door and Millionaire Mind have some interesting insight into the "low and slow millionaire," including one man who paid for his kids' college by driving a school bus.
You don't need to appeal to everyone. Thanks to specialization and online communication, you can apply your expertise to a small, well paying group of friends and customers.
Generally, know what you're good at and try to find people who want it. Wish I had tips on how to enact that, though, I'm kind of bad at the whole "making money" thing.
Haha I was just about to recommend So Good They Can't Ignore You. Such a cheesy title, but I think wise and sober advice. His main message is that competence gets you the power and leverage to control your career. And that you can't even begin to feel satisfaction from helping someone (by solving their problem) until you have developed some rare skills.
I have been asking myself the same question your title poses. Should I stay in Petroleum Engineering or quit and teach myself web development? I've decided to do the later.
I would suggest reading a book called So Good They Can't Ignore You by Cal Newport. It's short, well-written, and directly addresses your feelings of ennui. He offers some great advice: forget "Follow your passion" because it leads to a feeling like you're describing: you are never quite sure if what you are doing is your"passion", so you're never quite satisfied. Instead, find problems at your current job that need to be solved or some kind of value you can bring, and learn what it takes to solve that problem. He calls it taking a craftsman approach to your job. Most of the book is practical advice and guidelines for learning how to enjoy what you do, regardless of what your job title is. I highly recommend it.
No problem! In that case, Design for Hackers and HTML & CSS are really nice references.
I've been there (both in being a talented student, able worker and despiser of the ad business)
The one thing that stuck out for me in your post is the line "nothing has made me feel "fulfilled"" It suggests to me that you're looking for work to be doing the fulfilling, which it will not.
An alternative is to look at how we can feel fulfilled in things we do.
I'm by no means saying don't follow your dreams, or that you have to be happy in advertising, but rather that further exploration of ones motivations, strengths and self would be a better use of your time than jumping into a new school program or job.
A great starting point (for both self exploration and finding new work) is to spend some alone time creating a list or brainstorming. You'll be surprised about the answers that you already have. Often we're asking ourselves the wrong questions. Try reframing them and see what answers come to you.
Instead of "What career should I sear out? Ask yourself "What do I want to create?" and "Who do I want to serve?" Make a list of your answers, look for cross over with your skills and interests. Find something and start working on it.
I'll leave you with a quote that may add some context to my comment:
"Don't aim at success - the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side-effect of one's dedication to a cause greater than oneself" - Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
Best of luck to you on your journey.
Thanks for the advice! I will certainly reach out to some of my coworkers in the positions that I am interested in. And thanks for helping me find a good place to start for the financial side of things. I have already found some great advice in those links.
I am also looking into finding books to read that will help me in my journey. I just finished reading "The Richest Man In Babylon" and have just started "Think and Grow Rich". I found some suggested books from /r/investing and I also found this and am trying to pick some books to start with. Was just curious if you or anyone else had some suggestions for some 'must read' books.
Thanks again!
Scratch (https://scratch.mit.edu/) is a fun basic block programming language! It looks simple, but it has a lot of functionality and can serve as a good introduction to loops, conditionals, etc.
You've probably heard of bioinformatics ? It would be a field where your prior training would make sense.
Otherwise, try to follow some good MOOCs, like https://www.coursera.org/specializations/jhudatascience, while you apply for jobs. It'll give you more credibility.
IT can be tons of things not data-focused. Telecoms, systems or security for instance.
Yes, technically. I have succeeded in contacting and having an interview in this way, but it was the route that I took that made the difference. Generally speaking, don't invite people on your level to coffee. Instead, find a place that they typically go to network like at a coffee place, or a meetup at meetup.com (if that's available in your area). People on your level don't really have any say in the hiring process, so it's definitely best to stick with the networking and get to know them.
The best success I had, was contacting senior leaders at smaller or small companies and showing them that you do have experience in whatever field you're applying for, or if you don't have experience either way they're more willing to help you than a large company. Don't be shy on knocking on their door with your resume at a small company as well. If your resume fits with what they need, they may lend an open ear. I tend to stay away from larger companies all together, unless you know someone that can help you land a job there (hopefully from the networking advice above).
Hope all this helps!
Thanks.
I've been doing YouTube for about 3 years, I guess. I've also done a bunch of sponsorships with NordVPN, Audible, SquareSpace etc...
I took a year long break in the middle due to medical reasons, otherwise I would have cross 1 million subs by now.
Another thing is that I only have a YouTube channel, I don't know a lot of marketing in general, like Facebook, instagram etc... So a person with some years of core marketing experience may do better than me. In other words, I might be a good video producer and not a marketer.
You need to leverage your Econ, finance, data analytics knowledge to enter the workforce. Start working a well paying job in a field where employers will value your skills. Once you’re working and making 50-70k and gaining experience then start looking for the cosmetics role. There are way more finance jobs to get your start than there are cosmetics development roles, especially for someone with an Econ degree. I would assume most people developing cosmetics have science and chemicals based degrees. Apply for jobs like this... Entry Level Accenture Consulting Digital Analyst http://www.indeed.com/viewjob?from=appshareios&jk=9efbc7639efe9511
How about DOD contract management? It can take you around the globe (there are US and UK bases all over the place), you can use your engineering background, you can get into management, there is good money in it...
Take a look at this Linkedin profile. Dude has been all over the place doing base operations management. If you could get your foot in the door, even with a lower level job like this one out in Shemya, AK, you could move up quick with your background.
Everyone is unique and so are you. Do not get overwhelmed looking at the success of family members in the technology field. Focusing on your talent and chasing your passion is significantly important for happiness in day to day life. Stop comparing yourself with others. In case you're interested, I suggest reading the book Strengths Finder by Tom Rath. It will help you identify your top 5 strengths. So, focus on your strengths rather than your weaknesses.That is the modern day mantra. It will also be a pointer on the type of career you may want to choose.
Having said that, I strongly suggest that you finish college. You only have a 1/4 of it remaining. No matter what you do in life, a graduation will always help you in more ways than one. Believe in yourself. Reach out to someone in case you feel stressed out and overwhelmed. Don't fight a lone battle. There are people whom you can consult and who can act as a sounding board. Best Wishes!
Sorry can't hep with specifics, I'm between the UK and Australia with my work, relatively little time spent in the US and none in Texas. You should really just trawl online job listings, so indeed, monster, careerbuilder, austinjobs (from a quick google). Like here.
If you dont mind shorter contract work the try an agency that has mostly PM work advertised.
Market Research (In-House): Join a company as their in house expert on market and customer research.
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=market+research&l=
Strategic Consulting: this could be done at an in house strategy team at a larger corporation or at an outside consulting firm.
Move to Boulder, CO so you don't have to travel so far to climb.
Get a job so that the gap in your resume doesn't get any bigger. (It doesn't need to be a corporate gig just something with cashflow and references: teach/tutor/part time lab work/help a friend with a new business/anything)
For more earning potential pharmaceutical sales comes to mind but you could also do sales for just about anything with chemistry behind it: plastics, fertilizers, food additives, lab services/equipment, etc. If you can develop relationships and close deals a sales role can be very rewarding.
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=chemistry+sales&l=CO&start=10
If by consulting you mean management consulting then the path would probably involve getting an MBA. You can make a good amount doing consulting and it often leads to offers from corporate clients for management roles at their firm. As far as getting your MBA I would suggest applying to top full time programs or looking for an employer that will pay for a local part time program.
Cover letters are almost never interesting.
My cover letter replacement would be:
- Start a blog about digital media. This can be done very cheaply with Namecheap/Wordpress/Twitter/Etc.
- Blog Content on Digital Media: trends, reviews, interviews, historical views, predictions, video posts, links to podcasts/videos/articles you found interesting - include a little commentary on them, etc. etc.
- Once you have 20 posts up add your personal contact info on the blog and offer your services (digital media consulting/web development/content marketing/freelance journalism/social media marketing/...available on contract or employment basis)
Post Everyday. There are no zero post days.
(READ: https://www.reddit.com/r/getdisciplined/comments/1q96b5/i_just_dont_care_about_myself/cdah4af)
Pick your domain today. Get your first post up tomorrow. This won't get you a job this week but in a few months you'll look solid. You will develop and demonstrate your expertise and naturally network your way to industry leaders (you'll interview them!).
Consider doing a weekly post on digital media in Spain/Europe or Latin America to tie in your English teaching experience.
If a blog seems like too much the less bold version would be to be very active on Twitter and do Freelance Writing/Journalism for other sites/blogs/etc (http://www.indeed.com/q-Freelance-Journalism-jobs.html)
Finally...
Delivery gigs don't go on your resume.
You can hide the 1.5yr gap or leave it and explain it as coming back to spend time with family and setup your English Institute.
If you have to do another delivery job to pay the bills then do it but it is only a side gig to pay your bills, your job and the only thing on your resume is your blog/freelance/journalist gig.
Buena Suerte.
Career in Sales: This would be out in the field not 9-5 calling from a desk everyday. Communication and understanding people will be key skills. This career would require public speaking, writing business proposals, networking with people in your community, overcoming objections, solving difficult problems for clients and it would offer the ability to make substantial income if you reach your goals.
Industry suggestions: Financial Planning, Healthcare Services and Information Technology.
http://www.indeed.com/jobs?q=Entry+Level+Sales&l=
and
Creative Side Hustle: Build a portfolio of creative writing and webdesign on your own website/blog. Keeps your creative juices flowing and maybe some additional cash flow too. Short stories, interactive (online choose your own adventure) stories, books released chapter by chapter (as The Martian was), ghostwriting services and other freelance work.
These two paths combined with a continued dedication to your health and a good circle of friends and family seems like a solid plan.
Good luck!
Have you try doing the udacity nanodegree for data analyst? https://www.udacity.com/course/data-analyst-nanodegree--nd002
I think the course will only cost 1k to get a "certificate". I imagine it can only help and is not a huge investment. Unless you are about to be homeless, 2 months is relatively short for not working imo. Maybe starting worrying after 1 year...
Yes you do make a point.
This week I attended a workshop with a person who works on e-commerce and I loved it! The company is a consulting firm that advises the costumers on the markets they should expand to based on their products (so it gives business conselling), advises what is the better way to advertise the website and the product and also helps develop websites. The CEO of the comapany started off as coder.
So definetely I have a lot to learn in that field and web development may be cooler than I thought, because you can help small companies create their websites and expand. I am not very eager to work with banks or insurance companies (the main clients of consulting companies including the one I'll got the proposal) but working with big clients at first sure helps you get the experience you need right?
E-commerce really sounded like an interesting area to explore. You use data science to analyze the markets and direct your company strategy and then you also need some webdevelopment skills to create a good professional website. And you need to know about ways of advertising your website.
I've been thinking i could take one of the grants (yes because meanwhile 3 more opportunities popped up) and at the same time develop my IT skills. Grants are in universities so I'd have the advantage to be working in a place that offers training in IT. I could enroll in classes and work in the grant (if the volume of work allows it).
I also applied to this: https://university.hackerbay.io/
And won a scholarship for this udacity course: https://www.udacity.com/bertelsmann-data-scholarships Are they good programs?
How much statistical analysis with SPSS did you do? If you're willing to do a lot of self-teaching and if you're willing to hack at problems until they're complete, try checking out the material in this Data Analyst nanodegree from Udacity: https://www.udacity.com/course/data-analyst-nanodegree--nd002
The skills from the Data Analyst nanodegree are in demand, and very importantly - you get to leverage SOME of the skills you learned in school.
The sad truth, however, is that a bootcamp course, or a udacity nanodegree, or a coursera certification alone won't help you break into any one of these fields. I, personally, am a Computer Science Undergrad who is graduating this semester and I had to interview with many companies before I got any offer for full-time entry level work. The job market isn't as great for entry level roles as many people might have you think.
What worked for me is what works for most people to break into entry level roles - have real projects that you can show off to prospective employers. If you choose the Data Analysis route, it'd be worth your time to even do some pro-bono work (or otherwise severely under-priced) for local non-profits or charitable causes, if possible.
I don't know if this will help, but you might want to check out the free GIS course currently underway on Coursera now. I started this course last year. I ended up dropping it because of other commitments, even though it was good.
You might get an idea of the job market from the class forum posts. And you could ask the instructor questions about this career path via email. I seem to remember employment prospects were pretty good from something I read there, and it does sound pretty interesting. However, I am not even remotely in that field, so take my impression with a grain of salt.
https://www.coursera.org/course/maps
Maybe you can find some GIS mapping volunteer projects that might give you some exposure to the work and to people in the field?
talk to the computer science department. I had a friend (with a phd) do the Coursera program but he is starting out at an entry level position to get more experience. But if you can get more experience in data science through internships during college, and get a minor or a degree in it through the computer science department then you will have much better job prospects than a BS in biology. The biotech field is tough to be in. But a computer background will be valuable for any field you look into.
>I haven't been sure why I'm studying and doing what I'm doing... and so wasn't too keen about it and didn't put in much effort.
its the same problem i had.the education system as i think have a problem in giving the exact need of the subject you study.
you have to re-study some courses online to get a better understanding of some subjects. coursera will help you in some courses.
Simon Allardice from Lynda.com have one of the greatest teaching methods i ever seen.
you could land a career as a technician or a low level operator that could give you a push in understanding the field. after that you could build you're curriculum slowly.
*sorry for my bad English.
Hey, my friend learned everything he wanted to learn about programming online, so yeah, you can do that! I think he first learned Ruby and Javascript on codecademy, but I think maybe it would be easier for you to learn some basic HTML and CSS first. Here's a link of the page where you can start learning now: http://www.codecademy.com/ Oh, and try this: https://www.codeschool.com/paths/ruby#starting-rails It's great you're interested in programming, there are a lot of jobs for you out there!
You might want to look at front end development then. It is programming the part that the user interacts with. I'm not the best person to comment on this area of programming, but whenever I've had to do front end stuff, there has been very little (sometimes no) math involved.
EDIT: You can check out an intro to HTML, CSS, and JaveScript at codecademy. You can get a good feel for it over the weekend, and see if you like it. I find their interface and integrated ability to run code to be some of the best out there.
Beef up your LinkedIn profile. Like, a lot. Add tons of languages, tools, technologies, etc. (Especially in the "skills" section.) Everything you've ever worked on. Don't worry about making connections, just make sure you have tons of good web development based keywords in there. LinkedIn will even gamify the process for you and let you know how good your profile is with the "profile strength" meter. Mine says All-Star. You keep mentioning that your previous experience isn't well respected. Recruiters don't care--they're looking for specific technologies and specific skills--emphasize that, use as many buzz words as you can use honestly, and you'll be found.
Also, PM me and I can put you in contact with some recruiters. Just a warning though, most recruiters are a pain to work with because to them, you are a product, not a person. Some can be really good though, and will take the time to understand your skills and abilities and can give you good advice. They're experts at placing people*, so even if they're treating you like a slab of meat that they've decided not to buy, asking them questions can be a good insight into how you need to grow or what direction to head in.
*Note that they're experts at placing people, not experts at understanding the technology. Most have a very poor understanding of the technology, though they know all the lingo.
I agree with the previous comments. At the early stages of one's career, it is important to identify the elements that you resonate with from each job -what aspect of a certain job do you like vs dislike? What prompted you to try your hand at a certain job? Sounds like you have already figured out that you like writing, just not the technical writing piece of it. If so, you can try your hand at other forms of writing on the side and see what is it that you enjoy. Another thing that I want to point out is when you do something for a little bit of time, it is fun. For example, you may enjoy writing fiction writing when you are doing it for 30 mins a day. The same task when you do day in and day out may take the fun out of it and you may feel bored and disinterested, similar to what you are going through now. There is no way to tell unless you do the task day in and day out. It may be the monotonous nature of the job you are in that you do not like. See if there are creative ways to change the pace of your current job as well and if it still does not make a difference, then try your hand at a different job. The important thing to understand is the difference between falling into a rut at the workplace vs truly not enjoying the work you do. Check out this article to see if there are some ways you can re-energize your work life - Are you stuck in a Rut at Work? 5 Tips to Re-energize Your Work Life
I mean, if you actually wind up liking the job, then it'll be fine. The helping-people aspect is nice, there's just a lot of really irritating and common issues to mental health work (clients refusing to help themselves, lack of pay/respect, feeling taken advantage of) that can make the job decidedly less pleasant.
Liking your job and helping people is the dream, I just wouldn't want anyone to go into an MSW program without having spent at least few months in a related job. I was really sure I wanted to do it until I started a social work-related job while I was in my MSW program, and that was when I finally realized it wasn't a good fit. The subject matter itself never stopped being fascinating to me, though. Just trying to prevent you from making my mistake, I guess. :)
A PhD is, obviously, a lot of work and requires pretty intense devotion to a small area of your field. My friends in PhD programs don't get to go out much, and they're all varying degrees of broke, but they do it because they each have a little niche of psychology that they are obsessed with and want to know everything about. It doesn't sound like you're there yet - work on finding out what interests you first, and then consider if a PhD will get you to the stage in life that you want to be. Baby steps.
There are absolutely people who are professional technical writers - here's the type of job that I was thinking of. You'd work for tech companies preparing guides and documentation and illustrations, but you wouldn't have to program anything.
Here are a few useful guides that you might already have come across.
And seems like you're on the right track with using Moz, Ahrefs, etc. If you haven't already, sign up for a free account for SEMRush as well.
Google Ads has some tools for keyword planning, and Search Console and Analytics are very useful but mostly when you already have data to work with, so if you're trying to build your skills while unemployed, they might not be as helpful.
Just to clarify, Google Analytics for Beginners isn't a certification; there's that training, as well as Advanced Google Analytics, and then there's the actual certification Google Analytics Individual Qualification Exam. If you haven't already, sign up for Google's Academy for Ads (it's their new learning center they launched last year, where you'll get the certifications). Having the basic Google Ads Fundamentals certifications will be helpful as well; Search and Display are probably the two most important, then probably Video and App.
Lastly, if you can get a free account with Hubspot then getting their Inbound certification is definitely a nice thing to add alongside the others.
If you have the time and ability to start your own website/blog, you can put all of your growing knowledge to good use and actually implement what you learn and create results, which is a great way to actually build your resume with real world experience. You wouldn't have that same ability if you were going into Accounting for example, but for content generation, SEO, etc. you can use a personal blog to build real experience.
The data itself is accurate in its own way, but you can't take everything at face value. You have to examine each source, figure out each of their biases, and determine what to make of it from there. So for the government website, it says the trends are for growth which projects until 2022 --it doesn't compare how many applicants there are or consider long term effects. Speculation at your subreddit does... but you still need to use skepticism here since much of it is anecdotal and also not really comparing the field to other industries that might face similar issues. Plus, there's differing opinions and I wouldn't really say that the saturation analysis is universally accepted.
I would also check out http://www.indeed.com/jobtrends/industry for an extra resource, and there are others to be found online.
You can find an internship the same way you find a job... most job boards have filters for internships... http://www.indeed.com/jobs?as_and=internship&as_phr=&as_any=&as_not=&as_ttl=&as_cmp=&jt=all&st=&salary=&radius=25&l=&fromage=any&limit=10&sort=&psf=advsrch
Here's jobs in Indy where they'll train you, and an algorithm thinks they'll pay you over $30k/year:
http://www.indeed.com/q-trainee-$30,000-l-Indianapolis,-IN-jobs.html
Partway down, that microscopy one looks really kind of cool, depending on your personality.The sort of thing that would take you interesting places in your career, at least.
Hm, I don't know. I might try something like this:
https://careers-harriscomputers.icims.com/jobs/2520/technical-support-representative-/job
Jobs where "Customer Support and/or Help Desk Experience a plus"
You are using Indeed, right?
You'll probably have more opportunities if you finish a bachelors in electrical engineering but that's up to your circumstances.
Hi tge101,
I know where you are coming from. In the realm of IT, you can always adjust fire and find something you love. I went from Sys Admin --> Sys Architecture --> Consulting --> Programming --> Information Security. I hated IT support. I like programming and IT Sec. For free, you can learn Python and do alot with it (move into programming, IT Sec, etc.). Udacity has an awesome free program https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-computer-science--cs101. Highly recommend. If nothing else, you will learn how to build your own search engine.
Hi CombTheDessert,
I can't recommend this course enough: https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-computer-science--cs101 It's free! And you will learn Python. If you want to get into Data Science, Python is a staple. Once you learn Python, you can easily grasph R, Hadoop, SAS, etc. which are essential Data Science languages. Happy Holidays!
Hi andrwjrdn,
I highly recommend checking out the course: https://www.udacity.com/course/intro-to-computer-science--cs101 It will teach you the fundamentals of computer science while teaching you the Python language. If you want to get into development, it is top notch. They also have a Java course. They are both free. Happy Holidays!
I really like the freecodecamp.org idea. I've already started the courses. Here is my first project. Thank you, I feel like my life has a good direction now. :)
I use excel a lot. I thought I was good at excel and do most everything. Then I learned about pivot tables and other tools from excelexposure.com and holy crap...I got my work done so much faster, and could do much more powerful things. I could create great reports with visuals and tables that I would never have even thought about before. Most people don't make use of the full power of excel. You will be one of the few after going through the videos. Also, check out prezi. It's a different way of presenting information but it's fun.
Also, learn some programming. It's the new "typing" or "microsoft office suite". You should just know it. Not to build a fully functional facebook app. But to know what you can do. Start out with Python on http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/python that is good but you wont know how things are really done on your computer (text editor ->create a file with extension ".py" ->run file/program in terminal [if mac]). This is just my basic understanding. But coding is a great office skill to learn because it is the future. also, if you are in manufacturing you could use google sketchup (free) and start learning 3d printing http://www.3ders.org/3d-printing-basics.html . more office work I would expect.
My company hires people to cover the NBA a lot. One such job right now: NBA News Editor, Part-time
That's great that you've got the determination and drive. I created a simple exercise that may help you prioritize what to pursue. First determine where you are, then plot your ideas and options, and then start pursuing the closest dot in the upward and to the right.
- Finding your career
- Other career related posts that I wrote that might be of interest.
I posted it. I didn't know how to share a PDF with reddit, so I just used a link service.. https://www.docdroid.net/TWsjkn2/resumenopi.pdf
My post on R/Resumes is here: https://www.reddit.com/r/resumes/comments/919gqf/cross_post_i_got_rejected_from_an_entry_level_job/
This is going to be ‘disjointed’ because there’s so much to deal with. So; there are SO MAY DETAILS that its hard to get a grip. Let’s look at what you want to accomplish in the long term. You want to be respected! You say, “my earnest desire is that I want to be a respected engineer”. Let’s start with that. How does a person gain respect? https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=how+does+a+person+gain+respect&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-002 I started reading these sites, but I got bored. They all sound tautological. “To get respect you have to give respect”. WTF?? So here’s what I think: you state your intention clearly and see how the world responds. Does that make sense? You go to a great technological institution. You already have good street credit. So you say, respectfully, “Gentlemen; I have two offers. They are both wonderful and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me. AND; this is the goal that drives me. Do you think you can help me reach my goal?” And HOW can you help me. Immediately, you've got respect. They may say, “This guy has spunk and that’s what we need”. They may say, “Go fuck yourself”. Either way; you’ll know who you’re dealing with. And you can still live with you’re folks, right? Hey; what’s your GPA? Use your clout; if you got clout. RPI? If they don't appropriate you... ... ....! But that's just me!
Hell; I’d be scared to do that myself. But you want RESPECT. And respect is hard. It takes courage. You may not be able to do it right now. Maybe you’re unsure. You’re entitled to be unsure. But; ultimately, the longer you wait for respect, he harder it gets. One gets tied up in daily shit, and you have to slog thru day after day and a lot of people give up. It’s just so easy to let it go. And suddenly you’re 40 and WTF just happened. Anyway; that’s me. You can do it your way, and you’ll be fine. But you asked. And I’m here. I gotta take a break. I’ll be back later.
Actually, for some people $5 is a huge money. I believe that price equals quality. If you need a good resume builder don`t be like Uncle Scrooge. Quality costs money.
I was surfing on the internet and found these guys skillroads,com - Career Builder powered by AI. They were hunted on Product Hunt and succeded to get 2 Badges during the kick off session: #3 Product of the Week and #1 Product of the Day.
Why Product Hunt is important? Product Hunt is a community that lets users share and discover outstanding products and includes a comments system and a voting system. The products with the most votes rise to the top of each day's list.
Well, I have been working on International Development for the last 9 years... After a few years in this field, I don't believe you are not gaining any "hard skills"... I'm pretty sure your research experience is relevant, maybe you have incorporated the skills you have gained so organic that you are not able to distinguish them.
If you are taking a break for your Masters, one way to make the most of this experience, try to connect with the many many many organisations that are based in the UK and would value your experience. You have two paths to follow, the consultancy for IOs and NGOs and consolidate your experience. Another option is to apply to Analyst positions within those organisations.
Well, if you want more information, you can check my weekly newsletter, in which I discuss many aspects of the field of international development and how to get a job, to my book "Doing what you love! A straightforward guide to a career in International Development".
Is there a particular style of photography your interested in? It may be a little advanced but tags your photos based on its subject? Or categorise them by colour? Or ... I don’t know photography isn’t my thing 🤣
If you are more interested in web development, maybe an online portfolio book? You could build a really nice UX tools and simple hosting via a cloud provider sets you apart from other web developers.
Alternately you can look at melding images for new creations - https://thispersondoesnotexist.com/ is fascinating and open sourced for code-spiration. Bespoke touch up software that avoids having to pay for photoshop for a particular thing etc.
To use git effectively, take your passion and make it better :) often it’s less about the quality of the code, and more the passion for creating something and a hobby shining through - recognising problems and attempting to make them better. Companies have structures in place to make sure code meets standards, senior engineers will review code, scanning tools will catch the majority of problems, using tech to solve a problem your passionate about is the best thing you can do
https://www.udacity.com/nanodegree Programming might be good for you. You can learn these skills in a relatively short period, and if you like it you can really get advanced skills online. But the key thing is that you can build a portfolio of projects that companies and employers can see. Many computer companies won't care about a college degree if you are a 10x programmer. I have a friend who recently switched careers using the nano degrees for big data. He had no programming background, now he is working as a programmer focusing on big data. Plus these jobs can be remote. You can work from home on projects as long as you get them done. Good programmers are hard to find these days.
I also have no experience programming but recently taught myself using onemonth.com their Ruby on rails course. I was just helping friends and non profits with issues but then people started hurting me to do things for them. I won't get into that area because I want to focus on another career but it's an amazing skill to have to help people out.
Tldr: learn programming through a nano degree or class with certificate online, then build a portfolio of projects to show employers, find jobs where you can work from home.
Thank you so much for your reply. Most of the positions I see on LinkedIn now a days, talks about having experience with Big data with Hadoop, Hive, MapReduce. There is no specific info available. Currently, I am also going through following two courses https://www.udacity.com/course/progress#!/c-ud617 http://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/python These course will definitely give me some basic knowledge. Are there any certifications which can help me boost my resume?
Do five lessons a day (repeat one three times), you'll have a language down within a year. The most functional would be Spanish (and for the ease of learning). German would be harder.
Hey, sorry for the late response.
There are many. You can look here for a list of torrents and you can pick out groups and see if they're recruiting translators.
It's also worth just looking at sites which have manga and seeing if the different groups are looking for translators. For example, you can look here: https://readms.net/content/application
I would really hold off of going back to school.
If you are interested in building your programming knowledge and a portfolio, check out https://teamtreehouse.com/
I wish I had them years ago when I started out from college. Much better than the old professors I had, and you actually build a portfolio of work.
Yeah freelancing is definitely as unstable a field as video game design can be, so that's why I said to maybe take up freelancing to supplement whatever you end up doing (:
But I have definitely found w3schools to be my bible of sorts when it comes to learning/brushing up on HTML/CSS; however, using Right click > "Inspect" in browsers to view a page's source HTML/CSS has been very helpful as well! I would say that in addition to slowly teaching yourself using resources, I would find maybe a free HTML5 web template (I can't think of any off the top of my head) and play around with it. I found that throwing myself into a HTML5-based project for my internship was extraordinarily helpful--but you can thankfully learn at your own pace, since working on a deadline definitely got me flustered at first ! Envato Market has a TON of html5 templates, and the one I've been using was a mere $16 for all the things you get included in the package--definitely worth every penny!
I would also recommend the 30-day trial from lynda.com because that's been my other bible at work as well (: (the company paid for my subscription, but using lynda in any way you can--I think--is helpful)
Lots of people seem to be into computer programing or website design. I see many people recommending freecodecamp.org. This is not my area of work at all, so I don't really have a lot of details beyond that. I kind of work a "regular office job" and these kinds of jobs are becoming increasingly remote-friendly, so I think you could take almost any interest and turn it into a remote career. Education, sales, marketing, etc, can all be remote-friendly.
Most places don't care about having a degree in a specific field. If you're an engineer you're good enough for most IT jobs (since we tend to gravitate to good knowledge of computer and computer systems) Look at my resume for example:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/adammhess
I have an MS in electrical engineering specializing in signal processing and communication systems. I found my first job as a software engineer. I had very little knowledge of programming (just Matlab and some VERY basic knowledge of Java)
Your strength really comes in your ability to learn, work with and absorb new technologies. Conveying that to an employer on your resume and during an interview will properly you much farther than any other candidate. Additionally, you should prove this to them by learning, in your free time, additional tools and technologies of your trade.
I, right now, even though I software engineering experience, could become a system or network administrator since I have cursory knowledge and do a lot of self learning into how to manage a linux or (now in my current role) windows servers.
Lastly, there really isn't an engineering program for all that stuff. If you really want a masters you may want to look into MS in Information Systems if anything. In the long run, learning how to work with various technologies used in the positions you're interested in will propel you farther faster than anything else.
I don't know if this might help but I found it while I was job hunting and I really like the Human Workplace approach to job hunting--it felt like a pep talk: https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20131223082805-52594-how-to-change-careers-without-taking-a-pay-cut I switched industries but didn't have a lot of specialized work experience, so I can't give much personalized advice. Definitely the word "logistics" sounds pretty transferable though.
With networking, a good place to start would be by trying to attend industry events. There are some decent links in this article: http://www.icims.com/hire-expectations-institute/for-job-seekers/develop-professionally/article_network-your-way-to-a-new Honestly, I find it easier to network with people I'm already friends with. When I was last looking, I (privately) told all of my friends that I was on the market. One happened to come through with a position that was a great fit for me--but that I never would have known about/applied to/gotten had I not tried networking with people I already knew.
A book I highly recommend for managers of any experience level is "First Break All The Rules"
Slide two on the slideshare breaks down the keys to being a successful manager as discovered by some Long term Gallup research.
https://www.slideshare.net/mobile/gregcrouch/executive-summary-first-break-all-the-rules
There’s a short book by Seth Godin called “The Dip”. It gives some ways of thinking about when to stick and when to quit. You can probably get if from the library. I’ve found it useful over the years.
https://smile.amazon.com/Dip-Little-Book-Teaches-Stick/dp/1591841666
Make a list of every job, internship, etc, that you've ever held, write down everything you enjoyed about the positions and everything you hated. Get as specific as you can about duties, tasks, the environment you worked in, etc. Look for any patterns and put them all together. This serves as a sort of reverse engineering of a job description. This will help you to get a better understanding of what type of job your next step would be. This came from the Harvard Business Review Guide to Changing Your Career which some libraries have for free (if not they usually have a method of requesting it for free/cheap) or there's always amazon, https://www.amazon.com/HBR-Guide-Changing-Your-Career/dp/1633693104
I say this because right now you said you don't like your position and you don't like customer service/sales as much but I don't know what you do enjoy, the type of workplace you enjoy, etc.
If you're interested in politics as well, look at careers in international relations/foreign policy. Specific employers would be the government (e.g. State department, Congress), think tanks, international organizations (such as the UN), consulting firms, along with some others.
A great book to pick up if you're interested in this field is Careers in International Affairs.
Just be aware that competition is fierce for a small number of jobs, so breaking in will require a combination of advanced education (at least Masters, PhD for certain positions), internships (often unpaid), and some good luck.
I have been trying to forge a career in this field myself and think I'm on a path that will lead to success, but it definitely isn't the most straightforward or easiest option. However, I think it will be worth it.
Feel free to PM me if you want more information.
how about getting into copywriting https://www.amazon.com/Copywriters-Handbook-Step-Step-Writing/dp/0805078045/ref=pd_sbs_14_t_2/131-4439742-0115906?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0805078045&pd_rd_r=8c15cb19-acd3-4252-9306-f20ed24652ea&pd_rd_w=1AYbA&pd_rd_wg=pij6h&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=EC7HN8M0VYZK9WZJQR98&psc=1&refRID=EC7HN8M0VYZK9WZJQR98 should be right in your wheelhouse
Anybody serious about their career should really read this
I think the "Do What You Love" mantra has been oversold. Somebody has to mop the floors. You may need to find that "wind in your air" zeal outside of the 9 to 5. Most jobs are pretty mundane.
That said, if you haven't read Do What You Are, I would suggest it. The theory is sound. Instead of choosing a career based on demand, aptitude or interest, you choose a career based on your personality. There is some evidence that if you are floundering and undecided what you want to be when you grow up, you at least consider jobs that match your personality. Interest and aptitude change too much. Personality is more fixed.
I was a teacher for a few years and realized that that field was more of a calling and I wasn't cut out for it: long hours, low pay, thankless administrators, unappreciative parents, on and on.
> Why do large corporations often do layoffs and then re advertise jobs then move some or all of the laid off people into the new jobs?
Too long for a sound byte answer but know that payroll is not a fixed cost. Also understand that laying off 100 people is not the same as getting rid of 100 jobs. Surviving a downsize or a layoff is often worse than being laid off.
Read Corporate Executions by Downs for a full explanation.
>I’ve been a victim of others jealousies too more often and don’t know how to protect myself in that event.
The books will help. They say that the nearest competitor for you job is probably sitting about 20 feet from you now and they might not even know it. Not everybody at work is "your friend". Get over that.
Start with Working with Difficult People and see where you are currently making mistakes and try to develop "winning strategies" instead of acting impulsively.
Recently checked this book out at my local library and it's helped me get what employers are thinking, and wanting, and what I can do to close the deal in the interview.
Fun read. Author is a career coach and former headhunter for big companies. Content is super actionable, unusual & inspiring.
Book: The Art of Finding The Job You Love by Cara Heilmann
Do some soul searching, see a career coach, and/or seek a mentor. I am in a similar place in my life - in my 30s and trying to decide what to do next. Having a mentor has helped me immensely. Try this book. I just started it, so I can't tell you how good it is but my mentor recommended it to me.
Skills and Relationships.
Skills: https://hbr.org/2014/03/the-seven-skills-you-need-to-thrive-in-the-c-suite
Relationships: https://www.amazon.com/Never-Eat-Alone-Expanded-Updated/dp/0385346654
The one I pulled from is Bonnie Ware:
https://www.amazon.com/Top-Five-Regrets-Dying-Transformed/dp/140194065X
I also summarized the work in my own article which probably does the job just fine:
https://conquer.today/dying-regrets/
I think you are farther than 98% of the people, especially at your age, and going into travel, which is what EVERYONE probably wants, haha.
There has to be something out there! I mean, I even have a flight attendant friend who is going everywhere for free all the time. That's definitely a place to start at least.
I really wish you all the luck in the world!
You're exactly right. Software won't sell itself and customers have no idea what your software does (or your service) until someone can analyze where they could use your help and present it in a nice package. You need some Challengers