Can I make a job out of applying for things?

September 12, 2009 8:36 AM

What kind of job is good for someone who really likes applying to jobs?

I'm trying to get a handle on my career and vocation, and a common theme in applying for jobs, scholarships, etc. is the fact that I really, really enjoy the process of pulling myself apart, evaluating my separate elements, and putting them together again to fit a list of characteristics or requirements. Showing how my story matches someone else's story is really exciting. I would enjoy doing this for other people, too.

Can I make a job out of applying for things? What sort of position across different fields would fit best, or is there a particular field where this skill would serve and be served?

posted by ramenopres to work & money (18 comments total)

Someone who writes grant applications for NPOs, art institutions, or labs. There's actually quite a bit of demand for this, AFAIK.
posted by jeb at 8:39 AM on September 12 [4 favorites]

Can you be a little more specific about your field/education/interests?
posted by futureisunwritten at 8:41 AM on September 12

You could be a freelancer (you'd have to have a marketable skill obviously) You'd have to do other work as well, but a lot of freelancing involves getting clients and applying to jobs.
posted by kylej at 8:43 AM on September 12

I haven't heard of a job or industry that is built on applying for things, but I like how you mentioned the details about why you like interviewing.

Some ideas that come to mind:
1) Journalist -- even though you are evaluating elements of others, I think you can only do that sometimes after analyzing your own elements.
2) Career Counselor -- Since you seemed to like showing how your story matches someone else's and would like to do this for others. It seems to me you are intuitive and enjoy finding a "place" for things. This might lend itself to drawing out what interests others have and finding a good "match"
3) Mentor at any company, and any job (this one involves being at a single company for a good deal of time so you can build up experience)

It sounds like you enjoy analyzing (i.e. pulling yourself apart, evaluating your separate elements, etc.) as well as advocating/suggesting solutions to problems (i.e. showing how your story matches someone else's story). Those are both excellent qualities that will shine in many jobs, particularly jobs in sales, marketing or client services to name but only a few.

It sounds as though you are on the early side of your career/job search, so think it is great that you are able to pull yourself apart and analyze your gifts -- something I feel I've only learned as I've been out in the world of work and have tried out different jobs to see if they "fit". I might suggest doing that, too, as sometimes you don't know you like/don't like something until you try it. What might seem like a wrong job may actually lead to more self-discovery.

Good luck!
posted by Ham_On_Rye at 8:45 AM on September 12

Grant writing was the first thing that came to mind.

Being a placement coordinator for an employment agency would probably appeal to you. I don't know how well-compensated those jobs are; it could be more of a sales position than anything.
posted by xingcat at 8:57 AM on September 12

Yeah, human resources might suit you. You sound like you'd be good at matching talents to jobs.
posted by mareli at 9:25 AM on September 12

Another vote for grantwriting.
posted by kimdog at 9:26 AM on September 12

And here is a good online graduate certificate program.
posted by mareli at 9:28 AM on September 12

Recruiter?
posted by orthogonality at 9:56 AM on September 12

Outplacement counselor at a career management company is doing this for other people. Might be timely in this economy, too, as these services are sometimes offered as part of a severance package. Read a description here about this service from one of the larger companies that offers this.
posted by Houstonian at 11:04 AM on September 12

Ummm... acting? Audition, audition, audition is a huge part of the job!
posted by amtho at 12:23 PM on September 12

You might consider a position as an assistant to an immigration attorney who handles business immigration cases. Really large companies will handle this job in-house and have a corporate attorney that specializes in it. Smaller firms will outsource it to a specialist in a law firm. As the assistant, you get to write (under supervision, obviously) applications/petitions for other people, showing that their backgrounds meet the required criteria for the job and/or under the law.

I did this for a number of years and enjoyed it. It also let me find out about a lot of other jobs and industries I never knew existed, and I met a lot of interesting people doing it.
posted by immlass at 12:31 PM on September 12

Guidance counselor (matching kids to colleges)?
posted by Wordwoman at 1:59 PM on September 12

Headhunter/Recruiter - You get paid by the companies where you place candidates. So if you're really good at marketing other people for specific positions it could be a fun career.

You'd help people redo their resumes and target specific jobs companies are trying to fill. Although in my experience most headhunters used to work in the industry they do staffing for first. But it is something to think about.
posted by Arbac at 2:12 PM on September 12

What's even more fun is helping someone show how their story matches up with an employers. This is especially giving when a person is utterly convinced that they have no assets, and you may have to look to many different areas of their lives to get it together. Played as a left-back in soccer? Well that's great, it shows how you don't necessarily need to be the glory-hunter in the spotlight but are willing to give 100% so that the team you are a part of can reach your common goal. Worked in a restaurant? Did you take table orders by phone? Well, that's a kind of reception experience too.

My job is specifically working with people with limited resources in those respects, but you can also do the same stuff with more "well endowed" people, it's just as much fun. Memail me if you have any quessies,
posted by Iteki at 3:06 PM on September 12

Seconding a position at a company that specializes in career outplacement/transition. Here is one where someone I know works. As far as jobs go, he really enjoys it. His particular position is super fast-paced, which is perfect for him.
posted by nosila at 6:20 PM on September 12

Oh, and career transition companies are apparently doing really well right now, as layoffs are their bread and butter.
posted by nosila at 6:21 PM on September 12

College career counselor.
posted by Jacqueline at 1:47 PM on September 14