It's lonely here, there's no one left to torture

May 21, 2010 2:55 AM

I love collaboration and teamwork and I need your job and career suggestions.

What are some examples of highly collaborative, somewhat creative, non-bureaucratic, potentially rowdy jobs that one could undertake given that one has spent most of their career in editing, writing, content management, research, and data entry?

I've spent most of my career in startups or working remotely. Most startup jobs start out as team-based projects and then when the project is completed, the teams disbands. I get offered a job/another project because I'm quiet and I work hard. But, all the rowdy people are the ones who don't get offered work and I miss them tremendously - I like collaborating with them and their energy helps me get my own work done. And so I wind up on my own, with only myself (or, at best, one other person) to talk to. And I irritate the hell out of myself.

I have tried teaching and academia, both of which I loathe (the former - the bureaucracy; the latter - I'm a doer, I like to get things done and take action). I have tried filmmaking, but I live in a conservative Australian city so there is no work here. I would go into journalism, but print and TV are dead, and in my spare time I'm kind of busy trying to overthrow (or something slightly less serious) the print journalism industry with a few of my own online magazines (just started - no money in them to pay me let alone anyone else).

I get people, what they're motivated by, and how to motivate and encourage them, but I don't have specific office-based project management experience.

I'm also not really interested in having to go back to study (I have about 8 years of university education already).

Any ideas?

posted by mleigh to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Oh you seem really suited for agency work, either advertising, PR, or I think especially in a production agency. They are all to greater or lesser degrees quite creative and exactly the kind of environment you're looking for.
posted by smoke at 3:28 AM on May 21, 2010

I agree that PR work would be good for you, or more aggressive guerilla marketing. Or for another direction, the backstage work in theater is entirely dependent upon on the enthusiasm, creativity and teamwork of a lot of (usually) fairly rowdy people.
posted by xingcat at 5:32 AM on May 21, 2010

You sound like half the people I worked with when I was a consultant at IBM. If you want streamlined bureaucracy, quick-forming and varied teams, lots of challenges, and a demanding but rewarding environment, such a life might be for you. You'd have a leg up if you have language skills and familarity with Asia and are willing to be a road warrior (travel up to 80%)
posted by cross_impact at 5:58 AM on May 21, 2010

Be a mediator for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
posted by werkzeuger at 6:58 AM on May 21, 2010

You said you loathe teaching, but another avenue to consider: Technology integration at a non-public school. Where I work, we have a "technology integration specialist" whose job description amounts to getting staff on board with using technology and assists them in integrating modern technology in to the classroom. A large portion of the job is collaborating with teachers and meeting with them. And then getting the teachers to learn how to technologically collaborate with the students. And as far as the motivating factor goes, getting teachers on board with a new system can require a lot of it.

I almost mention private schools because, at least k-12, there doesn't seem to be nearly as much bureaucracy. I work in k-12 IT, and I've fairly autonomous and do my own thing (within reason, of course).
posted by jmd82 at 9:04 AM on May 21, 2010 [1 favorite]

2nd agency work, or possibly a design firm/consultancy? There's quite a bit of research and writing/editing work in that type of setting.
posted by Bron at 4:29 PM on May 21, 2010