Surplussed! Help me invest 5K in training
May 9, 2014 7:53 AM Subscribe
First they came for the artists, then they came for the customer service reps, then they came for tech support, then they... Well, you get the idea.
The Good news: I am good financial position to cope with it. The much less good news, I am 57.5 y.o., and my long term strategy had me working til 62. Could likely retire now, however I feel a better margin for error is highly desirable. Also, if I found a line of work that I really enjoyed I am open to working longer than 62. Most of my working life has been doing one of the following: sales, training, internet marketing analyst, office manager.
OK, so, part of my severance package is 5K that I can invest in ANY type of training that would help me get a job going forward! Could be programming, barber school, beekeeping, you name it. Being in essence an office drone, I have thought about learning more excel/salesforce however I am open to learning something for the sheer joy of it, but it must be related to the possibility of getting a job going forward. Outside my current field I have thought of pastoral counseling, personal training specializing in seniors, therapis, woodworking, literacy coach, temp work. I have asked friends, so far have heard: java, CIS, beekeeping, haircutting... Curious to hear what YOU might do with this opportunity, could be anything as long as it leads to a job. Fine if it relates to me, but I would love to know what YOU would do too. kind regards, jcw
The Good news: I am good financial position to cope with it. The much less good news, I am 57.5 y.o., and my long term strategy had me working til 62. Could likely retire now, however I feel a better margin for error is highly desirable. Also, if I found a line of work that I really enjoyed I am open to working longer than 62. Most of my working life has been doing one of the following: sales, training, internet marketing analyst, office manager.
OK, so, part of my severance package is 5K that I can invest in ANY type of training that would help me get a job going forward! Could be programming, barber school, beekeeping, you name it. Being in essence an office drone, I have thought about learning more excel/salesforce however I am open to learning something for the sheer joy of it, but it must be related to the possibility of getting a job going forward. Outside my current field I have thought of pastoral counseling, personal training specializing in seniors, therapis, woodworking, literacy coach, temp work. I have asked friends, so far have heard: java, CIS, beekeeping, haircutting... Curious to hear what YOU might do with this opportunity, could be anything as long as it leads to a job. Fine if it relates to me, but I would love to know what YOU would do too. kind regards, jcw
I would do an immersion class in another country to learn Spanish (I speak some, but not well enough to use it for work). It wouldn't directly lead to a job, but would improve my desirability as an employee enough that I think it would qualify.
posted by insectosaurus at 8:01 AM on May 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
posted by insectosaurus at 8:01 AM on May 9, 2014 [3 favorites]
Don't know where you live, but I'd invest it in a coding academy and then transition to technical writing, if you have a tech support background.
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:34 AM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by rogerrogerwhatsyourrvectorvicto at 9:34 AM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Salesforce is a nice, practical idea. I might personally take classes in statistics or accounting. Less practical suggestions that arguably relate to jobs (along the same lines as woodworking and beekeeping): yoga teacher training, landscape design, cooking classes, massage.
posted by salvia at 10:15 AM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by salvia at 10:15 AM on May 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Great ideas. My suggestion is that you diversify the training at least a little bit. See what is offered at your local community college as far as programming, coding. That can be a big discount. Would they also pay for you to have a membership to Lynda.com?
posted by mitschlag at 10:58 AM on May 9, 2014
posted by mitschlag at 10:58 AM on May 9, 2014
Response by poster: Am loving the suggestions so far, I am actually getting excited about getting "surplussed". Keep em comin and thank you thank you thank you. No idea too wild.
posted by jcworth at 2:19 PM on May 9, 2014
posted by jcworth at 2:19 PM on May 9, 2014
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It's an easy system to learn and use, and it's hella fun. I learned it at age 46 and it's standing me in good stead. Couple that with some Excel Advanced classes and you'll work until your 70's if you want!
I'm serious!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 7:58 AM on May 9, 2014 [5 favorites]