I need a career, STAT
April 6, 2015 4:49 PM Subscribe
Help me find a career; I have sales experience, can talk to anybody, and enjoy mentoring. I'm looking for a job with low barriers to entry, and ideally one where I could help people or the world. Consider me as a fresh canvas.
Currently I have a part-time merchandising job. In addition to that, I am grabbing any & every little gig I can get. This is not working out at all, and I am sinking further into debt and facing eviction. The whole thing has me re-thinking what I even want to (or can) do for a living.
Briefly:
-41 years old
-I hold an Arts Fundamentals Certificate (Useless)
-Year one of Graphic Design, from 2001. I never fished year two.
-I have had many low-level, low-paying merchandising jobs.
-I did eventually land a territory sales rep position (seasonal agriculture). It lasted almost 8 years, and paid roughly $25000 a year. I worked very hard at it, and was proud. The salary was small and I still styggled, but at least it was (was, indeed) stable. Since it ended (Company restructured), I have been in a nose dive. I have not found success in landing anything similar, I may have the sales and recruiting experience (part of the job was hiring and leading a team of merchandisers), but I am very lacking in other areas that sales positions require.
I really would like to do something else anyway. Merchandising is boring and doesn't pay well at all. Sales makes my heart hurt. But, maybe I'm stuck and can do no better.
Challenge:
I am in debt, and have defaulted. I have zero resources. And I feel I am caught in a cycle where I have to keep doing crap low-wage jobs just to survive, never being able to afford to re-educate myself. There is a program here in Ontario called Second Career, it may be my only hope. But that perhaps is another askme for another time.
I just want to figure out what can I do for a living. For some reason, I never have figured that out, and I need to make a decision.
Criteria:
-I want to help people. Help society, do something good. I'm not sure exactly what...feed people, house them, entertain them...clean the planet up, make cities better.
-I want, for once in my life, to make a decent salary. I don't need to get rich, but I have to make more than have been able to.
-And I really wish I could fast-track somehow. I'm going to be 42 soon. I need to properly live, pronto.
-I don't care how much work is involved, or how hard it will be. Bring it on!
My Skills:
I've always been terrible at this. Hmmm.
-I can talk. I will talk to anybody about about anything. I am known to put people at ease, and build trust. I like building relationships.
-I like to mentor. One thing I did enjoy about my old job was my seasonal staff. My team was very loyal, came back every year. I loved guiding them.
So, I have many many challenges ahead, and they do seem insurmountable. But, I think if I could at least develop a clear vision for what I want to do, that would give me the (or some, at least) oomph I need to push forward. Ideas?
Currently I have a part-time merchandising job. In addition to that, I am grabbing any & every little gig I can get. This is not working out at all, and I am sinking further into debt and facing eviction. The whole thing has me re-thinking what I even want to (or can) do for a living.
Briefly:
-41 years old
-I hold an Arts Fundamentals Certificate (Useless)
-Year one of Graphic Design, from 2001. I never fished year two.
-I have had many low-level, low-paying merchandising jobs.
-I did eventually land a territory sales rep position (seasonal agriculture). It lasted almost 8 years, and paid roughly $25000 a year. I worked very hard at it, and was proud. The salary was small and I still styggled, but at least it was (was, indeed) stable. Since it ended (Company restructured), I have been in a nose dive. I have not found success in landing anything similar, I may have the sales and recruiting experience (part of the job was hiring and leading a team of merchandisers), but I am very lacking in other areas that sales positions require.
I really would like to do something else anyway. Merchandising is boring and doesn't pay well at all. Sales makes my heart hurt. But, maybe I'm stuck and can do no better.
Challenge:
I am in debt, and have defaulted. I have zero resources. And I feel I am caught in a cycle where I have to keep doing crap low-wage jobs just to survive, never being able to afford to re-educate myself. There is a program here in Ontario called Second Career, it may be my only hope. But that perhaps is another askme for another time.
I just want to figure out what can I do for a living. For some reason, I never have figured that out, and I need to make a decision.
Criteria:
-I want to help people. Help society, do something good. I'm not sure exactly what...feed people, house them, entertain them...clean the planet up, make cities better.
-I want, for once in my life, to make a decent salary. I don't need to get rich, but I have to make more than have been able to.
-And I really wish I could fast-track somehow. I'm going to be 42 soon. I need to properly live, pronto.
-I don't care how much work is involved, or how hard it will be. Bring it on!
My Skills:
I've always been terrible at this. Hmmm.
-I can talk. I will talk to anybody about about anything. I am known to put people at ease, and build trust. I like building relationships.
-I like to mentor. One thing I did enjoy about my old job was my seasonal staff. My team was very loyal, came back every year. I loved guiding them.
So, I have many many challenges ahead, and they do seem insurmountable. But, I think if I could at least develop a clear vision for what I want to do, that would give me the (or some, at least) oomph I need to push forward. Ideas?
Where are you? If you have 12 semester hours of math or physical science I might have a physical science technician job real soon. In general, look at USAJOBS. You won't get rich in federal service, but it's a living. I find it rewarding.
posted by ctmf at 10:16 PM on April 6, 2015
posted by ctmf at 10:16 PM on April 6, 2015
Oh, just saw the "here in Ontario." My suggestion might be out, sorry for not reading better.
posted by ctmf at 10:18 PM on April 6, 2015
posted by ctmf at 10:18 PM on April 6, 2015
Retail management? It would use your sales experience but it's not like direct sales. Also involves visual merchandising, mentoring people, being able to talk to anybody. You won't get rich doing it, but the pay is better than what you've made so far.
Also consider customer service positions at places like utility/cable/internet companies, insurance agencies, hospitals, government, hotels. A friend of mine has a good (union!) job doing internal customer service for a railway company.
posted by Violet Hour at 11:02 PM on April 6, 2015
Also consider customer service positions at places like utility/cable/internet companies, insurance agencies, hospitals, government, hotels. A friend of mine has a good (union!) job doing internal customer service for a railway company.
posted by Violet Hour at 11:02 PM on April 6, 2015
Nonprofit fundraising. Jobs may be listed as "development". Takes advantage of your sales skills and puts them to work for a good cause.
posted by imalaowai at 11:02 PM on April 6, 2015
posted by imalaowai at 11:02 PM on April 6, 2015
What things have you tried from the last few times you've asked this question? Have you moved to a more affordable place with roommates so that you aren't bleeding cash anymore? I think before you can focus on "career" you need to handle getting your day to day finances under control and just focus on a "job" for a while. Retail has a low barrier to entry and if you're good with people I think you could move up to management fairly quickly because your age and sales experience would be an asset.
posted by MsMolly at 7:26 AM on April 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by MsMolly at 7:26 AM on April 7, 2015 [2 favorites]
Nonprofit development / fundraising is also the first thing I thought of when you combine "want to help people" and "sales experience" and "people person." The way to get into nonprofit is to pitch yourself as fundamentally devoted to their mission in some way (cover letters are a must). Pay is not always the best but it depends where you go, and there are usually other benefits. Pick a cause that strikes your fancy and start sending resumes.
posted by zennie at 8:04 AM on April 7, 2015
posted by zennie at 8:04 AM on April 7, 2015
The "here in Ontario" might rule my suggestion out too (or maybe not)? I was going to say the postal service.
posted by O. Bender at 11:37 PM on April 7, 2015
posted by O. Bender at 11:37 PM on April 7, 2015
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A few more skill notes: I like design, but I think I'm something of a hack to be honest...I believe I do have a good sense of aesthetics.
I can swing a hammer, I can jimmy-rig broken things to work, I know a fair bit about plants, and I love photography (except I had to sell my camera). I'm definitely not a pro at these things, however...
It seems that is one of my issues, I know a little about a lot, but no mastery to speak of.
posted by Soap D. Spencer at 9:01 PM on April 6, 2015