What should I do in the next chapter of my life?

December 25, 2015 6:45 PM

I have spent five years 2,000 miles from home getting a graduate degree. I thought I would do a PhD, but I just got a master's in liberal arts. Thankfully, I have no debt.

Even though my degree doesn't have "hard skills," I've worked my way into editing religious books and magazines, and I have a good job as a supervisor and project manager. I've done a lot of publishing work (working with typesetters, designers, and proofreaders). I have healthcare, a good salary, and lots of freedom. I enjoy my work. However, all that said, I have no connections here (East Coast) and would like to get back closer to home (Arkansas/Missouri). The difficulty is that I'm not sure what to do next.

I tend to enjoy "helping people" in my work, and I work in Christian non-profit at present. I could stay in my field (publishing), or I could see myself working in a different field. I just don't know where to look or how to find jobs suitable for me back home. (E.g., What companies could I work for? How do I find them?)

My question is, what would you do next in my shoes? ("Stay where you are!" is a valid response.)

posted by uncannyslacks to Work & Money (10 answers total)

It seems like you have a good gig, which is something that is hard to come by these days, especially in publishing. I would hesitate to leave unless you feel like your network at home is sufficiently strong to get you a good job quickly.
posted by rockindata at 8:22 PM on December 25, 2015 [9 favorites]

I have healthcare, a good salary, and lots of freedom. I enjoy my work.

That's pretty incredible, congrats. Really, take a few minutes to think how great that is.

However, all that said, I have no connections here (East Coast) and would like to get back closer to home (Arkansas/Missouri).

Immediately for a specific reason (i.e. family proximity, sick relative, etc.) or just more generally sometime? If it's not immediate...

Don't rush into anything, it sounds like you have a wonderful setup now. You can use Indeed and a bunch of other job sites (there are ones tailored to non-profits often locally based, just use google searches). Did you know you can use Indeed to search by keyword not just job titles? So if you liked a specific part of your job figure out what a similar job would use to describe it. Go nuts. You can search by programs you enjoy using too! I did a lot of searches for Adobe InDesign personally.

Also! Do not feel lesser because you don't have "hard skills". Those are not that hard to get! If you start looking at jobs and notice that ones you want require a certain additional skill(s) such as a programming language then you have a new year project.

Oh, what would I do next if I were in your shoes... I'd probably shout "I AM AWESOOOOOOOOME!" because you're doing pretty freaking well at life it sounds like so don't stress too much.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:05 PM on December 25, 2015 [2 favorites]

Have a think about what kind of jobs you would be willing to take - it sounds like you're pretty open to options, and have a lot of skills and experience that can translate to different industries / jobs. Figure out what skills and experience (and qualifications) those jobs require. And then call recruitment agents in your target market and ask them about the demand for those jobs, and the skills and experience and qualifications they typically require. Take your time.

And in the meantime, keep an eye out for job vacancies that are what you do now, and apply for them! (Sure, they might be rare, but they will come up, and someone has to get them, and there is no reason why that person shouldn't be you!)

Also talk to family and friends from home, and ask them to spread the word and keep an eye out for upcoming vacancies.

Good luck!
posted by finding.perdita at 12:29 AM on December 26, 2015

Consider the possibility of staying a year with an eye to kicking serious butt in your job, cultivating your network, and creating for yourself the ability to telecommute. Seriously, as I'm sure you must know, editors can edit from anywhere. You may be able to leave on great terms and move back home with work you enjoy in the place you'd rather be living.
posted by AnOrigamiLife at 12:51 AM on December 26, 2015 [2 favorites]

As per the other comments, don't worry about the lack of "hard skills", arguably the softer skills are more valuable because they're rarer and harder to find.

As for what to do, as you're in no rush - keep an open mind and look for opportunities. Just keep it as something in the background of your mind, when you stumble across a new website, make a new acquaintance, and so on - could they present you with an opportunity to move back to where you want to be.

Very best of luck.
posted by DancingYear at 4:35 AM on December 26, 2015

Springfield, MO isn't called the buckle of the bible belt for nothing. There are at least 3 Christian colleges in town IIRC. Seems like a Master's Degree should quality for various jobs at those schools. Also, any chance you can work remotely with your current job?
posted by COD at 5:57 AM on December 26, 2015

In general, I don't discourage anyone who wants to closer to family and old friends, but....

I'm wondering why you have no east coast connections after five years. I'm not a joiner, but after two years in graduate school, I had a circle of friends. I can't say if it would have held up after I finished my degree, but it would not have disappeared entirely. My daughter and her spouse have lived in four different cities in the decade since graduating, and have had college friends in all those places because they put a little effort into maintaining the friendships.

You also don't mention being constrained by a lover or other relationship.

The way you get connections is by proactively connecting. Wherever you end up, find an organization or two (church, school, alumni club....) that you like, and take on some responsibility, make some friends, and earn some respect.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:24 AM on December 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

I also bailed on a PhD, then returned to the Ozarks with an MA (in Bible Studies). What you have where you are, most people in MO/AR could only dream about. And I have seen things get noticeably worse for people here in the last few years. If you truly want to return, you should get an editing/publishing job that allows you to work from anywhere over the internet (I know at least one person who does this), or else start making the connections necessary to secure a job before you move. I am speaking only from my own experience, living in SW MO.
posted by jabah at 7:12 AM on December 26, 2015 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: To clarify: No connections = no family, no spouse (or lover). I do have a good network of friends and acquaintances. There is not a big rush... just homesickness and a desire to get closer to family. Many good suggestions above, thank you.
posted by uncannyslacks at 8:17 AM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]

Usually a career is something that emerges while you were making plans (i.e. getting a degree), so it sounds like you've accomplished that with or without a PhD for now. If your skill set includes publishing, PM, and you have supervisory experience, there are a lot of areas that would translate to in the publishing / digital media sector.

A city that comes to mind which is at least closer to AK/MO is Nashville. And Nashville comes to mind because of a few organizations which I know nothing about personally, but might tick some of those boxes - Thomas Nelson Publishing, Lifeway Christian Stores/Publishing, and the Dave Ramsey Organization (that last one comes to mind because you said you have no debt -- I don't know if you mean "no debt at all," or "no student loans," but that's something they look at with applicants -- since their mission is to teach about no-debt lifestyle, they look favorably on applicants with personal financial histories that are in line with that.

More generally Nashville has a lot of companies in technology, medical, religion, or some combination thereof.
posted by randomkeystrike at 3:07 PM on December 26, 2015 [1 favorite]