What next?

September 21, 2007 8:22 AM

CareerFilter: Help me decide my next step. (warning: long!)

Due to a number of factors I am finding myself at a loss for what to do with my life, and I'd like any assistance/insight/etc. anyone might have to offer.

First, some context: I graduated from college 2 years ago (I'm 24) with a degree in anthropology, art history and asian studies. At the time, I had planned on going straight to grad school. Since I only half-heartedly applied I unsurprisingly was rejected everywhere. Since I have strong technical skills I told myself I would just go do IT for a year while I reapplied and got a stronger GRE score. In the interim my perspectives on the world have shifted so radically that I am almost (there is some doubt) certain that the road I wanted to walk down academically isn't for me anymore. Right now I am faced with a few dilemmas.

First Dilemma: I am a very intellectual person and I need constant stimulus. I read all day at work, and then more when I get home. At the level I'm at in the corporate world my job is far less than interesting, challenging, etc. I can't shake the feeling that I am wasting whatever talents I might have in a job that anyone can do, even though I know I need to "pay my dues."

Second Dilemma: My current job (IT auditing) might conceivably lead me into upper management due to the structure of our department, but this is only speculation. Part of me argues that its worth holding out where I am to break into more challenging work, even though that is dependent on being seen as qualified and people retiring or leaving. The catch is that my current job was done previously by people far less efficient than me, so what took that a month to do I can do in a few days, leaving the rest of the month to twiddle my thumbs (hence all the reading). My worry is that my harder technical skills are going to atrophy from disuse, so if I ever want to move back into that field I will have to play catchup (not even sure I want that though).

Third Dilemma: I'm not even sure the corporate world is for me. I am very interested in dealing with corporate challenges on a high level- I love systems analysis and working with the "big picture," I could easily see myself doing IT planning, strategy, etc. but the road from here to there is unclear in this organization or any other. I have entertained getting an MBA or pursuing education in MIS, but I'm not sure if its a worthwhile investment.

Fourth Dilemma: There is a little part of me that wants to pursue my intellectual interests, even though I know its economic suicide. I feel like I'm constantly strung up between my practical nature and far less than practical interests. I have a bad habit of seeing other options through rose-tinted glasses, so I feel like my desire for engaging with those interests as anything more than hobbies might be suspect.

So basically right now I am looking at these choices:

1. Continue where I'm at on the speculation that I could get promoted at some indeterminate time in the future even though there is no clear path for promotion and my current role is less than fulfilling.

2. Find some way to continue to work full time (I'm not in a position to stop gaining income or to work with a significant drop in income, and I prefer drowning in work anyhow) and pursue some kind of practical higher education (MBA, MIS?).

3. Throw caution to the wind and move into an entirely different field. The major issue here is dropping back to entry level salary and having no idea what that field would be.

Some more perhaps helpful information:

1. Lately I've been really interested in economics. I am very intrigued at the idea of using my propensity for systems analysis for financial gain. The only catch is less than great math skills (but I think I could learn).

2. I'm not interested in sales or anything else related.

3. My ideal job would be one where I leverage brain power to untangle complicated systems of issues to come to elegant and efficient solutions. I like to "figure things out."

4. I'm somewhat interested in working in the periphery of some creative enterprise. I enjoy creative people and pursuits and could see myself somehow slotting into an organization of that kind.

What I'm looking for: any thoughts you might have on careers that might be good for me, if in your experience biding time for potential gain is worthwhile, how hard it is to move from something specialized into something completely different, and so on.

I really want to leverage your wisdom and experience to gain perspective I am incapable of having at my age with my life experience.

Thanks!!

posted by zennoshinjou to work & money (8 comments total)

I can't tell you what job I think you would love, but I can tell you that you sound *miserable* at your current job. Whatever you do, you have to find a way out of your position. Do you have reviews with your manager where you can discuss where you want your career to go? Maybe he or she has recommendations as to what can help you advance, whether it's getting a higher degree, or something else. Or maybe you could apply for similar (but maybe slightly more advanced) positions at other companies, where you might have a greater chance of promotion.

In the meantime, can you ask to be included in other projects, or create your own projects, during your "thumb twiddling" time at your current job? By doing this, you would show management that you are proactive and emphasize how quickly you are finishing projects. This might help boost you up.

Either way, good luck. Life is too short to be miserable at work.
posted by tastybrains at 8:30 AM on September 21, 2007

Work for a consulting firm as an analyst - bain, bcg, monitor, mckinsey, booz allen - all of these will enable you to work with senior managers at your age and participate and help form "the big picture". You will be constantly learning because every client will likely be in a new industry. You may travel around the world (depends on the firm).

Get OUT of IT. It is not strategic, it is a cost center, and you will always be a drone there.
posted by zia at 8:54 AM on September 21, 2007 [1 favorite]

Read this book.
posted by drezdn at 9:18 AM on September 21, 2007

zia- I hadn't really know anything about the kind of work those companies do before today, but that looks great. Thanks for the awesome recommendation.
posted by zennoshinjou at 9:40 AM on September 21, 2007

Feel free to contact me if you want to know more. Email in profile.
posted by zia at 10:24 AM on September 21, 2007

I left an IT job to go back to school. It is economic suicide. Search AskMe for gradschool.
posted by k8t at 11:29 AM on September 21, 2007

I agree that you sound miserable at your current job. But fortunately you have a job, it sounds like you're good at it and it doesn't take up a huge amount of your time or energy. That's great -- you have a steady income while you make your next move. Just don't get complacent (doesn't sound likely).

There are a lot of books out there about changing careers, few are really all that helpful. One I'd recommend reading is called "Working Identity". It's geared toward people older than you, but its basic point -- that you find a rewarding career not by planning and plotting but through experimentation and trial and error -- is dead on.

Good luck!
posted by mr frosted at 11:29 AM on September 21, 2007

Are you in the area of your college, and do they have a career center? A lot of colleges offer career services to alums, and you might even be able to get some help remotely. It's a good bet that they'd be able to take you through some tests (the usual MBTI & Strong Interest Inventory) to give you an idea of areas you might not have realized you'd be interested in. They can also help with resources for when you do decide what steps to take. Just a thought.
posted by bibbit at 3:53 PM on September 21, 2007