I need help constructing mental snowshoes that will prevent me from falling into deep drifts of work BS and frustration at a job I can't leave.
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posted by lastwomanstanding
on May 21, 2013 -
14 answers
I was an office manager between 2002-2008, but went back to school to become a nurse. I'm currently an RN in a large metropolitan area, but would really rather go back to a career in administration / office management. What's the best way to do this?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 21, 2013 -
11 answers
I landed a big promotion. I don't think it's been a good fit. How do I develop an exit strategy?
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posted by bombastic
on Apr 15, 2013 -
5 answers
For the last 12 years, I've worked as an adjunct English professor. It's time for a change.
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posted by miss-lapin
on Apr 10, 2013 -
20 answers
I might need to go back to work and I am thinking about a career change. I have held business analysts/planner positions in retail but while I enjoy the actual work, i don't enjoy the purpose/ field. Working retail is starting to feel a bit pointless, trying to sell more stuff to people all the time.
I am interested in taking my skills to a different field. Maybe a similar job but with a different goal. Namely healthcare administration could be what I am looking for. I'd would want to work for patient advocacy groups or in the government (ie: not trying to make an extra buck to private insurance). But to do that I figure I need to understand how the private system works too.
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posted by kirikara
on Mar 27, 2013 -
7 answers
I was a re-entry student graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Public Administration. My entry into the field got derailed and since 2008, I've been working out of the field, underemployed. How can I get back on track?
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posted by entropicamericana
on Jan 30, 2013 -
11 answers
I work in a very small IT company that makes custom business applications. The owner is way too involved in the day-to-day and pushes the sales guy to schedule us back to back to back for projects. We have no dedicated support staff so support for existing clients falls back to us (me and the one other developer) in addition to building new applications - and having all the meetings etc with clients. We are like half BA, half developer with no project manager anywhere in sight. I need to develop some skills that will allow me to get another job but no one here has the time or interest in creating requirements documents or making use cases. I barely have time to get my work done and am working more than 40 most weeks without overtime (I am salaried). I am getting burned out and need to leave. But the lack of actual SDLC/Agile/documentation stuff is really killing my attempts to transition to a straight BA position.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 21, 2013 -
9 answers
Straightforward question. I have the following ideas about what I would like out of job, but is there actually a career that can tie them all togther?
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posted by fishingforthewhale
on Jan 7, 2013 -
5 answers
Hi There. I am currently working in Idaho state as a PSR Worker. I do skills training in the public school system and with kids in the community. I enjoy working with children tremendously. I would do PSR forever, but it pays very little and there are no benefits (I work for a private agency) and I would like to find a career path that offers better pay, health insurance and a retirement plan. It would be a plus for a broad field. I am not disagreeable to the idea of pursuing additional education. Any suggestions for occupations with similar skills and duties that pay decently? (30K/year starting is totally acceptable) Thanks for reading this post and have a great day.
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posted by neanderloid
on Jan 5, 2013 -
7 answers
Ideas for getting back into a socially satisfying salaried position after years of self employment working from home.
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posted by molloy
on Dec 11, 2012 -
4 answers
I work in IT and am 32. I've recently left my job of 11 years for a 10K pay increase and to try to advance my career. I really didn't want to do it because I was comfortable and happy where I was in the old job. I'm an ISTJ (introvert) and my nature is to not make big changes in my life. I worry about not having a clear path in my life. Ive been at the new job for 2 months now and It's been up and down but i'm definitely not as happy as I was at the old job.
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posted by qxmbati
on Dec 2, 2012 -
20 answers
What are some easily accessible, intellectually stimulating jobs for a mid 30s career changer?
Salary is not a concern. I have a decent passive income, as well as enough savings to last at least 5 years. I don't care about money or benefits at all.
I am especially interested in market opportunities. Desirable jobs that for undervalued for some reason. Eg new emerging industries, or understaffed existing industries.
I would happily work for free, if the job was structured and stimulating enough. I have built up some healthy passive income streams. And in principle could work for free for quite a while. (Years). My primary concern is stimulation.
I have considered just studying for fun, but that seems a bit self indulgent. I've already had my fair share I think. But would happily study a masters if required.
My skill set is fairly average. Nothing special or unique. Just a good basic all rounder, quick to pick stuff up, but never going to push back any boundaries. I have undergraduate degrees in both humanities and engineering related subjects.
Again, keeping it vague on purpose!
I'm very grateful for your help.
posted by molloy
on Nov 3, 2012 -
26 answers
After years of recession-fear blahness, I have decided it's time to take some risks. Help me chart a course!
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 2, 2012 -
6 answers
Career change advice! I'm considering changing jobs over the next 2-3 years. Give me some great ideas given what I'm good at and what I know.
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posted by Riton
on Oct 2, 2012 -
3 answers
I'm a lawyer who's thinking about going back to school to get my masters in counseling to become a counselor. Is this a bad idea? What's it really like to be a counselor? Would I like it?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 21, 2012 -
11 answers
Should I move my suburban family to Los Angeles?
I have an interview this week for a job located in Santa Monica. A Great Job. I'm worried / concerned / freaked out about moving my comfortable family from their comfortable house and comfortable schools to expensive West Los Angeles.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 14, 2012 -
30 answers
“Architecture, of all the arts, is the one which acts the most slowly, but the most surely, on the soul”
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posted by oink
on Jul 1, 2012 -
6 answers
[Career Change Filter] My friend is getting out of retail after 10+ years and has no idea what's next. What jobs do his strengths imply to you?
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posted by Calicatt
on Jun 11, 2012 -
5 answers
Graphic designer hoping to do something more (documentaries and photography) at 31 years old. I'm at a new chapter in my life but unsure how to write it: after a recent breakup, I realized
I have to go after what
I really want, not hope to rely on someone else to get me there. The only problem is I am now very torn between going the "expected", more stable, route and taking a risk and seeing what happens if I just do what I love.
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posted by Sa Dec
on Jun 3, 2012 -
22 answers
Roughneck/oil rig filter: Im trying to pursue a career change and working on an oil rig & doing the roughneck type work is something I'm interested in. Ive been a IT Support/Network administrator/Network engineer for the past 12 years and its time for a change and time to get out of the office environment. How do i get into this line of work? I see a lot of websites promising to "Help you" get into the industry but when i look closer they look like a bunch of crap. Anyways if anyone knows please let me know. BTW...Looking for something in Tx...Ideally working xxxx number of days on xxxx number of days off because i have a family. Really any foot in the door would be ideal i just don't know how to get there,
posted by flipmiester99
on May 16, 2012 -
4 answers
I'm a non-profit development professional who enjoys my current job fundraising for a regional cultural organization (actually one of the largest, most stable non-profits in our area). Unfortunately, I can no longer afford the non-profit salary. Plese help direct me to the resources to find a place in the for-profit world.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 5, 2012 -
6 answers
I have a PhD in English. Enough said. No? Okay. How can I ease a transition out of academia and into the private sector, while still doing the part-time teaching thing?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 25, 2012 -
6 answers
Is it really possible to change careers later in life? Can some older and wiser folks give me some perspective and much needed reassurance?
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posted by deathpanels
on Jan 19, 2012 -
22 answers
Interested in many things, experienced in none. I want to change my career, but how do I figure out which way to go?
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posted by Metroid Baby
on Dec 30, 2011 -
10 answers
I've been on the graphic/web design path for the last 10 years. I am burnt out. When I look into the future of my field, it's dreary due to outsourcing and automation. It also seems like older designers are almost non-existent (except for the very accomplished, established ones) and that it's more the younger generation's game.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 18, 2011 -
5 answers
What could I study, learn, and eventually do (for a career or otherwise) that would help the most amount of people in the most meaningful way?
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posted by makethemost
on Jun 3, 2011 -
27 answers
Is it worth it at 40yrs. old to take out student loans and go back to school full-time for 2 years? The profession I am interested in has a starting pay around 45-60K and is in the healthcare profession, so jobs are plentiful. I would be taking out about 30K in loans and of course, losing my current salary. My spouse and I both make pretty good money, we have a 4 month old child, we own a home and have 2 car notes, but no other debt. Considering these factors is it worth it to take on that amount of debt at 40 to make that kind salary?
Is having a more satisfying career, being a happier person, parent and spouse (not that I am unhappy personally, just very dissatisfied with my career) worth the loss of salary and debt?
Is that fair to my family?
posted by flesti
on Apr 14, 2011 -
30 answers
What is the most gracious way for me to back out of the undergraduate research I said I would take up for the upcoming fall semester, given that I've spent two semesters working in the lab already? I don't want the people I worked with to have a bad impression of me because of the fact that I demonstrated so much interest in and commitment to their field only to quit prematurely.
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 15, 2011 -
12 answers
I seem to have found myself occupying the realm of professional fundraising. I don't like it although I am outstanding cultural activist according to everyone I am a great cultural activist.
I want to be a journalist and work in media as a program producer. But, I enjoy fundraising and took a career leap to learn major giving a few years ago. I am finding it very difficult to get back into radio now, even though I have offered myself for lower salaries. I feel like I will be forced into politics. Is there any hope for me?
posted by parmanparman
on Feb 15, 2011 -
5 answers
I've been seriously considering becoming a high school math teacher. I have some experience teaching in a classroom, and lots of experience tutoring. What I'd like to know now - before I jump into an alternative degree program - is what it's actually like
being a teacher day in and day out. If I'm not going to be able to hack it, I'd rather know now.
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posted by Gori Girl
on Nov 9, 2010 -
30 answers
I feel empty and unfulfilled in every major aspect of my life. Please help me see a way out.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 21, 2010 -
12 answers
I am considering returning to University at the age of 42, and would appreciate some feedback on how it was for you as a mature student.
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posted by cleo
on Jun 10, 2010 -
26 answers
Desk to Warehouse: Thinking about leaving desk job for warehouse for 1-2 years as I pursue my MSW. My desk job is sucking my life away. Benefits for warehouse job start on day 1. It's at an Amazon distro facility near me. I've done that work before as a temp and liked it. What am I not thinking about?
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posted by anonymous
on May 13, 2010 -
12 answers
Help me transition from being a system administrator to being some flavour of mechanic or tell me if I shouldn't bother.
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posted by talkingmuffin
on May 7, 2010 -
5 answers
I want to be a corporate litigator. Or a government economist. Or a geophysicist. Or corporate finance guru. Or something. Please held this 32-year-old journalist explore possible second career options.
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posted by croutonsupafreak
on Apr 12, 2010 -
30 answers
Should I continue to prioritize my art in my life over my financial security as I get older?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 2, 2010 -
11 answers
Hey guys, this is my first question. It's a career question (yawn, I know!)
I've been working as a software engineer for the past two years. It's a decent job and I like my coworkers, but I'm feeling a bit anxious about my future prospects.
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posted by Triumvirate
on Mar 28, 2010 -
25 answers
I want to eventually become a world-class training manager (the business kind, not the lifting weights, drinking powershakes kind). Trainers of the askme world -- what was the path you took to get where you are today?
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posted by Ham_On_Rye
on Mar 23, 2010 -
4 answers