another career help question
January 19, 2012 1:35 PM Subscribe
I really, really dislike my job. I love analyzing, planning, following through every detail, figuring out a puzzle, and making the best possible recommendations. I've been told that I am amazing as an advisor to help others improve, whether it's their businesses (products, services, existing processes), their future (career advice, resume/interview help, personal crisis, financial planning/problems), or themselves (personal issues, conflicts with other, relationships, outlook on life).
What industries, career paths, or companies can I go into that is a better fit for me?
My professional background includes product manager, business analyst, data integrity & analysis consultant, business process analyst. Have dabbled in basic coding (front end), marketing support, tech writing, employee training, and business analysis.
In the past, all of these involved planning, one-on-one or small group collaboration, attention to details, figuring out a puzzle, etc. I really like being hands on with my projects, as well as working closely with my customers or partners.
What I don't like is dealing with too many people or teams (there are too many points of views and agenda to track or make sense of, even if everyone wants 'what's best for the business'), general project management like tracking and coordination, being rushed, making decisions without reasonable amount of information, and decisions being change multiple times when there's no new information.
My favorite professional project was working with a small group of team to help them fix their business processes, set up databases, create marketing materials, give training, etc to help lift that team from the brink of being let go to a great team.
Currently, I'm product manager working for a website company but I am finding that strategic planning is very little, I'm very far removed from how something is being built, there's a lot of politic and agenda, lots of back and forth on decisions, lots of project management, etc. etc. The problem is I'm being paid a little more than 100K. While this may not be a lot in the Bay Area, it is a significant enough that I am finding it to be very hard to give this up and say, become a counselor.
I'm thinking the following list would be places that may be a better fit for me but I'm very open to other ideas:
Industry: software (longer development cycle), manufactures, banking, finance, energy, utility, healthcare.
Career: strategic consultant, research oriented, risk management
Company: ?
My professional background includes product manager, business analyst, data integrity & analysis consultant, business process analyst. Have dabbled in basic coding (front end), marketing support, tech writing, employee training, and business analysis.
In the past, all of these involved planning, one-on-one or small group collaboration, attention to details, figuring out a puzzle, etc. I really like being hands on with my projects, as well as working closely with my customers or partners.
What I don't like is dealing with too many people or teams (there are too many points of views and agenda to track or make sense of, even if everyone wants 'what's best for the business'), general project management like tracking and coordination, being rushed, making decisions without reasonable amount of information, and decisions being change multiple times when there's no new information.
My favorite professional project was working with a small group of team to help them fix their business processes, set up databases, create marketing materials, give training, etc to help lift that team from the brink of being let go to a great team.
Currently, I'm product manager working for a website company but I am finding that strategic planning is very little, I'm very far removed from how something is being built, there's a lot of politic and agenda, lots of back and forth on decisions, lots of project management, etc. etc. The problem is I'm being paid a little more than 100K. While this may not be a lot in the Bay Area, it is a significant enough that I am finding it to be very hard to give this up and say, become a counselor.
I'm thinking the following list would be places that may be a better fit for me but I'm very open to other ideas:
Industry: software (longer development cycle), manufactures, banking, finance, energy, utility, healthcare.
Career: strategic consultant, research oriented, risk management
Company: ?
I'd agree with the consulting - although the dealing with groups of people thing will be hard to avoid. You may be able to carve out a niche where you don't deal with clients much, but teamwork is hard to avoid. Good luck!
If you make a name for yourself as someone who is solid on analytics and white papers and thoughtware or whatever they're calling it this week, you might be able to fly solo most of the time.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 2:16 PM on January 19, 2012
If you make a name for yourself as someone who is solid on analytics and white papers and thoughtware or whatever they're calling it this week, you might be able to fly solo most of the time.
posted by Lesser Shrew at 2:16 PM on January 19, 2012
Working for a project management and consulting firm sounds right up your alley. I work for an engineering project consulting and management (EPCM) firm, and there are plenty of little projects alongside the big ones. The little projects are going to be more your style - smaller scope, fewer team members, smaller budgets and shorter turnaround. If you're a person who almost likes to micromanage, well it's more ok here :P
But the disclaimer is, I don't think you'll ever get away from politics, strong personalities and opinions, people waffling on decisions, procedure getting in the way of progress, and rush deadlines. The smaller projects just tend to have less of that.
posted by lizbunny at 2:32 PM on January 19, 2012
But the disclaimer is, I don't think you'll ever get away from politics, strong personalities and opinions, people waffling on decisions, procedure getting in the way of progress, and rush deadlines. The smaller projects just tend to have less of that.
posted by lizbunny at 2:32 PM on January 19, 2012
My first thought was consulting as well, although much of it depends on your qualifications as the more prominent business consulting operations have a distinct preference for MBAs from top schools.
Some other thoughts: business analyst (i.e., liaison between IT and the end user), self-employment acting as a business advisor/coach to start-ups, or perhaps doing something similar under the umbrella of a private equity or venture capital firm.
But really, you should be turning to a professional career coach who can make a more thorough assessment of your skills and offer some suggestions that are tailored to your interests, experience, and abilities.
posted by DrGail at 3:07 PM on January 19, 2012
Some other thoughts: business analyst (i.e., liaison between IT and the end user), self-employment acting as a business advisor/coach to start-ups, or perhaps doing something similar under the umbrella of a private equity or venture capital firm.
But really, you should be turning to a professional career coach who can make a more thorough assessment of your skills and offer some suggestions that are tailored to your interests, experience, and abilities.
posted by DrGail at 3:07 PM on January 19, 2012
You'll have trouble getting into one of the main strategy consulting from where you are now, but if you reboot with an MBA from a top school you could have a good shot. There's a sweet spot of experience vs. youth/vitality in that recruiting -- tougher odds if you'd be much over 30 when you graduated.
posted by MattD at 3:22 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by MattD at 3:22 PM on January 19, 2012
I'm in no way affiliated with this company, but your interests/skills sound like they might fit in at CGI.
posted by Juniper Toast at 3:31 PM on January 19, 2012
posted by Juniper Toast at 3:31 PM on January 19, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by olinerd at 1:40 PM on January 19, 2012