Help me figure out my next job!

May 30, 2012 4:36 PM

Help me figure out my next job!

I am becoming unable to deny the fact that I really, really, really don't like my "awesome" job and I need to figure out what to do next. I was thinking that I would go on maternity leave and just not come back, but fertility issues are pushing that goal further and further away, and I'm not sure I can keep spinning my wheels for another year or longer.

I'm 31, I've been working in the professional world for nearly 10 years, I've been in this industry for seven years, and this job for one year. I have a manager title but I only manage interns (which is fine - I don't actually want to be a manager). My industry is being shaken in many ways, with changing technology and the economy, and while I love the industry itself, I am starting to despise the track I've taken within it: marketing. I hate marketing. I have tried to reason myself into liking this, or at least being okay with it, but it turns out that I really hate writing marketing copy, I hate advertising, I hate-hate-hate social media and I don't think I'm going to change my mind on these things after all.

I am also kind of over the whole repetitive 9-5 office job thing, too. I don't like that we devote so much of our lives to our jobs, and I'm fine with earning less money in order to have time to actually live. I hate the feeling that many "information revolution" jobs don't seem real. It's like I'm just pushing papers for no apparent reason. I'd like to do a job that seems to matter, or at least provides some tangible benefit to someone somewhere. For these reasons, switching tracks within my industry is kind of a moot point, so I'm looking for thoughts on what I should consider next. (Industry is purposefully left vague here, to see if there are other options I'm not considering within it and to keep the answers as broad as possible.)

Here are the qualities I would like to find in my next job:
Flexible schedule - or at least not 9-5 as the only option
More work with people, less with computers
Less sedentary and more active (not physically demanding, but ideally not sitting in the same chair in the same office for hundreds of days each year)
Some control of my own schedule (ie, not having to ask a manager to go on break)
I do not want to be my own boss - no freelancing, no starting my own business
Doesn't require a lot of additional education (I'm still paying off a master's degree in the field I'm considering leaving, so....)
A job that can be mentally left behind at the end of the day but still rewarding in the moment

My skills and experience
Writing
Organization
Capable of planning medium and large scale marketing campaigns and pulling things off seamlessly while developing an ulcer in the background
Friendly team player
I have a BA in communications and a masters in this specific industry, not very transferable

My interests
Reading
Board games
Cooking
Personal finance

I'm located in a large city in the midwest, and I'm not looking to relocate or travel. Hit me with your best, most outlandish, or most awesome job ideas! Throwaway email address [e-mail] if needed.

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (6 answers total)

Have you thought about events managing? Seems like it ticks a few of your boxes, could be an easyish transition from marketing (although I have no idea if this is actually the case or not), and definitely more people focused than computer focused.
posted by Scottie_Bob at 4:56 PM on May 30, 2012

Have you considered physical or occupational therapy assistant? Does require extra schooling, but in both cases I believe it's an associate's degree.

I'm eagerly awaiting other responses to this question!
posted by indognito at 6:55 PM on May 30, 2012

Do you have any experience with the NFP sector? Volunteer coordinators have roles that see them both in and out of office, dealing with people and procedures.
posted by Trivia Newton John at 7:35 PM on May 30, 2012

Like Trivia Newton John suggests, I would check out nonprofits. Many nonprofits care A LOT about marketing and outreach. And in my experience, a lot of them tend to feel really insecure about their own marketing efforts--so they'll be impressed with your experience.

But it sounds like you really don't want to get another marketing job and I can sympathize. I worked in marketing and I hated it too. But have you thought about the two-step career change? With your background in marketing, you could land a position at a nonprofit whose goals interest you, and you could then work towards a position that involves less marketing and more of what you really care about.
posted by mcmile at 8:13 PM on May 30, 2012

Two-part answer:

1. (You might hate this part.) You mention what you hatehatehate, but what do you lovelovelove? Go do it.

2. It's a bit of a small world, but the personal finance industry, I've found, is actually quite friendly and very receptive to young energy. Perhaps you could sell yourself to a small firm looking to grow a bit, so you do the marketing thing for a bit and eventually transition into a personal financial advisor. You'll need a CFP designation/certification/education; google it up. I've also found these firms tend to meet your criteria: they're family-like, so they'd accommodate a flexible schedule, you'd get to work with people, and it's not boring. Also check out the Financial Planning Association online...it's a fairly easy way to meet up with some contacts and get more info.
posted by st starseed at 8:23 PM on May 30, 2012

I'd recommend training. You get to use what you know and help other folks learn stuff. Use your interactions with the interns as jumping off point.

Go to LinkedIn, Monster, Career Builder and see some training jobs, see what the skills are and then develop those with your interns. You might even do some courses in developing classes, especially those delivered remotely.

With training you get to travel to different places to deliver the training.

Another option that I did, and absolutely loved, was Field Marketing. I worked with the sales team providing my expertise in the industry, developing proposals, delivering presentations, and pretty much traveling around, meeting with customers and schmoozing. Too bad it was for MCIWorldcom.

I also enjoyed being a sales overlay. I specialized in a particular product set and worked with sales teams to develop those opportunities.

I also enjoyed regular sales. If you like working with people, then this is great fun. There was nothing like being the Ambassador to the Phone Company. You meet with customers, listen to their issues, and then solve their problems by selling them stuff. It's flexible, fun, incredibly lucrative, every day is different and in the end, when you burn out of dealing with a quota, you move into Sales Operations and sit at a desk doing spreadsheets all day.

I started in Telecommunications, but now I'm working for a software company. I now have transferrable skills. Yay!
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 6:37 AM on May 31, 2012 [1 favorite]