Communes are looking increasingly appealing
September 25, 2013 10:49 AM Subscribe
I am a college grad with a fairly useless degree, I've been in an industry that I just sort of fell into for two years now, I am pretty certain I would like to NOT be in this industry in the future, and I have no idea what to do now.
The industry is nonprofit grants management. I'm on my second job in the field right now. The first job began as basically data entry, but I worked my way up to compiling and editing major reports to donors, as well. New job involves more writing, including on proposals and projects. I also have done a little layout work, which I have no formal training in but used to do as a hobby. Theoretically there's also some prospecting, website management, etc involved, but I have had little time for that so far.
With the new job I make ok money for a 25 year old, and even in NYC I can now begin to save a little. I have insurance. I can pay my loans. But.
I am not invested in my work, either the day-to-day tasks or the org mission. And the idea of advancing in this industry- to being a full-time grantwriter or a development officer responsible for relationship-building- fills me with dread. I do NOT want to do those things. I would hate them and be bad at them.
Thing is... my coworkers, both at my old and new jobs, LOVE me. My current HR person told me that my references were the best she'd ever heard. I am happy to do whatever is asked of me and more, am a skilled writer and editor, am cheerful and know how to "go along to get along," can usually come up with creative solutions to problems, and am good at organizing things that need to be organized. But. Those things, while they make me good at my current job, are not special enough qualifications to get me any OTHER job.
Worse, the idea of waiting around for a couple years and then moving to a new industry sounds like a life-ruining mistake, because if I go BACK to entry level in a new field in my late 20s I will never, ever make money or catch up to my peers. It was ok starting with no skills in a new industry when I was 23, but at 27? Different story. So now I feel like I am trapped in development, a field I do not care for, and will just have to keep doing it forever. And, going back to school? I already pay about $400/month in loans. I'd have to know I could make enough upon graduating to cover what I currently make, plus the payments on whatever new loans I'd have to take out. And what would I go for, anyway?
What do I LIKE to do? I like to solve problems, do research, communicate my findings to people. And I like my findings to actually have an impact on peoples' lives. The happiest I have been with a job-related task was designing and executing a semester-long survey study in college, on a team with other people. In this job I have now, there are no problems with unknown solutions which require problem-solving skills to fix- there are only problems that can be solved by rote editing or by repeatedly submitting proposals in hopes that one sticks.
Taking a fun trip down posting memory lane reminds me that I was unsatisfied with my previous job over a year ago, and yet here I am. I guess I thought getting a higher-level job doing the exact same thing would be better... more fool me.
I feel trapped, and like I've doomed myself forever by choosing that first entry-level job two years ago. I know that's silly but I just can't see a way out. I can't even afford to quit and move to a cheaper city, and I just keep picturing myself doing this same work at ago 40 and I want to scream. But I have no special skills that would compel anyone to hire me for anything more interesting- this is all I know how to do.
The industry is nonprofit grants management. I'm on my second job in the field right now. The first job began as basically data entry, but I worked my way up to compiling and editing major reports to donors, as well. New job involves more writing, including on proposals and projects. I also have done a little layout work, which I have no formal training in but used to do as a hobby. Theoretically there's also some prospecting, website management, etc involved, but I have had little time for that so far.
With the new job I make ok money for a 25 year old, and even in NYC I can now begin to save a little. I have insurance. I can pay my loans. But.
I am not invested in my work, either the day-to-day tasks or the org mission. And the idea of advancing in this industry- to being a full-time grantwriter or a development officer responsible for relationship-building- fills me with dread. I do NOT want to do those things. I would hate them and be bad at them.
Thing is... my coworkers, both at my old and new jobs, LOVE me. My current HR person told me that my references were the best she'd ever heard. I am happy to do whatever is asked of me and more, am a skilled writer and editor, am cheerful and know how to "go along to get along," can usually come up with creative solutions to problems, and am good at organizing things that need to be organized. But. Those things, while they make me good at my current job, are not special enough qualifications to get me any OTHER job.
Worse, the idea of waiting around for a couple years and then moving to a new industry sounds like a life-ruining mistake, because if I go BACK to entry level in a new field in my late 20s I will never, ever make money or catch up to my peers. It was ok starting with no skills in a new industry when I was 23, but at 27? Different story. So now I feel like I am trapped in development, a field I do not care for, and will just have to keep doing it forever. And, going back to school? I already pay about $400/month in loans. I'd have to know I could make enough upon graduating to cover what I currently make, plus the payments on whatever new loans I'd have to take out. And what would I go for, anyway?
What do I LIKE to do? I like to solve problems, do research, communicate my findings to people. And I like my findings to actually have an impact on peoples' lives. The happiest I have been with a job-related task was designing and executing a semester-long survey study in college, on a team with other people. In this job I have now, there are no problems with unknown solutions which require problem-solving skills to fix- there are only problems that can be solved by rote editing or by repeatedly submitting proposals in hopes that one sticks.
Taking a fun trip down posting memory lane reminds me that I was unsatisfied with my previous job over a year ago, and yet here I am. I guess I thought getting a higher-level job doing the exact same thing would be better... more fool me.
I feel trapped, and like I've doomed myself forever by choosing that first entry-level job two years ago. I know that's silly but I just can't see a way out. I can't even afford to quit and move to a cheaper city, and I just keep picturing myself doing this same work at ago 40 and I want to scream. But I have no special skills that would compel anyone to hire me for anything more interesting- this is all I know how to do.
What do I LIKE to do? I like to solve problems, do research, communicate my findings to people. And I like my findings to actually have an impact on peoples' lives. The happiest I have been with a job-related task was designing and executing a semester-long survey study in college, on a team with other people. In this job I have now, there are no problems with unknown solutions which require problem-solving skills to fix- there are only problems that can be solved by rote editing or by repeatedly submitting proposals in hopes that one sticks.
Have you looked for jobs in nonprofit that involve surveys and studies? I have to assume there are people who do these things in nonprofit fields, if that's where you wanted to stay.
You could go back for an additional degree, if you felt you wanted to go into Sociology or something similar, and that would not be "starting over" but adding to your credentials. That's the approach I would take on getting any new training that you felt you needed (even if it's just a few courses and not a Masters).
So what would help you is to do what you love...some research! Research jobs that use the skills you like/the things you dream about doing. Someone is doing that work. What credentials do they have? Can you get in the door without them? Go to school part-time?
The worst thing you can do is nothing. I have been stranded in a "good" job that I hated and it will suck your life out and make you bitter. When I left it, I was terrified, but lots of good things happened to me (eventually) and I've never regretted it. Obviously, be smart and cautious and don't burn bridges or bankrupt yourself.
You are not doomed by your first job; if you were, I would still be working as an admin assistant. I've worked in at least three industries over my career, and may not be done yet, but when I look for work I focus on finding a) a job I wanted to do b) the skills they wanted in an applicant and c) selling myself/fitting myself to those skills.
posted by emjaybee at 10:59 AM on September 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
Have you looked for jobs in nonprofit that involve surveys and studies? I have to assume there are people who do these things in nonprofit fields, if that's where you wanted to stay.
You could go back for an additional degree, if you felt you wanted to go into Sociology or something similar, and that would not be "starting over" but adding to your credentials. That's the approach I would take on getting any new training that you felt you needed (even if it's just a few courses and not a Masters).
So what would help you is to do what you love...some research! Research jobs that use the skills you like/the things you dream about doing. Someone is doing that work. What credentials do they have? Can you get in the door without them? Go to school part-time?
The worst thing you can do is nothing. I have been stranded in a "good" job that I hated and it will suck your life out and make you bitter. When I left it, I was terrified, but lots of good things happened to me (eventually) and I've never regretted it. Obviously, be smart and cautious and don't burn bridges or bankrupt yourself.
You are not doomed by your first job; if you were, I would still be working as an admin assistant. I've worked in at least three industries over my career, and may not be done yet, but when I look for work I focus on finding a) a job I wanted to do b) the skills they wanted in an applicant and c) selling myself/fitting myself to those skills.
posted by emjaybee at 10:59 AM on September 25, 2013 [3 favorites]
Your situation is not unsalvageable. But what your next step is depends on the specific source of your dislike.
Is it the actual specific tasks you do that you dislike, or the environment you're in? Meaning, if you were doing what you're doing for a different particular cause you really believed in, would that help? Or is it more like, you don't mind the industry you're in but you'd be happier even cleaning their toilets than you are doing what you're doing? I thought I hated my job as well, as an admin assistant, but I recently had a shift thrust upon me and realized that it wasn't the admin work I hated, it was the fact that it was a bank I was doing it for. I'm doing the exact same work for a university right now and I'm way happier.
If you just dislike the actual work, I would try locating someone who is doing the kind of work you want to do and talk to them about "what do I need to do to get from where I am to where you are." I did that recently with a guy at my old job and it was a big help. If you dislike the industry you're working for, then it's just a matter of deciding what industry you DO want to work for and looking for work there.
But both of these things are very, VERY doable, especially at the age you're at. (I just tried doing that when I was in my 40's, and it wasn't as hard as that.)
Good luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:03 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Is it the actual specific tasks you do that you dislike, or the environment you're in? Meaning, if you were doing what you're doing for a different particular cause you really believed in, would that help? Or is it more like, you don't mind the industry you're in but you'd be happier even cleaning their toilets than you are doing what you're doing? I thought I hated my job as well, as an admin assistant, but I recently had a shift thrust upon me and realized that it wasn't the admin work I hated, it was the fact that it was a bank I was doing it for. I'm doing the exact same work for a university right now and I'm way happier.
If you just dislike the actual work, I would try locating someone who is doing the kind of work you want to do and talk to them about "what do I need to do to get from where I am to where you are." I did that recently with a guy at my old job and it was a big help. If you dislike the industry you're working for, then it's just a matter of deciding what industry you DO want to work for and looking for work there.
But both of these things are very, VERY doable, especially at the age you're at. (I just tried doing that when I was in my 40's, and it wasn't as hard as that.)
Good luck.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:03 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Hey, are we the same person? I too fell into non-profit grants management accidentally after college because I could write and was reasonably intelligent. I didn't like it at 22 and hey, five years later, I still don't! Hooray! I too feel dread about being a gifts officer or dev director at 40 ... because that's where this goes. I'm on my way out, actually, hopefully, which means I'll be starting my career over in my early 30s.
Which brings me to: It was ok starting with no skills in a new industry when I was 23, but at 27? Different story.
Eh. Why? Starting over at 27 in something you like doing is a waaaay better option than spending the rest of your career doing something you hate. You've got MORE THAN 40 YEARS of your work life left at least! And you won't be totally starting over. You'll have this administration experience, life experience. Seriously, don't put so much stock into the age thing.
What I did was to sit down and figure out exactly what I didn't like about grant writing. I don't like sitting at a computer. I don't like being responsible for raising money. I don't like the horrible messiness of NPO work. Then I figured out what I did like. I DO like helping people. Etc. Really dug into the day to day muck of things and sat down and figured out what kind of work I might like doing and went from there. It sounds like you have a general start to this. That's great. Keep evolving that list and get specific. Do you like working in the NPO world at all? Or would you rather work for corporate? Or a larger NPO? Or a university?
The thing about grant writing is that you get tons of applicable skills for all sorts of work. Writing, creating budgets, developing projects, administration, evaluation - pretty much any line of work save like acting or professional sports is going to involve some degree of these skills.
As far a specific suggestions go - one thing you might look into is program evaluation. It's a pretty emerging field right now, and it involves the things you say you like. It's a lot of survey design, data collection, finding the right sorts of questions to ask. Non-profits are more and more contracting their evaluation work out to evaluators as grant-makers continually require third-party evaluation and measurable outcomes. There are firms that do this kind of work and you can even do non-degree certificate programs in it.
I don't know about NYC, but here in Oregon we have things like the Oregon Program Evaluators Network, that might give you a better sense of that type of work.
If you wanna chat more about this or commiserate over how awful grant writing is, you know where to reach me.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:13 AM on September 25, 2013 [4 favorites]
Which brings me to: It was ok starting with no skills in a new industry when I was 23, but at 27? Different story.
Eh. Why? Starting over at 27 in something you like doing is a waaaay better option than spending the rest of your career doing something you hate. You've got MORE THAN 40 YEARS of your work life left at least! And you won't be totally starting over. You'll have this administration experience, life experience. Seriously, don't put so much stock into the age thing.
What I did was to sit down and figure out exactly what I didn't like about grant writing. I don't like sitting at a computer. I don't like being responsible for raising money. I don't like the horrible messiness of NPO work. Then I figured out what I did like. I DO like helping people. Etc. Really dug into the day to day muck of things and sat down and figured out what kind of work I might like doing and went from there. It sounds like you have a general start to this. That's great. Keep evolving that list and get specific. Do you like working in the NPO world at all? Or would you rather work for corporate? Or a larger NPO? Or a university?
The thing about grant writing is that you get tons of applicable skills for all sorts of work. Writing, creating budgets, developing projects, administration, evaluation - pretty much any line of work save like acting or professional sports is going to involve some degree of these skills.
As far a specific suggestions go - one thing you might look into is program evaluation. It's a pretty emerging field right now, and it involves the things you say you like. It's a lot of survey design, data collection, finding the right sorts of questions to ask. Non-profits are more and more contracting their evaluation work out to evaluators as grant-makers continually require third-party evaluation and measurable outcomes. There are firms that do this kind of work and you can even do non-degree certificate programs in it.
I don't know about NYC, but here in Oregon we have things like the Oregon Program Evaluators Network, that might give you a better sense of that type of work.
If you wanna chat more about this or commiserate over how awful grant writing is, you know where to reach me.
posted by Lutoslawski at 11:13 AM on September 25, 2013 [4 favorites]
I think you should find a research administrator job at a well-funded university either near you or near somewhere you want to be. Your experience will help you get your foot in the door, and depending on the institution, you'd very likely have the opportunity to contribute to research design and work on a team. Bonus: you'd almost definitely be eligible for some tuition remission if you decide to pursue additional schooling somewhere down the road.
posted by ndg at 11:15 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ndg at 11:15 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
You totally sound like an "analyst". So research that position and write your resume as such, highlighting survey writing and of course whatever statistics (math) skills you have. (Or take extra classes if your stat skills are weak.) Then find an area you are passionate about and flood it with resumes. 27 is VERY YOUNG when compared to a 50 year old. You've only been working for 4 years and these days people change careers all the time.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:21 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:21 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
See a career counselor. Good career counselors are great at helping people answer questions like this. In the US, the NCDA is a reputable professional organization for career counselors; they have a "Find a Counselor" directory of their members.
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:22 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:22 AM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
Man, you just wrote my biography the past few years - we're the same age, accepted my first job offer out of college, have advanced through 3 different companies. Not exactly thrilled with what I'm doing but trying to be grateful I can earn a paycheck and can afford to live in NY doing something I don't despise, I guess.
My plan is to keep my head down, keep working hard, keep being nice, and hope to god I build enough connections and skills during this journey that something will eventually lead to interesting opportunities down the line. The fact that your coworkers love you is invaluable - they'll be the ones who will want you on their team when they make their own moves, and maybe it can be something different.
I wish I could offer you more concrete advice, but just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone and how I personally deal with the "20-something career future dread".
posted by windbox at 11:27 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
My plan is to keep my head down, keep working hard, keep being nice, and hope to god I build enough connections and skills during this journey that something will eventually lead to interesting opportunities down the line. The fact that your coworkers love you is invaluable - they'll be the ones who will want you on their team when they make their own moves, and maybe it can be something different.
I wish I could offer you more concrete advice, but just thought I'd let you know that you're not alone and how I personally deal with the "20-something career future dread".
posted by windbox at 11:27 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
Worse, the idea of waiting around for a couple years and then moving to a new industry sounds like a life-ruining mistake, because if I go BACK to entry level in a new field in my late 20s I will never, ever make money or catch up to my peers. It was ok starting with no skills in a new industry when I was 23, but at 27? Different story.
So let's say you do start over, find a job that you like in an industry that is meaningful to you, and you are always, forever, for the rest of your life, four or five years behind in raises and promotions compared to your peers. Is that really such an awful thing? Sounds like a good trade to me, and chances are you are so skilled that you'll start catching up to everyone else before long anyway.
(I started in a new field at 39. 27 seems so, so very young to me.)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:57 AM on September 25, 2013
So let's say you do start over, find a job that you like in an industry that is meaningful to you, and you are always, forever, for the rest of your life, four or five years behind in raises and promotions compared to your peers. Is that really such an awful thing? Sounds like a good trade to me, and chances are you are so skilled that you'll start catching up to everyone else before long anyway.
(I started in a new field at 39. 27 seems so, so very young to me.)
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:57 AM on September 25, 2013
I think you are way underselling the skills you use at your current gig. Writing, editing and organizational skills are incredibly useful in almost any position. My husband has had to hire people and he's often said that if he didn't consider anyone who didn't have typos on their resumes or cover letters, he would not have anyone to interview. Having good references is also a wonderful selling point.
It sounds like you should work on your confidence. Being unhappy for a long time can mess with your confidence but you seem to have a lot of assumptions holding you back. You can always start something new, whether you're 27 or 67. Making money is less important than being happy as long as you're not starving and who cares about catching up to your peers? This isn't a race. You're not trapped. You haven't doomed yourself. The part of you saying those things? It's like a devil on your shoulder. Don't listen.
I've been in a similar position. When I turned 30, I was at a happy hour with colleagues and I told one I was a little bummed about being 30 because I wasn't happy with where I was. She said that I could fix it. I did. When I decided that I was going to leave my last job, I applied for one job. I got my current job by telling those who did the hiring, I don't have experience specific to this field but I can do all of the things you need and more. They believed me and here I am. People frequently ask if my college major was in this specific field.
Apply for jobs that interest you, even if you don't think you're qualified. I think of job applications like lottery tickets except sometimes you win. When I was fresh out of school, I applied for a position which was way above my pay grade. I got an interview. And try to do more of the things you like doing at your job. Think of the boring stuff as eating your vegetables. Scarf them down so you can have some chocolate cake. Then when you get an interview, you can say, doing xyz isn't part of my job description or day-to-day work but I have a little experience with it. That shows that you can multitask and that you have great initiative.
You can get out of your current job and into a job you love. Step one is thinking that you can.
posted by kat518 at 12:23 PM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
It sounds like you should work on your confidence. Being unhappy for a long time can mess with your confidence but you seem to have a lot of assumptions holding you back. You can always start something new, whether you're 27 or 67. Making money is less important than being happy as long as you're not starving and who cares about catching up to your peers? This isn't a race. You're not trapped. You haven't doomed yourself. The part of you saying those things? It's like a devil on your shoulder. Don't listen.
I've been in a similar position. When I turned 30, I was at a happy hour with colleagues and I told one I was a little bummed about being 30 because I wasn't happy with where I was. She said that I could fix it. I did. When I decided that I was going to leave my last job, I applied for one job. I got my current job by telling those who did the hiring, I don't have experience specific to this field but I can do all of the things you need and more. They believed me and here I am. People frequently ask if my college major was in this specific field.
Apply for jobs that interest you, even if you don't think you're qualified. I think of job applications like lottery tickets except sometimes you win. When I was fresh out of school, I applied for a position which was way above my pay grade. I got an interview. And try to do more of the things you like doing at your job. Think of the boring stuff as eating your vegetables. Scarf them down so you can have some chocolate cake. Then when you get an interview, you can say, doing xyz isn't part of my job description or day-to-day work but I have a little experience with it. That shows that you can multitask and that you have great initiative.
You can get out of your current job and into a job you love. Step one is thinking that you can.
posted by kat518 at 12:23 PM on September 25, 2013 [2 favorites]
I've felt stuck at a few jobs in my two decades in the workforce. The thing that didn't help me get unstuck was feeling stuck.
The things that helped me get unstuck were: getting laid off and doing new things in and out of work until my perspective shifted enough that I found a way forward.
In general, I find the best "new things" are those that involve interacting with people, ideally new people, or people I already knew, but in knew ways, like collaborating on a project with a friend, or talking to them in depth about their work.
Other things: classes, meetups, cleaning out my RSS reader / changing my media consumption patterns/habits. Writing things down that I've previously only thought about. Returning to old things I haven't done or thought about for quite some time.
I imagine that this all sounds vague and touchy-feely, and it really kind of is, but I submit it is a useful approach at a time where problems seem intractable and the way forward is foggy and uncertain.
In addition to all that, I have some more specific advice. It seems to me that the gap between what you do now, and what you'd like to do is more concrete evidence that what you do makes an impact. I've observed that there are a number of job roles that sound very much like the job you do now: basically writing and research. Some of them pay poorly, and are often unrewarding. On the other hand, others pay decently and offer the satisfaction of seeing results from your work. A friend has spent most of her career somewhere in the middle, as a tech writer, but recently she took a new role as a business analyst and she loves it. Most of the work is very similar to that core of research and writing, but the important difference is that the people paying her to research and write are paying for it because they want her to make a recommendation about how things can be done better and they want that recommendation because they want to act on it.
Now, this isn't to say that your dream job is to become a business analyst, in part because not all companies (or departments of the same company) are the same, and because not all people are the same. Some business analysts work in environments where communication problems and politics make it difficult for them to do their job, or see the results of their work. Some people aren't satisfied with making it 10% easier for 100,000 people to get their cell phones repaired, or for finding more efficient ways of handling the waste from wood pulping operations.
posted by Good Brain at 1:34 PM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
The things that helped me get unstuck were: getting laid off and doing new things in and out of work until my perspective shifted enough that I found a way forward.
In general, I find the best "new things" are those that involve interacting with people, ideally new people, or people I already knew, but in knew ways, like collaborating on a project with a friend, or talking to them in depth about their work.
Other things: classes, meetups, cleaning out my RSS reader / changing my media consumption patterns/habits. Writing things down that I've previously only thought about. Returning to old things I haven't done or thought about for quite some time.
I imagine that this all sounds vague and touchy-feely, and it really kind of is, but I submit it is a useful approach at a time where problems seem intractable and the way forward is foggy and uncertain.
In addition to all that, I have some more specific advice. It seems to me that the gap between what you do now, and what you'd like to do is more concrete evidence that what you do makes an impact. I've observed that there are a number of job roles that sound very much like the job you do now: basically writing and research. Some of them pay poorly, and are often unrewarding. On the other hand, others pay decently and offer the satisfaction of seeing results from your work. A friend has spent most of her career somewhere in the middle, as a tech writer, but recently she took a new role as a business analyst and she loves it. Most of the work is very similar to that core of research and writing, but the important difference is that the people paying her to research and write are paying for it because they want her to make a recommendation about how things can be done better and they want that recommendation because they want to act on it.
Now, this isn't to say that your dream job is to become a business analyst, in part because not all companies (or departments of the same company) are the same, and because not all people are the same. Some business analysts work in environments where communication problems and politics make it difficult for them to do their job, or see the results of their work. Some people aren't satisfied with making it 10% easier for 100,000 people to get their cell phones repaired, or for finding more efficient ways of handling the waste from wood pulping operations.
posted by Good Brain at 1:34 PM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I like to solve problems, do research, communicate my findings to people. And I like my findings to actually have an impact on peoples' lives.
So would being involved in private enterprise be out of the question, as far as having an impact on people? Would you be satisfied doing business analysis of the market penetration of MegaCorp's new ExtraFit Tite-Sock system in shoes in the New England market?
[...]I just keep picturing myself doing this same work at ago 40 and I want to scream.
I hear ya. This was me. I can't take another 15 years in corporate IT.
I approached this dissatisfaction by charting my strengths, interests, and values. It sounds like you understand your strengths, but not your interests or values.
The process for me was to ask "what are my concerns about the world; what do I value?" The answer was: food, equality, mental health, and the natural environment.
I then found volunteer organizations that would allow me to get involved in those fields, to find out how I could use my strengths, channeled into my values.
For food, I started volunteering at a local food bank, repacking food and organizing volunteer labor.
For equality, I started volunteering at a children's book bank, getting books to low-income kids (who have 1 book per 300 households, vs 35 books per household for middle income kids), and am exploring other options.
For mental health, I started volunteering at a suicide and addiction crisis line.
For the natural environment, I started volunteering at a local river and stream cleanup non-profit, leading groups of volunteers in weeding, stabilizing, and replanting river areas.
All that [really f-ing over-committed] work allowed me to get a taste of careers like:
Warehouse management/logistics
Nutrition Education
Volunteer Outreach
Volunteer Coordination
Non-profit management
Landscaping
Environmental Remediation
Veteran, Youth, Addiction, LGBTQ Mental Health Counseling
Out of all of that I discovered that what I really want to do is be a relationship therapist. Or at least that's what I think I want to do, and am pursuing graduate education in the field.
I think the best thing anyone can do is help you figure out how to find your own answer. I hope the system that worked for me might help you. You know your strengths, but figure out what is important to you and get involved in it without giving up your day job.
posted by MonsieurBon at 3:05 PM on September 25, 2013 [4 favorites]
So would being involved in private enterprise be out of the question, as far as having an impact on people? Would you be satisfied doing business analysis of the market penetration of MegaCorp's new ExtraFit Tite-Sock system in shoes in the New England market?
[...]I just keep picturing myself doing this same work at ago 40 and I want to scream.
I hear ya. This was me. I can't take another 15 years in corporate IT.
I approached this dissatisfaction by charting my strengths, interests, and values. It sounds like you understand your strengths, but not your interests or values.
The process for me was to ask "what are my concerns about the world; what do I value?" The answer was: food, equality, mental health, and the natural environment.
I then found volunteer organizations that would allow me to get involved in those fields, to find out how I could use my strengths, channeled into my values.
For food, I started volunteering at a local food bank, repacking food and organizing volunteer labor.
For equality, I started volunteering at a children's book bank, getting books to low-income kids (who have 1 book per 300 households, vs 35 books per household for middle income kids), and am exploring other options.
For mental health, I started volunteering at a suicide and addiction crisis line.
For the natural environment, I started volunteering at a local river and stream cleanup non-profit, leading groups of volunteers in weeding, stabilizing, and replanting river areas.
All that [really f-ing over-committed] work allowed me to get a taste of careers like:
Warehouse management/logistics
Nutrition Education
Volunteer Outreach
Volunteer Coordination
Non-profit management
Landscaping
Environmental Remediation
Veteran, Youth, Addiction, LGBTQ Mental Health Counseling
Out of all of that I discovered that what I really want to do is be a relationship therapist. Or at least that's what I think I want to do, and am pursuing graduate education in the field.
I think the best thing anyone can do is help you figure out how to find your own answer. I hope the system that worked for me might help you. You know your strengths, but figure out what is important to you and get involved in it without giving up your day job.
posted by MonsieurBon at 3:05 PM on September 25, 2013 [4 favorites]
Tough to give the right advice without knowing the context better but here it goes:
Usually at 27, its ok to change industries quickly. Its just been 2 yrs in a particular role and that's not enough to hold you back if you start afresh. Remember you will rise much faster in a role that you love compared to a role which you don't like.
Being behind your peers for couple of years is not a big deal and ultimately, that sort of comparison is useless against your own lack of happiness. The more you wait, the more trapped you would feel.
Also, you should explore what scares you so much about changing jobs/roles right now? Is it that you are scared of running out of savings or having too much loan? Is it the fact that your peers would be/are earning better? Is it that you don't feel confident about getting a new job?
Once you can confront that fear, you would be better placed to make the decision.
Hope this helps.
posted by TheLittlePrince at 5:53 PM on September 25, 2013
Usually at 27, its ok to change industries quickly. Its just been 2 yrs in a particular role and that's not enough to hold you back if you start afresh. Remember you will rise much faster in a role that you love compared to a role which you don't like.
Being behind your peers for couple of years is not a big deal and ultimately, that sort of comparison is useless against your own lack of happiness. The more you wait, the more trapped you would feel.
Also, you should explore what scares you so much about changing jobs/roles right now? Is it that you are scared of running out of savings or having too much loan? Is it the fact that your peers would be/are earning better? Is it that you don't feel confident about getting a new job?
Once you can confront that fear, you would be better placed to make the decision.
Hope this helps.
posted by TheLittlePrince at 5:53 PM on September 25, 2013
So, like four or five years ago I was talking to a friend about changing careers and how I wasn't really crazy about my then-career (or the future of my then-profession) but it seemed so daunting to change careers AGAIN at 30-ish (I had been on a very different career path for my first few years out of college) and I ended up sticking with that career for four or so more years.
This year I got to where I was finally fed up enough with my career that I managed to figure out another path I was willing to try out. I'm currently in the process of changing careers from being a librarian to being a software developer.
I'm 35. Most of the people I know who are making this kind of change are in their twenties. My instructors at the place where I'm studying? Pretty sure they're all in their twenties too. But who the hell cares! What I'm doing is hard, but I'm really glad I'm doing it and I feel better about what I'm doing right now than I did about probably my last six or seven years of work experience.
If you're genuinely unhappy (and you don't just have unrealistic expectations about what work is supposed to be like), figure out something else to do. Talk to your friends and family about what they do and what they like/dislike about it. If there's an industry or type of work you'd like to get into, try and go to meetups or conferences for it. Follow people on twitter, all that business.
So, tl;dr version: It's never too late, but life is short. As hard as it may be, it's probably never going to be easier to make a change than it is right now.
posted by mskyle at 6:22 PM on September 25, 2013
This year I got to where I was finally fed up enough with my career that I managed to figure out another path I was willing to try out. I'm currently in the process of changing careers from being a librarian to being a software developer.
I'm 35. Most of the people I know who are making this kind of change are in their twenties. My instructors at the place where I'm studying? Pretty sure they're all in their twenties too. But who the hell cares! What I'm doing is hard, but I'm really glad I'm doing it and I feel better about what I'm doing right now than I did about probably my last six or seven years of work experience.
If you're genuinely unhappy (and you don't just have unrealistic expectations about what work is supposed to be like), figure out something else to do. Talk to your friends and family about what they do and what they like/dislike about it. If there's an industry or type of work you'd like to get into, try and go to meetups or conferences for it. Follow people on twitter, all that business.
So, tl;dr version: It's never too late, but life is short. As hard as it may be, it's probably never going to be easier to make a change than it is right now.
posted by mskyle at 6:22 PM on September 25, 2013
I like to solve problems, do research, communicate my findings to people. And I like my findings to actually have an impact on peoples' lives.
You just described what policy advisors do. (Note: I work in policy for the Ontario government in Canada, so I know what I'm talking about). I googled "policy jobs NYC" and there are a few interesting ones on indeed.com. Of course policy advisors don't just work in government, you can find them in the non-profit sector as well. Even if you don't have the knowledge of a particular area of a policy job posting, you can learn it on the job.
It sounds like you and policy work would be a really good fit. You also don't have to know any advanced math/stats - that number crunching would be done by your research analyst colleagues. :) Start researching what policy advisors do, highlight any research and policy development work you've done on your resume (or work relating to policy development, work that was supporting policy development, even if it's the internal policies of the orgs that you've worked for) and start applying.
posted by foxjacket at 6:43 PM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
You just described what policy advisors do. (Note: I work in policy for the Ontario government in Canada, so I know what I'm talking about). I googled "policy jobs NYC" and there are a few interesting ones on indeed.com. Of course policy advisors don't just work in government, you can find them in the non-profit sector as well. Even if you don't have the knowledge of a particular area of a policy job posting, you can learn it on the job.
It sounds like you and policy work would be a really good fit. You also don't have to know any advanced math/stats - that number crunching would be done by your research analyst colleagues. :) Start researching what policy advisors do, highlight any research and policy development work you've done on your resume (or work relating to policy development, work that was supporting policy development, even if it's the internal policies of the orgs that you've worked for) and start applying.
posted by foxjacket at 6:43 PM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]
I know that paying off loans and saving is important. But let's face it:
because if I go BACK to entry level in a new field in my late 20s I will never, ever make money or catch up to my peers.
If this is what is stopping you from changing jobs, you will NEVER be happy. Someone from your peer group will always make more money, or be more "successful," or at least their Facebook postings will all make it seem so.
Change jobs, or don't, but after you have a semi-decent income, shouldn't you just seek whatever is interesting to you? If you don't find it here, either start thinking about your job or yourself differently (difficult), or change jobs (easier).
You have a ton going for you: people like you, you do a good job even when you don't like it, you are interested in things and are a problem solver. Heck, I'd hire you for most any position in my startup, because you can learn and people love you. So you won't be the technology person, but you could be in marketing, research, sales, sales support, customer service, project management, business development or a combination of the above.
Don't just sit there, or you will grow moss.
posted by Yavsy at 7:08 PM on September 25, 2013
because if I go BACK to entry level in a new field in my late 20s I will never, ever make money or catch up to my peers.
If this is what is stopping you from changing jobs, you will NEVER be happy. Someone from your peer group will always make more money, or be more "successful," or at least their Facebook postings will all make it seem so.
Change jobs, or don't, but after you have a semi-decent income, shouldn't you just seek whatever is interesting to you? If you don't find it here, either start thinking about your job or yourself differently (difficult), or change jobs (easier).
You have a ton going for you: people like you, you do a good job even when you don't like it, you are interested in things and are a problem solver. Heck, I'd hire you for most any position in my startup, because you can learn and people love you. So you won't be the technology person, but you could be in marketing, research, sales, sales support, customer service, project management, business development or a combination of the above.
Don't just sit there, or you will grow moss.
posted by Yavsy at 7:08 PM on September 25, 2013
Response by poster: I maybe should add that I started my current job in May. So I feel like leaving soon isn't really a possibility, but that I should be planning and preparing for my NEXT job to not be in this industry.
There are some awesome suggestions here! Thanks everyone. I have a lot to think about.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:02 PM on September 25, 2013
There are some awesome suggestions here! Thanks everyone. I have a lot to think about.
posted by showbiz_liz at 9:02 PM on September 25, 2013
You sound like me a few years ago. I landed in quality assurance in the medical device industry because that was the first good job I was offered post-college. I felt like I was underutilized because I too love to solve problems and educate, yet I was stuck in a paperwork and forms-driven system. I didn't know what I wanted, but I knew it wasn't that.
So, I did some career soul-searching. I wrote down my strengths and vague ideas of what I wanted to do. I asked my professional contacts what they did and if they knew people who would be willing to talk to me. I learned a lot about different jobs within the medical device industry and where I'd like to be.
More specifically, I learned that I want my work to feel like it matters. I worked for a sterilizer, meaning that my work helped save lives. That was an important realization. However, I still felt numb from the process of surgery and medical device technology, which interested me much more. So, I learned that I like extensive knowledge of complex systems. I crave expertise so that I can educate and help people.
Along the way, I worked at quantifying my tasks at work. HR people love to see numbers; "Reviewed batch records daily" pales in comparison with "Performed daily review of over 5000 batch records with only one recall as a result." Also, I broke down what exactly I did. Day to day, it felt like "I sign my name on stuff, act bored, and sometimes sit through an audit." But when I thought about it, I did something extremely valuable: I knew a lot about an obscure field, and my job required me to do the functions of an entire QA department. I never realized how much I truly did and how much it meant until I thought deeply about it and broke it down into concrete resume line items. For you, it might be intense knowledge of the grant-writing process (which is invaluable to universities today), strong attention to detail, excellent interpersonal communication skills, etc.
Also, I started listening to the Back to Work podcast. If you can stand Merlin Mann ADDing around, it's an excellent show. Listen to at least the first 7 episodes. Feel free to skip any talk about apps or specific text editors (man oh man do they like to talk about text editors), for that was irrelevant to me. It's a good program with the mission statement of "work hard at learning how to work well." Learning to organize, prioritize, and most importantly, "ship" (i.e. finish a thing) is the focus. I'm not doing it justice. It's a lot more fun than I make it sound too.
So, after all this, I learned that I could do good, meaningful work in my job as a QA guy. The simple act of writing down all my completed work for the day helped my sense of accomplishment a lot. I was unhappy at my job at the time not because of the content (highly technical, helps people), but because I was disconnected from the people I was helping, I'm an extroverted verbal processor who didn't work with many people (12 person office), and I was out of things to learn and people to teach.
I ended up getting another job in a QA function at a different medical device company, but my title is now Quality Engineer. I still do the paperworky stuff I rallied against before, but I don't mind because I took the time to learn why said paperwork is important. I work with a lot more (160) people, so I can bounce ideas off others and gain momentum and motivation through that. I know rare things (ethylene oxide sterilization of medical devices) that people need, which makes me feel important. And though I'm still QA, I work with medical device complaints, meaning I get to learn how the devices themselves work and how they affect real people, so I feel a lot more plugged into something larger than me.
Throughout this process I was talking to a professional recruiter who repeated that leaving the first post-college job/company is a huge confidence boost because you realize how much you know and that, if people like you, you are good at what you do. It was true for me.
This is a long way of saying you should assess where you are right now, what weird things you know that others don't, and ways you could help people or gain satisfaction with your skills. I wanted to run away from quality assurance so badly, but I'm glad I didn't because I learned I can still help people (patients and co-workers) with the skills I have, and I didn't have to start from zero. So I don't have specific advice for moving to a new field, but perhaps a similar job with different side responsibilities would help.
posted by Turkey Glue at 6:14 PM on September 26, 2013
So, I did some career soul-searching. I wrote down my strengths and vague ideas of what I wanted to do. I asked my professional contacts what they did and if they knew people who would be willing to talk to me. I learned a lot about different jobs within the medical device industry and where I'd like to be.
More specifically, I learned that I want my work to feel like it matters. I worked for a sterilizer, meaning that my work helped save lives. That was an important realization. However, I still felt numb from the process of surgery and medical device technology, which interested me much more. So, I learned that I like extensive knowledge of complex systems. I crave expertise so that I can educate and help people.
Along the way, I worked at quantifying my tasks at work. HR people love to see numbers; "Reviewed batch records daily" pales in comparison with "Performed daily review of over 5000 batch records with only one recall as a result." Also, I broke down what exactly I did. Day to day, it felt like "I sign my name on stuff, act bored, and sometimes sit through an audit." But when I thought about it, I did something extremely valuable: I knew a lot about an obscure field, and my job required me to do the functions of an entire QA department. I never realized how much I truly did and how much it meant until I thought deeply about it and broke it down into concrete resume line items. For you, it might be intense knowledge of the grant-writing process (which is invaluable to universities today), strong attention to detail, excellent interpersonal communication skills, etc.
Also, I started listening to the Back to Work podcast. If you can stand Merlin Mann ADDing around, it's an excellent show. Listen to at least the first 7 episodes. Feel free to skip any talk about apps or specific text editors (man oh man do they like to talk about text editors), for that was irrelevant to me. It's a good program with the mission statement of "work hard at learning how to work well." Learning to organize, prioritize, and most importantly, "ship" (i.e. finish a thing) is the focus. I'm not doing it justice. It's a lot more fun than I make it sound too.
So, after all this, I learned that I could do good, meaningful work in my job as a QA guy. The simple act of writing down all my completed work for the day helped my sense of accomplishment a lot. I was unhappy at my job at the time not because of the content (highly technical, helps people), but because I was disconnected from the people I was helping, I'm an extroverted verbal processor who didn't work with many people (12 person office), and I was out of things to learn and people to teach.
I ended up getting another job in a QA function at a different medical device company, but my title is now Quality Engineer. I still do the paperworky stuff I rallied against before, but I don't mind because I took the time to learn why said paperwork is important. I work with a lot more (160) people, so I can bounce ideas off others and gain momentum and motivation through that. I know rare things (ethylene oxide sterilization of medical devices) that people need, which makes me feel important. And though I'm still QA, I work with medical device complaints, meaning I get to learn how the devices themselves work and how they affect real people, so I feel a lot more plugged into something larger than me.
Throughout this process I was talking to a professional recruiter who repeated that leaving the first post-college job/company is a huge confidence boost because you realize how much you know and that, if people like you, you are good at what you do. It was true for me.
This is a long way of saying you should assess where you are right now, what weird things you know that others don't, and ways you could help people or gain satisfaction with your skills. I wanted to run away from quality assurance so badly, but I'm glad I didn't because I learned I can still help people (patients and co-workers) with the skills I have, and I didn't have to start from zero. So I don't have specific advice for moving to a new field, but perhaps a similar job with different side responsibilities would help.
posted by Turkey Glue at 6:14 PM on September 26, 2013
Thing is... my coworkers, both at my old and new jobs, LOVE me. My current HR person told me that my references were the best she'd ever heard. I am happy to do whatever is asked of me and more, am a skilled writer and editor, am cheerful and know how to "go along to get along," can usually come up with creative solutions to problems, and am good at organizing things that need to be organized. But. Those things, while they make me good at my current job, are not special enough qualifications to get me any OTHER job.In addition to the excellent advice from other posters above, I'd like to encourage you to rethink this.
Lots of motivated people can pick up new professional skills, but it can be much harder to develop these kinds of people skills if you don't already have them by the time you start working.
When you interview (and possibly in your cover letters), let people know that you work well with others.
Given the choice between a qualified applicant who will be loved by co-workers and a qualified who might not, I'd go with the first one any day.
posted by kristi at 9:50 AM on September 27, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
Another thing is the CIA. They need analysts. You could have an opportunity to travel plus you can work for Uncle Sucker for awesome benefits. Ditto the FBI, only with a more local bent.
No one is ever doomed FOREVER, especially not with a job!
But you might want to check out the CIA, I interviewed with them for an Agent position. It was interesting but ultimately, not my cuppa tea.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 10:56 AM on September 25, 2013 [1 favorite]