Advice on a career change...

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

Well, I think I've been here long enough, and I know there are a LOT of smart cookies on TCS, so I trust you'll be able to help me out!

I've had about all I can take of this thankless job in the corporate sector and I actually don't even mind working a thankless job in the public sector... I'm just in dire need of change. Besides, I feel like a fraud working where I do, and despite student loan and credit debt, a change is long overdue.

So, one thing I had in mind was bartending or waitressing. You get tips, you can stay in shape, and it's better than dealing strictly with miserable, insanely stressed-out business people all day.

I was also thinking of working in a flower shop or garden centre. Sure, the money isn't so hot, and you still get bitchy customers (though trust me, NOTHING beats financial district bitchiness, so I've got plenty of experience there!), but you have that calming and peaceful feeling of working with flowers, plants, soil, water...

Anyway, I think you can see where I'm going with this. Please, feel free to mention any ideas you might come up with... and I mean ANYTHING! Well, since I've opted out of drug dealing and prostituting myself, as long as it's LEGAL, I'm open to the possibilites!

Thanks for listening!

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

Noone? Anyone?

rosiemac · Apr 2, 2005

What about drawing up a list of pros and cons?

Waitressing or bar work?, how would you feel being on your feet a lot?!

Garden centre work?, what about the winter months when it's cold and you have to go outside?

coolcat · Apr 2, 2005

Originally Posted by vespacat

Noone? Anyone?

Hi! Jenn, IÂ´m accountand, and as you know, I live in MÃ[emoji]169[/emoji]xico and the conditions are differents here... I think a bartender should be a fine option, of course depends on what bar that you have an idea to work!

Got it?

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

It is a lot to think about... Though I sit at a desk all day and I think it's going to be the death of me, so standing for hours wouldn't bother me. I'm naturally a night owl, so I think working in a bar would suit me fine.

mrsd · Apr 2, 2005

I'm not a drinker, but thinking of money, would a bartender make more than a waitress? Maybe you could waitress while going to school to become a bartender? And then, you could become a bartender on a cruise ship.

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

SWEET idea!

Originally Posted by mrsd

I'm not a drinker, but thinking of money, would a bartender make more than a waitress? Maybe you could waitress while going to school to become a bartender? And then, you could become a bartender on a cruise ship.

ricalynn · Apr 2, 2005

So, one thing I had in mind was bartending or waitressing. You get tips, you can stay in shape, and it's better than dealing strictly with miserable, insanely stressed-out business people all day.

No, then you just get to deal with those same miserable, insanely stressed out people all night while they drink themselves into oblivion

ugaimes · Apr 2, 2005

How about working with a domestic violence or homeless shelter? It can be a thankless and low-paying job, the rewards you get- helping people who truly deserve help- are worth it!

marge · Apr 2, 2005

I really reommend doing the Myers Briggs test, i think it's online or you can buy the book. It helps show you where your motivations are etc.

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

True enough!

Though my intentions are to get away from the area I currently work in altogether.

Originally Posted by RicaLynn

No, then you just get to deal with those same miserable, insanely stressed out people all night while they drink themselves into oblivion

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

Thanks.

That is actually a field I was planning on getting training in prior to getting involved in my current job, so there's definitely a possibility there... I do currently volunteer in a similar sort of environment, and it is rewarding.

Originally Posted by ugaimes

How about working with a domestic violence or homeless shelter? It can be a thankless and low-paying job, the rewards you get- helping people who truly deserve help- are worth it!

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

Great idea! I've actually done it in the past, though I may take another crack at it. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Marge

I really reommend doing the Myers Briggs test, i think it's online or you can buy the book. It helps show you where your motivations are etc.

oz'smum · Apr 2, 2005

My daughter worked as a waitress in a pub to earn extra cash while at university, but could only stick it out for a short while, you can still have awkward work mates to cope with, with their own power struggles. And she'd be shattered as they expect long shifts to be covered.

You need to get yourself into a career you like now, while you're still young. My daughter came out of university not knowing what she wanted to do, and had a couple of office jobs, but, like you, hated being behind a desk all day.

She got a job with her local county council, and kept an eye on the internal job opportunities. Then something came up as a family support officer. Helping children and families having problems. Not a social worker, but working with them. Yes it's stressfull, but also very rewarding. And she loves it.

Is there any career advice centres you can look to?

vespacat · Apr 2, 2005

Thanks Tricia (BTW, you share the same birthday as my mom).

I really appreciated hearing about your daughter's experience... Sounds like her and I have some similar ideas about what we will/won't do to pay the bills!

I've applied for a job in my field, but in the public sector, so that's a start. Even if I get an interview at least I'm dipping back into the waters. As for career counselling/advice, the last time I looked for work was while I was still considered a "youth" in the Canadian job market, but I've been at this job for a number of years, and no longer qualify for the same programs. However, I'm going to look into it, and this week will be the start!

Originally Posted by Oz'sMum

My daughter worked as a waitress in a pub to earn extra cash while at university, but could only stick it out for a short while, you can still have awkward work mates to cope with, with their own power struggles. And she'd be shattered as they expect long shifts to be covered.

You need to get yourself into a career you like now, while you're still young. My daughter came out of university not knowing what she wanted to do, and had a couple of office jobs, but, like you, hated being behind a desk all day.

She got a job with her local county council, and kept an eye on the internal job opportunities. Then something came up as a family support officer. Helping children and families having problems. Not a social worker, but working with them. Yes it's stressfull, but also very rewarding. And she loves it.

Is there any career advice centres you can look to?

bumpy · Apr 2, 2005

Have you thought about going back to school for a second degree, such as law? While the Canadian legal sector does not pay as well as the US, the pay is still significant. For example, a summer job for a law student at a law firm can get you between 5000-6000 Canadian dollars per month.

How about nursing or Human Resource in relation to medical services. I know in parts of the US, people are getting paid up to $15000 as a signing on bonus. I also heard that there is a boom in the accounting/auditing field in the US due to Sarbanes Oxley Act.

Best advice is to write a list of all your abilities. Then a list of what you are looking for in a job followed by your priorities such as flexible working hours, high wage, etc.

jennyr · Apr 3, 2005

You do need to think carefully about what kind of person you are - do you like working with people? Colleagues, the public? Can you listen well? Do you like to take responsibility? Can you organise yourself and others well? Are you a night person or a morning person? How do you feel about commuting? About being away from home for work? How confident are you about public speaking? How computer literate are you? Can you write reports/minutes? Are you creative? Are you patient with children or people who need help?

There are no right and wrong answers but looking at these and other questions will gradually make you see where you might be comfortable. You must be honest with yourself though, and you will see where your talents lie. I have done bar work and waitressing as well as retail when I was a student, and I found it fun but very tiring and sometimes stressful - people either treat you as a non-person or try and flirt. And you have to be polite ALL the time, whatever they say. Good luck with the choices.

bumpy · Apr 3, 2005

jennyranson said:
people either treat you as a non-person or try and flirt. And you have to be polite ALL the time, whatever they say.

Sorry for the topic diversion but I have to ask. When you frequent a particular place some of the people working there become very friendly but yet you do not want to flirt back since they may be just doing their job. FOr example are they just being friendly when they ask you about your day or talk to you about their cats. What about if they give you their email address. If it a phone number well it seems more certain but an email address seems too nebulous. Is there like a secret code of waitressing to know when the person is just trying to be friendly or something else?

Click to expand...

vespacat · Apr 3, 2005

Thanks for your suggestions.

But as I mentioned, I have no interest in staying in the corporate sector, and that is where many of these jobs would entail working.

Sounds to me like law might be your area of expertise?

The main priority for me is being able to live with myself at the end of the day, and working in the corporate structure represents the antithesis of my personal core beliefs.

I'm certainly going to do the Myers Briggs assessment again online, and pursue some career counselling, probably starting next week.

As for law, I can't afford to go into further debt than I already am (tuition for each year of law school here is around $15,000) and because I would never do corporate law or article at a large private sector firm, I would accrue so much debt in the process that it would be impossible to pay it off.

Originally Posted by bumpy

Have you thought about going back to school for a second degree, such as law? While the Canadian legal sector does not pay as well as the US, the pay is still significant. For example, a summer job for a law student at a law firm can get you between 5000-6000 Canadian dollars per month.

How about nursing or Human Resource in relation to medical services. I know in parts of the US, people are getting paid up to $15000 as a signing on bonus. I also heard that there is a boom in the accounting/auditing field in the US due to Sarbanes Oxley Act.

Best advice is to write a list of all your abilities. Then a list of what you are looking for in a job followed by your priorities such as flexible working hours, high wage, etc.

vespacat · Apr 3, 2005

Thanks a bunch.

You've provided me with perhaps a less idealized view of waitressing than what I had imagined.

But believe me, if I piss off the wrong person in my current place of employment, I would get canned in a heartbeat and I would be expected to keep my mouth shut about it. There's a looming fear related to lack of job security that many of my colleagues share. I'm looking for something unionized, where employees have rights and equal opportunity, but then that sort of arrangement is like finding a needle in a haystack these days!

[jennyranson]You do need to think carefully about what kind of person you are - do you like working with people? Colleagues, the public? Can you listen well? Do you like to take responsibility? Can you organise yourself and others well? Are you a night person or a morning person? How do you feel about commuting? About being away from home for work? How confident are you about public speaking? How computer literate are you? Can you write reports/minutes? Are you creative? Are you patient with children or people who need help?

There are no right and wrong answers but looking at these and other questions will gradually make you see where you might be comfortable. You must be honest with yourself though, and you will see where your talents lie. I have done bar work and waitressing as well as retail when I was a student, and I found it fun but very tiring and sometimes stressful - people either treat you as a non-person or try and flirt. And you have to be polite ALL the time, whatever they say. Good luck with the choices.[/quote]

Advice on a career change...

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