So I am definitely 'grown up,' and so is my husband and we both have decent paying jobs in our designated educated fields, however neither of us is happy. We both have Masters Degrees in our respective fields, but what we are trained in doesn't excite or interest us anymore.
We are both in our very early 30s so it isn't like we couldn't change fields/jobs, but we are still paying on our educations and neither of us are very creative in looking for something new. We have one track minds as to what we could do.
So- #1- what do you want to do when you grow up?
#2- where are some creative means by which you have searched for a job?
I would like to be a professional water skier. But a little late for that.
I am on my third career and it has nothing to do with my undergrad, master's or the 90 hrs towards a PhD! So I can relate.
Most community colleges offer career counseling and testing. I found that helpful.
I attended a leadership development seminar eight years ago where I was asked to take a blank sheet of paper, write my name in the middle, and then spend 20 minutes writing things I'd like to DO, BE and HAVE. No full sentences, just thoughts and phrases. Once done, review and you'll see what you really want out of life. On the back of the paper, write out the obstacles preventing you from achieving what you actually want. Then come up with one idea for each obstacle of how you could overcome it.
Sounds a bit weird, I'm sure, but it was really helpful to me. Once I saw all my wants written out, I realized that the high paying, high stress career field I was in was not what I wanted. Instead, I wanted a family, time to garden, and the ability travel. So husband and I created a plan to downsize and make room for children in our lives. Now I make about 65% of what I did, we have two kids, live in a smaller home, don't spend nearly as much money, and we're a million times happier.
I know I didn't answer either of your questions - but thought my experience might shed some light on how to figure out what it is that YOU want to do.
#2 first
Pretend you've won the lottery. After you've gotten all the wiggles out/ bought everything you've ever wanted, HOW do you keep from being completely and totally BORED OFF YOUR BUM.
Trust me. There is a very limited time most people can "do nothing" (whether that's drinking margahritas on the beach or reading or meeting with friends, etc. Typically it takes 1-3 years).
Seriously think about what on EARTH you would do to keep yourself occupied. And think about your daily schedule.
Because, you know what? You can do EVERYTHING on that list (cake and eat it too), if you turn the question on it's head.
I'm just going to use myself as an example.
________
#1
My ideal day post-lotto starts with sleeping in and then walking outside and diving into a pool. That's just who I am. I am not a morning person and it is ORGASMIC to start off swimming every day.
Problems & Solutions: I needED to be up early for my son (now that he's older, I don't, getting up early with kids is a LIMITED time thing), I live in the chilly damp NW (next place I move will be warm, and I AM planning on moving), I don't have a pool (the house I buy in the warmer climate will have an inground pool).
Will I be able to do it every day? No. But I CAN set up my life to do it MOST days/ have that be my "normal".
Can I do that tomorrow? No. I didn't win the lotto. But I CAN work towards it. It'll take a couple years. No biggie. ((It comes with other factors, of course, but those get dealt with. Like moving away from my family/best friends means I need to buy a house big enough to accommodate houseguests. Okay. I can do that.))
EACH AND EVERY THING I deal with the same way. HOW DO I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE, AND HOW DO I WANT TO SPEND MY TIME.
For myself... that means I'm triple majoring.
What I want to do for a living is to teach 2 quarters out of the year, be on a dig 1 quarter out of the year doing double duty as an archeologist/anthropologist AND staff nurse, and then pad either side of that dig working with an NGO (red cross, nurses without borders, whatever the local med group or clinic is) for a few weeks, and publish 1 quarter a year possibly doing some freelance stuff as time allows. (my majors are anthropology, nursing, and fine art, although I have a psych degree, I am in absolutely no way interested in being a clinical psychologist).
Do you know what that means? I need to get a job with a COMMUNITY COLLEGE. Not a prestigious university. I have friends who look at me like I'm nuts (my professors tell me I'm smart). Because of the freedom I want in my life to only be teaching 2-3 quarters a year (depending on whether I can swing grants to have the dig be part of the curriculum), community college is where I need to be. Because I will "look" prestigious (publishing and being a part of or running a dig that will be a draw to their students) CC's will want me. They also pay better than most universities, even though they are "looked down upon" in the educational sphere.
It's not the "sexy" track. It's not Oxford, Yale, etc. It's how I want to LIVE MY LIFE. I want to travel. I want to teach. I want to 'play in the dirt'. I want write and take photos. I want to sew people back together again. As me'job.
((I actually have several "teaching" job options, CCs are just my top choice for hours, pay, etc.))
I also want to swim, and snowboard, row, and write, and travel, and take sniper courses, and ride horses, and sleep in most days, and, and, and, and all the "fun" stuff.
Am I DOING that stuff now? Nope. Not all of it. But I'm working towards it. I also add in as much as I can right now. I might not be able to spend days writing, but I CAN arrange for my son to have a weekend with Nana and Papa once a month so I can spend THAT time writing.
Having your cake and eating it, too. My life motto.
I have no clue. Though, I have 3 classes left until I get my associates degree, then I have to decide when I go to college for the 4 year. So stressful, but I know we have to do something!
I tend to do creative... graphic design, writing, arts.. but the pay isn't that great. I will probably go the business/public administration route. I'm already a hairstylist, and a jewelry designer, balloon artist and face painter and puppet maker, but those are side jobs that aren't steady and frankly, I don't enjoy all of the anymore... my husband brought up the idea of doing a technical degree like a radiation tech or dental assistant b/c it's faster and they make decent money.
Actually, I just asked a similar question and got tons of amazing responses and ideas here, something may spark your interest:
I am confident that I would like to mak a change from the health industry to some type of profession in law. I have not started the process yet.
I have a friend who decided to be a SAHM & supported her end of the salary by becoming an online tutor for a university. Is your job something that could be done from home?
#1: I haven't decided if I want to work in the legal field (paralegal, clerk, etc) OR in the accounting field. & it's time to decide, because my daycare is coming to an end. Time to start hitting some online classes!
#2 no answer....which is rare for me!
My degrees are in Fashion, clothing, textiles and business.
My choices have also enabled me to be able to be home with my daughter, volunteer at the schools and serve on boards for booster clubs, namely, cheer. I am flexible with my time since I am my own boss!
I have modeled most of my life and I continue to do so occasionally. I do local jobs, photo shoots, department stores, etc.
My husband and I started our own company in the raw materials (plastics) industry about 6 yrs ago. He had been in the industry about 20 yrs and I had been his right hand man since he was in outside sales and had no admin. support.
About 3 yrs ago, we had the opportunity to just jump in head first and do it full time. It is very rewarding, very stressful, 24/7 but we are proud of it, we have financed it 100% with our money so we don't have to deal with banks, etc. We have great legal counsel and tax accountant. I manage all the CFO duties, bookkeeping, and travel arrangements for hubby. We have warehousing set up in the DFW area and a couple of trucking companies we deal with a lot. It has grown in the 3 yrs to have sales of over $3+ million.
We also believe in multiple income streams. We are quite the planners, lol.
We have an only child, now 16, daughter. When she started K, I was at the school volunteering a lot. There was a shortage of substitutes and the Principal asked me if I would consider it. That was in 2000 and I contue to substitute 1-2 days a week. I don't get the early morning or late night calls for last minute since I've been there so long. My days are planned ahead so I work around our company. I love it because it gives me a mental break from working at home and I just love the children I work with.
Before baby I was in marketing at Frito Lay headquarters working on advertising campaigns and new products.
That's about it for me. I've been very fortunate that things have pretty much fallen in my lap.
I wanted to be a model. That all changed when I got pregnant at 19, right as I was planning my trip to New York where I was to meet with a modeling agency.
I now don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I am a Mommy, but the last of my kids went to school this year. So now I am trying to figure that out.
