Request for some day job guidance

MeowGirl said:

(I have no aptitude or interest in it, but it was something that my parents pushed me into when I was a kid. Asian writers here probably will understand what I mean).

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Yeah, you're right. White parents never pressure their kids.

grrrr...

When is it time?

"I have no aptitude or interest in it, but it was something that my parents pushed me into when I was a kid"

I think you've answered your question.

Thank you, and I apologize for the snit.

Good at math . . . enjoys boring work . . .

Accounting or bookkeeping?

Would you like to work for the DOT designing bridges?

MeowGirl said:

(I have no aptitude or interest in it, but it was something that my parents pushed me into when I was a kid.)

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Get out now and do what you want to do. Trying to make your parents happy will never make you happy. Besides, they had their chance. Now it's your turn to choose for yourself.

MeowGirl said:

But is it time to find a different one that's more do-able so I'll have more time and energy for writing, music, life? And if so, do you have any suggestions (to help me brainstorm)? I'm really good at math and even enjoy some types of work that others may find boring, so I do have some options.

Thank you!

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Hi, MeowGirl - your kitty sure is cute!

Here are my thoughts on the day job thing: have you looked into a job in academia? If there's a university, college, community college, etc. near you, you might want to Google up its Web site and check out the job openings.

There are all kinds of administrative and support positions at universities that would be excellent for a person like you who's good at numbers: jobs in Admissions (for example, transcript analyst), Financial Aid, Academic Affairs, University Advancement, etc., and if you get a job at a state university, the benefits are excellent.

Good luck to you, and I hope my post gave you some food for thought.

I can't really offer specific advise, not knowing your background or likes/dislikes - but I can offer encouragement. I completely changed careers after a college education and 10 years in one - I switched.

I'm happy, make a ton more money now, and have this thing they call Benefits - like insurance and days off, something I never had in the first career !!

So take your time, find the right job, then go for it !

MeowGirl said:

You're right. Sometimes the right answer is so obvious you overlook it.

By the way, congratulations on your upcoming book release! You must be very excited!

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Thank you. I wish you much success in finding your day job niche. Knowing what you don't want to do is half the battle.

Meowgirl, dont forget to think way outside the box. I got a degree in Lit, worked as a secretary/bookkeeper, until i finally admitted that I hated my job. I'm a finishing carpenter now and I love it. Who would have thought. I never would have gone for that if I wasn't willing to completely challenge preconceptions. (I'm a girl) So dont just look at numbers, look at everything. THere's more than office work out there.

Liam Jackson said:

Thank you. I wish you much success in finding your day job niche. Knowing what you don't want to do is half the battle.

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What blows is when you know you don't want to do what your doing and you also know you can't afford to change to something else without cutting your own throat financially.

Andre_Laurent said:

What blows is when you know you don't want to do what your doing and you also know you can't afford to change to something else without cutting your own throat financially.

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Okay, I've torn my office apart and can't find it. Where'd you hide the camera!?

scribbler1382 said:

Okay, I've torn my office apart and can't find it. Where'd you hide the camera!?

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... it's behind the coffee maker...

Maybe you could try temping for awhile and dabble in all kinds of things. If you don't like an assignment, you just ask for something else! I'm working with numbers now and never realized I would like it so much. (I can't do math in my head worth a dang, but when it comes to balancing a spreadsheet, I'm a pro. Who knew?)

Good luck.

Andre_Laurent said:

What blows is when you know you don't want to do what your doing and you also know you can't afford to change to something else without cutting your own throat financially.

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I am in the process of finding another job. My company knows I'm gone at the end of the year. I am single and the decision is scary, but I'll see where it takes me. I hope the change relieves stress and adds time for writing. There is no point in being miserable, getting sick and regretting the past 5 or 10 years of your life.

I wish you luck MeowGirl.

Perhaps I shouldn't say anything since my job is being a SAHM, but I'm not one to keep my mouth shut when I have something to offer, either. Replacing 'attorney' with a dream job is going to have some financial impact, but you have to look at the real cost of switching jobs. Living on less for greater life satisfaction is, to me, worth the cost.

Have you given much thought to another 'dream job'? If not writing, then what would leave you satisfied at the end of the day? I don't think there's any point in switching to a less stressful job just to free up time to write. Switch to a job that leaves you fulfilled. Happy people have more energy. People with energy get things done. Like writing.

If you have the time, and the inclination, there's a nifty little test at similarminds.com called the Jung/Enneagram (sp?). If you're completely honest, and don't let any of your upbringing and outside influences sway your answers, at the end of the test you will given your personality type (I'm INFJ myself) and your ideal job. It's enlightening, may help guide you if you're feeling misdirected.

You might also think about combining your passions (writing and music) with your talents (law and mathmatical abilities, which I equate with counting cash) and think about a day job representing artists, legally or as an agent. Or make a list of what you want to do and a second list of what you are proven good at, and put them side-by-side and brainstorm the possibilites. I'm sure they're endless.

ETA: I didn't mean that writing and music are NOT your talents...er...not really sure how to re-phrase that. With your training? Not saying you're not trained in writing and music...gah. Stopping now. I hope you get my meaning.

MeowGirl, I'm with the others on switching as soon as you feel comfortable doing so.

You might be surprised at the extent to which getting out of soul-crushing work frees you up to be your full self (not to sound psycho-babbly). I quit my semi-stable job last year because I found it so psychologically draining. Within a few months, people who knew me were commenting on how much more energy and optimism I seemed to have.

If you’re a left-brained type, you might enjoy computer programing, too. You can do it freelance or as an employee and I hear it pays quite well.

but it was something that my parents pushed me into

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He he. One of my parents pushed me into becoming a writer! I kid you not. Wanna swap?

All the best with your job search!

*Waves hello to Siddow, fellow INFJ*

I am INTJ. I suspect a lot of writers are INFJ or INTJ.

uh....what is INFJ or INTJ?

http://www.geocities.com/lifexplore/infj.htm

Introverted iNtuitive Feeling Judging
-or-
Introverted iNtuitive Thinking Judging

INFP, which is why I mostly lurk.

Karen