Which Job Level should I apply to?

Which Job Level should I apply to?

I worked for an international non-profit for 21+ years. I was stationed in Brazil, England, and at the company headquarters on the training team to teach those deploying on how to move overseas and live and work in another culture.

While I was with that company, I held some leadership roles including Team Leader, Apprentice Mentor, and Operations Director for Latin America. I'm fluent in Portuguese.

I started a PhD in Organizational Psychology (online) while I was in England. When I arrived in England, I became the target of some younger folks who didn't like a woman having held the leadership roles that I had held (it was a religious organization). They "put me in my place" and basically forbid me to work on anything except what they told me to do, which was about 4 hours of work per week, max.

That's when I started the PhD and, between Covid lockdowns and supervisor restrictions, I know a TON of organizational psychology. While at company headquarters for 4 years, I had observed the implementation of Agile and LEAN principles as leadership made a lot of changes, so it's not just all book knowledge.

I returned to the states in Nov of 21, when my husband got a job offer in Central Florida. I've continued my studies and will finish classes and begin my dissertation in December. I got an internship last fall at an HR consulting firm and they hired me on as a Talent Management Consultant. While there I conducted exit interviews, designed surveys, did analysis of the surveys, and did some orientation of new interns. I've just given notice there to be able to devote time to complete my dissertation, begin the search for my post graduation job, and to learn some things classes didn't teach (python, tableau, and six sigma).

I'm 55 years old. I had dreamed of Deloitte, but I have family commitments that the 20-somethings don't have. I have 50 hours per week to give, 25% travel, but I don't have 60 or 70 hours with 100% travel.

So, you brilliant amazing women, can you help me know what level of job to apply for?

Where do I even fit?

Any advice would be most welcome. Thank you!

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6 Comments

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  1. Anne Krook

    don't worry as much about the level of the job. Look closely at the description and the percentage of management required, and decide how you want to spend your time between consulting, management of staff, travel, etc. A good place to start would be with Brazilian companies that have US interests, since your Portuguese will be valuable to them

  2. Anonymous

    A vp or director level at a nonprofit is generally more of a manager at a for profit company.

  3. Cam Dunson

    Was I snarky, I didn’t intend to be…

    I didn’t take either response as snarky…

  4. Anonymous

    Not at all. Just a statement of fact. Offered as guidance since nonprofits don't offer the same career momentum and status. Generally you choose to work for nonprofits for reasons other than career momentum or compensation. You have more of an affinity with the mission.

    I think that is something to understand.

  5. Anonymous

    No one moves to a nonprofit as a career move. You work at a nonprofit to align with purpose and to be of service. My apologies if you don't know that.

  6. Anonymous

    Free-lancing or director of diversity-oriented training would be a good fit. Take a look at the job listings at universities (you should have access to the Chronicle of Higher Education). Training was cut at the university where I used to work -- except diversity training.

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