Considering a career transition - seeking to learn what day-to-day life is for folks working in different jobs/sectors than me!
I am 10 years into my career as a researcher/evaluator in university and non-profit spaces in international development. The large ethical and moral quandries of international development are really affecting how I think about next steps in my career (eg Should there be a place for "experts" coming from Western countries? Does my existence remove resources that could go to national staffing? Does "development" actually do more good than harm given the deeply colonial roots and power structures of the sectors?).
As such, I am interested to learn what other jobs are like from really different sectors and explore ways to apply my skills outside this current line of work. Following the mantra, you can't dream it if you don't know about, I am feeling a bit lost in exploring new career paths as I've only experienced these really specific professional spaces thus far.
Two questions for this wonderful community:
1) Would anyone be willing to talk to me about their job, whatever it is? I would be so appreciative to set up some 30-45 minute calls to learn: What do you do? What is exciting/interesting? What are day-to-day challenges and frustrations? What are the pathway(s) to doing that type of work?
2) Could anyone share insights as to jobs outside of non-profit/university-led research where my skill set would be valued and I'd have a shot at getting a job without prior experience in that sector? I have strong skill sets in conducting qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis and communication, synthesis of information, project management, personnel and contract management, and writing/presenting skills.
Thanks very much for any insights or potential conversations/connections.
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Benefits Question:
I have worked with my current employer 10+ years and am at our maximum PTO accrual rate of 5 weeks/year. I've been looking at changing companies and have interviewed with a few. When I talk to HR, they often tell me the benefits package and note that I'd start, as a new employee, at the bottom rung of PTO accrual (often 2 weeks). Is this often negotiable? Is it unreasonable to think that the same years of experience that make me a good fit for a role should also qualify me for the higher PTO accrual rate? I realize I may not get all the way to where I am today, but to go from 5 to 2 is a kick in the gut.
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Need urgent advice, Recruiter Dilemma.
I submitted two R&Rs to two different recruiters for the same contract job.
The first recruiter, I don't know if he submitted my R&R, and they told me he is on vacation for three weeks.
Another recruiter called me for the same job, and I did not mention I worked with another recruiter.
I don't know how this process works in contracting roles or if I should let the new recruiter know.
I'm worried that if I say something about working with another recruiter he may not work with me, but if I don't say something, my R&R may actually go through and I get the job. I'm really not sure how to proceed here.
advice ?
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Seeking professional opinions regarding sending a Thank You email, from your work email account, when interviewing for an internal position, but one that is in a different department than your current one.
Would this be appropriate, or should it be sent from a personal email account instead? Thank you in advance!
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Join us tomorrow, July 30 at 12 PM ET, for an FGB Live webinar all about "Talent Mobility: How to Make an Internal Career Shift" with Brother USA!
Register for free today: https://fairygodboss.com/events/ZkIJMxVo4/talent-mobility-how-to-make
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Bored at Work
My job has a lot of ebbs and flows. The busy season is almost upon us, but right now I have absolutely nothing to do. I am so bored all day long. When I'm bored like this, I usually start looking for new jobs. I have to be challenged to be content. But I really enjoy my boss, and I'm trying to stay here for at least another year or two. Last time I experienced down time, I subscribed to Coursera and got a certificate. Right now, I spend a lot of time on LinkedIn. I don't really have funds (personal or professional development through work) to do anything that has a significant cost. Does anyone have recommendations on what I should do?
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Manager keeps pigeon-holing me based on ancient experience
I've been asking my manager for a new role for the past year, but they keep suggesting roles based on my past experience in a field I have no longer have any interest in and that I left almost 20 years ago.
My resume shows years of experience taking on higher-level work, but my manager ignores that and keeps saying, "we need someone who can handle (let's say) data entry, and we know you are an expert!" Yes, I've handled data entry, but I did this work a very, very long time ago and have no desire to return to it.
I'd rather management consider the interesting, much more challenging work I did right before they hired me a few years ago overseeing creative projects. How can I gently redirect them to my more recent experience that qualifies me for the higher-paying work I'd rather be considered for? I get it, the "need" someone to handle data entry, but find someone else as I already paid my dues and don't want to take on that work at this stage of my career?
As a side note, I do feel that management is saving the better jobs for certain favorite staffers and pawning off the undesirable roles to others who were hired before the new regime took over.
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