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Career Change Advice - Starting Over
I was given 90 days to move out of my current location/situation. I took that as a sign, because my current job does not pay me a living wage for the area so I’m struggling financially. I’m getting chronic migraines from sitting at a desk all day updating spreadsheets, quickbooks, etc.
I want to be doing something that allows my creativity to shine, but feel my skill sets are limited at best on a resume. I’ve been encouraged by a friend to not let this limit my belief that I’m only suited to an office admin job for the rest of my life and can’t start over and recreate myself.
However, I have 90 days to recreate myself. I’m not attached to this area, I can go anywhere. I just have no idea where to start and I’m incredibly overwhelmed and stressed. I am trying to avoid having to live in my parents back room if I don’t find something in the next couple months...
Essie Yolanda JacksonExperiencing barriers to employment? Hit me up!
119
02/17/20 at 6:32PM UTC
Hi there, Patricia, and thank you for your question!
First, break down your 90 days into thirty day increments. Set SMART Goals, for each of the two weeks. This will help you feel less overwhelmed and you'll have the ability to celebrate your smaller victories along the way.
For your resume, I would go with the functional: contact info on the top, three really strong skills clusters in the middle, short work history (years only) and educational background (degrees, diplomas, and certificates only - no dates/years). Why? Putting exact dates, or even month/date combos in your work history will highlight any gaps that may exist. You can use more exact timelines in your application, if need-be. Putting even the graduation/certification year in your educational history will allow potential employers to calculate and use your age as a screen-out factor. You want to be evaluated on your skills, not on whether you're old/young enough to do the work. It's an employer's-market.
Mine your prior experiences for ways to bring your best skills to the table and use keywords at the end of your resume. For a magic effect, type them at the end, in small letters, and then, apply white font to them. They will be like Schroedinger's Key Words - there and not there, at the same time.
Hope this helps!
Summer BammesA master of asking good questions.
73
02/14/20 at 1:33AM UTC
My feeling is that if you have to move anyway, you can head home with your parents, and you love the area where they are, go for it. Take the 90 days to seek out a job in the new area with your current skills, so you're not changing everything all at once. Then, once you're settled, start moving toward a career you love.
Patricia OhomaOffice Manager for small Renewable Energy Co.
38
02/14/20 at 3AM UTC
Well, I don’t love the area they are - I love the area I live now, but the cost of living is very high. Especially on a single income. However, I realize going home means having the support that I lack where I am now and it doesn’t have to be permanent.
Katie Henderson Ladyboss752675I am an expert in all things visual.
757
02/13/20 at 9:16PM UTC
Lots of advice. If you are spiritually connected, it might help to watch for coincidences that move you quickly in the right direction. A coincidence is a resonance that lets you know that there is enough energy for a new process to begin. That's not from new age philosophy, it's from physics. Don't focus on the 90 days. Keep your mind open for opportunities. Let us know what happens.
Patricia OhomaOffice Manager for small Renewable Energy Co.
38
02/14/20 at 2:56AM UTC
I have been reading The Universe Has Your Back. I’ve been watching for signs...
Katie Henderson Ladyboss752675I am an expert in all things visual.
757
02/14/20 at 11:57PM UTC
It works for me!
Ally SBrand Associate at FreshStart.com
23
02/13/20 at 3:32AM UTC
90 Days seems so short and overwhelming for career transition. However, if it is for your self improvement, career transition is a great move. It is okay to be worried and overwhelmed as it is a sign that you're out of your 'comfort zone' and ready to learn something new. I'm so happy for your decision and hoping that you'll be able to secure another job before your 3 months notice is over.
So, here's some tips to share with you on how you can consume those days and get the best out of it.
1. Strengthen your portfolio.
Gather up all the record for your achievements and contributions to your current and former employer. It'll be incredibly useful to grab the attention of headhunters as they like those who speak with numbers and records. Action speaks louder than words, so, let your experience do the talking.
2. Secure your financial.
I know it is so hard to get yourself some savings as your current pay isn't helping you much. However, in Malaysia, we call it preparing an umbrella before the rain. So, do our mighty best to save up for at least one month of saving to ensure we'll be able to pay for our commitments and afford for travels to interviews.
For more safeguard, try small business, the profit from it might not have a lot to offer but at least it can help us to sustain.
3. Start being active on career sites.
Be sure to build up connections with headhunters as they have a wide range of clients who's looking for new talents. Advertise your skills and accomplishments to get under the spotlight. Try to do add post at least once every 2-3 days to gain more traffic to your profile. This will also help to navigate yourself to your potential employers.
Here's top 10 Sites for your career:
1. Linkedin
2. Indeed
3. Naukri
4. Monster
5. JobBait
6. Careercloud
7. Dice
8. CareerBuilder
9. Jibberjobber
10. Glassdoor Top
Lastly, strengthen your connection offline. Real life connection is the best connection. You can let your family and friends know that you're currently looking for new job. They know your personality and some of them might be able to recommend you to their employer. And if they did, don't take it for granted as they use their name and position to help you out. Prove them that you are great at your job and always give more that expected.
So, that's all from me. I hope this can help you out. Trust yourself, never let your doubt and fear stop you from trying, you are more capable than what you think.^^
All the best for you! :D
Nirupama RaghavanDigital Strategy Consultant & Retail Expert
382
02/12/20 at 10:44PM UTC
One thing that helped me when I needed to do a career change was creating a vision board. My friends and I got together and each of us did one. Plus, someone like you who is creative might find it especially fun and freeing. We started by setting a timeframe that we wanted to consider (1, 5, 10 years, etc.) and then I posed a few questions that we had to answer to ourselves. The we used magazine pictures and posterboard to create visual depictions of answers. It helped me get clarity on what really mattered to me. Happy to give more details, if you'd like.
Barb HansenStartup Product, Growth & Strategy
6.67k
02/11/20 at 7:02PM UTC
If you are completely lost on where to start, you could read "What color is your parachute." it is a great resource
Lynne CoganCareer Coach for Realizing Professional Dreams
858
02/06/20 at 9:08PM UTC
You are receiving wonderful support and advice. I would like to add a couple of thoughts.
Have you ever heard the term bridge job? It is a job that can take you from where you are to where you want to be.
The question is: Do you have any idea where you want to go? There are many forms of work that allow for creativity. Is there one that you have a talent for or are drawn to? If so, you can use that to help you search for a bridge job.
For instance, you want to be an architect but your skills are administrative. You could look for an admin job at an architecture firm. If you want to paint, you could look for work at an art gallery with the expectation of meeting and becoming friends with some of the artists who works are being shown.
If you are unsure what creative field you want to work in, you could temp and state your desire to work at certain types of businesses. Or you can open your own virtual assistant or bookkeeping business with the focus of working with creatives needing your services.
Patricia OhomaOffice Manager for small Renewable Energy Co.
38
02/06/20 at 9:21PM UTC
These are all wonderful responses. I had never thought of virtual assistance. I will start researching it. I've only done a little bookkeeping, but I have enough experience now through my current job that I could take it to the next level and get certified with some online studying. My end goal is to open a craft store. My mother thinks I should find a better paying office job to support that dream so I can save money, pay off student loans, etc. Her's is not a terrible idea either, am maybe I could combine the two ideas so I am more fulfilled in my word while I work towards my dream.
Lynne CoganCareer Coach for Realizing Professional Dreams
858
02/06/20 at 10:16PM UTC (Edited)
Your mother has a good idea; it could be a lifeline or a trap. It could be that bridge job or you might never find your way out of it to realize your dream.
For instance, have you the run the numbers to determine how long it will take to pay off your student loan? The compound interest that paid on student loans can make paying them off very challenging.
(Here is something to think about: Very, very, very few people other than some CEOs get financially ahead from just having a job. Most employees who do well financially, do so because of investments of one kind or another. However, the largest group of financially independent and wealthy people are entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur can be risky, but those who do well learn how to mitigate that risk. That includes having a bridge job.)
And I have an idea that might get your dream started for very little money. It isn't exactly a craft store--certainly not brick and mortar--but it is a start. That is using the internet.
You could sell your own craft supplies on eBay and elsewhere and that would require some outlay of funds.
However, you could start as an affiliate, where you get paid for sending people to sites where they can purchase items sold by other people. Here are two possibilities:
1) Amazon has an affiliate program where you could select craft products that others are selling and share those with your network.
2) The second is to find individual websites and crafters whose products your want to market. I know one crafter who has how to courses. I just checked and she has an affiliate program. If you wanted to participate, you would need a website of your own to market her products.
Probably, even before you did that, you would want to start branding yourself as someone in the crafting industry. And expand your network of people who would be interested in what you have to share with them.
Patricia OhomaOffice Manager for small Renewable Energy Co.
38
02/06/20 at 10:23PM UTC
I had this similar idea of starting a blog with affiliate links attached to a small website to sell items I create.
See other replies
Ruth A. Ford, PHRHR guru/EEO Specialist
397
02/06/20 at 4:39PM UTC
Well, if you want to stay where you live now, you probably need to find another office job while you work on your plan. However, maybe you can find an office job that somehow appeals to your creativity as well? Start looking at job postings every day so you can pounce and apply quickly when something that interests you is posted. I would also suggest checking the job postings for any local non-profit organizations that deal with art or support the arts. When I went back to school, I took a job as an admin assistant with a local non-profit - I worked with super dedicated creative people and I definitely wasn't just sitting at a desk all day. And, you can still start formulating and working your plan. Again, start finding ways to connect with other artists at all different points in their careers, and always ask for advice and how they got their "start." Network in person as your time and finances allows, but you can also do a fair amount of networking virtually - even things like an art-centric Facebook group might be a source of information and inspiration. Come up with a road map/plan and then work that plan. :-)
Ruth A. Ford, PHRHR guru/EEO Specialist
397
02/06/20 at 3:21PM UTC
I agree wholeheartedly with the first 2 comments - 90 days isn't enough time and beware of putting too much pressure on yourself to magically materialize the career that you want. I would also say that it's less about reinventing yourself and more about having a plan. What field do you want to go into? What do you see yourself doing and enjoying? What credentials or background/education is required or desirable for where you want to go? Do your research. Start talking to people in your desired line of work to find out how they got their start. Start networking - virtually (LinkedIn, online groups, etc) and in person with people in your desired field who can give you tips/advice and maybe provide introductions to others in the field. If it's a matter of training, look for free webinars and podcasts that might offer snippets of valuable information and career advice. I know this is kind of general advice, without really knowing what you're interested in doing next...but these are all things I did when I made a career transition from Insurance/sales & marketing to Human Resources. It might take longer than 90 days, but as you build a network and work your plan, the time and effort you put in will start paying off. Go get it and good luck! :-)
Patricia OhomaOffice Manager for small Renewable Energy Co.
38
02/06/20 at 4:01PM UTC
Well, that’s the problem. I know I don’t want to sit in an office anymore. I want to do something where I can be creative, but I’ve never received a degree in any creative related field. My financial aid is completely maxed out for college. I’m just a starving artist whose long term goal is to open a craft/art store someday. I’m open to trying anything, but I realize it would be easier if I could focus on something and study up online.
I do have the option of moving back in with my folks temporarily, which I’ve resisted, because I love the area I live in and they are 3,000 miles away. However, the situation I’m in is becoming quite toxic and moving out is becoming more of a priority to me than anything else.
Linden (Laura) LeachAdministrative Professional, Gaithersburg, MD
17
02/06/20 at 3:01PM UTC
Thanks for this discussion. 90 days seemed like all the time in the world. Other friends and colleagues have given me the same reassurance; it isn’t enough.
I’ve learned that just sending in a cover letter and resume is not enough. There are the online application hoops to get through; sometimes the application crashes and you have to start over.
Network! You never know where/when you’ll be introduced to someone who has great advice. I met someone at a party, just once, and they could not have been more willing to help.
I struggle with “imposter syndrome”. If you think you are unable to reach a bit farther, and don’t think you can check all the boxes, do it anyway.
Surround yourself with those who can be your cheerleaders. Their perspective can lift you up.
I can’t write this without the candid admission that I’m still working through all this myself. I am very grateful for your putting this out there.
Willingness is an action!
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