I'm in such a strange place.

Anonymous

June 2,2022 at 2:56PM UTC

Welcome to Fairygodboss!

We’re the largest online career community helping women achieve their career goals. Gain access to articles, jobs, events, and a supportive network of women and allies. Membership is free, always.

I'm in such a strange place. I was a career woman and I walked away from it to travel for many years. I have SO many job skills - I've been freelance proofreading, copywriting, editing, and doing SEO and Wordpress management for years.

Now I'm reinventing myself again: I'm a full-time, non-traditional college student with a full scholarship to a pretty selective, academically rigorous college. The college pays for *everything* so I've been getting by with minimal income and periodic freelance jobs, but I have a year left before it's time to get back into the real world. I also have a child now, so the option of just hitting the road again to become a digital nomad is no longer on the table.

I don't have much desire to "change" what I do. I enjoy working with words immensely, but since I am now looking at the standard "pay rent/mortgage and have a regular job" lifestyle to provide my daughter with stability and keep her fed, clothed, and enjoying life, I'm a bit lost as to how to explain myself to potential employers.

Why women love us:

Daily articles on career topics
Jobs at companies dedicated to hiring more women
Advice and support from an authentic community
Events that help you level up in your career
Free membership, always

2 comments

Share your insight

Join an authentic community that helps women support each other at work. Share your professional experience or ask for advice — you can even post anonymously.

2 Comments

Join the conversation

AnonymousJune 2,2022 at 3:28PM UTC
Create a skills based resume. Paint a picture with words on your LinkedIn profile. Network and complete some informational interviews to better educate yourself on the roles to look for, the industries that employ those roles.
Watch other successfully wordsmiths and find out how they got where they are. Be creative in your approach to a career. Think outside normal convention and create a strategy.
Approach your job search as an adventure. Explaining your journey and all you have to offer will be a byproduct of your research and networking. Your brand will reveal itself as you grow your business savvy. You want options and you want to be flexible in your growth opportunities.
AnonymousJune 2,2022 at 7:09PM UTC
Maybe a traditional 9-5 ins't for you then.
Perhaps you're destined for something beyond the typical / ordinary. You have so many great skills, there's no need to limit yourself and to try and fit into one specific employer's box. So often I've heard from companies that the right person for the job is a culture / value ADD as opposed to just a good "fit."
Perhaps you should take a similar approach -- how can the company benefit YOU? Will they utilize your creative skills or ask you to shelf it so that you can follow the pattern they've already laid out? You've had an incredible journey. Make your story the focal point of your job hunt. The right company will be more intrigued by that than if you check the correct boxes.