The Best Job When You're Grieving?

Savannah

May 13,2022 at 12:26PM UTC

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The Best Job When You're Grieving?

I recently quit 2 jobs that I only held for 3 months each.

The first job I quit because my mom died of Covid while I was working there, and the workload was INSANE. It was a Content Marketing position, but you were also expected to do project management, outreach, and keyword research. It was SO much to handle on top of my mom passing away. It just wasn't worth it!

The second company was great. The culture was awesome, the people were genuine. However, the Graphic Design position I was hired for was completely new. This meant everything was up to me. That combined with the start-up energy of the company, was too much pressure on me to completely figure out this new position and integrate myself within the entire company (all while managing my grief).

From these two jobs, I've learned that I need to get away from agencies/startups. I need a job where I'm basically told what to do right now. And probably a job that has been established for awhile! (Both of my previous companies had really poor onboarding, and basically threw you into the water haha.)

I'm usually a huge overachiever and go-getter, but right now I just need something easy. My degree is in Marketing and I've done SEO, Content Writing, and Graphic Design--all digital marketing.

Do you have any suggestions for job titles or types of companies I should look for?

Thank you!

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Kimberley Ferretti HammettMay 13,2022 at 1:13PM UTC
I'll do what coaches most annoyingly do best and answer your question with a question.. (or two or three).
Is there a specific industry or topic outside of marketing you have an interest in? Maybe it's not specifically a career interest but lets just use an example that maybe you love pets. Maybe, in the future when you're ready for more pressure it would be a dream to do marketing that focused on animals or pets?
Why not, instead of focusing on what your experience gears you toward, since you're interested in something easy right now use it as an opportunity to take an easy, entry level role of any kind into a company or industry that fills you with joy so that when you are ready you can combine your past experience with marketing and your new knowledge of said area of focus. So like, if it's pets, maybe look for an entry-level role with a company like Chewy where you get to help pet owners and work in an office that allows pets. (This is just an example and I'm in no way connected to Chewy, just love the idea of a bunch of dogs at work and feel that puppy kisses are healing lol)
Anyway, maybe focus less on a specific role title that aligns with your experience and think of environments that would be healing or beneficial for you and see what is available in that arena and go from there. You likely have plenty of transferrable skills.
SavannahMay 13,2022 at 1:46PM UTC
Thanks KimmieFH! I ALSO love the idea of a bunch of dogs at work haha.
You're right, I guess I could think more about what type of work would be meaningful to me. It's definitely hard to strike a balance between skills and interests--but worth pursuing.
It's hard because I also have a lot of person projects outside of work that I commit a lot of creativity to. I'm not sure if I also need a job that I am passionate about, because I want to pour all that energy into my own projects.
Maybe there's a way to strike a balance between being interested in a job, but not too attached to it. I don't want to feel like I have to think about my job outside of work haha.
Thanks for taking the time to read my question and reply.
Tomilyn RichardsMay 13,2022 at 3:28PM UTC
This is such a big journey for you. I lost my mom and it was in the midst of me starting my own business. IT WAS HARD. I think knowing where you are mentally is a huge step and being honest with companies in your interview is perfectly ok (don't need to hash your personal details of course). Use the title of the role that you think would give you the most joy and then make sure to ask really good questions in the interview to ensure you are going to a right suited role with reasonable expectations to what you can give. Hugs to you and your journey! Time heals... although it is hard to believe that in the moment.
SavannahMay 13,2022 at 4:00PM UTC
Thanks for your reply, Tomilyn. Life doesn't stop huh? Sometimes it feels like you can't catch a break. That sounds so tough losing your mom while in the midst of starting a business.
I'll definitely ask a TON of questions at my next interview. Honing in on what I want in a job is good, but also daunting haha. Hugs to you too, and best of luck with your business!
Sabrina CortesMay 13,2022 at 3:37PM UTC
I'm so very sorry for your loss and am sending you warm thoughts of comfort and strength! I lost my mom, and it's so very hard sometimes. I was working as a Customer Service Rep. for an insurance agency when she passed, and I can relate to your job being so overwhelming. I didn't have support from my Manager, and the job was way too much. We could have used another 3 people on the team, and we still would have had plenty of work. Dealing with my grief and problem people didn't mix, and it was extremely challenging. I was a single mom too and needed the job, so I stayed (way too long).
Have you thought about freelancing? That's how I started out, and now I have a small, successful business. You can also use sites like Upwork and Fiverr to promote yourself and bid for gigs.
I also like KimmieFH's idea of working for a company that allows pets at the office.
Best of luck to you!
SavannahMay 13,2022 at 3:56PM UTC
Hey Sabrina. I'm so sorry you also had to go through losing your mom too. Uhg, and working with "problem people" at the same time sounds like my nightmare. I'm sorry you had to go through that, but glad you made it through.
I've done some freelancing before, but I think it might be too much right now. It can be overwhelming juggling multiple clients. When it works, it works. When it sucks, it can be totally overwhelming. I definitely love UpWork though and plug it whenever I can haha.
Thanks for your advice and I hope your business is going well! Really appreciate your thoughtful reply :)
Sabrina CortesMay 16,2022 at 5:30PM UTC
Yea, freelancing can be overwhelming at times and you're welcome!
AnonymousMay 13,2022 at 6:57PM UTC
If you are looking to just be told what to do, you should consider a large company. I've found that large companies usually hire people to do one specific thing especially in a marketing department.
If you want something completely different from your experience and are still dealing with grief, I would stay away from customer support/service type positions. Customers can be jerks, and usually they are all jerks on the worst possible day.
If you don't really want to be creative since you're doing that outside your work, maybe focus on the SEO side of your experience? SEO takes research but it doesn't really require creativity in the same way that Graphic Design or Content Writing does (at least to me).
Good luck! Hopefully you are able to find something that allows you time to grieve and heal. :)
SavannahMay 13,2022 at 9:26PM UTC
Maybe I will look for a big company that does SEO? Thank you for your response! I will definitely avoid customer support hahah. That sounds too stressful for me.
Claire McCabeMay 15,2022 at 2:10PM UTC
Maybe you're just seeking work/life balance. Some jobs expect you to put in more time, more effort, and "work hard/play hard" while sacrificing more and more personal time.
Other jobs are just jobs. It's not shameful to want just a 9 to 5. I recommend large companies (already mentioned here) where they TRAIN YOU. As opposed to a start up where you get to just jump in and figure everything out yourself. They are 2 different paces and different approaches to work. Good luck!
Claire McCabeMay 15,2022 at 2:11PM UTC
Also, be wary of words like "fast paced" "work hard/play hard" and "multiple deliverables in a short span of time."
Most companies that are "slow paced" don't want to admit it, but slow paced can be really good for your mental health!
Paula BrantnerMay 15,2022 at 6:57PM UTC
I am in a business strategy cohort with a number of other consultants, and it seems like everyone needs help with marketing, especially to kick off a digital marketing effort with all the things that you've talked about.
But the pace is much different in the consulting world, and you have more control over your workload and timing. Have you considered consulting or working through some kind of agency?