After ten years of service-related work (retail, some teaching, waitressing, etc, museum maintenance) I am not sure what to do.

9 Comments

1. AnonymousNovember 10,2022 at 4:22PM UTC

   Not sure what level of education you have for applying to obtain academia jobs. Most of academia jobs require at least a Bachelors degree. Many prefer or require a Masters level degree. Make sure the school matches your learning needs (in person vs online). Also, cost will need to be evaluated. I suggest WGU (Western Governors University) as a good online / lower cost option for education.

   My guess is that you want to have the writing/blog work replace your current income. There are many courses on blogging and writing. Make sure to choose options with excellent reviews. Also, it may take time to actually start making money so you may need to keep your current job (or something else) until the writing/blog can cover your expenses.

2. KarenNovember 10,2022 at 4:29PM UTC

   Can you substitute teach or work in an admin role where you would want to work in academia? Getting your foot in the door where you think you would want to work, even if not your desired position initially, will give you a feel for if you want to stay there and be considered for a desired future open position. As for blogging and writing, you can do that as a side hustle.

3. Kathryn MontbriandNovember 10,2022 at 4:39PM UTC

   Hello! I find that writing often helps me work through big questions. If you don't already do so, try setting a timer for 10-20 minutes each day and free write what comes to your mind. Your answers might show up as you journal.

   Another thing to consider - you can start writing and blogging now while you are still engaged in some of the other types of work. You can experiment with different styles and topics and find what works best for you without putting a ton of pressure on yourself to make it your occupation right out of the gate.

4. AnonymousNovember 10,2022 at 5:27PM UTC

   thank you!

5. Laura BrennanNovember 10,2022 at 5:15PM UTC

   Sounds like this is an exciting time, but also a little overwhelming. There are so many choices and they all look good.

   Here's what I suggest: decide that you're going to spend the next, say, three months investigating what the different possibilities look like in action. This is an ideal reason to reach out to your existing network.

   Your quest is NOT to get a job right now. Your quest is informational: you just want to see what a career in academia or writing or blogging or anything else that plays to your interest and skills (more on that below) looks like.

   So you reach out to people with something like, "Right now, I'm looking to find out as much as I can about some potential career paths. I'd love to sit down with someone in academia -- really, anyone in anyway connected with teaching and research -- to see what their day-to-day looks like and how they got there."

   Swap out professional "writers -- really, anyone who makes their living with words -- " for the academia part in some of the requests.

   You're not asking just people who you think might be able to help you. You're literally telling everyone you know. Anyone who asks, "What are you up to?" This is your new answer. Let your family know. Let all your closest friends know. Spread the word to everyone else as you get more comfortable.

   Also, think about, where do people with the kind of job you might want hang out? There are lots of online meet-ups if you don't want to do in-person. Sundance has a free writers group where screenwriters write together for an hour and then network three times a week -- it's called the Writers Cafe, I think; you sign up but there's no cost. London Writers Salon is another free writers group for all kinds of writers with daily writing sessions and weekly networking. Your local community college will probably have professors and teaching assistants willing to talk about their experiences (offer to buy them coffee if you meet in person -- a little gratitude always sets a good tone). Again, you just want to learn about career paths and make sure this is a good fit before you dive in.

   It's the kind of quest people love to help with because it's very low-stakes and also people love to share their own stories and give advice, but it's also super-useful to you, because it gives you a chance to see if these areas are really a good match for your interests and skill set.

   Speaking of which, now is a good time to figure out what it is you do really well. Any career change, it's good to be able to see what you can bring to the table. From your service training, I bet you're great with people, you pick up new things quickly, and you're a problem-solver. Identify strengths that will cut across industries and also figure out what you really love to do.

   Good luck!

6. AnonymousNovember 10,2022 at 5:26PM UTC

   thank you!

   I'm actually in a writer's course right now, but I still feel like I don't know much about the industry at all. My background is in fine art, hence the museum maintenance.

7. AnonymousNovember 10,2022 at 5:30PM UTC

   Thank you for your amazing replies! such great info. I was also considering maybe web design as well.

8. Kimberley Ferretti HammettNovember 11,2022 at 4:52PM UTC

   If you are interested in writing and blogging, start now. Not with the intention of it supporting you full time any time in the next year, but to practice, learn, and build an index/portfolio of writing. This will not stick you into a writing career but it gives you options.

   If you want a publisher to invest in you on a book deal and you don't already have a name for yourself, they are going to need proof you can write.

   If you want to land a job where you're seen as a subject matter expert in academia, a blog full of writing that backs up who your resume says you are is a pretty great way to add credibility to your name (which counts for a lot in academia!)

   In the future if you've been writing for a while and learned you do feel like blogging is for you, dive into learning SEO and marketing yourself online then (or hire someone to help!).. but if you don't need it to just start writing so start now and find your style and your flow!

9. AnonymousNovember 11,2022 at 8:03PM UTC

   Thank you!