Hi, I really need some advice on what job to apply for.

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Anonymous

02/18/21 at 11:09PM UTC

Hi, I really need some advice on what job to apply for.

I just graduated recently and have had jobs in the past, but I’m having trouble finding something that fits. I struggle with MDD and need a job that isn’t incredibly repetitive for my mental state, because I usually learn the job very quickly and then get bored of it. I guess I just need to know whether or not you’ll get that with every job, or is there something out there that’s different?

21 Comments

Shanita Taylor

290

Author, Leadership Certified & Life Coach

02/19/21 at 1:06AM UTC

Hello, you will need to provide more information regarding what type of field or work specifics, please.

Donna Drury

Life is Sweet

02/19/21 at 2:09AM UTC

What are you doing when you lose track of time and say I wish I had more time? Think about your last 3 jobs or group work you were a part of and write down what you loved about the job or project, what did you dislike intensely! What do people tell you constantly that you are great at? See if there are patterns of what shows up positively. These questions will help you narrow you niche! We all have part of our work we dislike, but we have to it. Like expense reports. The key is to find a job 85% what you love, 13% you can do and like, 2% dislike. Did you ever think about going into your own business? Life is Sweet!

Barb Hansen

3.35k

Ask me anything about Startups

02/19/21 at 2:17AM UTC

There are jobs that are not repetitive - that every day (sometimes every hour), there is something different to work on and when the work "repeats", it's kind of a blessing because your brain needs a break. Product work in tech companies is one example and my background so I'm familiar with the ever-changing work of a Product person. We "own" the product (or groups of products) that a tech company builds. We work with Marketing, Sales, customer service, development teams, UI/UX professionals and the leadership team - and sometimes all in the same day. On any given day, you'll start with a meeting with the marketing team to give them the new release schedule and help them with customer messaging, then you might be pulling together data for the a big client that the sales team needs to close, then you have a dev team meeting to get an update on the next sprint, then you'll be writing business requirements so the UI/UX team can build out the next set of wireframes and you'll finish your day researching the last product release from our major competitors because tomorrow you have a meeting with the leadership team on how the product roadmap, in the midst of that, you've had ten emails from customer service about a bug in the product that you need to be prioritized in the dev schedule. Or maybe that was just my days as a product leader :) I'm not saying the Product work is for you, but you asked for an example of a job that's not repetitive, so I'm sharing one that I have experience with :)

User edited comment on 02/25/21 at 1:21AM UTC

Anonymous

02/19/21 at 2:56AM UTC

I would stay away from an office setting and high structure that triggers your mind to turn off feel stifled. You could consider jobs that take you outdoors like a park ranger or lifeguard or camping director or wellness director in a resort style setting or ashram. Yoga instructors are varied enough in their choice of program and setting so that would work. These all would help you balance your MDD in a far less stressed and varied, healthy environment and remove repetitive and highly structure work. You want to be stimulated creatively without structure and repetition that stresses you and triggers your disorder. Depending on your medication protocol, your treatment might greatly benefit with less dependencies and more flexibility and creativity.

User edited comment on 02/19/21 at 3:03AM UTC

DeLisa Simon-Dawkins, MBA, MT(ASCP)

101

Consultant, Business Faculty, Market Strategist

02/23/21 at 7:21PM UTC

Excellent thought process! My entire career- I struggled with avoiding roles that are too routine-- as I would grow bored easily as well. During the job search, I specifically chose those roles that provide variety and eclipsed multiple tasks in the role. For example, for many years I served as a Community outreach coordinator--- it is a role that was never routine! I would suggest something dealing with people and / or events. These will fall under marketing roles. Hope this helps :)

Paulla Fetzek

929

Office Professional, Lighting Expert & Teacher

02/24/21 at 7:58PM UTC

Hi Anonymous, Without knowing your skills, I can't make a direct recommendation. However, I do agree with those who've suggested that you find something you enjoy. As Donna aptly noted, very few people love everything about their job. I'm personally about 70/30 (70 in favor). Another thing to consider would perhaps be a job where your role changes/fluctuates. Of course, there are ways to do this even with a more "static" job. I try to incorporate variety into my position. And I've been here for nearly 19 years.

YASMINE KHALIL

Client Development & Operations

03/01/21 at 5:34AM UTC

Try this: https://www.mynextmove.org/ Might help guide you in the right direction for roles that fit what you are naturally born to enjoy & do. Good luck!

Amy Geffen

203

Plan your job search, overcome your fears.

03/01/21 at 7:08PM UTC

You still need to assess your best skills and your interests. Do you like technology or working outdoors? Are you creative or like math? You can research jobs through online information and getting meetings with people in a new field to find out more about what they do all day, what they like and dislike about their job. You need to talk to a therapist and a psycho-pharmacologist to manage your medication and get help in decision making.

User edited comment on 03/01/21 at 7:08PM UTC

Amy Bucciferro

Consulting is my profession, equality my passion

03/01/21 at 7:28PM UTC

The consulting path if available in your field(s) of interest is less likely to become repetitive than working with a single company. Depending on the firm, though, it can be a high stress. I recommend listing out the things you want in a job and characteristics of a company you would like to work for and compare anything you are thinking of applying to to that rubric.

Jennifer Taylor

235

Communications Professional

03/01/21 at 7:38PM UTC

What was your major? What do you like doing? What is the career path you have set for yourself? I have MDD too, and I'm in Communications and non-IT Project Management. While some of the work is repetitive, I'm rarely bored.

Jennifer A

878

03/01/21 at 7:45PM UTC

I hear what you are saying about repetition but I would also look at what you can handle and what you can't. I like repetition, in other people. I like to say that I provoke change in others but I hate it myself. For that reason, I appreciate project management and business analyst because it's a repetitive cycle but my day-to-day is never the same. I am constantly managing expectations, writing up proposals, trying to figure out peoples problems and generally am 'on the run'. This makes me happy because things are not the same day to day but I have a confidence that I can handle things because they are actually repetative. Troubleshooting a problem uses the same steps (ability to recreate, look for recent changes in the code, determine a fix, code, test, deploy) but each problem is different and each user is different. Same for business analysis. If someone wants a new report, the steps are the same for me (help determine what they want, draw a picture, determine business rules, code, test, deploy) but each user is so different and finding out what they really want versus what they ask for is a puzzle and challenge. No two conversations is ever the same. So, I think the first thing you need to do is look at what you want to do (type of industry, type of work) versus what you can do (limitations placed on you by your MDD) and then post back for suggestions. Right now, your question is very vague and that might be because you are still at the very beginning of the process, which is okay. Use the statements and questions from those in this group to whittle down a bit and we can help one step at a time. Look forward to hearing from you!

Farah Bajwa

224

Manager | Mentor | Consultant | Coach

03/01/21 at 8:03PM UTC

Check out a book called, "What color is your parachute?" If you do the exercise honestly, it'll help you sort and prioritize your skills, interests, etc and help steer you towards figuring out what job or industry you should consider. It helped me switch industries and now im working with a team i really enjoy :) good luck!

1 Reply

Ciara Wilkes

192

The Master of Sales and Marketing

03/01/21 at 8:14PM UTC

This is awesome!

Lisa

346

Nurse, Technology Writer, Healthcare Executive

03/01/21 at 8:11PM UTC

I have been in your shoes. In my early 20s I had what I called a quarter life crisis where I was not sure what I wanted to do and sent a note to all of my family and friends asking them what career I should choose. Before I tell you where I ended up, I will mention that there is no such thing as being stuck in 1 career for the rest of your life. We were all asked as kids, ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’ But that does not mean you are stuck being one thing. If you try something and don’t like it, you can always try something else. The best advice I got after sending that note out was from a friend who said, “Take a step in any direction. Don’t worry if it’s the right one. Once you start moving, doors will open for you.” She was totally right. Anyway, the career I chose was Nursing. I chose it because of the flexibility since nurses can work in many different fields, including Legal and Tech (which is where I ended up). It was a career path where I knew if I got bored, I could try something new: Don’t like working in the ICU? Go work as a school nurse. Tired of being around kids? Go be a consultant for a medical malpractice firm. Don’t want to help with legal cases? Go give IV treatments in a medi-spa. The options are plentiful, and it is one of the best choices I ever made. Best of luck to you!

Ciara Wilkes

192

The Master of Sales and Marketing

03/01/21 at 8:13PM UTC

I would love to schedule a Zoom call with you. I'm a recruiter and naturally a great listener. I can assist you as far as you would like me to tag along. Feel free to PM me your email. Best Wishes, Ciara

KATRINE CHOW

217

Tech Enthusiast | Woman In Games

03/01/21 at 8:25PM UTC

It's all very trial and error. I'm in my late 30s and I haven't really found the one thing that works for me yet. I'm like you, I tried out jobs that I thought I'd like but I quickly learn the skills and become bored. I'm starting to come to terms with the fact that maybe I'm not really fit for any particular career and will just have to create one myself. I try to focus on learning about interesting things outside of work and make that the larger part of my identity (rather than my day job). If you end up finding something that suits you, please update us here. I'd love to hear about your journey! Best of luck :)

Alexandria Wagner

152

Senior Director of Web Engineering

03/01/21 at 8:47PM UTC

No job is perfect for sure. Sometimes you have to try things on to see how they fit. A job with a lot of variation on a theme so-to-speak may be what you want. Something in hospitality or events where the landscape is always changing may be a good fit. I work in software and there is something new all the time there too. There is some "paperwork" if you will (albeit electronic) but for the most part there is variety. Project management may be an option too because it's a new project each time (usually).

Chrishogg

276

03/01/21 at 10:05PM UTC

You ask, "I guess I just need to know whether or not you’ll get that with every job, or is there something out there that’s different." Probably safe to say that every job has boring elements to one degree or another, and what's boring to you may not be boring to me, and vice versa. And every job is different than every other job, to one degree or another, or in one particular element, but, if you work in, say, customer service on an IT help desk, at say a Level II, then pretty much every job like that will be pretty much the same.

Brianne Stanley

Business Consultant, NeatSuite LLC

03/02/21 at 3:25PM UTC

Hello Anonymous, I've had several jobs ranging from retail associate, retail mannager, teacher, to entrepreneur and I'm not even 30. I've struggled a lot with finding the perfect fit and in my searching, I discovered that I was looking for something outside of myself to fulfill myself. It wasn't until I started my own business that I'm starting to realize what interests and excites me, and which skills I have to offer the working world. It is a crazy time to be finishing school and looking for your forever job, so be gentle with yourself and take it one step at a time. Take inventory of yourself; what are your interests, special areas of study, unique skill sets. What brings you joy and makes you feel accomplished? How are you motivated to continue making progress? Then look for a company that aligns with your core values. You may want to connect with a recruiter to boost your confidence and help you stay true to your values as you search. Bottom line: keep things in perspective. This step is part of your journey, not the destination.

Heide Framil

Working Mom

03/04/21 at 2:02AM UTC

Hi. Since you get easily bored, I suggest you go for a job that will require you to travel a lot. You'll get to meet different people, their culture and other things you'd never be able to see unless you've been there. I'm sure you'll never get bored as you walk past each place you're at. But then again, you will only enjoy it if you love to travel. Assess yourself - your likes and dislikes about a job, your preferred time at work and days off, etc. You need to know what you really like because the only time you get bored is when you don't enjoy what you're doing. And remember, there is no perfect job. Either you need it or you really love and enjoy it. Hope this helps.

Maggie Stone

163

Credentialed School Counselor and APCC

03/07/21 at 9:01PM UTC

I have several thoughts. 1. “What Color is Your Parachute? ” is a great time tested resource. 2. Monster has some great career assessments for free. https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/best-free-career-assessment-tools. 3 . O*Net is another great tool. Good luck. Keep in mind that a career path is a lifelong journey. Congratulations on taking the first steps.

User edited comment on 03/08/21 at 1:26PM UTC