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I want off this merry-go-round, but don't know how
Hello FGB followers :-)
It's a first post, so forgive me for either vagueness or oversharing- its out of frustration, and not knowing which way to turn. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your incredible tips and helpful information as I try to navigate reentering the daunting job pool as a woman in 2020.
I've been in a loyal position for the last 10+ years, that shuffled me into being classified as an "office manager" and "sales assistant" by my job (think ALL of the work, and NONE of the payment of a salesperson). My previous GM, the former owner, was gracious enough to take me on with a flexible schedule as I am/was caring for my ailing older parents with a whole host of issues (think weekends, and after hours); so I was/am incredibly appreciative. We have transitioned into a micromanaged entity where doing anyone's jobs is next to impossible, so the cycle of vicious attacks on women, generally, occur on the regular, and its gotten old very quickly.
All that aside, to make ends meet, I have held other long term 2nd jobs in various industries, so I have amassed an incredible set of skills that could position myself into a wide variety of positions even at a lower level, and be successful at them, without the bullet points on the job posting; I've applied to several and was told that my education doesn't match the request <sigh>. I also hold a BS and an MS in the sciences, so I am half contemplating going back to update some education as its been a few years since college/grad school.
As I type this out its helped me narrow my questions down. As someone who would ideally love to get back into a research/data analysis position, in science or education. would it behoove me to drop back into school for some classes, or apply to more entry-level positions? I'd appreciate any info you may be able to send my way
Hey Annmarie,
Thanks so much for sharing. I’d love to invite you to our new professional profile (which is different than your current community profile) and quick apply feature –– which gives you closer access to recruiters who are actively looking to hire more women.
These features helps you avoid the job application black hole by receiving updates on your application status in real-time and the option to message the company directly after submitting your profile (link below).
https://fairygodboss.com/users/job-profile?LAC=UGC&LAT=JSP
Also, for job analyst/consulting roles (or whatever keyword you'd like to look at!), have you checked out the jobs dashboard? It's where you can find jobs or follow companies that want to hire women like you. You can filter results of job searches by job title, keywords, company and location.
https://fairygodboss.com/jobs/filter?LAC=UGC&LAT=Jobs
Please let me know if you have any questions, best of luck with your search and please keep us posted!
I didn't even consider the consulting/freelancing I do outside because it's not something I charge for (I.E- volunteering you mentioned!). I need to hone this...I just kind of let it go by the way side.
I suspect you are applying online, where screening software frequently prevents your resume from being seen by a human. The software is programmed to eliminate applicants. So, if it has been programmed for someone to have a certain degree and you do not, it won't send you through.
You bypass that when networking. You also develop relationships so people want to assist you because you've helped them in the past. Seek "informational interviews" with people who have the types of jobs you are seeking. Find out what the requirements are, if you need additional formal education, and how they broke into the field. Does more education mean that you need another degree or a certification? Can you take free or low-fee Mass Open Online Courses (MOOC), which are given by tops universities (i.e., Harvard and Stanford), major corporations (i.e., Microsoft), and influences in various fields.
If you need current experience in research/data analysis, then see if there are opportunities for volunteering or can you do some freelancing after hours.
There are ways to get from where you are to where you want to be. Just keep asking questions until you have the answers you need to take the next step and then the next and then the step after that.
First of all congrats and condolences! I have beeeen there and it's ROUGH :( but congrats on taking these steps to find something better for yourself! You have amazing things ahead of you.
So before you go back to school/classes, try leaning on your network and/or networking skills first. Any old colleagues from school workingnin the field? Buy them coffee or lunch and ask them some questions. You might have all the knowledge/skills you need but could be marketing those transferable skills better. Also don't be afraid to find emails and reach out to leaders in the industry and without asking them for an opportunity just pick their brain and ask them what they look for the most for your ideal role. This will not only help you find some direction, now you have a friend in the field that may think of you if they see anything pop up.
If you believe you can offer more than entry-level work, don't write it off but don't focus on that to "get in". Be confident in your worth. You know what you've accomplished regardless of your title.
And speaking of title, different orgs use different titles to describe the same job so do not feel like you have to have the exact title on your resume. I was a "coordinator" for years but did TONS of work on a higher level than many of our managers so I put a vague "associate" title on my resume. Under that, I focused heavily on accomplishments I had like implementing new systems, creating and delivering training that resulted in x% decrease in turnover etc.. have a variety of bullets that display your work in measurable terms and in terms of transferrable skills you mastered (like research, multitasking, project leadership etc) because some people like numbers and others are looking for key words.
I don't know as much about your specific field so it is hard to say, but I would worry going back to school would not be worth the money or time investment. You can probably brush up on knowledge via articles, podcasts etc for free.
I'm excited for you! Best of luck and I kindof hope you update us in the comments after you speak to more people in your ideal field! You deserve to be happy in your job and I have a feeling you are going to be great!
I'd only heard of stories of what we are currently living, no one should aspire to work it, lol!! Thankfully, myself and my co-workers, took some time to ourselves, and unfortunately found out we are in the same unwanted "cool kids group" so to speak. And you are incredibly right about titling jobs. And its the position I am in- classified as 2, and doing far more than what someone typically in those jobs do, as we are a smaller family owned business where we learn everyone else's job to keep the wheels well greased.
I did actually reach out to a family member who is in the corporate level of high end accessories, and she said the same thing, skills are transferable, its just about managing the wording. With her being recruited heavily, she chuckled she's become sort of a master at phone interviews (which I had no idea was "the thing" to kick it off!), so I have someone to work with me to navigate the waters. Your words are so incredibly helpful
This is a GREAT place to do that kind of exploration, and you have some very marketable skills. Try, for one thing: https://www.airweb.org/resources/job-board.
If you'd rather do something more corporate, have a look at the deluge of UX (user experience) Researcher positions on LinkedIn. It might be worth having a resume expert look at your materials if you've been away from job hunting--lots has changed.
What else, my savvy colleagues?
Thank you for the vote of confidence, and the new direction to look into, will definitely research UX positions and data. Its always difficult to transition, and with so much change over the years, even finding something to grasp onto can be challenging. Looking forward to bright beginnings!