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Off the beaten path jobs/careers
Hi all! I've been at the same corporate job for 13 years, and need out badly. But, every time I start searching, I can feel my soul telling me what I've always known; the corporate world is NOT for me. My heart and soul long for something active, fun, creative, passionate, (did I mention active?) but that also pays the bills; a tricky conundrum.
I know there are jobs out there that are not in cubicle farms, or in corporate or confined to an office building, I just have no idea how to even start searching to see what's out there. Sites, keywords, anything. Especially because most, if not all, of these types of jobs aren't going to be found in your typical online search. So I'm very lost on where to begin. Does anyone have any advice on how or where to start? Has anyone done this? Any help would be so appreciated, thank you!
Also, if it helps, my dream job? Animals. Sadly that profession doesn't pay. And I don't mean just cuddling baby animals (although who doesn't want to do that?!). I mean feeding, shoveling poo, taking care of sick or hurt ones, etc. But, I also love fitness, music, sports, I've been a model, I would love something incredibly creative, etc. I apologize as that's a very vague list; I can and will trim it down once the search begins, but just throwing it all out there. I know that so often people just work so they can do what they love in their spare time, but I know it's possible to have a fulfilling, amazing job that also pays well. (Or so I've been told, ha). Thanks again!
I feel like you have to narrow the choices first to remove unnecessary obstacles of a blind job search, wasting time and energy. If you really want to work with animals, why not volunteer at a local shelter. They always need help, and as it isn't an easy career, people leave quickly so paid spots might open faster than you think. Plus, while your volunteering, you can speak directly to people and gather insights that will help you move towards your dream job.
I'm a school psychologist. My masters degree is in school psychology only. My bachelors is in psychology. After 15 years I am so burned out and need to find something else to do but my degree is career specific. Even though I do counseling, emotional, cognitive, autism, and etc ., I can only work in the schools. I'm too broke to go back to school for another degree.
I'm really good at all of the things that I do but they don't seem to transfer over to years of experience in other fields.
I raised my children on big projects- parts I liked and a lot I did not- like using my personal capital when there was no other way to get things done. I was able to stay for many many years because I was fortunate to like the people I worked with. And then I was laid off and couldn’t stand to think of going back to a big firm. So, after a lot of “processing” I’ve decided to be a consultant- hoping for variety of different projects and flexibility as showing up at an office everyday is not for me so much anymore.
Wish me luck!
Hey SWA! I wrote an article about ways to start baby-stepping your way out of the corporate rat race here -- I hope this helps! https://medium.com/@somuchmorecoach/how-to-go-from-a-job-you-hate-to-a-business-you-love-c457b88e1b32
Thank you! Definitely some awesome food for thought and questions in there for my mind to chew on.
I feel everything about this. I'm hoping someone else answers so I can tag along.
You are not alone, I was in that place too. That’s why I created a free Career Soul Searching Assessment to help folks see if it’s time to move up (elevate in current company), move over (like what you do but somewhere else), or move onto something different altogether.
Here’s the link:
www.bit.ly/soulsearch19
Thank you!!