Ladies and gentlemen, I have some very exciting news! I have just taken on a full time position at a local career consulting agency! This is pretty exciting for me because as a person who works best when they have schedules in place, I can now better plan my days (more gym, more manageable writing deadlines, more social time, less running around like a chicken with my head cut off). I can also better plan my finances which is always like music to my ears. Finally I get to learn the ins and outs of small business and career development, two things I have become very interested in since graduating from college.
For those of you who may feel like you need a change, some stability, or just a a job, here are some tips to help you out.
Go With Your Gut
Look, I loved my teaching gig. I just couldn’t handle the inconsistent and volatile scheduling (and as a result paychecks). At the moment there is also no chance for any career advancement with that position. So I started looking. I knew that at this point in my life I needed to think more about my future and needed something a bit more stable that would still allow me to do my freelancing on the side.
Whether you need something more stable or just need a change, only you can decide when it’s time to start looking. Don’t feel bad for leaving your current job and don’t feel discouraged if it takes a while, at the end it’s about what’s best for you.
Your Job Doesn’t Have to Match Your Degree
How many times have you heard that most people don’t end up doing anything related to their degree? That’s because it’s true. Don’t get me wrong, go to college; just don’t assume that your career is solely contingent upon what degree you get.
This is a mistake I made just as I was leaving school. I began to panic because I didn’t realize that people always start off in the same place: not knowing what they’re doing and no experience under their belt. From there everyone starts to figure it out.
For the sake of example I will use myself. I have a BA in English and have just taken a job at a career consulting agency. I didn’t study human resources. I didn’t study business. I just happen to have cultivated an interest for it and have manifested it through a blog and several articles. My boss, the president of the company, also has a liberal arts degree, and she’s been running this business for over 40 years.
Don’t be afraid of starting at the bottom.
Before you ask, no this isn’t a reference to the career ladder. It simply means that if you need to start at a lower position in order to gain experience and knowledge about a business then don’t sweat it. Like I mentioned before, everyone starts at the same place.
Who knows, you could even end up with more career opportunities after you learn the ropes. I’m starting off as a Personnel Administrator, but thanks to this blog and my keen interest in the business, my boss feels that she can train me to become a full blown consultant.
Never close a door.
This refers to those of you who will be leaving one job to start another. NEVER CLOSE A DOOR. You never know when you may need contacts or a job. You also never know what opportunities may arise for you at your old job.
Before my last week at Berlitz ended my director welcomed me into his office and said the door was always open for me if I ever wanted to come back. He also said he was keeping me in mind for some new full time positions that will be opening in the future.
So you see, leaving on good terms can open yourself up to new opportunities as well.
Never give up your side hustle.
Besides being a big proponent of making extra money (who isn’t?) I’m also a big fan of people who make their own careers. Of course, this takes a lot of time and effort, and as a result we may need to work somewhere in order to pay our bills. However, this is no way means that you have sold out or that you should give up on your side projects.
Just the opposite actually. If you’ve landed a job with better pay then your side project will really become extra dough instead of just part of making ends meet. Furthermore, your side hustle can give you some much desired job skills and with time could even become a full time thing.
I never plan on giving up on my writing. In fact, the consistent schedule of this job helps me to better plan projects and schedule clients. While I may be cutting back on clients for a little while until I get the hang of the new job, I will still be raking in about an extra $400 a month just from 2 clients whose projects I can write up on the weekends.
Not too shabby, eh?
So if you find yourself on the job hunt, don’t fret. It may be hard out there right now, but there is still a ton of opportunity just waiting to be grasped. Life just has a way of disguising it.
Ah! That’s so fantastic!!
S you found them or did they find you?
I’m still job hunting, kinda, but I’m still unsure what direction I want to go in professionally. Because I definitely do want a 9 to 5 job, but one that is really awesome that I can learn lots f new skills in a new field. I’ve been thinking about PR/Advertising lately, so I should probably start sending my resumes out to get an internship somewhere!
But congrats!! When do you start? What exactly is your job description?
I found them. I technically started last week as I was running between two jobs but I start full time on Monday. Right now I’m running the office, helping write resumes, giving personality tests to clients in order to find jobs for them, and learning. I’m sure I will end up doing more as time goes on.
You should definitely check out an internship! I’m not a fan of working for free but if you don’t have bills to pay it’s a great way of getting experience
Congrats Amanda!! So well deserved! I also am looking forward to the perspective a full-time job will bring to your writing. It will surely give you even more interesting things to say.