If you had to start over...what would you do?

Question

So...I have burned every employment bridge and am basically back at square one. Any ideas on starting a new career? What is rewarding out there? I am willing to do vocational training-- but I have already been to university and got a Masters (what a mistake that was). So...I need some tips? What do you all do out there for work and are you happy?

Answer 1

It's hard to advise you without specific info, but when I was in a similar position a year ago I took a backwards step and joined a small-to-medium sized company, in a pretty lowly position.

I aimed to work hard, prove myself and either a) earn internal promotions to rebuild my career and CV or b) re-establish myself before eventually moving on to another company in a higher position.

The former happened and a year later, I'm now in a much better supervisory position and due to head up a 6-month project in Cyprus very shortly :)

Really depends on what you want to do, but as above, it's often worthwhile taking a backwards step to go forwards.

Answer 2

Well, right now I am not doing it , but one career that I found very rewarding is recruiting/head hunting.  You have to have a very outgoing personality & not afraid of talking to people.  You can make great $$ & I really enjoyed placing people in careers that they enjoyed.  I found people jobs that saved them from losing their house.  I found people jobs that were then able to buy their first house...I got flowers, I got thank you's, I got cards.  It is really rewarding helping people find their dream career & not just another job.  You also learn so much about all different kinds of companies, and when I was ready to get out, they placed me in an industry that I really love (although, not all places will be that willing to help...I was doing well, but it was a personal reason that made me move on & they were happy to help)

Answer 3

In selecting a career I went through this sort of thought process:

Where I'm living (i.e., what part of the country, rural vs. urban, etc.) is more important than what I'm doing for work...within reason.

What sort of contribution I'm making to society is more important than what I'm doing (there are some jobs I know I'd love doing, but they're really not very socially responsible, in my opinion).

What job I'm doing is more important than what salary I'm making for doing it...within reason; I do have personal needs and wants.  But the old saying, "Find a job you love and never go to 'work' again" is very true.

What I'm being paid is more important than what sort of people I have to work around...I can pretty much work with anybody.

And so on and so on.  I also went at things in reverse, and decided on things I didn't want to do.  For example, I did not want a job where I was office-bound every day.  But I also didn't want a job where I was necessarily outdoors each day, every day either.  I didn't want a career in the medical or dental fields because I don't especially like touching people.  There are some environments I do not want to work in, and there are several things...like sales, for example...that I don't like and am not good at.

Anyway, by that process I finally did arrive at a career I enjoy and thrive at, and maybe that's an approach you might consider.

Good luck!