Future Career
 

Not sure where to put this, so it's put here.

I started therapy on Tuesday. I only have it for 5 weeks (one to one) so I have to make the most of it.

I have homework this week (for anyone reading the Food & Drink thread, this is a different consultation and a different set of homework!).

My counsellor thinks I have a greater chance at long term happiness if I am fulfilled at work. Can't argue with that. She thinks it will build my self esteem, and if I can do that I will be successful in the areas of my life which are important to me. Again, yes. Sounds obvious, but she's essentially giving me a map to a foreign country.

SO.

I need to go back with a couple of ideas of things I would like to do. I find this very hard. I automatically shy away from any sort of responsibility. Anything that takes me out of my comfort zone. Anything that would involve confrontation.

I have identified proof-reading. I'm proud of that (I mean identifying it)
You know me better than anyone else I am not related to. Any ideas?

It does not have to be a job I can walk into. Part of the idea is that I can use this period to regroup, reassemble, retrain. I'm just finding it hard to think of anything I would really commit to. I promise you, I am NOT afraid of hard work. But if I'm going to be working for minimum wage and learning at the same time I do need to really have a passion for it.

ALL suggestions welcome.
Just be prepared that I might reject them.
In the nicest possible way.

become a sign language interpreter. You get to use all your animated/actress-y abilities AND evesdrop on conversations.

Good plan Batman!

Adult literacy training?
Teaching English to non-native speakers?

librarian?

Go to university? If nothing else university towns usually have good house share/rental options available. Usually good for part time work as well.

I was going to say librarian too. You love books, and it somewhat incorporates the grammar nazi--er, proofreader skills as well. :) Plus, I think a quiet, drama-free environment would suit you well.

Bri & Limey, thanks for the suggestions. They're not lighting a spark right now though.

I was interested in florist... til I saw they don't earn a living wage. At least not a single person's living wage (see previous rants) I love flowers and floral design, but it will have to remain a hobby.

Librarian is a good idea. I've shied away from it before- almost literally - I've reared up like a horse. But that was because I didn't have the relevant qualifications. If I got them I could so do a Larkin. Except for the gorgeous poems and the lovers and the letters to Kingsley Amis.

What about the porno collection?

I've heard a lot of people speak well of the book "What Color is my Parachute?".

You might ask the counselor to give you the Strong Interest Inventory test. That's how I ended up in programming.

Good luck SG.

You can do an online course to get qualified to proof read books pre-publishing. Most of the courses are work at your own pace.

If it's something you think you'd be interested in, you should look into it SG. I'm actually thinking of doing it myself some time after the baby is born. Maybe it's something we could even think about doing together...for motivation and all?

Anyway, just thought I'd add my two cents worth in. I'm sure you'll think of something good. :)

Interpreter - don't you speak multiple languages? I really like the librarian idea too.

I was a library assistant in a university library for three years.

Librarian can be a good job but might be bad.

Mostly it is quiet, helping people out, moderate physical work, some social contact, and you meet nice books. And maybe a nice patron or two as well ;)

However, you might occasionally have to confront a patron who is misbehaving. Can you shoosh people? Confront a book thief? Refuse another loan to someone with overdue books?

The worst risk is amongst the library staff. Take a bunch of obsessive compulsive anal retentives and make them work together. It can work or just turn spiteful. There was one time I was offered a promotion to another unit which I declined - it was a VERY unhappy team.

Maybe this was an exceptional case. Quite likely it was to do with being a university library with all the power game BS that large organisations often develop, and a local library wouldn't get this.

You could try volunteering at your local library and see what it is like.

I don't mean to put you off it. It was, by and large, a good job, and there are other perks. Today I am wearing a jacket and sunglasses that were abandoned in the lost property box of the library, which I adopted at the end of the academic year. This was at least four years ago.

Working as a civilian at your local police station -maybe in the evidence room?

what about becoming an estate agent? you'd be great at that. You'd be better at it over here as a realtor, but hey, who knows what the future may hold?

Mum was a civvie for the Police. They get great pay and pension, but are currently downsizing and moving. I did apply for a job there once. Got down to the final three. Cried my eyes out when I didn't get it - it had taken MONTHS to get that far.

Mum told me that they've all gone now, due to the above issues. She was quite pleased, as if not employing me was the reason. Funny old bird.

Estate Agent? Hmmmm. Hadn't thought of that because it's primarily a sales job. But people don't buy a house because of the agent after all. As Kirsty and Phil prove (do you get Location x 3, Relocation x 2 over there? Channel 4 show - fantastic).

It's another one to put before teh counsellor, so she knows I'm not Mrs Negative all the time. Well I'm not! All the time... I just don't like myself and have no confidence in my abilities beyond minimum wage.