I have been in a life rut for quite some time. Moving back home was supposed to make everything better with this rut. Unfortunately, that hasn’t exactly been the case for me. I have been struggling with the prospect of going back to work for quite some time (for example, what I want to do, what I’m capable of doing, and not being scared to try). I touched on this a bit in a previous post I wrote. Well, today I had a breakthrough.
So, for me, staying home with the kids is the easy way out. I am scared to try new things or attempt to sell myself at something new. But it hit me today that staying home is probably one of THE hardest jobs there is. It’s mentally exhausting, grueling at times, dirty, you don’t get a vacation, no time off, no pay (except for all those sweet hugs and kisses) or 401k. You spend your day teaching and playing and being a short order cook. Along with keeping things together around the house (which I fully admit I am not very good at).
I have always doubted my abilities and really my brain. I seem to think that I am smarter than people at times, yet I have no real ambition or motivation for what I want to do with my life or any trust in myself to accomplish any ideas I may have. Every time I think something sounds fun, I immediately disqualify myself because of my lack of qualifications, knowledge, because I’m worried about failing or worried about learning something new to educate myself. I would love a job I don’t have to go back to school for. And I am certain there is a good fit for me out there.
I have started contacting some friends in various fields for input, suggestions and help with various aspects of this journey. As of right now, I am not exactly sure of my direction, I feel more like I can tackle something and do it well. Because a lot of the time, when I do something, I don’t suck at it as much as I thought I would.
That was a long-winded way to say that if I can do something that many people consider so challenging (and find it to be my “easy way out”), I can really do anything. And at the very least, I can make an effort to be good (or great) at it.
I know something similar (if not exactly) has been told to me by my wonderful husband who knows what I am capable of, but today, a light came on and it just clicked. So, I’m ready to tackle the world and find an area of work where I can flourish and come back to life.
If you have any tips or insight for jobs or contacts in the tech field, project manager jobs, website building (I like the idea of a web editor or managing a website), recruiting (I’d like tech recruiting of some kind), analyst positions or something else that might be a good fit, let me know. I am working on strategizing my next steps, but please reach out if you have suggestions for me.
Hi Andi! As someone who has made a sort of side hobby of recruiting and studying how to determine best job fit both for myself and in hiring others, I would suggest that viewing the job search/ interview process as a great way to learn more about various jobs, rather than a win/lose situation can make a huge difference in removing the anxiety factor. You can apply and interview for whatever you want! Maybe make a list of everything you like to do/strengths, some things you would like to learn more about, and the things you would NEVER on God’s green Earth want/be willing to do. This can guide you as you consider which jobs to apply for, and develop accurate responses to interview questions. For instance, I knew nothing about the gourmet food industry, but I can manage the heck out a retail store, need a high level of challenge, and have a lot of stamina, (and love chocolate) so the craziness of a Godiva outlet was perfect. I had never applied, because I perceived it as very slow paced, but the woman who recruited me explained the details in the interview process, and I was hooked! Same thing with being a stitcher for Sesame Street Live when I lived in Mpls. It might also be worth trying something very part time to see if you like the work environment-I just promoted someone into a full-time benefited position who was initially hired for part-time seasonal, because she wanted to re-enter the workforce after staying home with her son. Her performance was phenomenal, and she was selected over candidates who had been with me longer , because she was far and away the best fit. Anyway, good luck, have fun with it, and if I can help, let me know!
Thanks! These are great ideas. I love hearing from so many different people about their ideas. There’s such a plethora of jobs out there I don’t even know exist. And I honestly think some job titles get made up along the way to sound fancier or fit what you have meshed your job into. Also, I always have to tell myself “what is the worst that can happen?” And more times than not, it’s never that big of a deal. If I don’t get the job, there are more out there and it wasn’t a good fit for me. It’s just getting over that initial hump for me! I will keep you in mind for brain picking when the time comes. 🙂
Also, I hope we get a chance to see you guys at some point! I feel like it’s been way too long!