Over the weekend I kick-started a job search and I have to admit that it is extremely daunting and overwhelming. For those of you who do not know I work as an associate attorney in a small law firm. (Side note: Jessica is a high school math teacher.) Leaving my current job is a hard decision because there are certain aspects that I love, such as, meeting with clients, researching and writing briefs and appeals, my co-workers are the best, a semi-flexible work schedule as long as deadlines are met, and coming up with solutions for complicated and unique problems. While I like my current job I have realized it is time for a change as my job has no room for growth and as a result I lack the ability in this position to create a career where I will feel successful and fulfilled.
Having a great career doing something I enjoy has always been important to me. Even as children me and my sisters never played house, instead we always pretended to operate various businesses (sometimes a restaurant, sometimes an inn, sometimes fun boutiques). Right now I am uncertain if continuing to be an attorney is the best choice for me and I am completely lost at what career I should be pursuing. I am also a little uncertain about the job search process as applying to jobs is not something I have ever been required to do before. In college I did not have to interview for any of the jobs I had. My first job out of law school was offered to me by the attorney I interned under while in school and my current employer was introduced to me by a friend and after talking to her a couple times she offered me a position.
I would love to know about your job. What kind of job do you have? Are you happy in your current job/field? How did you decide what kind of career you wanted? How did you find what you were passionate about? Is it something you just stumbled upon? Or are you still searching for the correct career path for yourself? What did you study in school and is it related to current position? Any job search tips to share?
via:
1
I hope you find a job doll, I know it can be hard these days, but you can do it :))) If I could, I would work in some amazing art gallery in Paris or other part of France specializing in Art Nouveau or something like that. Or travelling the world going to different art places to take pictures or do work there, would be wonderful xx
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll find your dream job. Not many people give up a job they love to pursue their dream <3
ReplyDeletexx
Good luck in your job search! Sometimes it sucks to move on...but it's awesome that you have bigger plans for yourself :)
ReplyDeleteAnnie
The Other Side of Gray
I am now working in a totally different field from my training. I have a PhD in history but am unable to find an academic job (only about 20% of humanities PhD ever work in the field so it's actually not that surprising that I haven't found anything). While I don't have a job in my field, I consider myself very lucky to be currently working (for almost a year now) as the Associate Director of a non-profit group connected with a local university. It's not necessarily something that I'm passionate about and I am still pursuing academic jobs (a bit half-heartedly though), but it allows to still be working on campus in a university environment and the compensation is more than I thought I would be making this early in my career. I guess my big job hunting advice would be to be open to things - I never thought I'd wind up where I am but I'm really glad I was open to interviewing for things outside of my training, etc.
ReplyDeleteCourtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com
Good luck with your job search! I work in finance, and to be honest, it's not my dream job. I just haven't figured out what path I'd like to follow in the future!
ReplyDeleteLauren
Fizz and Frosting
Best of luck with your job search! I'll be searching in August
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your job search. My advice is to go on as many interviews as you can and use them each as practice!
ReplyDeletexo, Yi-chia
Always Maylee
i hope you get your dream job!
ReplyDeleteXo, Megan, www.TfDiaries.com
Job searching is so exhausting. I did a little bit of that last year and boy was it tough. The job market is getting a little better, though, yah? Wishing you tons of luck.
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Jules of Canines & Couture
www.caninesandcouture.com
Wishing you the best of luck on your job hunt! I was recently unemployed for 3 months and it was exhausting, stressful, and at times incredibly upsetting. I start a new gig tomorrow that I'm excited for! I will keep you in my thoughts - I hope you get the job of your dreams!
ReplyDeletexox Lara www.weheartbeautyblog.com
Ooh, good luck figuring everything out! I'm currently in my first job, which did require an interview (it was terrifying - the "tell me about yourself" question sent me on a nervous way-too-long ramble), and I did phone interviews as well as in-person interviews and apps for community service positions, prior to this. My current job is definitely not something I want to be doing any longer than this singular summer, since I'd like to get internships in the area I think I'm interested in working in (Marketing), but I'm really just figuring out my goals right now. I'm obviously not the best possible source of advice, but I think I'd go with "follow your instincts and be yourself". I hope you get something amazing that you really want to do!
ReplyDeletexo
Sue
I think it's great that you're taking steps toward finding the best career that will make you happy. I could write a whole novel here about my ups and downs in finding the right path for me, but no matter what I try, I always come back to my greatest passion, writing.
ReplyDeleteI know exactly what you mean. I love my current job being an ad sales/marketing assistant at a magazine but there is no room for me to advance. I'm trying to figure out my next steps so that I can advance in my career. I have a few things in mind but I won't really know until I interview and see what they are really like. Always go with your gut feeling. I ignored my gut when it came to my first job and I was beyond miserable.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the huge leap...it's a difficult decision, but in the end it's your happiness is important. I've been working with children since I was in high school and it didn't click that it was something that I wanted to do until my sophomore year in college. I've worked with children from itty bitty babies to middle schoolers and now I work on the managerial end of a before and after school program in a non profit agency. There's always room to move upwards.. Good luck! All that matters is that there are no regrets and what ifs!
ReplyDeletei'm an associate attorney too and i'm still trying to find my way as well. I feel the same way wondering if there is growth in legal careers anymore since the market is still so saturated with attorneys. BUT I can't figure out what I would be doing instead. I'd love to be able to do something creative too (one of the reasons I started my blog...) but just trying to figure out how to make something like that into a career. Good luck and let me know if you want to bounce any ideas around :)
ReplyDelete-- jackie @ jade and oak
my background is graphics, but i left all that to help operate my sister's architecture firm. it's not my passion, but i'm torn. i want a fulfilling job, but also don't want to leave my sister hanging. good luck in whatever you decide. i am all for finding something that you love to do. if i could do anything (aside from owning my own boutique/coffee bar!!), i'd be an early education teacher!
ReplyDelete[oomph.]
COACH Bag Giveaway!
A change is sometimes what we all need! It can be scary, but if it scares you, it means you are doing something right!
ReplyDelete