Ready for a Change - Long
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free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:45 am

ok...I'm ready for a change.

I am currently working at a large advertising agency and work on a certain automotive account doing "Emerging Media". I am at a great place in my career....good money...respect...laid back management but lately I find it really hard to "get happy". I had my 3rd anxiety attack this month and I could not figure out why. Then on my way into work I had the image flash in my head of me 20 years from now doing this job and I realized where my anxiety was coming from....I HATE MY CAREER! Not my job....my career! So...I have been taking person inventory of the things I like and don't like and things I could see myself doing for the rest of my life....I have a nice list...one that I'm very happy with but....now what? I read the thread about what each of the forum members does for a living and I'm wondering...since you are all so varied in your experiences....can you point me in the right direction? I have an education and I'm a quick to learn but most places I've been applying take one look at my resume and say "no experience"....how do I get around this? I'm willing to relocate but when I apply for positions out of state I'm sure I'm at the bottom of the pile because I do not live in the state. Here are some of the fields I'm interested in....any feedback or suggestions are welcome!

Journalism (would love to work at CNN/Fox News/Broadcast News...doing "behind the scenes"...ie...editing/production work)
Cosmetics (would love to work for one of the big (or small) cosmetic companies doing brand development/marketing/product development etc)

These are the two that I am focusing on for now. I have a Zoology and Criminal Justice degree from Michigan State and thought I would be doing something with forensic science but after working in the lab for a year I hated it...so I moved to the customer service/marketing end of things...then on to media buying/planning/selling and am currently at an ad agency.

Its frustrating because I know I would be a great employee and I'm a really hard worker but its tough to get someone to give me a chance. I guess I'm really just looking for...

1. Suggestions on which companies
2. Tips on standing out in the crowd
3. Any personal experience you would like to share

Thanks for any and all comments!

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 7:53 am

I would think that in terms of doing tech stuff like editing, you would need to re-train. However with your degrees and marketing experience you could maybe break into journalism.

Do you have any 'insider' stories you could use as a springboard?

That said, I personally think age is a bigger barrier to changing careers, so I guess it depends how old you are. Maybe you could ask your company to give you a sabbatical or allow you to retrain within the company itself in something like media relations.

Either way, good luck!

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:20 am

I'm 30...I have gone to my company about my general "blah" about my job and they have given me whatever I wanted...more money...promotion...more resp...opportunity to learn new field. I'm just so bored!

I realize that I will need to retrain for something in the tech field...so I've been applying for assistant positons (thanks to hubbys salary) and still nothing.

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 9:48 am

Olivia, you would LOVE working in the cosmetic industry. It is never boring! And, you really get a sense of helping people too. I started out making solid rocket fuel (which is a "manly" job) and then went to cosmetic chemistry. I was worried about that career change, but it turned out to be fantastic.

Here is some job opportunities out of the California Chapter of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists, in which I am a member. Some of these might not be relavent, but at least the "contact" information is there and that can get you started.

http://www.caliscc.org/Employment.php

I don't know what part of the country that you are in, but there are SCC chapters all over the US, Canada and the world (IFSCC).

Check 'em out!

John

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:31 am

Olivia - I actually have no suggestions for you, but just wanted to wish you the best of luck in whatever you decide to do, although "cosmetics" sounds interesting and fun! Very Happy

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:11 pm

I don't have any suggestions either, but I did want to wish you good luck! I know how it feels ... I'm in Marketing doing graphic design and working alot in proposals and I just know it's not what I want to do forever. There's so many ideas I have about things I might be interested in, but it's tough committing to making that change. I hope you find something new that is fun and rewarding! Working in the cosmetics industry would be AWESOME!!! Good luck in your journey. Smile

free skin care · Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:44 pm

I did essentially the same job for 15 yrs. Toward the end, I was bored, like you are, for awhile. Then my division was sold to another company, and I HATED my job the last 3 years. When I was laid off, it was probably the best thing that could've happened to me... Within weeks of leaving, everyone was telling me I looked so happy, asking me if I'd lost weight, etc.

I get bored silly when I stop having new things to learn. If there's really nothing new or of interest to you that you can learn in your job, and you don't hate it, maybe there's a hobby or interest you've always wanted to explore. I think learning is what keeps us young, and learning something you like will help your attitude overall and make your job at least tolerable.

Changing industries IS tough - everyone wants either experience (but not too much either) or someone right out of college. I definitely don't want to do what I was doing before, even with the great income, but trying to get into something different has gotten me nowhere. Of course my age probably has a LOT to do with it! Even though I don't look my age, it's hard to hide 15+ years of experience (that ended 4+ years ago)...

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 1:24 am

guapagirl wrote:

That said, I personally think age is a bigger barrier to changing careers, so I guess it depends how old you are.

Do you know I've always worried about that, but I'm very pleased to say things are changing.

I'm 43 and have been out of the UK for 5 years; mainly teaching English which is not something given much respect back here - considered more like a gap year I reckon. I'm happy to say I'm amazed at how responsive employers are.

So, don't let age put you off trying.

Though I agree it can very much depend on the industry. I had such a rough time in my thirties with being the wrong age and sex - one of the reasons I fled to China

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:47 am

Molly wrote:

guapagirl wrote:

That said, I personally think age is a bigger barrier to changing careers, so I guess it depends how old you are.

Do you know I've always worried about that, but I'm very pleased to say things are changing.

I'm 43 and have been out of the UK for 5 years; mainly teaching English which is not something given much respect back here - considered more like a gap year I reckon. I'm happy to say I'm amazed at how responsive employers are.

So, don't let age put you off trying.

Though I agree it can very much depend on the industry. I had such a rough time in my thirties with being the wrong age and sex - one of the reasons I fled to China

Yeah, I think it depends on what you are doing. I've changed career a bit. I used to be an EFL teacher as well, but after kids, found it really hard getting back into any kind of well paid employment (I should add that my youth was wasted on parties nightclubs and drug-taking rather than college, so have only my self to blame!). After working as part of 'mum's army' doing support work for pupils with learning difficulties, I eventually went to uni as a very, very mature student and now I'm hopefully on the road to becoming an academic. Or at least perpetual student! Not things that are age specific thank god!

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:31 am

I am having a thought on this as well... and I am still as confused too...

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:27 am

Don't let "age" stop you from doing anything. Good grief -- I growl when I hear/see/read that.

Gone are the days when we stayed with a company for forty years. We change jobs a dozen times, and careers at least a few. If we are complex or brave or lucky at all.

Ideas: Look for an internship. Find out as much as you can about the field you want to go to (John's link is marvelous), and start doing it for free. Save your money and give yourself time to shift into a new area. Does your ad agency have any cosmetic connections? Can you get on those accounts? Personal care? Anyone who might know anyone? Write about cosmetics, from a science point of view and offer articles or reviews to the scads of websites that need them now. I should think they'd love to have a scientist on board, rather than another makeup maniac who doesn't really know why things work.

Don't wait for someone else to give you a chance. Make your chance. Start doing what you want to do -- and don't expect to get paid for it for a while.

Keep your day job, but set your sights elsewhere, and give yourself assignments and deadlines.

I just changed careers (again) at age 50. The hardest part was in my head. When I was young, I felt people didn't give me credit for my brains, now I feel people don't give me credit for my experience. Laughing

Be open to learning and always keep a "student mentality." Everyone responds to that.

Believe in yourself. You deserve to be happy. And good luck!

free skin care · Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:46 pm

WOW! Thank you! I needed that! I must admit...I had not thought about my age as being the factor that is holding me back. I think you are right about the internship...I'm going to do some research in that area.

Thanks again for all of this great feedback. It means the world to me. All my friends/family just say...you have a great job...stop crying!

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