Question

Topic: Career/Training

What Career Path Would You Advise?

Posted by Anonymous on 250 Points
Dear all:
I love to hear the responses from you wise, experienced individuals. It is great to get insight from outside the box. For this reason, let me explain my dilemma and then you tell me your opinions.
Before and during college, I worked several retail jobs. I loved the interaction with customers. What I didn't like was the repetition and not using my head. I then worked with my mom who had recently purchased a business making custom clothing for handicapped individuals and I love negotiating, and coming up with ideas and helping her with the design process, and getting her organized. What I didn't like is being a factory worker in the manufacturing process (done through contract seamstresses) and not really having a say so as I am a family member. I then took a job as a store build out assistant. I loved feeling really needed. In fact to this day, I don't think they have found someone who has filled the position as well as I did. What I didn't like about this job (outside of the illegal accounting practices they did & the dirty language & constant need to discuss drinking) was the repetitiveness and I didn't feel like I was using my major (marketing). I currently hold a Marketing Director position with a little clinic in rural USA, under the pretenses that the administrator would teach me great and wonderful ways of marketing. He has done nothing of the sort and I have had to fill in and do things that I thought the doctors wanted because he is unwilling to fulfill his promise. Another reason I dislike the job is that I am cooped up in an office all day with no interaction with people. I think the job might be enjoyable but I can't see it happening while the current administrator is here and with no clear outline of what I am to accomplish. Besides, I dislike the town and don't have resources for finding individuals with common morals in the neighborhood.
So many of my friends tell me how they love their job. I truly desire to be one of those people and am willing to work at it to get to that point. To this end, I don't know where to start. I hate being in an office all day long without human interaction, but I don't want to be in sales. Are there any suggestions? Maybe one of you have gone through the same struggle and have a good word of advice.
Thank you!
Struggling.
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RESPONSES

  • Posted by telemoxie on Member
    It's unreasonable to expect your current boss to teach you all they know about marketing. If I were your current boss, I would certainly not teach you everything I know - because then you'd take my job.

    You may get lots of "start your own business" advice on this forum, since many folks here (myself included) are entrepreneurs. DON'T QUIT YOUR DAY JOB.

    If you feel bitten by the entrepreneurial bug, see if you can find some moonlight work which will NOT interfere with your current position. Better yet, see if you can also find a way to find work OTHERS can do, so you don't get into a trap where you are the only one doing all the billable work.

    If you do start something part-time, please be a bit more discrete and careful. You have listed your name here, and it's not all to hard to do a Google search on your name and find your posts, complaining about your job... Consider the internet a "broadcast media" - whatever you say here can be easily found and read by your boss. You might also review your employment contract (if you have one) to see if this prohibits outside work. Good luck.
  • Posted on Accepted
    You would probably benefit from reading The Potato Chip Difference : How to apply leading edge marketing strategies to landing the job you want.

    It gives numerous case studies and examples of how to go about finding your ideal job. It's not about selling yourself. It's about understanding what you really want and who it is that most needs the benefits you can deliver.

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