First of all, do not I repeat DO NOT give in to despair and the like. Bitterness, anger, frustration, etc. can be transformed and channeled to work FOR you. Self-pity, after licking the woulds, only spirals you downward.
So, while you're not throwing in the towel (soon all the waiting will be dead history to you, your 'life' will begin), check colleges, universities and social service agencies for resume workshops. For years, at-home moms have been coached on the language to use, the word choice, which expresses to a corporate personality the skills and characteristics (time management, resourcefulness, problem-solving, thinking on-your-feet, sound decision-making under pressure, etc) the mom may possess. Without already being engaged in your field of choice, you might not have the otherwise available knowledge of the ropes, the ones you'd know if given the opportunity. A workshop can help you conquer this obstacle (if this applies to you, as I suspect). Resume workshops are designed to address this situation, and there s/b free ones, or definately cheap (check your counties 'welfare' department, they want folks to become employed) available.
Is there any way you can take just one class in your field? It'd go on your resume and you can tell your interviewer, "I love this so much, until I get work in my field, I just have to feel like I have a 'finger in the pie'."
Hey, you can take it upon yourself to conduct an Informational Interview. You find a likely subject (contact a manager or supervisor, almost anybody, though) at a place you'd like to work. You say, "this is the field I'd like to work in, would you give me 10 minutes of your time to tell me what your job is like and how you got it?" If you approach people of responsibility, odds are strong you'll get a good response. Keep it up and the right person may recognize you and pull you in. The purpose of this is not just to explore the field but to create contacts. Ask reception the name of Spvsr/Mgr of a department, then write first with phone follow up to get the ten minutes.
I confer with a family counselor once a week. If you need moral support for your efforts, a friend in your corner to shore up your determination, an unbiased party who is there for you to bounce your ideas off of, anything like this, try a counselor (therapist). Even in a temporary capacity, this exercise can REALLY give you a lot (that happens when we are invested and connect with someone), helping you see your goal clearly along with renewed vigor for proceeding.
Very best wishes for your further success.
Remember also, use ANY door of opportunity to get your foot into. Once inside (extra, temp help, or file clerk, you hear?) promoting from the ranks of the staff will happen before recruiting from the outside. Also, when you're in, you're IN! It's all there for you, the ropes you'll need to learn, the dynamics of how who gets along with who, the whole kit 'n kaboodle.
Answered By: Zeera - 9/17/2006 |