STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Collette · Chanel

What do I want to be when I grow up?

Kitty · Hermes

I know you said you don't want to go get a 4 year degree, but if I were in your position that is most definitely what I would do. You have the luxury of not needing to earn money right now and someone that would pay for the school, so it's an ideal set-up and a lot more doors would open up to you.

Maybe you could start by working part-time and going to school part-time to see what types of things end up interesting you?

gingembre1 · Kate Spade

Alternatively, look into working for a non-profit. Or to get your foot in the door, volunteer in a non-profit. It's a great way to gain valuable experience, and since you don't necessarily need the funds at the moment, you'd be giving back plus be getting good experience! www. idealist.org is a great place to look at what's out there. You can search by your interests, whether you're looking for a paying position or volunteer, etc.

ILoveChoo · Hermes

are you good with kids? I know a few preschool teachers that absolutely LOVE their jobs. It sounds super fun.

wicked · Coach

How about becoming a paraprofessional at a school? In many places you only need a HS diploma and working with kids is really rewarding!

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

Have you ever tried career counseling before? Of course, I'm partial to it because I work as a career counselor. If you want to learn more, I can provide details and some online resources to guide you through the career development process. PM me if you want.

Bastet · Kate Spade

I have a friend who is a substance abuse counselor and she finds it really rewarding! I don't know what kind of education is required for that job though.

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

I think going back for a degree while being supported financially would be sooooooooo ideal.

Other than that, my first thought was non-profit because it would be rewarding and entertaining, allow you to be good with people, and obtain experience to use later on. There aare alot of cool charities you can get involved with that could also use your sense of fashion (maybe a program like "Dress for Success").

Jahni · Dooney & Bourke

How about nursing? If I had it to do all over again, I would seriously consider getting an advanced RN degree...possibly a CRNA or maybe even a PA....

There are several LPN programs that you can complete in 2 years (at least in Oklahoma) and an RN is not much longer than that.

You're not stuck behind a desk, and you get TONS of interaction with people.

Elle · Hermes

I don't think getting a 4-year degree just because is a good idea, unless you already have an area of study you're passionate about. I know too many people who did a 4 year and then finally figured out what they wanted to do and had to go back for another 2-4 years anyway!

I was in the same situation as you not too long ago - no post HS education, don't neeeed a job, but need to figure out what I want to do with myself. I found that when I was thinking of what I wanted to do, there were many things I felt interested in. However, when I went deeper into what the day-to-day grind of some of those jobs would be they were at odds with my personality something fierce. I've had a few of those jobs. Misery ensued. The things you love aren't always the ones that are right for you, which doesn't make finding something suitable any easier.

I would make two lists, with the help of a career counselor or a psychologist that specializes in this area: Things I'd Want To Do (work with kids, animals, etc would go here), and Things That Would Suit Me (not a desk job, interaction w/people, etc would go here). Then see if you can figure out what jobs/fields could offer you an interest off your first list with the criteria off your second and see what happens.

I ended up choosing something I never before thought of myself doing - it's sort of at odds with who I always pegged myself to be, and I had always dismissed it out of hand. But it has all the things I've ever loved about past jobs in it, and has almost none of the things about past jobs I've hated, and I found a specific area of it that really interests me. It took me about 3 years to figure it out, and 4 to actually do something about it fwiw

.

Good luck! This post is already stupid-long, but I'd be more than willing to go into more specifics with you via PM, if you want

.

-- Edited by Elle at 11:42, 2008-06-05

Suasoria · Chanel

Craigslist always has interesting and random job postings.

My honest take is to try for an admin position for a company or organization you'd actually like or that feels fun to you - a vet's office, a private school, an event planner/caterer, an interior decorator, etc. Maybe it leads to something or sparks something for you, maybe not, but the job skills you already have would be the way to get in the door.

Or start feeling around for people in your area who might need to offload some tasks to a personal assistant, and build up a number of clients you work for on an hourly basis. You'd be doing different things for different people, which would keep things from feeling stagnated.

Here in L.A. there's always people who are fabulously wealthy and need help shopping, making dinner reservations, ordering the maids around, and other things fabulously wealthy people do.

travelgirl · Kate Spade

What about sales? I've never met you but for some reason I feel you would be fabulous in sales. Are you able to travel? I've worked as a rep for a several different retail lines (jewelry, luggage, consumer goods) and the only part that can be challenging is the travel. On the flip side, the travel can be fun for the right person.

Or, if travel wouldn't be an issue, what about a job as a flight attendant?

Hermes

I think there is already a lot of good advice already posted. I am going to side with getting a 4 year degree. You have a current situation that would allow you to attend full time. You could start with the basics if you don't know what your major would be.

The main reason I say this is that I understand that you also want to be self-sufficient as a safety net. Let's face it - in this day and age, a bachelors degree is the new high school diploma - without it, in most cases you wont be considered for positions since there are plenty of people out there to choose from that do have one. If your intention is to provide a safety net for yourself, then I would think more seriously about a bachelors degree.

I see you with animals too -- what about veterinary medicine? You could always try to get an admin position in a vet's office to get a feel for what it's about and whether you'd like it or not...

I'd also like to ask you some questions... What do you love to do? What do you do where you lose track of time doing it? Is there a subject you tend to know more about than the average joe just because you have a natural interest in it?

sfclinevandy · Coach

If I were in your position, I would also pursue education... but not necessarily a traditional 4 year degree if your hearts not in it. What about fashion school? You could learn design, merchandising, styling, etc. I think it would be cool just to learn how to design and make clothes. Or cooking school. Or beauty/skincare/massage school. Or writing classes (I would love to do this if I had the time). I'd look into the technical colleges, the Culinary and Art Institutes or even continuing education/adult ed opportunites in your area.

jacL · Coach

If there is something you want to do that requires a four-year degree, I don't think you should let that hold you back. You have the ideal situation for it--not having to worry about money or work interfering with your schooling.

I immediately thought of nursing because I think that is such a great field to get into. Not only could you look for a part-time job if you wanted, if you don't have to worry about benefits you could get a job with a temp nursing agency and they pay very well and you could work part-time.

I also thought of sales. I think you would be excellent in that, but you often have to start out in crappy jobs (though not for too long) unless you have some applicable experience.

I think for right now seeing a career counselor would really help you a lot.

eta: I also wanted to say that I think education would be a good career choice for you.

-- Edited by jacL at 12:01, 2008-06-06

Miss Mabel · Kenneth Cole

D wrote:

I think there is already a lot of good advice already posted. I am going to side with getting a 4 year degree. You have a current situation that would allow you to attend full time. You could start with the basics if you don't know what your major would be.

The main reason I say this is that I understand that you also want to be self-sufficient as a safety net. Let's face it - in this day and age, a bachelors degree is the new high school diploma - without it, in most cases you wont be considered for positions since there are plenty of people out there to choose from that do have one. If your intention is to provide a safety net for yourself, then I would think more seriously about a bachelors degree.

I see you with animals too -- what about veterinary medicine? You could always try to get an admin position in a vet's office to get a feel for what it's about and whether you'd like it or not...

I'd also like to ask you some questions... What do you love to do? What do you do where you lose track of time doing it? Is there a subject you tend to know more about than the average joe just because you have a natural interest in it?

ITA with D about the Bachelor's being the new HS diploma. I don't see very many people who have HS degrees who are able to support themselves well (that's not to say it doesn't happen - just that in my experience, it's rare). Also, you are used to a pretty comfortable life, which might make it easy to discount somewhat the importance of financial reward ... but if this is for a safety net, I would also consider the amount of money you could make in a career as extremely important, esp. given your current level of financial comfort. This is just my opinion. I am lucky enough to do something that I really like doing, but it's by no means the perfect job. However, it's more perfect than most other jobs I could do and it pays a hell of a lot more than my "perfect" job -- I think those types of tradeoffs are pretty common and realistic.

subwolley · Kate Spade

Elle wrote:

I don't think getting a 4-year degree just because is a good idea, unless you already have an area of study you're passionate about. I know too many people who did a 4 year and then finally figured out what they wanted to do and had to go back for another 2-4 years anyway!

I totally agree. If you aren't sure, don't go back to school just for the sake of going back to school. That's expensive. You have other options.

Farrah · Marc Jacobs

So I am kind of late to the posting game on this one, but I also think you would love the field of education. Not sure if you know this, but I am at DePaul getting my Masters in Ed and I am so happy that I am doing it. I realized that the business world just sucks for me and it does not allow me to exercise my creativity or outgoing nature as much as teaching will. Initially, if you ever needed to support yourself again Illinois (Chicagoland in particular) is a great area for teacher salaries and the pension plan is INSANE!

I know you need to get your Bachelors, but now is the time friend. I am sure J would be super supportive of you and you will not regret it. Also, because you do not need to work you could probably finish much sooner than the usual 4 years. If you are interested, let me know if you have any questions about the programs around Chicago. I researched every school in the city that has an education program and I am happy to fill you in.