Hi there,

Well, how’s the job search going? Any leads or likely suspects? I’m hoping that you not only find a job, but locate one that will be right for you. (Learning how to flip burgers isn’t the object!)

Some recent issues of Reader’s Digest featured information about careers and “jobs”. There are parts of it that were very interesting. They talked about “recession-proof” careers such as the fields of education, energy, the environment, financial services, healthcare, law enforcement, international business and technology. I would agree with most of that, although the field of financial services has come under fire lately!

In all the fields listed above, is there something that you have a passion for? For instance, it might not be teaching in the traditional sense, but a lot of teaching is now done on the internet. Did you realize that?

Maybe you’re smarter than I was a few years ago. I’ve had a “passion” for teaching since I was a kid (about a hundred years ago!).  However, when young, I didn’t have money to go to college. When I did go to college in my forties, I felt I couldn’t afford to take a semester to student teach. What a mistake! There are many different ways to be teaching. The traditional way, in a public school system, or college, can provide you the wonderful perks of pensions and benefits. Let’s not knock that. Since I’m now retired, I see how great it would be to have that pension.

On the other hand, teaching people over the internet would satisfy that passion and give the freedom and flexibility not possible in a traditional teaching setting. What about that? Give yourself a chance to dream about your perfect day or week. What would it look like? Who would you  choose to interact with? Are you a person who prefers to work alone and quietly? Or does activity, noise and lots of people interaction get you to humming?

Be sure to give yourself time to think about your values and preferences before you head in any direction toward a career. Don’t take the first thing that’s offered to you. It may look interesting at the moment, but will it be satisfying in the long run. Does it set you dreaming or dreading?

Next time, let’s talk about some options that will give you some “outside-the-box” thinking.

Blessings, Dr. Kary