Once again, I find myself unemployed and trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up. I realized that my last position wasn’t a good fit for me. The role paid well, had great benefits, and had a good company culture but I just didn’t fit in. The role required me to do a lot of schmoozing with all levels of the organization which does not fit my personality at all. I am an extremely shy, quiet, introvert and constantly having to reach out to people for coffee chats, both virtual and in-person, or asking for constant updates was extremely anxiety provoking.
I found myself dreading each workday with an elevated sense of panic at the end of the weekend. Sunday became a day spent worrying about the week to come.
Self-Reflection
I learned a few things about myself during my short stint with this company including some larger realizations during the Christmas break when I had a chance to reflect. I’ve always known that “people time” is draining for me but I didn’t realize how much until this latest job. I had drained all the resources I had which left me unable to perform my duties.
I came to the realization that my satisfaction comes from doing things. I need to see the progress I’m making rather than realizing progress through the actions of others. I need to be the one creating or building and need to see my accomplishments as they are completed.
Learning from the Past
At one time I was a software developer and I did get this satisfaction. I would dig into a problem, write some code, and be able to see the results of my efforts immediately. Unfortunately, over the years I have lost much of this knowledge which would make returning to this activity quite challenging. A complete change in career is the path I’m now considering.
Choosing the right Job Boards
In the past, my go-to resource for job hunting was LinkedIn. I’ve discovered that this medium is much more suited for a technical crowd. I am looking for more of a drastic change and am finding that Indeed is much better suited for this.
An interesting discovery I’ve made with Indeed is it learns your search patterns and presents postings related to your activities. I find this both helpful and a hindrance because I’m in exploration mode right now. I don’t know where I want to take my career, I just know that I need something different and need something where I can work with my hands. Indeed takes the liberty of using past searches to present possible jobs. This isn’t helpful when I’m looking for variety.
The last time I was searching for employment, I was going through some surveys that measure personality, preferences, and skills and then present a list of jobs that might be interesting. One of the results I got back was “Dress maker”. At the time I thought this quite humorous but in my search on Indeed I came across a posting for Industrial Sewing Machine Operator. Coincidence? Hmm…
Option #1: Trades
I’ve come to a couple of realizations for my future. I have a few paths that I’m considering. The first is to pursue a career in the trades. My first preference is to become an apprentice welder. I took a welding course several months ago as a birthday present to myself. I figure that anything I’d like to get for my birthday is probably a good choice for a potential career.
The challenge with the trades is trying to find an employer willing to take on an old guy like myself. I’m quickly approaching 50 and competing with all the young people also trying to enter the profession is difficult. Somehow, I need to convince an employer that my benefit over others is my maturity and the fact that I’ll probably stick around for a while. Even if maturity isn’t my strong suit, I can still try to make the claim.
Option #2: Driving
My second career option being considered is driving. There are lots of opportunities out there depending on where you want to go with it. There’s the option of becoming a Class 1 driver hauling loads across the country. There’s the option of becoming a Class 3 driver which opens up opportunities for things like vacuum truck driver, heavy equipment operator, or garbage dude. Finally, there’s the delivery driver for companies like UPS and FedEx where a special license isn’t required and you get to be home every night.
The higher the class of license needed, the greater the cost to get into the profession but, that cost also translates into higher pay. Personally, I’m looking at the delivery driver route first but might consider Class 3 if I find myself searching for a long time. I think I could pull off the brown uniform that the UPS driver sports quite well. Especially during the warmer months when shorts are an option. I’ve got some damn sexy legs if I do say so myself.
Option #3: Writing
My final option being considered is the path of a writer. I’ve been following a guy named Sean Ogle who started a site called Location Rebel several years ago. For a fee, he helps people, exactly like me, get into the freelance writing business. This is a path I’ve been considering for a while since I can see a lot of flexibility and freedom in it. I picture myself living “anywhere” while writing content for clients. I could do this from my home, while on vacation, or even at a local coffee shop. This is also the scariest option but is only scary due to my own self-doubt. How do I know whether I can write content for others? I’ve only ever written about my own experiences.
Writing is one of those careers that could be taken well into retirement and beyond. Maybe I could start a seniors blog on the best resorts for snowbirds or, things to do after the 4:00 pm supper that doesn’t involve sleep. Maybe I could start a series of activities you can do that won’t result in hip replacement. The potential is vast.
The Search Continues
For now, I’m living off the government and spending the bulk of my days looking through job boards. I don’t know what my next adventure will be, which is quite scary, but I’m hopeful it will be something exciting. I’ve done a lot of self-reflection and know the general direction I need to go. Now, I just need to go out and grab that next great thing.
