This is probably better suited to a longer post, but as I'm starting to job hunt in Philly, I'm reminded of how much I wish I had chosen more wisely when it comes to a career.
(That probably would have started with choosing differently in education, too, though I'm still a believer in education for education's sake, and not just to prepare you for a job. Most people I know don't end up working in their field of study, or else they didn't study in the field they truly wanted to because they worried they wouldn't be able to make a living at it. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other for most of us.)
I had a double major in college. First, Women's Studies. Then, in my junior year, when I had to designate a minor, I chose instead to designate a second major in English.
They are equally valuable, or should I say, have equally little value in my workplace, for the most part. When people I casually meet ask me about my major, I generally say it was Women's Studies. When potential employers ask me to list my major, I generally say English.
I really don't know what I thought I wanted to do with those majors.
(No, that's not true. I do. I wanted to write. I still do.
That's one of those careers that many people can't make a living at, although I am actually getting paid for my writing and editing skills on the perfume website. It just doesn't pay enough to live on at this point. Someday it might. A girl can dream.)
I ended up with my current employer kind of by accident. I had no job to go to after graduation, and took a temp job just to start earning some money in the meantime. The job market at that time was kind of like it is now--a shortage of jobs and too many candidates, and young college grads were having a tough time of it. I secured a temp job (and my one and only temp assignment) at an insurance company that was experiencing tremendous growth.
My starting wage: $5.17 an hour. But there was a chance the job would lead to a permanent position, which it did just three months later. (Then, my starting wage as a permanent employee went up to $7.17 an hour. Who can live on that? I sure couldn't back in 1993, and minimum wage in 2012 isn't much more than that.)
The rest, as they say, is history. After I was there for a bit, I started wanting (or thinking I should want) more money and more responsibility. I wanted benefits and financial security for myself and Mr. 42. I thought I wanted a career in the industry, a house and lots of other stuff that turned out to be NOT what I really wanted, upon further reflection (over a period of 19 years).
Until a few months ago, I even thought I wanted to take my current job with me when I move. Now that I know I can't, I'm actually glad and looking forward to a fresh start, though I'm dismayed to find the jobs I'm researching and/or getting contacted by recruiters for are . . .
. . . in the same industry as I am now.
I tell myself it's just to get established in Philly. It won't have to be permanent if I don't like it. I can make a change. (I just hope I remember that in a few months/years.)
(That probably would have started with choosing differently in education, too, though I'm still a believer in education for education's sake, and not just to prepare you for a job. Most people I know don't end up working in their field of study, or else they didn't study in the field they truly wanted to because they worried they wouldn't be able to make a living at it. It's six of one, half a dozen of the other for most of us.)
I had a double major in college. First, Women's Studies. Then, in my junior year, when I had to designate a minor, I chose instead to designate a second major in English.
From my Paris trip: the Women in Art exhibit at Le Centre Pompidou, 2010. (Go, Guerilla Girls!)
They are equally valuable, or should I say, have equally little value in my workplace, for the most part. When people I casually meet ask me about my major, I generally say it was Women's Studies. When potential employers ask me to list my major, I generally say English.
I really don't know what I thought I wanted to do with those majors.
(No, that's not true. I do. I wanted to write. I still do.
That's one of those careers that many people can't make a living at, although I am actually getting paid for my writing and editing skills on the perfume website. It just doesn't pay enough to live on at this point. Someday it might. A girl can dream.)
I ended up with my current employer kind of by accident. I had no job to go to after graduation, and took a temp job just to start earning some money in the meantime. The job market at that time was kind of like it is now--a shortage of jobs and too many candidates, and young college grads were having a tough time of it. I secured a temp job (and my one and only temp assignment) at an insurance company that was experiencing tremendous growth.
My starting wage: $5.17 an hour. But there was a chance the job would lead to a permanent position, which it did just three months later. (Then, my starting wage as a permanent employee went up to $7.17 an hour. Who can live on that? I sure couldn't back in 1993, and minimum wage in 2012 isn't much more than that.)
The rest, as they say, is history. After I was there for a bit, I started wanting (or thinking I should want) more money and more responsibility. I wanted benefits and financial security for myself and Mr. 42. I thought I wanted a career in the industry, a house and lots of other stuff that turned out to be NOT what I really wanted, upon further reflection (over a period of 19 years).
Until a few months ago, I even thought I wanted to take my current job with me when I move. Now that I know I can't, I'm actually glad and looking forward to a fresh start, though I'm dismayed to find the jobs I'm researching and/or getting contacted by recruiters for are . . .
. . . in the same industry as I am now.
I tell myself it's just to get established in Philly. It won't have to be permanent if I don't like it. I can make a change. (I just hope I remember that in a few months/years.)
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