Need career suggestions/mid life change

[Anonymous]

Hello,

I would like some advice and suggestions from the wise members of this forum.

I am a 42yr old, female, married, my 'kids' are older (17/20).

I posted this in the incorrect forum yesterday-sorry .


I currently work for the Feds (claims examiner/6yrs) at an agency headquartered outside Baltimore.

My drive is 30 miles each way.(no telecommuting allowed) Against traffic but I am just burnt out on the drive. I need the option to take the metro because of the 300+miles a week--its killing my car, wallet and SOUL!.

I appreciate having a stable job and for that I am very, very grateful.
BUT!!!!! I do not like what I do on a daily basis. It is not a professional atmosphere, limited growth opportunity, the co-workers can be mean, the local area is not that great, the work is not helping me to grow or learn new skills.


I have applied to other Fed positions no bites and I am now considering going back to the corporate world. We moved here from the midwest in 2007 and previously I worked in ales/retail management, customer service (supervisor), HR Assistant, and I worked for a large for-profit University in Advising. I do have an MBA from said University. UG-Local Midwest University.

Can someone give me suggestions on career options? I am not adverse to working late or long hours since my children are older. I'm really looking to ramp-up career wise and will be working another 20+ years. I have a strong Midwest work ethic--I'm just not sure where to start.


Also-going back to college is NOT an option for me right now.

[Anonymous]

Where do you live? DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Where do you live? DC?

Silver Spring.
I am close enough to bus to the metro or have DH drop me off at the train station.

[Anonymous]

Honestly I would be careful about going into the private sector here. You probably have a lot more job security as a fed and have certain benefits -- eg pension -- that would require a higher salary in the private sector to make up.

That said, it doesn't hurt to look at job postings and see what's out there. I just wouldn't make the move without carefully considering what you'd be giving up in leaving a fed job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly I would be careful about going into the private sector here. You probably have a lot more job security as a fed and have certain benefits -- eg pension -- that would require a higher salary in the private sector to make up.

That said, it doesn't hurt to look at job postings and see what's out there. I just wouldn't make the move without carefully considering what you'd be giving up in leaving a fed job.

As it stands, my husband is driving me to work and then driving to southern PG County for his job. This is not working and we are working on getting another car. This transportation issue is actually eating up a good chunk of my yearly salary anyway. Even a pay cut of $5-6k per year would not hurt. FERS as a retirement plan is no better than the private plans I had in the past. Security is there but I know my agency is trying to automate my job function. I can see this job becoming obsolete in the near future.

I'm fearful of change but there is NOTHING I like about this job. I wish it was.

[Anonymous]

I think we have a good idea about what your challenges and frustrations are, but not about your skills and passions. I suggest taking some time to think about where you excel in your work, what you enjoy and where those two things meet in the job market.

If you can give us a better idea about what you are looking for (not running from) then you are likely to get more constructive and helpful advice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we have a good idea about what your challenges and frustrations are, but not about your skills and passions. I suggest taking some time to think about where you excel in your work, what you enjoy and where those two things meet in the job market.

If you can give us a better idea about what you are looking for (not running from) then you are likely to get more constructive and helpful advice.

I like people interaction, and was leaning towards working in Human Resources. I wanted to move further in that field but one of my employers closed due to a merger. I knew someone at the University I ended up doing advising for and took that job. Of all the business classes I took, the ones in HR and Organizational Development resonated with me. I LOVED helping my students research careers and improve their lives by going to school. I did not care for the organization's lack of ethics though. I enjoy a mixture of being in the field and working behind a desk (just not 100% in the cubicle all day). I like sales, marketing, project work, consulting, problem solving, researching, writing and learning new things. I would love a career where I can get certifications, maybe later teach, write articles, and mentor others.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I like people interaction, and was leaning towards working in Human Resources. I wanted to move further in that field but one of my employers closed due to a merger. I knew someone at the University I ended up doing advising for and took that job. Of all the business classes I took, the ones in HR and Organizational Development resonated with me. I LOVED helping my students research careers and improve their lives by going to school. I did not care for the organization's lack of ethics though. I enjoy a mixture of being in the field and working behind a desk (just not 100% in the cubicle all day). I like sales, marketing, project work, consulting, problem solving, researching, writing and learning new things. I would love a career where I can get certifications, maybe later teach, write articles, and mentor others.

Apply for this Training and Organizational Development Specialist position, if you have the necessary experience:

http://tinyurl.com/kf5dfas

[Anonymous]

You have an MBA? Terrible writing.