WOMEN & WORK
violette
POSTED: Sat, 01/30/2010 - 1:24pm
What jobs does everyone do????? How do you like what you do?
As some of you know, have to get back into the workforce, very soon, due to a recent turn of events, sadly, in my marriage. I would love to know what kind of work all you ladies do, and for how long? and how you feel about your jobs? and why you do them? and if you had to do anything differently concerning them, what would you do? Also if you were basically a stay at home mom, then suddenly forced back to work, what would you do? What would you look for? What would be your guidelines? I would simply love to hear any and all responses. Thank you ahead of time. I am qualified to do 3 different professions, but don't know how to go about it. Should I look for what pays the most, what I love the most, or what? I do know I cannot be happy doing anything I hate or that would make me miserable. Guess "follow your heart" is a good rule. How does one even determine what type of work to do? Or where to look? How do you merge following your heart, and choosing a profession? I hear all of you discuss working, I'd love to hear about your various professions. Thanks so much~MIREILLE'S CALENDAR
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snorklee
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 6:49pm
Burnt out... stressed out....
Totally, totally at the end of my rope with management. I've been doing it for a year and a half. I want to do some kind of work that gives me pleasure, but I am the sole wage earner for my family. How can I make that leap, without going bankrupt??? Doomed to be in stressful job forever, most likely. That's why I embrace the French philosophy as much as I can. Work does not define me. I try to have pleasure in my non-work hours, so that I don't mind the work hours quite so much.Marilyn
POSTED: Sun, 02/13/2011 - 9:22am
Deb
I think middle management is one of the most stressful places to be. You can't please anyone most of the time and everyone expects you to sort everything. You are probabley in the same place at home as well. Too many balls to keep in the air at the same time, my dear. Make sure you have more you time, easy to say I know, hard to do. As Jean suggests can you expand your writing career to enable you to perhaps down scale at work. Are there any free-lance nursing opportunities in the US or openings in private health care. I do not know enough about the system Stateside to help really but be assured I am here for you. Jean has my email address if you ever want to have a good rant or scream. Take care. xxVintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 7:29pm
Hi Deb
What you are experiencing is miserable.Middle Management is a totally thanksless job.Get out before it destroys you.Nursing by definition is stressful and being a Manager doubly so.You have a good coping strategy in living the FWDGF lifestyle.But work should be satisfying too.Do you still write your column?Maybe something in that line might be possible.Edit for a Nursing Journal?Be able to work as Casual RN,so that you have control over your hours?We must put our thinking caps on and find a way for you.OXO Jeansnorklee
POSTED: Sun, 02/13/2011 - 1:12pm
Thank you Jean and Marilyn
I can always count on you both for support and good ideas. I will investigate some of your suggestions for they are good ones. Sometimes my job is so all-consuming that I forget that I also like to do other things. Thanks, again!Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 02/13/2011 - 1:29pm
You are welcome indeed
Yesterday ,I observed an incident with 2 co-workers(colleague is too good a word)that shook me to the core.As a Nurse I am ashamed that other nurses could/would behave this way.It culminated in one Nurse walking off the unit leaving her patients and team members without help.And there was nothing done about it by the Clinical Coordinator.It causes me to question very seriously Nursing,where it is headed and the future for those who are vulnerable.Think I need your advice on what to do next.I am still floored.And the Nurse who walked off is researching a Code of Conduct for the team and sees NOTHING wrong with what she did.Dear Lord!!Kimberly
POSTED: Fri, 02/11/2011 - 7:50pm
I made a big change.....
I am a little late in replying to some topics since I just joined this forum a few days ago. August of last year I made a major change in career. After almost a decade of working out of the home, I found a work at home career. I am enjoying it a lot except I have to be strict with myself about my schedule. I have a free spirit tendancy so I must work by a schedule. Some of the reason I made this change are: 1. I felt like I was missing days in my life. I spent 45 minutes each way just driving to and from work and if there was an accident it would be even longer. If you are from the US you know that everyone is always in a hurry. I would leave before the sun was up and not get home until the sun was down. Life was passing me by. 2. My parents are getting older as well as my aunts and uncles. We all live neat to each other. Our houses cover about 3 miles. I wanted to be available to them if they needed me. It turned out for the best as my father just had surgery a couple of weeks ago. I was able to be there when they needed me. 3. I was tired of someone else being in charge of my time. I know that when you work that is just how it is but America has a focus on working and very little time for enjoyment. Even children are raised this way now. When I was a child we might have one activity we were involved. Maybe a girl took dance classes or a music lesson. In these modern times children are in multiple activities some of which overlap or go year round. They are always on the go and hardly ever at home. I think this takes away from the family structure. It is the same way with working. People are working 40+ hours per week and you get only 2 weeks vacation and if you are lucky a week of sick time. It's always work work work. Well now I set my own schedule. If I don't want to work this week I don't have to. If I really want some extra money I can work a lot.It is by no means a way to get rich. I make a modest income. I live in the South so it is not required for me to make lots of money to live on. Living here is very affordable. The point is it is all up to me. I like that. If I ever decide to get the courage to fly I can take my two week vacation to France. I hope I can someday. Now I am my own boss and I love it. By the way, I do customer service work from home. It is all in bound; no outbound. Previously, I worked in a fast paced office.Ava
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 7:37am
I love your work / life balance
I am similar in that I 'work' from home. Having run my own businesses before (and the crazy hours that go with them), I am now fortunate enough to be able to work from home. I use the term 'work' lightly! I am now writing a book, TV drama & play (in fact, several...which is why it is loosely termed 'work' - as I have no deadlines, other than my own (which I might add, keep moving!) It means I can chop and change what I'm working on when I feel I need to or when I come up with a new idea...it's all a work in progress!I've always liked being my own boss; but now it means I can make space for 'me' and those around me. I visit my family more regularly as I have more time to do so. I am also able to indulge in my favourite past times and plan things that I've been meaning to do for ages (see the objectives 2011 thread.)
I know it's difficult to get into a position where financially, you can work for yourself; especially if you have been working for someone else and receive a regular pay cheque. However, I believe you can engineer yourself into any position you want; if you want it that much. It's a long hard slog getting to that place, but it's worth it!
Kimberly
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:09pm
Thank you
I appreciate your comments Jean and Ava. I would not trade the position I am in right now for the life I had before. I will look for that thread Ava. And you are correct. Instead of having the mindset set than I cannot do this and I cannot do that my mind now says I can do this and how will I achieve it. There are no limits on what is possible if one is determined.Vintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 02/11/2011 - 8:18pm
Dear Kim
that was quite a jump you made.All for the right reasons it seems to me.I know what you mean about kids today.My Granddarlings are on the run from morning until night.My Granddaughter,told me recently that it was all too much.And my Grandson has a huge meltdown when he is tired.It is difficult to say anything to the parents as one doesn't want to be interfering.What is it that we are all chasing by the way?Tell me how did you find work from home?I am curious. Thanks.JeanKimberly
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:34am
Jean....
I was acutally a little too brave for my liking when this big change came about. I had, for some time, been getting ever more frustrated with my work enviroment. It was not a place where one could grow. Also, although I enjoy variety, there were some particular personalities which were almost unbareable. When you work in a small office (less than 10 people) and some people's lives revolve around drama and the other coworkers indulge the drama it just bothered me. It was sort of an "Oh well, what can we do" attitude. So since the environment could/would not be changed, I changed my own environment and left. I had no plans. I just did it. I was home for one month without working. I didn't know what to do with myself because I had been working for so long. The first few days were confusion. Being unsure, I went and applied for several positions. Nothing came of them. Then I settled into the routine of being at home. My worst fear was that I would not be able to afford being home with just my husbands salary. That's when I began to find ways to conserve and cut out the unecessary things. One of the things I begain doing was couponing. This saved us a lot of money. While looking through a blog which a lady was writing regarding couponing I happened upon a post. She was a stay at home mother. I have no children but she still posted things that related to saving money and all. At the end of this particular post she wrote that she worked for a company called LiveOps. She said it was a legitimate work from home job. I was skeptical because I had tried to find these and most were not legitimate. Well I went and researched it and yes, it actually was a legitimate work from home job. I had to do an application and a background and credit check just like a normal job. Once I was "hired/contracted" I was given a particular line for which I would be providing the customer service. I went through some online training regarding this line and then I was allowed into a master schedule where I could choose times to work. You are booked in 30 minute slots. Blocks are available 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week. The schedule rolls out 1-2 days per week and several times each of those days. I like to work from 7 or 8 in the morning until maybe 11 or 12. Then I have the rest of the day to run errands or do housework or a project. I can work more than that if I want, but there is no need at present. I think even if I were single I could make a living with this job although I would have to put in more hours. (Pursuing this simplified French lifestyle also helps.) What the job actually entails are customers calling in to place an order for products. My particular line has four products, but there are many different opportunities. Some people are taking information from people requesting information for insurance, sometimes we are taking donations for particular programs being aired on television. There is no selling or calling to sell anything. I could never be a salesperson. There is another company called West At Home that is similar to LiveOps. I only work for LO so I am not sure how it works. I don't know if these companies hire in Canada. I know I take orders from Canadians fairly often. Also along with this, I have a booth in a local shop where my mother and I sale items. We take furniture and refubish it as well as other items for the home. We have just begun doing that so we hope to make a go of it. I'm loving working from home and planning my own time. Life is not a rat race anymore and my time is quality.Kimberly
POSTED: Sat, 02/12/2011 - 12:39am
Sorry for the typo....
That would be "sell items" not "sale items" My brain and my fingers are not coordinated sometimes. I actually can spell very well, I just can't always type very well.Patoui
POSTED: Thu, 01/27/2011 - 9:51am
Marketing....
I am so not in love with what I do. I used to really like it but lately I find it more and more stressful, demanding and there is so much favoritism in my department that it just stinks. But I am in the process of getting my certification to become a Personal Trainer. My dream is to get a job in a spa and also be able to teach wellness classes there. So in the meantime, I just come to work every day. Do my job and then go home and study. I also want to work with dolphins one day. I also am a photographer and want to pursue that and maybe one day write book. I'm a total dreamer but without dreams what do you have? PattyVintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:17pm
Dear Patty
Please,please,please fo;;ow your dreams.You have so much to offer.OXO JeanVintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 01/28/2011 - 10:18pm
I am in
typo hell.FOLLOW.Naja
POSTED: Fri, 01/28/2011 - 6:49am
Like Jean said
elsewhere "dreams become realities"!!! Keep walking!!! You'll get there!Naja
POSTED: Thu, 01/27/2011 - 8:28am
Relations...
So, I am Head of the Communication, Public and International Relations Department and I really enjoy it! I work for the greek state, that is for a public entity known as the hellenic (=greek) National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government. We organise or participate in all sorts of conferences that deal with public administration here in Greece, so I have to co-operate with various public services quite often, but we are also partners with many other european institutions that carry similar tasks and have the same mission. I am responsible for communicating with them and arranging cooperations. I even get to decorate our seminar classes, which means "shopping" for my job. It wasn't like this a few ago though. I used to lead a Dpt that dealt with co-funding (state and EU funding) and it was full of EU bureaucracy which I hated! I am so happy now! I found the right opportunity (since the post I 'm holding now was my dream ever since I joined the institution and at some point it was headless) and just asked my Secretary General to move me to where I am today! He trusted me and I'll always owe him for that!Patoui
POSTED: Thu, 01/27/2011 - 9:40am
Wonderful Job Naja!
Your job sounds very fulfilling and interesting. You are very fortunate. I am so thrilled for you. Ladies this shows it can be done!Robbyn
POSTED: Tue, 10/19/2010 - 5:44pm
MY JOB STINKS....
By now many of you know that I hate my job. I work in a school cafeteria and I hate it. I love the kids, and almost all of the people there, I just hate the work. It's not me. I have started looking and I have put the word out there to a lot of people, so I'm hoping something comes thru for me soon! And Violette, I hope you found the job of your dreams! Robbyn, xo, :Dncmntngrl
POSTED: Thu, 07/22/2010 - 8:50pm
So interesting to see this today.
I am a dental hygienist and I hate my job. I used to have a passion for it, but I'm so burnt out that I absolutely dread going to work. And just this week, I've decided to go back to school to get a degree in Fine Arts. I want to become a professional painter. The area I live in is fantastic for the arts. In fact, I have several patients involved in the industry. I'm scared to death, but I know that I will love doing this.nix21
POSTED: Wed, 08/04/2010 - 9:42pm
Hey good
for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. If its in our power to shift direction, because, at the end will be a happier, healthier us, it would be irresponsible of us to ignore that feeling. As the advert says ladies...we're worth it.jas
POSTED: Sun, 07/25/2010 - 9:46am
Balance
Hi, I'm throwing in my 5 cents for what it is worth. As a businesswoman what I see the mistake that many women (men too) make is that they let the creative ideas become more important the the "BUSINESS OF CREATIVE IDEAS/ACTIONS" What I mean is that creativity, the arts...are wonderful and that the reality is in order to succeed you must understand business. YOu must either have a functional partnership with someone who does the business end or you must learn to do the business end. It is easier for you to learn to do it also...and it will make you a more well rounded, balanced, interesting person. JasMarilyn
POSTED: Fri, 07/23/2010 - 2:05pm
Well done
Well done for following your dream. However scarey it seems enjoy it and use your talents well. You are one lucky girl. Looking forward to hearing how you get on. Take care.Nya_Nya
POSTED: Fri, 07/23/2010 - 3:43am
I admire you!
First, because you have the talent (which I don't), but mostly because you dare to follow your dreams. We are usually to lazy or afraid to do that. I hope you will love it!Vintage1944
POSTED: Fri, 07/23/2010 - 3:29pm
Not for a minute do..
I believe that you don't have talent.Look again,my dear.Nya_Nya
POSTED: Sat, 07/24/2010 - 5:07am
I didn't mean it like that!
I do have talent, I know - it just doesn't lie in that direction :) I can play the piano quite well, for example. But I can't draw for the life of me :)Vintage1944
POSTED: Sat, 07/24/2010 - 10:23am
Whew!
I am glad you see you have talent.Being able to play music is a wonderful talent.Nya_Nya
POSTED: Sun, 07/25/2010 - 3:21am
I've had an idea!
Jean, you just gave me a wonderful idea. I think many of us need to reassess ourselves and regain our self worth. Thinking about our talents and sharing them might make us feel better about ourselves, don't you think? I am going to open a new topic under ''Well being'' in which everyone can tell us about their talents, perhaps seeing themselves in another light and gaining self-respect.Vintage1944
POSTED: Sun, 07/25/2010 - 8:33am
Ideas
Love ideas ,especially really good ones as yours is.You are so right.Thank you!Vintage1944
POSTED: Thu, 07/22/2010 - 9:02pm
Following your passion
takes lots of courage to do what you are doing.Best of luck and welcome.Please keep in touch.JeanChoco
POSTED: Wed, 06/16/2010 - 9:11am
scared of the art department
Hello everyone! Very interesting to read what everyone is doing for a living!Good idea to ask! I´ve been trained to be a management assistant in audiovisual media. I´ve been told that this means something different in other countries (e.g.US or GB) than it does here in Germany but I´m guessing the assisting part is the same everywhere. I work at a company that produces movies for cinema and TV as well as serials and documentaries.I assist two of our producers that do several different projects. Mostly that means arranging meetings with authors,planning their travels, copying scripts, writing letters...but my big dream is to become an art director! I worked in the art department of different TV productions (again as an assistant but an assistant to the art director)and discovered my love for this work. You get to explore the world around you (searching for possible sets that fit the story), talk to so many different kind of people (once I had to phone all kinds of parks and farmers to ask if they had a meadow with wild flowers that blossomed in about two weeks time...I ended up with a really nice beekeeper who allowed us to film on his meadow "You ain´t afraid of bees are ya?") and finally decorate the sets with furniture that you picked out. You get to see some incredible places, meet interesting people and work creatively! The art directors I met advised me to get to know the process of making a film with all the writing, calculating, hiring people, casting actors and the actual shooting process to understand how all the different departments work together, before I start to work in the art department. So that is what I am still doing. But I can´t help to start worrying wether I will ever be creative enough to stand out so I get hired...I love the job and the lifestyle that goes with it but it´s still a very competitive and hard business where everything depends on who you know...I`m a bit scared...