Career Advice

[4588686]

So I don't talk a lot about the more professional aspects of my life here but here is a background and then a solicitation for advice because I honestly respect the wisdom of many people here.

 

I graduate from a good school in 2012 pretty burned out.  I had been asked to join an organization some friends started to enact a grant in Bosnia.  We went to Bosnia and basically started a camp for kids to promote inter-ethnic and religious tolerance.  That went well and it required a lot of logistics and planning.  I returned and began looking for a job.  I didn't really focus on career type jobs because I had no idea what I wanted to do and just wanted to make some basic income.  I volunteered at an Obama campaign office and was offered a low-level community organizing job.  After that I was recruited to do a fellowship for the Inaugural Committee where I basically recruited people and organizations and organized events across the state.  I was also working at a retail store as a second job at this time.  Now that's done, I'm still working the retail job for money and I'm applying to more career type jobs because I discovered that I enjoyed aspects of organizing and activism.  

 

I have a few potential jobs.  I've gotten a lot of interest for overseas teaching jobs.  I think I could make a decent salary on contract teaching in China, India, Bahrain, or Mexico.  The job in Mexico is particularly interesting because I would like to become proficient in Spanish for future left wing jobs.  

 

But I also know a woman who is an influential person in DC who wants to set me up for some internships in DC.  They would probably be unpaid but solid.  I don't mind working an additional job to support myself but I don't know exactly which positions she might be willing to offer.  

 

I also may be interested in just continuing with community and labor organizing.

 

My group from Bosnia will also be applying for a large grant from the American embassy in Bosnia so the possibility may exist to return to Bosnia to continue the work I began there.  But that won't receive an answer from the embassy until around late May.  So I would have to turn down anything that involved relocating until then if I wanted to stay open for that.  

 

So I'm somewhat flumixed since all of these sort of came up all at once.  I just worked for about a month after the Inaugural Committee and never really applied for anything because I was thinking and now I have a lot of possibilities which are highly divergent and I'm honestly not sure what to do.  I'd like to gain more experience before returning to Bosnia but maybe this opportunity won't present itself again.  I'm worried about just turning down the teaching jobs because I've interviewed for them so if I turn them down I don't know if I'll have that possibility again.  

[4588686]

I guess my central dilemma is whether to now go for breadth or depth.  I have a reasonable bredth of experience for a recent graduate and teaching and living abroad may expand that.  Particularly in areas where knowing the language, like the Gulf Arab world or China can be valuable in itself, or to focus on what I already have experience with, political organizing.  There isn't that much politically going on and if I only go for a year then I could be back in the country in time to participate in the elections.  On the other hand I could have more responsibility and local influence if I use the next few years to gain organizing experience in time for the legislative and Presidential races.  

[Lil Red]

i think you should go for teaching and living abroad. :)

[Winchester]

 living abroad. :)

 

Yeah. Get out.

[Winchester]

Maybe she meant "live as a broad".

 

That would make sense for you, too.

[Maggyie]

One of my best friends is teaching English in China! She hates China but likes the job, China is just a really dirty, unhealthy place particularly Beijing where she lives. These jobs are easy to get and it's a good way to have an adventure. A great alternative to the carp economy in some parts of the US! One problem is that she is trying to make the journey home, now, and it's hard to interview from across the world (even on Skype, the work hours don't match up) and she hasn't really built an American career network. So the transitioning back is tough but it could be worth it! Plus depending on how you like the country, maybe you will decide to never make the transition :)

[Era Might]

I assume you don't have a family to take care of? That changes everything, IMO, and in that case I would suggest you not think too much. Rather than focusing on what you will do, focus on how you can develop new skills. The more skills you can develop (and prove), the more flexibility you will have down the road. I highly highly highly highly recommend you start developing tech skills, as many as possible...that will be a major differentiator in the job market. If you can develop a solid base of skills, you will find work pretty much anywhere.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Era Might

[Guest Allie]

Connections--and the experience-- I made during an internship last year got me my current paying job.

[Evangetholic]

Internships like Allies said lead to connections which lead to jobs.

 

Hasan, my idea of you. My thought of what would make you the most humanly happy you can be is something that has you living self-sacrificially. I think (and I do not know you and have different values than you so take it for what it's worth) the place where your success and happiness lie will be in some kind of teaching or activism--but especially activism. I think you'd feel eventually like you'd wasted your considerable talents if you didn't pour yourself into helping Lesbian goats adopt baby squids or whatever. I think you should stay in country and build your Alinskyian (thanks for that word StMichael) skillset. Honestly given the tenner of American politics at the moment the Republican party will be running a full on fascist in 2016 and the Dems will have graduated to actual (born) baby killing, so stay in the fight here. I think you have the ability to help fight the insanity, growing, poverty, and extremism of the current political climate here.

 

I'm in pain so I possibly made even less sense than usual.

 

Peace and for what it's worth prayers to Jesus and Mary for you.

Edited March 16, 2013 by Evangetholic

[Evangetholic]

.

[Didacus]

Best advice I can give: become an engineer!

 

(Like our new papa Francis!)

 

 

Or I could just hire you as the newest member of didacorp, but that would have to remain a secret!

[MIKolbe]

I think your heart is in DC.

Go, work for peanuts, see it as an investment that will pay off in the future.

You're young, don't sweat da benjamins yet...

Then again, you leaving the continental is a huge plus. For me.

I love you.

[dUSt]

Become a priest.

[MIKolbe]

In Antarctica

[Anastasia13]

I think your heart is in DC.

Go, work for peanuts, see it as an investment that will pay off in the future.

You're young, don't sweat da benjamins yet...

Then again, you leaving the continental is a huge plus. For me.

I love you.

 

Governor of Alaska. You can use your strong international relations skills while looking toward Russia from Alaska.

 

IMO, travel is great, but not at the expense of connections. If you spend a year or two teaching abroad, will it help you get somewhere you want to be in 5 years?