bleh. bleh, I say!

[aroraborealis]

I've been having a rough week or so on the job/life planning front. I had a eureka moment last week of realizing that I really don't want to get a job. I'm not excited about the sort of work that I know how to look for, and I can't think of a job that I would be really happy to start doing all the time. This explains the fact that I often have to kick myself to keep active in looking and applying for jobs, but I'm not really sure what to do about it.

I'm coming up on the end of my savings (in a few months), but I don't feel like money is my primary issue right now, as I figure that if/when I get desperate, there are always jobs out there that would pay the bills, even if they wouldn't be rewarding. And, in a pinch, I have less expensive options than living in the Boston area. And, and. But I do think that the fact that I'm seeing the deadline approaching is making me feel more immediate stress about it than I was earlier in the fall.

But the real struggle is that I look at job listings, and I don't see anything that makes me feel jazzed. There are organizations that I'd like to work with, but few positions that are exciting. Many of those that might be exciting want people with a master's degree. And, in fact, if I don't feel like I'm going to be rewarded by any job, should I just find one that will fill my time and forget about trying to find one that makes me at least somewhat happy/rewarded?

Part of the reason I ran away to Guatemala last year was that I just didn't know what I wanted to be doing. Now, I know what I want to be doing and I'm feeling daunted about getting there, and I'd kind of like to earn some money and be here (Boston) a little longer before going off and doing it (going to South America). But if I spend down my entire savings, I've kind of defeated the financial side of that, and if I'm just going to be glum about there not being jobs that are exciting to me, am I just wasting my time here and should just get going to South America or wherever my next stop will be?

And that brings me to feeling stymied about finding work in South America. I could go volunteer, and I may end up doing that, but my volunteering experience in Guatemala was imperfect, so I'm reluctant to make my plans around something that could be so hit or miss. And then there's my (no doubt funk-induced) despair regarding ever getting fluent enough in Spanish to be an actual translator/interpreter.

Current challenges, then, include:
How do I sell myself to jobs for which I'm, on paper, underqualified, but at which I would kick ass if I actually could get in the door?
Figure out how to get work in South America. Does anyone have any hints or suggestions regarding NGO work?
Does anyone know of stores that need a buyer to go to Central or South America and do purchasing for them? :)

Comments

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

Don't be daunted about getting what you want.

Do it. Even if it's in little chunks, make sure each step you take is towards your goal.

I've thought back at times on my life and accomplishing things I wanted to, and how very glad I am I took those hard steps. I love being a midwife, really I can't think of a better job for me, but trying to go to school and have my own children and intern for two years, etc, etc, was a crazy ammount to ask to get to where I am.

You will get fluent enough! But probably not by living here (hard to say that really, but that's my take on it).

What I would do, is to go for a volunteer thing to get yourself there - even though sometimes they blow chunks, and look for reall work when you are there.

However, really my advice is that you not leave the Boston area!

p.s. I have something here that may help in the relaxation department, you just need to pick it up.

p.p.s. I made a hawaiian flower soap yesterday that is Wunderbar!

[beah.livejournal.com]

My experience was that starting with a good grasp of the language (which you have), 6 months living full time in Spanish was enough to be fluent enough to translate. It helped that I was studying translation at the time. Diplomatic or instantaneous translation probably requires more specialized training and more experience, but I would think immersion is the first step.

JSI (John Snow Inc.) is a Boston org that works with international NGOs. You might try to research them, maybe see if you can do an informational interview...

Also, you might consider national orgs who do work you like and who might have arms in Latin America. Oxfam? Amnesty International? Planned Parenthood's political arm? Again, they might be able to at least give informational interviews if you're trying to figure out how to get involved with an NGO.

There's also a magazine, Transitions Abroad, that you might find useful. They have all kinds of helpful travel/international work/study information.

And if you learn the answer to the "how to sell yourself" job question, let me know! I am officially back on the market too.

[orangelemon.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, we should REALLY have lunch and talk. Really. Let's plan it! I can make time pretty much any day this week or next (except Sat.) Weren't we talking a bit about all this stuff a while back that night that we had Mexican food? Let's really talk it all over. I might have some ideas that you think are worth pursuing. I'd certainly love to brainstorm with you. I think you would find it worthwhile. I think what beah, above, says is good advice. I also might have some advice or contacts for some of these organizations (like at Oxfam, unless you know someone, you might need to volunteer to get in the door there. Otherwise you practically have to set yourself on fire outside their office to get any notice.)

What is your dream job? What do you really want to do - the master's degree and whatever notwithstanding? In my experience, if you speak Spanish, you often don't need the advanced degree. Also, there are neighborhoods in Boston where everyday life is conducted entirely in Spanish. I probably spoke as much Spanish in my professional life in East Boston as I did in MX.

Also, some good advice my sister gave me: when choosing what job to take, don't only think of THIS job, think of the NEXT job you'd like to have. That is helping me a lot in making the current choices I have to make.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Yes, let's do lunch! Tomorrow doesn't work for me, but Friday would.

I'd definitely love to hear your thoughts!

[orangelemon.livejournal.com]

Can we look at days next week? This week is getting a little bit full.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Yes, any day next week should work, too :)

[wolfkitn.livejournal.com]

sheesh, do i know where you're coming from. it's similar to where i was about 10 years ago when i was going crazy working for the software company trying to make everyone but me happy. i quit and blew through most of my savings over 6 months, but i figured out (by volunteering for adult literacy in somerville) that i was getting a lot more fulfillment by helping people than i was by writing and editing software manuals. i only got paying jobs in software because i was NOT going to let my parents convince (tr: force) me to return to chicago and think that they were right, and so i needed to make enough money to live. and i was *not* going to leave boston. :) eventually i got around to applying to grad school, and the rest as they say...

but that was me, and this is you.

depending on the job (of course), i think you can probably sell yourself such that you would at least get in the door somehow. i think it takes some creative writing, and i think you can do that. what are the jobs that make your heart go pitty-pat? :) what makes you, on paper, underqualified -- a degree? years of experience?

one practical suggestion: make a huge list of everyone you know and how they may be able to help you. maybe they know people in some area that is useful to you, maybe they can be on a motivational phone call on-call list to get you moving when you don't want to move, maybe they make awesome chocolate chip cookies. :) but seriously, think of everyone and anyone, and then ask them how and if they can help. you may be surprised what kind of help you can get, and how it can send you in the right direction.

i'll leave this off with a favorite quote of mine:

"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favour all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way.

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it. Begin it now".

—J. W. von Goethe

*hugs*!!

[orangelemon.livejournal.com]

Sorry to be posting twice, but I've been thinking about your jobsearch, partly because we have such similar interests.

One question you ask is: How do I sell myself to jobs for which I'm, on paper, underqualified, but at which I would kick ass if I actually could get in the door?

I think the answer to this is that if you would kick ass, there is no reason to be unqualified on paper. You need to write yourself up in a way in which you aren't lying, but that shows that you can do what they are looking for. If you are willing to customize your resume for every job you apply for, this is eminently possible.

[ghislaine.livejournal.com]

I'm up waaaay too late with a sick kid so my brain isn't enough in gear to respond to much here. The one thought I have is for you to contact Ann Garvin (Ben's partner) who has mucho contacts with NGOs, many of which service spanish speaking countries. If you don't have her email, ask me and I'll forward it to ya. I bet she even has some contacts in S. America that could get you a decent volunteering gig.

[snoway.livejournal.com]

I was thinking that volunteering in an area around where you live..say a shelter or womens centre, might help you find out more of what your looking for. Seeing as your in the city i'm sure your Spanish could possibly be an asset. Once you get out and about it's can be amazing some of the opportunities that pop up :-)

[dancingwolfgrrl.livejournal.com]

There's a book called something like "Alternatives to the Peace Corps" that has a ZILLION NGOs listed in it. Have you considered teaching English while living in South America? It seems to be a fairly accessible way to bring in the bucks, and you still get the immersion experience in Spanish.

Have I poked you a zillion times to look at Middlebury College's immersion programs? They do a 4-summers immersion-only M.A. in a language, which might get you two things you want :)