Anyone ever use a career counselor?

lnelson · November 2009

I'm in a pickle: A couple years ago, I got a degree in journalism. Oops! Since then, I've been watching the profession die a slow and horrible death and have lost multiple jobs when my employers went out of business. I'm going crazy. I know there's a recession on, but there must be SOMETHING I can do! Anyone ever use a career counselor? I know journalism can't be the only career for me, but I really need some guidance. Help me internet!!

gross · November 2009

*Help me internet!!

Are you serious?

lnelson · November 2009

Gross wrote: *Help me internet!!

Are you serious?

Jeepers, I didn't realize this posting would draw mockery.

And no, "Help me internet" is an acknowledgment that this is a little like whistling in the dark. My experience with Brooklynian, though, is that whistling in the dark sometimes yields interesting and useful results. There's a specific question in my post, and the implicit question underlying it is "And if so, have you found that career counselor to be useful?" Underlying that is the even more broad question, "Or do you have any other suggestions?"

whynot_31 · November 2009

nope, never used a career counselor

but, assuming you can write as a result of that degree, how about working as a grant/proposal writer for a non-profit?

Lots of non-profits no longer have development departments, and are desperate for consultant types who will crank out a proposal in the required format by the potential funders due date.

lnelson · November 2009

i'm definitely interested in grant-writing, but i don't have any experience. i've read grant proposals, i understand the general idea of how grants are set up and what they need to include, and i'd be happy to take a shot at it for anyone who'd want me to. ... but those (i.e. the previous sentence) aren't usually the sort of credentials that get you work. if i could do it for free someone's assistant as a way of building up experience, that would be great - and i've made that offer once or twice. but people at non-profs tend to be so overworked that they don't have time to take on apprentices. ...or maybe i'm not pitching myself well or to the right people.

gross · November 2009

I didn't mean to mock, Sorry. But your post has a 'the world is happening to me' tone and I interpreted than to mean you are privileged and lazy. I am not sure what your degree has prepared you for, but I think we can all agree that one's degree becomes just a suggestion when your are living on unemployment benefits.

If I may be so bold to give you a couple of suggestions.
1. Get a sense of urgency.
2. If what you do is write then that is what you should do. Considering the amount of free time you have currently, you should be able to write all the time.
3. If you going write something make sure its not some snarky post on comment board.

Hope that helps. Good luck.

http://gizmodo.com/5413610/how-a-hs-dropout-became-the-youngest-boss-at-apple

walkathon · November 2009

I did not think your request was "snarky" at all and as a former journalism student (though I didn't go into the field full-time) you have my utmost sympathy being in this industry in this awful era of layoff after layoff.

About ten years ago I went to FEGS (www.fegs.org) and they were reasonably priced and excellent at giving me career counseling that changed my life. Click the "employment/workplace" category and though they list a Brooklyn office I went to the Van Dam Street office in Manhattan, which had one of the best career counselors in New York City, Barry Luftig or Lustig, who actually trains counselors as well. They'll give you vocational tests to find which field your skills and personality match up with and then give you great advice about what your concrete options are (more schooling or how to find a job in the field they recommend). As a journalist you have very versatile skills (talking to people, communication, and writing skills) that should easily translate into another field.

Ironically, after getting the counseling I ended up at a career counseling firm for four years, though not as a career counselor, and I strongly recommend working with a counselor for your job search. They have lots of knowledge of how to get a job, which field is for you, and inspire you and get you out of a rut. One of the firm's cardinal rules was not to sit at home alone just e-mailing your resume day after day and competing with thousands of others..

brooklynjack · November 2009

I have used some career counseling. When I got laid off back in 02 I got outplacement with Hewit. It was good but I'm sure very expensive.

I've found the resources at Workforce 1 helpful when I went to the office in lower Manhattan, again in 02 -03. The career center at the Mid Manhattan branch of the New York Public Library is also quite helpful.

Last time I had to re invent myself I went to the Department of Labor short term demand list and looked at the job projections

http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workforceindustrydata/descriptor.asp?reg=nyc

and compared that to my interests and my skill set and made a decision on what career path to follow next. Then came the hard part. I had to get off the internet and start making phone calls and getting informational interviews asking people in that industry what job prospects were like, what the job was like and most importantly who might hire someone like me. You get a name, you call them up and say so and so said you hire people like me and hey, it's a referral. I went to trade shows and talked to people

All that said, Journalism dead? With everyone and their brother blogging (isn't that journalism?) maybe you just need to re imagine what it is you do.

I'f you like the idea of grant writing start calling non profits on the phone for informational interviews and ask about the job and how best break in and where to do it. I'm afraid the answer isn't on the internet, those people that can most help you don't have the time

brooklynpotter · November 2009

i don't think coming here deserves any kind of snark.

i used to be a magazine editor/writer, and became an artist five years ago (likely because i couldn't find ANY magazine jobs and at 40-ish had aged out of the home/lifestyle/women's mags i'd always worked for.

i've never used a career counselor, but it can't hurt. i also know a really great life counselor in PS

brooklynjack · November 2009

brooklynpotter wrote: i don't think coming here deserves any kind of snark.

Don't know if that was directed at me but I did not intend to snark. If it did, my apologies.

brooklynpotter · November 2009

not directed at you AT ALL

rickie lee · November 2009

You probably already know about this, but here's a link: http://www.journalismjobs.com/

It's an excellent, very helpful site.

Maybe you have to move, or maybe not. But there are journalism jobs out there! As you know, the field is just in the process of transformation, but it is not going away or becoming obsolete. Also, open up to being totally creative by thinking of alternatives: broadcast, pr, in-house corporate promotions, etc.

Another tip: make a list of things you love and then think about how you could get employed writing about them.

Good luck!

danielle123 · November 2009

If you are interested in grant writing, you may want to contact Carolina Salguero: http://www.portsidenewyork.org/ They are looking for volunteer grant writers: http://www.portsidenewyork.org/volunteer.htm

The position would be unpaid but you may want to negotiate receiving a small percentage of the grant as compensation if you are successful in getting a grant. Even if you are unsuccessful, you may be learning a skill that you may be able to charge for at a later date.

Here's another organization that may need grant-writing help that is also waterfront related (who knows, maybe you could specialize): http://www.waterfrontmuseum.org/

In addition, I have 2 friends who write grants, one a Dean at BU, the other more junior (and local). Either one would probably charge an hourly rate to teach you how to write a good grant proposal. If you are interested in having me check with them to ask if they are interested in doing so, please PM me.

Good luck!

veets · November 2009

I don't have advice but I am happy that this thread went from almost the bottom of the trash can back up to clean, helpful real Brooklynian responses.

Inelson, I can appreciate your predicament. I was an English major (back in the year one) and did some writing and teaching but at 30 I kind of fell in to a career in Real Estate Management. It worked out well but it just happened. I think if one gets to the point where they know they need to switch careers, getting some counseling and real direction would be a good idea.
best of good luck.

1st_streeter · November 2009

A lot of journalists are going into PR. You're a recent grad so you might be able to land an entry level job.

Also, check out idealist.org for nonprofit writing jobs.

brooklynjack · November 2009

I will also mention that, mentioned to me many times, but not tried by me, has been the book _What Color Is Your Parachute_

walkathon · December 2009

Yes, career counselors I have worked with strongly recommend "What Color is Your Parachute?" as well as "Do What You Are", "Why Should Extroverts Make All the Money? Networking Made Easy for the Introvert" by Dr. Fredi Balzano (currently out of print), and "Through the Brick Wall" by Kate Wendleton. Good luck!

lnelson · December 2009

Thank you! I heart Brooklynian! If you have more ideas, keep 'em coming!

Anyone ever use a career counselor?

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories