Any tips
So here's the deal. I graduated from college in '96 with a BA in history and went into a 7 year career teaching non-traditional education on boats. I worked with at risk adjudicated and special needs students in Baltimore and took them sailing, canoeing, and rowing. I became a department head and really got into grant writing, curriculum development, budgeting and (the coolest part) the management and training of staff. After several years I decided I wasn't making enough money and moved to the for-profit sector where I worked driving boats, on tugs and other commercial ventures. I even opened my own business in there doing a whole muck of things maritime, but I concentrated on education and surveying boats for insurance policies (I eventually closed my business when health insurance became too costly). Now I have a child of my own (7 months) and I am dreadfully unhappy doing what I do. I want very badly to get back into the management side of education. I have been applying to every job I can find on non-profit websites, careerbuilder, monster, and craigslist. I have not yet heard back from one single place. Did I make a major error in switching careers when I did? Is it possible that people look at my resume and say "he's been out of the loop too long?" Or is it just that hearing back from people takes a long time? I guess I've been at it two months now. Any advice you all would be REALLY appreciated. Thanks! Bonkers, If, as I suspect, you're using a reverse chronological resume, readers could be saying, "he's been out of the loop too long." You might give some thought to using a functional, or skills-based resume to highlight your experience, and take the focus away from the gap in your relevant experience. It can take people a long time to make decision, especially in your case getting into things toward Holiday time and the end of the year. Realize, too, that employers often get hundreds of responses to postings, so it can not only take time, but you're also up against a lot of competition. Whenever you can though, you should be making some follow-up contact within a couple weeks of submitting your application. Otherwise, you don't know if you're in or out of the loop, or if they're still working through the process. Two months is no time at all in today's competitive job search. On average, they take about six months. Good luck. | |
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Career Tips
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