I dont know what I am qualified forI am 34 years old, and am a residential loan officer for a large bank. I have been working at the same company for over five years in its call-center. Spending 8 to 9 hours a day on the phone has burned me out; I am beginning to hate dealing with the public and I am beginning to loath Corporate America. Moreover, my income has dramatically declined due to changes in compensation, me having to take time off from work, a fickle market, and my now general apathy to push to get that extra sale. Each day, I struggle to get out of bed and make it to work, but being a responsible adult, I do what I need to do and put on a "smiling face" as much as I can. However, I feel like I am on the edge. I want a real career, but clueless as to what I want. I just know what I don't want, and that is a career in which my income is unstable and one that doesn't deal with the public. I am afraid that I don't have many skills other than what I have been trained to do; before this job, I worked two years as a roadside advisor in yet another call-center. My BA is in English Literature, and although I consider myself a quick learner and fairly smart, I don't feel that I measure up--especially considering that I live in MI, which has a high umemployment rate. Hence, the competitive market. I really need some advice. I have considered many fields, and even going back to school, but I am now beginning to feel overwhelmed and that there is nothing out there that will interest me as well as earn me a good living. I am not asking for much, just some direction. You have a BA in English literature -- how about teaching? If you are adventuresome, how about teaching overseas? You can live somewhere else, save your money, and learn another culture all at the same time.
Just type in the online search engine teaching overseas and you should be able to find something... I can only offer you sympathy at this point. I'm in MA - w/Harvard and MIT in my area, not to mention about 30 other excellent schools, the market seems brutal. If I get any ideas, I'll share w/you! Actually, w/your background, would you be eligible for any of the Finance training programs, such as large banks have? E.g., UBS; Chase; Citibank; etc. My ex-husband went thru such a program after undergrad in order to become an investment banker. When that career ended, he was able to get into a top MBA program based on his prior experience. I don't know if this interests you, and obviously I don't know too, too much about these programs, other than that they are seemingly excellent career launchers. The pay is good, too. Go see a career counselor. There should be one at your alma mater, your local community college or check the phone book. They can help you to figure out what your skills, abilities, interestes and experienes add up to as well as discuss related careers you may not have considered.
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Career Tips
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