Hawaii Nesties
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Job Poll
I recently got laid off from my job so I'm taking the opportunity to explore career paths. My previous experience is in finance and cost management for government contracts (sounds exciting, huh?), but it's not really the stuff dreams are made of. What I'm struggling with is to figure out what kind of job I really WANT to do. I'm curious as to what kind of jobs are out there and maybe get some ideas to explore.
1) What do you do and what does it involve?
2) What would your dream job be?
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer?
Re: Job Poll
1) What do you do and what does it involve? I'm a library assistant at a university. I assist patrons with borrowing items, answer most of their questions , set up displays, shelve/retrieve books, take care of the distance education students' library needs, and I've done interlibrary loan stuff.
2) What would your dream job be? I'd looooove to be a cataloger - this is the person at the library (sometimes a dedicated role, sometimes shared with other duties) who enters the information about an item in the library's system, assigns it a Dewey number, that kind of thing (it's more complex than I'm describing it, but I'm guessing you're not interested in the details lol). Probably sounds boring, but it's right up my mildly OCD alley.
Every once in a while I have nostalgic thoughts about graphic design, but then I remember how much I hated dealing with clients who liked to ruin perfectly good designs with their own "fabulous" ideas...
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer?
Aside from salary/benefits...
Opportunity for progression. In my last job, there was nowhere I could go after my current role, and it sucked donkey balls. Even if you think that's all you want to do, it's nice to have the option available to you in the future.
A positive atmosphere. It can be a bit hard to determine before you're actually working someplace, but a negative atmosphere can make even an awesome job turn awful. I really liked my last job, but my boss made me so miserable that even if she offered me my dream job and a million dollars, I'd never ever work for her again.
I know I should say "doing something you love" but I'll be honest - even though I do really enjoy my job, I'm not the kind of person that HAS to be doing something I love. I can be content just going in every day and doing my thing, then going home. I don't know if that's good or bad - just the way I am!
1) What do you do and what does it involve? I'm an elementary music teacher....pretty self-explanatory! I teach K-5 students. They come to me twice a week for 30 minutes and we sing, play basic instruments, learn to read basic music, music history, etc.
2) What would your dream job be? I really do love my job. It's mostly lots of fun, although it definitely can be exhausting. I'd also love to start a catering business someday, maybe on the side, or when I retire. I love parties and cooking/baking.
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer?
Well, for me, I need my own classroom and to not "travel." Many music teachers don't get their own classroom, they have to share with art or something, or go around to each regular classroom. Also, many music teachers in smaller school districts have to travel to 2 or 3 different schools throughout the week, even sometimes in the same day. This leads to feeling like you don't belong anywhere. I need to be a part of a school and feel respected, and I could never work somewhere that I didn't feel this could happen.
Secondly, I need resources. Education resources in this country are woefully inequitable from school to school. I worked for 6 years in a district that did not supply me with books, pencils....I barely even got to make copies. It was very difficult. Where I am now I get new textbooks every 4 years, as many copies as I want, and a well-stocked supply closet. I also have the use of a multi-million dollar auditorium for my concerts with newer lighting and sound systems, and a (small, but existent!) costume budget every year. I also have a SmartBoard!
Third, I guess just an atmosphere of respect, cooperation, and flexibility from both the administrators and other teachers.
Redshoe - my Mum and brother are both Librarians! My Mum is a rare books librarian for the National Archives - so she receives all this old material and then has to catalogue it by determining date (type of paper, chain lines, etc) and authorship. She says it's like being in a mystery novel every day!
1) What do you do and what does it involve? I'm an English & Drama teacher (right now I teach grade 8, but I'll be doing 7 & 8 next year, and hopefully I'll be moving back up to senior high the following year).
2) What would your dream job be? I think this is it. I really, really love what I do. I'm challenged and entertained everyday.
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer? I look for support from the administration. That's super important for me. Unlike Leah, I don't have my own classroom, but most teachers jump from room to room in my school, so it's not that big a deal for me. I look for a place where there's room for professional development, and where I can explore new avenues. I'm also looking for a place with staff who work together. I'm not down with hoarding resources and lesson plans. Generosity and communication, those are also huge for me.Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
1) What do you do and what does it involve? I'm a hair stylist....pretty straight forward on what it involves.
After being in HR for 15+ years I made the switch and got licensed nearly 2 years ago. I still do some HR work, mostly payroll, for a law firm.
2) What would your dream job be? I'm doing it. Although, I still have aspirations to be a barista. Oh yeah, when I dream, I dream big! LOL!
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer? I don't know that I could ever go to work for someone else again. I've been self-employed for over 7 years and I love the freedom and flexibility it offers. Yes, it does mean you better work your ass off or you don't get paid, but you get to control that.
If I were to go to work for an employer I'd look for flexibility, benefits, and a cooperative, positive culture.
1) What do you do and what does it involve?
I'm an administrative assistant to the VP of Sales for my company (a veterinary products distributor). I run a lot of sales reports, track our reps' commissions, and act as a sort of "catch-all" for any sales-related questions or issues. My boss and I are the only people representing the Sales department at the corporate level (everyone else is in the field), so a lot of work comes my way.
2) What would your dream job be?
To own my own business - either a little souvenir shop (not a kitschy one) on the oregon coast, or a small pub/live music venue in portland. Ideally we'd have the pub until we retired, then open the shop, I guess!
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer?
#1 for me is always a positive work environment, a group that works as a team and respects each other. I'm not interested in infighting and drama, and I want a boss who values what I do and appreciates my efforts. I don't care how much you pay me, or how enjoyable the actual work is... if I'm miserable day in and day out, it won't be worth it.
2 - Health benefits. My sister and mom both lost their jobs and struggled and worried through illnesses without insurance. There are some resources out there, but they're not nearly adequate. I never want to be without it, if I can help it.
3 - Stability & growth potential. I want to work for a company that's stable and run with a focus on longevity, not obsession with short-term bottom lines. I don't want to live in fear of losing my job, or see my coworkers lose theirs. Growth means new opportunities for promotion within the company, and that's always a good thing.
1) Washington-based reporter covering Congress and federal issues for newspapers in Ohio and Missouri.
2) Would love to write a book and live off the proceeds. Haha. Am thinking it would be fun to be a photographer! I think my dream job has always been to be a travel writer.... We'll see!
3) Career advancement & job duties / salary & benefits / location
Malia & Dave & Alexa
Happily married since 2-17-08! Three since 9-9-09!
Baby Blog
2) What would your dream job be? something outside. i've realized that i HATE being stuck in an office, esp since i can see the water from my office...grrrr. if i could afford to live off of $8/hr, i would totally sell snorkeling tours
3) What are the top 3 things you look for in a job/employer? pay/vacation time/advancement ops and 4) flexibility
OMG this is so amazing - I don't even dare to hope for a job like this! I would LOVE to work for a Museum or national library and get to deal with all the old and rare material, but you pretty much have to wait for someone to die before you can get one of those jobs.
Alyson & Phil | Planning Bio | Married Bio!
Dates & Quinces Blog
I did not know this! Now I have to plot how I can attend.