Career Changes
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Advice
Frustrated highly gifted husband can't find challenging work
July 2003
I may have some bias, but my husband seems to be so smart to me. He is so good at problem-solving, and very scientifically- oriented. Although he dropped out of high school, he managed to enter the best college in our country. If he is interested in anything, he'll learn it right away. Anybody closely working with him thinks he's a genius. The problems are he is easily bored; never keeps good grades; so afraid of failure --he is a perfectionist--most of all, he does not really know what he wants to do. He was a science teacher in our country and was employed in a computer company in Bay area before the company can't afford to keep him any more. Overall, he is a creative, kind, warm, and cheerful person, but quite unhappy because he can't find a chellenging work. He came to this country to be with me while I am studying for my Ph.D.
Now he is considering a totally new career: he wants to apply for MBA program. I have some questions. Can he get admission although he has very low GPA?--I think he could, but he is so afraid of failure that any success story would give him positive feedback. How can I support him? I want him to be happy whatever career he choose. Especially, I would appreciate anybody who can give a good career suggestion. Thank you in advance.
Your husband may want to consider law school over an MBA program. One of the joys of law (particularly for a sole practioner like I am) is that each client has a unique set of problems. I may be overworked at times but I am never bored! I think MBA programs tend to be more focused on grades and job experience then law schools. When I was applying to law school, general life experience and a high LSAT score counted as much or more then grades counted. Certainly this sounds like your husband's case. He can contact admissions at Boalt, Hastings, USF or Golden Gate and sit through a class to see what he thinks about law school. (Note during summer I think only Golden Gate and USF have classes). I worked for a large accounting firm before I went on my own and worked with many MBAs. If he is easily bored he should really spend some time considering if business school is the right choice for him. If he wants to talk about this I would be happy to talk with him. John
Has your husband ever seen a good career counselor? It might help for him to identify specific reasons why he gets ''bored''. (i.e. Is it the nature of the work? Does the work need to be more ''meaningful'' to him? Is he a people-person stuck in a solitary job situation or vice versa?) If he can get clear on what ''inspires'' him and what keeps him engaged as well as what turns him off and gets him bored, he may be better able to find a good match in his next job. An MBA is no guarantee that he will be more engaged in future work. (A tip Find a really good career counselor, one that will understand your husband and work with him. It may take some time.) Been There
Unhappy with my UC Berkeley IT job
March 2003
Hello, I started working at UC this past summer and I am miserable. The person who hired me didn't provide an accurate description of the job, made promises regarding training/advancement that have never materialized (despite my attempts to persue). In addition I work with some very unmotivated people and I am going crazy! Currently I am working providing desktop support and would like to get back into networking I worked in Seattle doing network managment/network security. I feel like my networking skills are starting to wither away since I am not really using them right now and have not is some time (I quit my job in Seattle 3 years ago to move here with my husband and took some time off after the birth of my son).
Does anyone have any ideas how I can move into another area in the University? Is it difficult to do? I very much want to get back into networking and would like to find a more positive work enviroment. I have signed up for career counseling and am taking a couple of classes through the CDOP program, but thought I would ask if there are other avenues I might not be aware of. Thank you in advance! anon please
Having also worked in a job where the reality didn't match my expectations, I have an idea of what you're feeling. I suggest you look up the hill above campus to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. I've worked as the communications manager for the Lab's Computing Sciences organization for 6 years and it's the best place I've worked. We are UC employees, but my perception is that the pay is better at the Lab. Our organization provides computer support and networking for the 4,000 employees at the Lab, runs an international high-speed network (OC-192) and operates one of the world's top supercomputing centers, so there's probably something to both interest and challenge you. You can learn more at our Web site (http://www.lbl.gov/Computing-Sciences/) or contact me. Jon
I think your background in events management would be very relevant to relief orgs like Red Cross or Medicin Sans Frontiere. In the short run, check out the CalOES website for local or free trainings in the emergency management hierarchy as practiced in CA.
I left my job as an Emergency Manager after burning out from non-stop wildfire, storm/flooding, politics and pandemics. As someone who came from large special events in SF, there are tons of similarities between the two fields. You could easily make the transition. I’d invest time in CESA they are a wonderful learning resource. Don’t get a Masters in it! A word of warning, you will have to work insanely long shifts, travel, be around toxic-masculinity rooted in first responder and military relationships. It’s a rewarding career that being said! You get to work with wonderful people at the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels, etc. it’s just not as fun or positive as special events.
I've been very impressed with Jose Andres' organization World Central Kitchen. He's been able to scale the model up while being quickly responsive to world events as they happen. To learn from them would be fascinating.
https://wck.org/mission
How about the American Red Cross? They have tons of volunteer positions and are always providing support for disasters. https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/volunteer-opportunities.html
Check with the Alameda county office of emergency services for volunteer opportunities. They also host a lot of trainings, some online. Good luck!