I REALLY need some career quidance!

Lizzy · Guru

I REALLY need some career quidance!

supergrover · Guru

Lizzy wrote:
As some know, I am enrolled in a master's degree program where I will graduate with a master's degree in legal studies and a certificate in intellectual property. The legal market here is D.E.A.D., however. And, honestly, I have been out of the field so long that my prospects are dim.
So, what do i do? some of my thoughts:
Interior design (there is a local community college and I would only need 46 credits). it is cheap - only about $5000. the job market, however, is tight, as well. and would not pay as much. I would most likely see opportunities at a furniture store, or a home design store that offers kitchen/bath design. My ideal job would be to stage model homes ;)
Masters of Social Work - this has always been a dream of mine. I currently meet all the requirements for the university I am considering, but no guarantee that I would get in - and, of course, it is expensive.
any other ideas? I also thought of going back to school for maybe some sort of business degree or public relations. i do want to do something that i have a passion for, however.

Masters in Social Work- those peeps deserve a massive medal...BUT, honestly, I have friends in debt up to their eyes form the program and who work for low paying non-profits. The program also is crazy intense. If it is you passion, by all means, just ask around first and go in with eyes wide open.

My gut which doesn't really matter...you have a gift and passion for design. There has to be a niche for you. If you LOVE it, if you can do what you love every single day- you will be so happy.

PS- if this house goes through I will be picking your brain a lot. I have no eye for color or design. You have a real talent.

daisy · Guru

supergrover wrote:
Lizzy wrote:
As some know, I am enrolled in a master's degree program where I will graduate with a master's degree in legal studies and a certificate in intellectual property. The legal market here is D.E.A.D., however. And, honestly, I have been out of the field so long that my prospects are dim.
So, what do i do? some of my thoughts:
Interior design (there is a local community college and I would only need 46 credits). it is cheap - only about $5000. the job market, however, is tight, as well. and would not pay as much. I would most likely see opportunities at a furniture store, or a home design store that offers kitchen/bath design. My ideal job would be to stage model homes ;)
Masters of Social Work - this has always been a dream of mine. I currently meet all the requirements for the university I am considering, but no guarantee that I would get in - and, of course, it is expensive.
any other ideas? I also thought of going back to school for maybe some sort of business degree or public relations. i do want to do something that i have a passion for, however.

Masters in Social Work- those peeps deserve a massive medal...BUT, honestly, I have friends in debt up to their eyes form the program and who work for low paying non-profits. The program also is crazy intense. If it is you passion, by all means, just ask around first and go in with eyes wide open.
My gut which doesn't really matter...you have a gift and passion for design. There has to be a niche for you. If you LOVE it, if you can do what you love every single day- you will be so happy.
PS- if this house goes through I will be picking your brain a lot. I have no eye for color or design. You have a real talent.

i agree. i think the cost of a social work degree is really daunting. but, if its something you really want, then you might as well try. maybe apply and see what happens? learn a bit more about the program, etc? what kind of population would you want to work with?

the interior design thing is a no-brainer to me :) you're amazing. i love seeing your talent.

Sonya · Guru

I agree with Jenn.

The one thing I would do though is check around to see if people from the community college are hired at places where you'd want to work.

Nothing worse then spending all that money on a college just to find out that no one will hire you. I'd also take a bit of time to put together a portfolio of all the stuff you've done. You have an amazing eye and even better, you can put it all together. That way, if you talk to some companies, they may hire you just as you are right now!

How long until you could graduate with the legal one? The economy has to turn around, doesn't it? DOESN'T it? :)

(I know nothing about any of this so feel free to completly ignore me, lol)

supergrover · Guru

Oh, and I agree with Sonya. I never ask my amazing photography-business friend about his schooling for photography. I don't ask, because his background is computer science. One day he started offering no cost, then low cost photography sessions to build a portfolio. Now, he is constantly booked. No degree in the field, but he built a reputation :)

Lizzy · Guru

Thanks girls!!

(what i need to do is firgure out a way to earn money by pinning , ie. pinterest ;)

These are all good things to think about - esp. the point about putting a portfolio together. I really didn't think about that, sonya! i know everyone is encouraging me to start a blog. One of my fears is that it is so personal to me that I am not sure how i would handle any kind of criticism; however, sometimes that is a good way to grow, so I may just need to do it! I would like to get it to a point (a design blog) where I can help people with their rooms, ie. e-decorating and help find sources, fabrics, etc. I could do this for free (at first) to build a portfolio to attract more business.

Lizzy · Guru

supergrover wrote:
Oh, and I agree with Sonya. I never ask my amazing photography-business friend about his schooling for photography. I don't ask, because his background is computer science. One day he started offering no cost, then low cost photography sessions to build a portfolio. Now, he is constantly booked. No degree in the field, but he built a reputation :)

I have read this too - in fact, only one of the several design blogs I read has an interior design degree and she said NO one has ever asked her about it. so, who knows!!

Alison · Guru

To me, it definitely seems like interior design is a no-brainer. :)

I've seen commercials for home staging companies that offer certification classes during a 6- or 8-week program - is that something you'd be interested in? It wouldn't be such a huge commitment that you couldn't switch careers later on.

Lizzy · Guru

Alison wrote:
To me, it definitely seems like interior design is a no-brainer. :)

I've seen commercials for home staging companies that offer certification classes during a 6- or 8-week program - is that something you'd be interested in? It wouldn't be such a huge commitment that you couldn't switch careers later on.

oh wow! i have not seen this, Alison. I'll look into it. I might also call around to some real estate offices and ask if they hire home stagers. Good idea!! Thanks :)

Juni · Guru

Re: social work - what types of jobs would you want to do? I agree with what others have said - most jobs in this field do not pay much. A lot of them are very stressful too, depending on the population you are serving.

I think interior design would be great for you! I don't think you necessarily need a degree though. Use your house as a start for a portfolio. I think a lot of times it is more a matter of working with people you know and spreading the word about how amazing you are - which you are. Then it is a matter of building that portfolio and getting a customer base. I would be won over more easily by a portfolio of amazing things than by someone saying they have a master's degree in interior design. That is probably the avenue I would pursue if I were you.

Alyssa · Guru

I agree with the others. Design is your passion and your gift. Create a portfolio, start doing things for little pay to build a client basis, and your reputation will build from there.

Definitely talk to realtors about home stagers. You might also talk to contractors/architects/builders and see if they could give out your card to clients. (And to that point, make a card.)

A blog is a great idea. Sure you'd have to deal with some negative comments but who cares? You know we love you! And it would get you out there!

CoffeeQueen · Guru

Liz, I know many interior designers. You can start small. Contact some local ones and see if you can do some work with them. Granted, you will just be running and getting wall paper, samples, etc., but it gives you in an as to where they purchase, and you can see a little first hand. Maybe while doing that take classes in design. I do not think you need a full degree, but you should have some background. Do you have a center for design or creative college there?

Also, maybe think of starting a blog and doing a design on a dime type thing. I have a friend who started to advertise via blog on going into homes and using what they had to re-decorate their homes or on a smaller budget and it does well if you get your name out there in the right type of community. That is another idea to get your feet wet.

Staging for furniture stores is grueling. I have a cousin who does that in Chicago area for Thomas Price furniture. She is good, but it is a lot of manual labor too.

Lizzy · Guru

CoffeeQueen wrote:
Liz, I know many interior designers. You can start small. Contact some local ones and see if you can do some work with them. Granted, you will just be running and getting wall paper, samples, etc., but it gives you in an as to where they purchase, and you can see a little first hand. Maybe while doing that take classes in design. I do not think you need a full degree, but you should have some background. Do you have a center for design or creative college there?

Also, maybe think of starting a blog and doing a design on a dime type thing. I have a friend who started to advertise via blog on going into homes and using what they had to re-decorate their homes or on a smaller budget and it does well if you get your name out there in the right type of community. That is another idea to get your feet wet.

Staging for furniture stores is grueling. I have a cousin who does that in Chicago area for Thomas Price furniture. She is good, but it is a lot of manual labor too.

Thank you so much, Melissa! I would think staging furniture would not be an ideal job - hence my aprehension about pursuing this type of degree. I am not sure exactly is out there, you know? I am not sure I want the "hassle" of dealing with people either - especially the type that could afford a designer (I hope that doesn't offend anyone, but I can envision a real headache ;)

All i know right now is that i love design, but do i take it further or just let it be a hobby while pursuing my legal degree. I am due for an internship soon so I may just wait and see how that turns out. Alot of the students in the program have interned for the public defender's office and the state attorneys office and loved it.

to sum up - i still don't know!!

Lizzy · Guru

Alyssa wrote:
I agree with the others. Design is your passion and your gift. Create a portfolio, start doing things for little pay to build a client basis, and your reputation will build from there.
Definitely talk to realtors about home stagers. You might also talk to contractors/architects/builders and see if they could give out your card to clients. (And to that point, make a card.)
A blog is a great idea. Sure you'd have to deal with some negative comments but who cares? You know we love you! And it would get you out there!

so funny to think how silly i sounded last night discussing the possibilities of this career path with Don and me saying: "well, the people on the internets love me" LOL (that'll get me far ;)

Lizzy · Guru

Juni wrote:
Re: social work - what types of jobs would you want to do? I agree with what others have said - most jobs in this field do not pay much. A lot of them are very stressful too, depending on the population you are serving.

I think interior design would be great for you! I don't think you necessarily need a degree though. Use your house as a start for a portfolio. I think a lot of times it is more a matter of working with people you know and spreading the word about how amazing you are - which you are. Then it is a matter of building that portfolio and getting a customer base. I would be won over more easily by a portfolio of amazing things than by someone saying they have a master's degree in interior design. That is probably the avenue I would pursue if I were you.

Juni...I have always wanted to work in social services (my initial dream was as an attorney serving low-income populations and/or kids in the foster system)

I have a really good book by a man who was put in a foster home as a young boy because his mom was mentally ill and couldn't care for him and it is just horrible the things that happened to him. He eventually graduated school and became an attorney and an advocate for kids in the same system.

As some know, I was in foster homes as a child too and grew up with in poverty. and combined with my love for the law, I always thought it a perfect choice. but, yes, you are right that you can get burned out fast. I worked with an attorney who volunteered with legal services for the poor in the domestic relations unit (mostly filing adult abuse orders) and she said that it was hard because there were so many other services these people needed and she was only able to help in that one area. it gets overwhelming, i think.

happylib · Guru

How much more do you need to do to finish your degree? I may not be popular here, but I think it would be good to finish it. Then you can change, but at least you will have it completed.

Lizzy · Guru

happylib wrote:
How much more do you need to do to finish your degree? I may not be popular here, but I think it would be good to finish it. Then you can change, but at least you will have it completed.

I haven't been real serious about it (I have only been taking 2 classes a semester). If I decided that this is what I need to do, I will pick up the pace and hopefully, I can finish next year.

Honestly, I think that I should just finish my degree and dabble in design, ie. a blog and just have fun with a blog!! I don't know why I make things so hard ;)

daisy · Guru

Lizzy wrote:
Alison wrote:
To me, it definitely seems like interior design is a no-brainer. :)

I've seen commercials for home staging companies that offer certification classes during a 6- or 8-week program - is that something you'd be interested in? It wouldn't be such a huge commitment that you couldn't switch careers later on.
oh wow! i have not seen this, Alison. I'll look into it. I might also call around to some real estate offices and ask if they hire home stagers. Good idea!! Thanks :)

LOVING this idea...

daisy · Guru

Lizzy wrote:
happylib wrote:
How much more do you need to do to finish your degree? I may not be popular here, but I think it would be good to finish it. Then you can change, but at least you will have it completed.
I haven't been real serious about it (I have only been taking 2 classes a semester). If I decided that this is what I need to do, I will pick up the pace and hopefully, I can finish next year.
Honestly, I think that I should just finish my degree and dabble in design, ie. a blog and just have fun with a blog!! I don't know why I make things so hard ;)

i'm liking this idea - i like the idea of finishing what's started. design is something you TOTALLY do on the side anyway - you spend a ton of time on it - so i think if you started a blog (and/or visited real estate agencies about home staging) you could still do that in conjunction with finishing your degree.

then again i'm someone who's constantly working on a plan B (to the detriment of my plan A always - lol) - i have this same debate with yoga (do i get certified and teach, or do i just keep it as my side thing/hobby) - i think some people are just dabblers by nature and should pursue a life of dabbling :)

Lizzy · Guru

daisy wrote:
Lizzy wrote:
happylib wrote:
How much more do you need to do to finish your degree? I may not be popular here, but I think it would be good to finish it. Then you can change, but at least you will have it completed.
I haven't been real serious about it (I have only been taking 2 classes a semester). If I decided that this is what I need to do, I will pick up the pace and hopefully, I can finish next year.
Honestly, I think that I should just finish my degree and dabble in design, ie. a blog and just have fun with a blog!! I don't know why I make things so hard ;)
i'm liking this idea - i like the idea of finishing what's started. design is something you TOTALLY do on the side anyway - you spend a ton of time on it - so i think if you started a blog (and/or visited real estate agencies about home staging) you could still do that in conjunction with finishing your degree.
then again i'm someone who's constantly working on a plan B (to the detriment of my plan A always - lol) - i have this same debate with yoga (do i get certified and teach, or do i just keep it as my side thing/hobby) - i think some people are just dabblers by nature and should pursue a life of dabbling :)

I thought you were thinking of doing that. i was wondering what you had decided.