Do you ever feel like you should be doing more with your life?

[disneyfanforever]

I guess I am just in a slump right now wondering what I should do with my life. My kids are getting bigger, my youngest is going to be entering kindergarten in the fall so I need to figure out what type of job to get this fall. I have been so blessed to be able to be primarily home for almost nine years when my first son was born. I have loved being a SAHM and would not have changed it for the world. I have done taxes for the last 2 years on a very part time basis while my youngest has gone part-time (2-3) days a week to PreK. Now I need to find a job starting in the fall that I can work at from around 8:30-2:30 every day so I can be off to get my boys from school. Before I had kids, I was an auditor and an accountant but the prospect of going to do that again depresses me. It is just so boring to me. I would love to be a part of something that enables a child's dream come true like Make A Wish or puts a child in his or her forever family's hands in the adoption field. I would like to help the needy children in our state, country and the world. I want to do something that gives me personal satisfaction and that would make me feel like I have made a positive impact. Have any of you ever felt that way? Am I just in a negative mood? I just don't know what to do. I don't think I am really qualified to do anything that I would like to do. After all, my degree is in accounting not social work or anything like that. Does anybody have any advice for me? The job whatever it is definitely has to be a paying job because we need the extra income. I know I could probably make more money in the accounting field but I just feel sick when I think about doing that again. I really don't even like doing taxes right now even though I am not working many hours at all. I would love any feedback as to what I should do. I don't think my family understands my problem, they think I am good at accounting and should just stick with it. However, I am sure they would be supportive of my decision whatever it may be.

 

[Tigger_Magic]

Since you have an Internet connection, you may want to consider pursuing a degree in some other field. Lots of universities offer complete online degree programs in a number of areas. You can continue to work in accounting for now, while at the same time prepare for another career.

 

[mickeyboat]

How about bookkeeping / accounting / taxes for some sort of charity? You would be making a difference behind the scenes.

Denae

 

[Planogirl]

Do you ever feel like you should be doing more with your life?

Do I ever! You don't know the half of it.

What if you did accounting work for a charity organization? They would certainly need that type of work done and you would indirectly be helping the way you want to.

Or you could try to get into a charity organization in some other entry level area. Your hours would indicate a part-time job which would make it more difficult but not impossible.

 

[bsnyder]

You give no indication of where you live, so I don't know how plentiful non-profit agencies are in your area. But why not try using your existing skills at one of the many "helping" organizations there are out there? Believe me, almost every single one of them is in need of people with good financial skills. You say it's boring, but maybe if you were doing it for an organization with a mission to help people you'd see the work differently and it wouldn't bore you.

I have a friend who did this - left a big national accounting firm (she was bored) and is now the CFO of a non-profit. She's very involved in the overall oranization, not just the number crunching, and has found it very satisfying and rewarding. And says it's a much more family-friendly work environment than her experiences in the corporate world.

Good luck to you!

 

[disneyfanforever]

I didn't realize that I didn't say where I lived. I live in Arkansas so I am not in a state with any big charitable organization headquarters that I am really aware of. Thanks to all who have replied. I really appreciate your advice.

 

[Planogirl]

I suggest doing a search on Monster.com and careerbuilder.com just to see what you come up with. I bet that Arkansas will have plenty of charities that may or may not be hiring. It depends of course on where you live. You'll certainly have more luck in Little Rock or Fayetteville than some other places!

I found this website too: www.nonprofitarkansas.org . I don't know what it is they do but maybe this is a start?

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

What about teaching?

Teachers are getting harder and harder to find, and some of the school districts around me are hiring them without teaching certificates and letting them get the certification on the side.

The hours may not be exactly what you're looking for, but it would be the next best thing.

 

[Disney Ella]

If you hate accounting, don't do it for anywhere - either in the corporate world or non-profit. Accounting is accounting. It won't be much different even if it is for a non-profit.

It will probably take a little while to find a job that you will find fulfilling, but it sounds like you've got the time, so why settle for a boring job that will make you miserable? Maybe if you can't find exactly what you want, you can settle for something that is somewhat interesting and then volunteer for a Make-a-Wish type group.

 

[BWVDenise]

I am confronting similar circumstances and don't know what to do either. I work part time on the weekends but don't like what I do enough to want to do more of it. The kids are in school all day except for days like today when one of them suddenly gets sick and has to stay home.
And then there is the summer-- they aren't old enough to stay home alone all day (and they would probably kill each other if they were old enough to stay home alone), not to mention several planned trips since my dh gets descent vacation time (wouldn't want to mess with that since I worship vacation time ). I don't feel like I can be gone all day yet it's getting pretty lonely now that my dog died .
So I sit here wondering what to do .

 

[GJM]

My Co. just closed after me working there 25 years. I loved my job & the people. I now took a job kind of doing the same thing, but it is a family business. I like the people and the work - I took the job because the hours will be 9 - 3, this will be perfect when my DS starts school in Sept.

However, I am making so much less than I was and I really feel like I can do better - but I don't know what I want to do!

 

[debloco]

Do you ever feel like you should be doing more with your life?

All the time.

 

[zippeedee]

My Co. just closed after me working there 25 years. I loved my job & the people. I now took a job kind of doing the same thing, but it is a family business. I like the people and the work - I took the job because the hours will be 9 - 3, this will be perfect when my DS starts school in Sept.

However, I am making so much less than I was and I really feel like I can do better - but I don't know what I want to do!

I was laid off in January after 23 yrs at the same company. I have NO clue what I want to do next, I just don't think I want to do what I used to do (HR/Benefits) anymore. Lots of thinking to do I guess.

 

[Jynohn]

I was just listening to Dave Ramsey last night and he said something that really hit home to me. He said if you hit the lottery tomorrow and said the first thing you'd do is quit your job, then you're in the wrong line of work. He went on to say that you need to find a job that you do because you love it, not for the money. One that you would continue doing even if money was not an issue. Easier said than done obviously, but definitely something to think about. Now if I could just figure out what that "perfect" job is....