Seeking ideas for alternative careers (consulting, analysis, real estate, unemployed)
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Hello all, I've been unemployed for just about a year. I was let go from a director level position at a Fortune 500 company last year after 15 years with the same company. I'm in my mid-40's and have had no luck getting a new position in the field I was in (marketing). The industry in which I've worked for my entire career is not in a growth mode at this time so opportunities are few.
I guess I'm wondering where do I go from here? Obviously at this stage I am aware that I should just take any job that comes along, but even that seems like it will be hard to find because I can't imagine a company looking to hire for a minimum wage job would even consider me. I'd like to try and transition my skills to a different industry but it's challenging to do this when there are candidates for openings with the experience an employer is looking for.
If anyone has been in the same boat and has thoughts or experiences they can share, I would appreciate it. Thanks.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Look for something that you can get into with minimal training/certification that benefits from marketing experience. Some that come to mind are selling insurance, real estate, furniture or cars; event planning/coordinating. In my case I combined the experience from different unrelated 17 and 16 years careers to get a job that required experience in both. There was some luck in timing, but once I found the opening I was a perfect fit. Besides sending out resumes, take some time to analyze what you did in your 15 years with that company, and anything else you might have done before that, then try to come up with a list of other careers that would benefit from your experience and skills. Tailor your resumes to highlight that experience and skills and how they will benefit the company. It's hard to be more detailed without knowing more about what you actually did. Marketing research is one area, but unfortunately most companies doing that start people off doing call center work, unless they have statistical analysis experience.
I would recommend that you create a functional resume that highlights your accomplishments and transferable skills. Post it on all of the major job boards and network on Linkedin.com. It is really tough out there. I wish you the best of luck.
it always baffles me when executives and upper level management feel "helpless" or something in this situation. I mean, how did you get that type of job in the first place? You must have had some sort of marketable skill to justify that job, right? You must have had a "go-getter" attitude to get into a Director level position, I assume .... Why don't you simply transfer that skill into a new industry?
it always baffles me when executives and upper level management feel "helpless" or something in this situation. I mean, how did you get that type of job in the first place? You must have had some sort of marketable skill to justify that job, right? You must have had a "go-getter" attitude to get into a Director level position, I assume .... Why don't you simply transfer that skill into a new industry?
I was wondering the same thing.
OP, at the Director level, you should be able to transfer that experience to many different industries. Do you have a network or any contacts at other companies? Are you a member of any professional groups?
Have you considered going into consulting? Given your background it sounds like you have a lot of good advice to impart.
This this and this. If you can share some location info, I am pretty sure some of us here can have great information to give out.
Were you an IT director? or was it on the business side?
As a consulting manager / consultant you can make an absolute killing.
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