Lost my job today - now what? I am totally lost :-(

not happy wrote:

I saw this coming a mile away yet did nothing.

I am the kids sports manager at a private tennis/golf club. The club has been suffering financially for a couple years but I thought it would hang in there. Today I got notice that they are cancelling all sports programs and I lose my job as of January 1st.

The job is totally niche and also not something that I would like to do again.

So I'll be out on my a$$ as a 31 year old with an arts degree in 3 months. I need a fix for this and I am totally at a lose and devastated :-( I have no real hard skills to speak of. I really really don't want to be working at walmart...

Often jobs are eliminated with little notice or severance (depending on the state). In your case, you have 3 months of receiving a paycheck, then after that you can receive unemployment for a period of time.

Use this 3 months well. I am guessing you will still go into work, but you could probably get away with squeezing the hours down somewhat. Don't waste this extra time. Do a few things (some of them have been mentioned):

1) Write/reflect/journal on your skill set. You have an art degree, and I presume do not want to be an artist. That isn't a dead end. You have a college degree. What things - tangible and intangible - are you good at?

2) What are you interests? What do you enjoy doing? What energizes you?

3) Brainstorm what types of jobs might exist in the intersection of #1 and #2.

4) Start cutting back on expenses and saving money. Hopefully you'll figure something out quickly, but you never know.

5) Network. Network. Network. This can be challenging for people (myself included), but get started, and take it one step at a time. Reach out to old friends. Reach out to people who have jobs that seem interesting. It's pretty simple: "Hey can I buy you a cup of coffee." Then you meet up, tell them about your situation, and ask them questions about their career and profession. Start with people you are closer to first (who will be an advocate), then branch out from there and meet new people.

6) Set up a LinkedIn profile. Google will give you endless tips on how to use this powerful tool.

7) Stay positive. This can be hard when you feel like you are lost & aren't making progress. However, just set small goals while keeping your eye on the big picture (just like we all have when striving toward training goals).

Good luck!

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Good advice on teaching.

Look to small towns and rural areas. They are often looking for teachers.

Think about combining teaching with coaching.

And, yes, the private school route is worth exploring, although the good ones don't have a lot of turnover.

True! Good advice and thanks!

Who would you rather hire? A fresh grad or a 31 year old with scant resume?

cut the drama wrote:

You have 3 months notice that you need to find a new job. You're basically in the same position that 90%+ of graduating college seniors will be in next March. Sorry, but there's no need to be so dramatic about it. Just go find a new job like millions of 22-year-olds will be doing in a few months.

OK read through everything - thank you for all the advice. To address some things.

1 - I have a B.A. not a fine arts degree

2 - I really really really want out of the "kids" industry. Being a teacher would just be doing the same thing.

3 - Web development sounds fun but 3 months? Where I live you're a "coding mule" unless you have a campsci degree

4 - I network lots at my job and I'm a "fan favorite" with several parents but their whole network is in finance, medicine and law.

5 - Yes I realize I do have a good chunk of time - but I'm broke - as soon as this 3 months ends I'm literally up $hit creek. Since you wait 2 weeks for your first paycheck and attending an interview --> job offer --> job starting generally takes a few weeks I likely only have a few weeks to go

Agree 100%. My time spent teaching middle school was much harder than my job now as a lawyer at a top firm making 5-6x more money. Always having to be on, always having to be totally prepared, so much anxiety.

And I would never want to be a SAHM or SAHD. It is exhausting and the expectation is that everything is on your plate because you arent "working," whether its deal with anything kid-related or cleaning or groceries etc. This is the expectation whether you are tied up all day with the kids and just spent or not.

As to the OP, that sucks. and Im sorry. But I think the reason you arent getting 100% sympathy here is that you said you couldnt really see yourself doing your job again and you saw this coming a mile away and didnt do anything about it. Taken together those two admissions make you sound a bit aimless and/or indifferent. And they make it hard to give real advice because there isnt much insight into what you really want to do moving forward-- do you just want a job that pays equal to or more than your previous job or do you want something more than that?

Totally! I am totally aimless and that is a big part of the issue - I am not sure why that gets so much spite though. All I know is I don't want to work with kids again. I don't so much care about pay then I do about job autonomy and engagement.

Read "48 Days to the work you love" by Dan Miller. It's on amazon/kindle or free at your library I promise. Read it and be done by Fri.

Then start his process and you'll have multiple offers by Nov 30.

Seriously.

I'm intrigued but what if I find out the work I love is a lawyer or doctor or engineer or architect etc. etc. Obviously I'll need more than 48 days to that....That book would only work if I "love" work that requires zero credentials like sales...

Hotsauce wrote:

Read "48 Days to the work you love" by Dan Miller. It's on amazon/kindle or free at your library I promise. Read it and be done by Fri.

Then start his process and you'll have multiple offers by Nov 30.

Seriously.

I suggest to everyone that you have a back up plan should you lose your job.

Place yourself in a position to transition to that career or company at a moments notice. The days of working at the same company and climbing the corporate ladder are dwindling.

I suggest you have a plan if you should lose your job. Then have a plan if you should lose that job or they are not ready to hire.

[quote]not happy wrote:

I'm intrigued but what if I find out the work I love is a lawyer or doctor or engineer or architect etc. etc.

Obviously I'll need more than 48 days to that....

That book would only work if I "love" work that requires zero credentials like sales...

[quote]

Sir, you are really dense if you think sales jobs require no credentials. The first questions you will be asked by a potential employer (in sales): how big your prospect pool was; how (actual steps) you cultivate new leads; what your retention rate was, whether you can use SalesForce (in your sleep) Always Be Closing!

I'll rephrase, They don't require specific educational credentials.

Seeing Red wrote:

Sir, you are really dense if you think sales jobs require no credentials. The first questions you will be asked by a potential employer (in sales): how big your prospect pool was; how (actual steps) you cultivate new leads; what your retention rate was, whether you can use SalesForce (in your sleep) Always Be Closing!

I do, My backup is to work in a UPS factory (my friend says he can get me hired there) for $15.50/ Hr. My backup to that is to work part time as a program leader and after school tutor at a school our club is affiliated with. Both I would be miserable in but they would pay the bills.

Bearded Beast wrote:

I suggest to everyone that you have a back up plan should you lose your job.

Place yourself in a position to transition to that career or company at a moments notice. The days of working at the same company and climbing the corporate ladder are dwindling.

I suggest you have a plan if you should lose your job. Then have a plan if you should lose that job or they are not ready to hire.

not happy wrote:

I saw this coming a mile away yet did nothing.

I am the kids sports manager at a private tennis/golf club. The club has been suffering financially for a couple years but I thought it would hang in there. Today I got notice that they are cancelling all sports programs and I lose my job as of January 1st.

The job is totally niche and also not something that I would like to do again.

So I'll be out on my a$$ as a 31 year old with an arts degree in 3 months. I need a fix for this and I am totally at a lose and devastated :-( I have no real hard skills to speak of. I really really don't want to be working at walmart...

My advice to you is get a job sir!

Follow your bliss. Volunteer to coach kids,if coaching kids is what you love.

In between jobs and just got a job as a valet . Will be able to pay the bills until I land next job.

If this makes you throw up in your mouth a little, I understand. But you should take a look at selling cars. Franchised dealers would be happy to hire anyone with a college degree and no criminal record. If you are a good people person and are willing to put in some hard hours, you can easily hit $75k your first year. If you really dig in and move up to the top of the sales staff, you can make $120-150k just in sales. If you move up to management, that number can get into the $200s and up to seven figures if you are a GM at a big dealership. There are even corporate jobs at companies that own lots of dealerships.

Join the Army. Good steady job and you can learn a skill.