Jobs

[Lazy_dog_lover]

What types of jobs do you find are a good fit?

[PearCider]

It needs to be something that revolves around details and that is black and white. Numbers. Process analysis. Documentation. Computers. Machines. Maintenance. Something away from customer relations if possible, and not something that requires tact, diplomacy and skills in human relations. We're talking back room, support, technical. Maybe front desk if it's highly formularised.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to PearCider]

I would think those would be good options, too. Howevev, I was a middle school teacher and worked customer service at an amusement park. Teaching was too high stress. Once I created the necessary structure, I enjoyed the customer service., but I had to do the structure first. I was thinking bank teller. Can I pay the mortgage on the pay, thought?

[PearCider in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

If you're going to interact directly with the public in real time you're making it harder for yourself, and allowing them to say that you being likeable or not is an issue. You may only get 60 seconds to come across as friendly to a bank customer; plus of course banking is going more and more online.

You might want to think about teaching assistant or school administrator, personal assistant to the head, that sort of area. Being somewhere in a back room rather than front of the house would be likely to be easier for you. If you believe you can do customer service with direct real-time contact you go for it, but it's unlikely to be your long suit, it won't play to your strengths. There will always be someone better at that than you, and there will always be someone who'll be ready to leap in and say that they don't like your manner. If you're keen to do it, at least check out your other options first.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to PearCider]

I am really good at faking it in customer service.

I tried teaching assistant and they just wanted a babysitter. I got in trouble for doing too much “teacher-y” things.

I am a people watcher. I think because I was a science teacher, my observation skills take over, so no face-to-face would be boring.

In 2020, every industry learned how to do their work remotely. I think many jobs are at risk in the near future

[PearCider in reply to Lazy_dog_lover]

Not everyone has done badly out of the virus. Some have done well out of it. Takeaways. Online retailers, especially Amazon. Videoconferencing providers and others offering homeworking solutions. Supermarkets and corner shops. Those selling Covid-related products, especially hand sanitiser. Streaming services, especially Netflix. Unfortunately, off-licenses. I've also heard talk of advisors on returning to office working being in demand, though that was before the second wave appeared for the moment to rule that out.

Trying to get into a current growth sector is another possible approach. I still think IT looks good if you have the skills/knowledge; IT people are almost semi-gods, nobody can really argue with them, and without them any business is sunk. How good they actually are (as some of us are ruefully aware) may be another thing. However I sense you want the direct contact with people, though if it can mostly be formularised you should find it easier.

[Clarrisa]

Can you sing? I just learned online yesterday Susan Boyle has Asperger's Syndrome. It cheered me up to hear that. If true I wonder how she was able to stand in front of so many people!

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to Clarrisa]

Nota note.

I taught middle and high school for 20years. Never had stage fright.

[LittleBlu]

Anything with customer service because it forces me out of my comfort zone and makes me interact with people.

[Lazy_dog_lover in reply to LittleBlu]

Never bothered me. I got good at faking it. My resting-angry-face gets me in trouble, but who the heck walks around smiling all the time?