Alex Aster is the managing editor of The Newsette, and as a part of our new “Ask Alex” series, she tackles some of our readers’ most pressing questions, in an effort to bring a new perspective to the table. Today, Alex answers a career question.
Q: Dear Alex, I HATE my job and have no idea what to do. I work for a great company, am middle management, get great perks but I cannot come up with a single aspect I like about my actual job. I want to switch industries/job titles entirely but don’t even meet the entry-level requirements of my dream jobs. What to do?
A: Based on the details you give about your current job (great company, managerial role, great perks), it sounds like a pretty good gig. It’s not like you have an objectively horrible job that most people would “hate,” yet you’re still unhappy. This is important, because it reflects something about your personality–you aren’t one of those people who only care about income when it comes to work. You want to do what you love every day. That’s something you highly value–and it’s great that you’ve realized that!
So, how do you get into your “dream job” without meeting the entry-level requirements?
Nowadays, several previously exclusive industries have become a lot more democratized. For example, take the fashion magazine world. Before, there were a few elite publications, and working at them meant having extremely high qualifications and starting from the bottom (getting coffee, etc). In this day and age, people like bloggers and founders of new media sites have broken into the fashion publication business without following the standard path. They used technology to find another way. Which means, you don’t have to follow your chosen field’s typical course either.
My advice is to stay in your current job for a few months (give yourself a specific timeline, to help incentivize you), while simultaneously doing things on the side that will help you land your dream gig. If your chosen field really does require a special skill (like sewing, knowing photoshop, etc), take a night class. If it’s a creative industry, start an Instagram showcasing your craft. At the same time, connect with people in your desired field. For example, if it’s publishing, join a book club, or a writer’s workshop. Reach out to anyone in your network that might be connected to that line of work (alumni groups, friends, family, neighbors, etc.).
You say you “HATE” your job, but are unqualified for your “dream job.” Let the “hate” drive you to achieve what might feel impossible–because, at the end of the day, you’ll find that many of your idols probably took very unorthodox routes to where they are today. You might surprise yourself by where you end up without fully believing you’re “qualified” enough.
Good luck!
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