Help! I'm bored. I need a job. What should I do?
Recently I've come to the realization that I'm bored to tears. Other than my wife, father and brother I don't actually talk to any human beings anymore. I used to be in systems management, before that a programmer, but before that I was a geek. LOL I worked at Radio Shack back in '79 back when Radio Shack was Radio Shack and not a small time Best Buy. I worked for a year in the store right down the street from MIT and I think I fit right in. I learned SOOO much geeky stuff working there and being around some of the most brilliant minds in the world. I probably developed my personality there. So I've been thinking lately that I'd like to be in a job in front the public again. I don't want to work as a cashier but I don't want to work selling big ticket items like cars. I'd like to work with people to help them fulfill their needs. Maybe something complicated that I can help them clarify their needs and then explain the features and benefits of various solutions and help find the right product for them. Money is always nice, but isn't the objective. I have no idea what kind of job that is; I'm open to ideas!!! Help? Help me clarify my needs and find the right job for me? Thanks! |
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| Salesman at Best Buy? I figure they have to explain things quite often, and they aren't cashiers. You're geeky like me, so I think you'd be good at that. People always need help picking out their computers and whatnot, I'm sure you could help them. |
You should be a tour guide of some sorts. Get to meet lots of people, talk, and do something I'd think you'd be good at.  |
Joahaeyo wrote: You should be a tour guide of some sorts. Get to meet lots of people, talk, and do something I'd think you'd be good at. Second this |
| PetsMart? I'm thinking discount..... |
| Hmmm, probably not Walmart greeter, I'm guessing?? I liked the mentioned ideas.... How about some program helping youth or seniors with techie stuff? |
snazzierella wrote: Salesman at Best Buy? Thought about Best Buy, but I never really liked their methods. Major appliances was/is a possibility, but in the local appliance stores the sales competition is cutthroat. Joahaeyo wrote: You should be a tour guide of some sorts. Oooooh, never thought of that!!! Interesting!AnInnocentEvil wrote: Second this Interesting that there's a second!Then again it might require hiking and stuff, and maybe doing it all day long which I'm not quite up to yet. I was thinking more along the lines of part-time. Mom of 3 wrote: PetsMart? I'm thinking discount..... Ahahaha! Hmmmm, meet lots of animals, give out treats. But at the end of the day, how helpful could I be? I wonder if there's other positions than cashier or stockperson there.got sheep wrote: Hmmm, probably not Walmart greeter, I'm guessing?? Walmart is cutting back on their greeters. I liked the mentioned ideas.... How about some program helping youth or seniors with techie stuff?  Not much in the way of in depth discussion though. Hmmmmm.... Tech helper -- like a help desk or something? That might not be terrible, but I have this urge to be up and about with people not sitting at a desk. That's probably why the travel guide had a very instant visceral appeal to me. Part-timer at Radio Shack might be interesting, too. But naaaaaah. Just cell phones and remote control cars nowadays I fear. By the way, a part-timer at Radio Shack used to make really good money on an hourly basis. Everyone was on commission at The Shack, but the part-timers would come in only at busy times so they'd be selling like crazy just when there were lots of customers! The full-timers had to do all of the logistical work - stocking, cleaning, merchandising and then - just when the customers came in- there'd be more salespeople to compete with. I hated that. That was scheduled by the store manager but corporate was even worse. They paid commission (6.5% IIRC) during the whole year but as Christmas approached -just when they start to really make great money- they cut the commission rate (to 4% give or take) for the two months. Greedy, huh? Even back in the late 70's. Hey, how much is this job counseling going to set me back? |
got sheep wrote: Hmmm, probably not Walmart greeter, I'm guessing?? I liked the mentioned ideas.... How about some program helping youth or seniors with techie stuff? Following this suggestion...look at the public library and local colleges or non-profits that provide educational/computer stuff for youth/seniors/others. |
Amanda P wrote: got sheep wrote: Hmmm, probably not Walmart greeter, I'm guessing?? I liked the mentioned ideas.... How about some program helping youth or seniors with techie stuff? Following this suggestion...look at the public library and local colleges or non-profits that provide educational/computer stuff for youth/seniors/others. That's what I was thinking - the hands on interactive part. Not a help desk sort of thing. There are programs that are like a college or training course, was thinking you could be the leader or teacher....stuff like that. |
What about the Geek Squad at best buy? They help there at the stores and even go to people's houses?  |
| You should market my dog products for me! Duh! That was a real no brainer. I really need someone to market my stuff, or at least tell me what to do. I'm thinking donations in your name, free products, and a % on large accounts. How's that sound? Actually, I'm not kidding. I got a lot to go on, and I really think it's do-able. Shellie |
| I have no suggestions as to specific jobs. My advice is be open to all possibilities. You don't work now and have time on your hands. Go to every place suggested in this thread and fill out applications and talk to people. Do NOT go in with preconceived ideas of the management, the company, or what they do. You will be pleasantly surprised, get lots of stories to tell us, and probably find something that is a perfect fit for you. |
 Clown School? |
| Do you have a science museum in the area? How about being a docent? If you were a gardener, I'd suggest the Master Gardener program with Cooperative Extension Service. When I was w/ the university, we'd have a lot of retired Sandia Labs people.....real geeks. No problem teaching them scientific stuff.....and most wanted to over analyze,  Hate to say senior centers, but most offer computer classes for the newbies. You'd be a good teacher. Robotic clubs, classes? Turnes out one of my swim buds is robotic prof at the local university. I asked him if I had to call him Sir Servo. |
| Wow great ideas!!! I never would have come up with these places or approaches being suggested You guys are blowing me away. Oh, and you can eventually call him "Sir Servo" but for right now you'll have to improve your relationship in small steps. LOL robotics joke. Stepper motors. Ummmm never mind. :walking away, head down: |
| Ron, he sees me in a swimsuit....I can call him any darn thing I want! |
How about being a tech support guru at the Genius Bar at an Apple Store?  |
Guest 77 wrote: How about being a tech support guru at the Genius Bar at an Apple Store? that's what I was going to suggest. I have a friend that does it, and really likes it! Could you donate your time at a local animal shelter? What about a Boys & Girls club sort of thing? |
| I'm not that big of an Apple fan, and I don't generally fit the image of their in-store gurus. Animal shelter... hmmmmmm....! Boys and Girls club.... naaaah. Not my thing. I don't want to fail someone on such a long commitment.  |
I have a couple of friends that volunteer at different shelters here in Atlanta. I suggest going with a no-kill shelter. My friend that works with FIV-positive felines at a no-kill shelter has had a great long-term volunteer gig, making a big difference for the cats and meeting lots of new people. My friend that volunteered at the county kill-shelter has gone in twice, and has saved (read as: "personally adopted right before euthanization was to occur") 3 new cats.  |
| I volunteered/worked part time at a shelter and if was "people" you wanted to be with and communicate with... I really didn't get many that wanted someone to educate/help them in a day. It was mostly an independent job, lots of cleaning, and not what I'd choose to do if I wanted to be around people ...but of course if I wanted to be around dogs. The greatest joy was going in to have special bonding time with the dogs and being able to have them JUST as excited to see me daily. ...which is why I did it for so long. ...but at the same time, it was in a college town, so it was quite irritating to see young kids come in to adopt dogs they researched 0 on ...and were adopting "out of boredom." You DO seem a lot more patient than me with handling people like that |
| Good luck. I was a draftsperson for 20+ years and then I quit to stay home with my kids. I have been looking for any kind of job on and off for 5 years. My last job seems to have been eliminated as a middleman position. I seem to be too old or overqualified. I hope you have better luck. |
| I couldn't be a draftsperson. The yoke would hurt my shoulders and I'm probably too weak to pull the plow. |
| How about focussing your tech skills into helping older folks who get frustrated by all this modern witchcraft. Maybe someone who would be willing to drop in on people in their homes to explain things through and sort out silly problems etc. |
Ron wrote: I couldn't be a draftsperson. The yoke would hurt my shoulders and I'm probably too weak to pull the plow. Stand up comedian  |
| Been there, done that. I tried being a stand-up comedian but I only got laughs in bed. Well that's not entirely true. In the spirit of more accuracy and full disclosure, they were more like giggles. |
| How about Home Depot? My sister in laws Dad started working there after retiring from being a teacher and I hear they treat their employees very well. |
Ron wrote: Been there, done that. I tried being a stand-up comedian but I only got laughs in bed. Well that's not entirely true. In the spirit of more accuracy and full disclosure, they were more like giggles. Well, next time, leave the lights off! Seriously, though, I could see you doing a tour guide thing or acting as a docent at one of the many attractions in the Boston area. Especially if money is not as important. |
| Substitute teacher in the tech wing. Sometimes that can turn into a more permanent position, depending upon grants in your area. Who knows... maybe teaching in general would be interesting. Advertise on Craigslist to do tech support as a Trouble Shooter/Consultant. That way you would have a variety of clients and tech situations. You have a remarkable amount of patience so this might be a great fit! Where do you live Ron? Is there something in your area that is unique? |
| Don't be a teacher for middle school or high school unless you are prepared to deal with some complete and utter morons. Elementary school kids are still okay. Something goes wrong as soon as they get to sixth grade though. I was a teacher aid a couple years ago for 9th and 10th grade computer classes, some of those kids are just the most disrespectful, meanest, dumbest kids I have ever known. Of course, I have like no patience with most people near my age cause they all act like idiots. Maybe you're you're more patient than I am. Oh, and I like the Craigslist tech support idea. I've thought about doing that myself. |
| What goes wrong can all be attributed to girls and the evil effects they have on pubescent males........ |
| The teaching gig can be interesting. I've taught photography in two situations: the first was to guys in the barrio who were being redirected from graffiti to silkscreened art. The second situation was to children of migrant farm workers who were in the 8-12 year old range. Both situations were life changing for me. I hope they were for the young kids. I know it was for some of the older guys, as some of them have become successful artists. It's not like you have to do just one of these things...sounds like you have the luxury to experiment to see what you would enjoy doing. |
Quote: we'd have a lot of retired Sandia Labs people.....real geeks. LMAO, have to comment on this, having been up to Sandia Labs. My husband who is an engineer and pretty geeky by my standards warned me "now honey, you are about to meet some REALLY socially inept people here, just remember that. They can't help it." He was right. I'm not sure where you're located Ron, but my dad who is a lifelong fan of Cardinals baseball became an usher at the ball park when he retired from his government job. He also works part time at some museum in St. Charles, giving tours of the main drag - since history is another love of his. Besides tech, what are you into? I like the library idea someone had - perhaps volunteer or work at the local library as "tech support" for their computer area? |
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