Career changers, how did you find your new path? My last field was digital marketing (search ads). I’ve been out of it since the last layoff about two years ago, been part time working whatever I can find since. Between layoffs and the unethical nature of the business I’m trying to find something different. Of course, if that’s what comes my way providing for my family has to take priority. I’m based in Pittsburgh, can’t relocate as much as I’d like to, not an entrepreneur, looking for a 9-to-5. I know I’ve shared some ideas here but I need to buckle down, do the research, pick a path, and stick with it at least for a while. So if you’ve been there, please let me know how you chose. Open to any other guidance as well. I’m so lost and I’m honestly scared for my family’s future.

I don't know anything about the field, but Rabbi Daniel Lapin has recommended sales to people as a field with a low barrier to entry

On reddit, a lot of people recommend rad tech or respiratory therapist. They are both ~2 years of schooling.

Thanks Rachel - sales also comes with high pressure and turnover. I’ve tried it, any commission work isn’t for me. Victoria - I don’t have the money or time to go back to school. We’ve had to use almost all of our safety net recently. (Also that particular job does say explicitly in office but I’ll continue going through their other openings) Sorry it seems like I’m poopooing ideas. To give some constructive context, I have a bachelor’s and I’ve been looking into analysis, project management, and financial planning - but AI and the current market don’t give me the warm and fuzzies in those fields. I don’t have any passions but I know what I don’t want to do: sales, running my own business, marketing if I can help it. There’s a lot of banks in the area, I’ve been applying for all sorts of positions. Lots of people say programming is the way to go but this seems to be the worst possible time to pursue it.

If money was not an issue (scholarships, fafsa, etc) would you still be unable to go back (for time reasons)?

Leon Adato's remote jobs posts: https://adatosystems.com/ cleveland jobs has some remote jobs you can email CLEJobsLink@gmail.com to be added

When I have no gig work or job whatsoever, yes - but we’d be relying on my wife’s income as a preschool teacher, which we may or may not have next year.

your best bet is something you're naturally good at ...

Would you be willing to do any sort of apprenticeship or train for trades?

I have yet to figure out what I’m naturally good at. I’m not opposed to the trades. I have zero bitachon but that’s a deep and painful conversation for another time. Thanks for the links but again, I’m really trying to focus on figuring out where to concentrate my efforts in choosing a field, upskilling, and otherwise preparing for a career shift. There are no shortage of job sites out there. It just seems to me that applying to everything like a shotgun blast without relevant skills is less effective than having one or two relevant hard skills and applying to a specific industry or type of role.

I empathize with this a lot because I am worried about my own career and I struggle with bitachon too. It’s a deep and painful issue for me as well. I also have a young child and I spend A LOT of time thinking about what I can retrain for and fall back on. I’m not particularly clever, creative or talented. And I find the choices extremely overwhelming. The reason I mentioned rad tech and respiratory therapist is because when I do pivot I know I can’t spend a lot of time or money going back to school. But I know I’ll have to make a painful investment from a time and money perspective. So if I do invest, I want a job that has more stability, cannot be offshored, and is less likely to get me replaced with an H1-B

Maybe a career coach could help you get some direction?

I thought about it. Assuming I can find one in my price bracket (basically free - I think the local library and JCC have resources), how do I know if they’re any good?

you try it out and see if they get you and if what they say resonates. 😀

Something I wonder about myself but how do you even pick something? And pick something you think you can last in till retirement agent?

I think the local library and JCC have resources

If its free why not give it a shot? worse case scenario you wasted some time, best case you actually get good advice

Are the courses there free?

not sure, but it's a jewish nonprofit

It seems like such a wonderful resource, thank you!