where to go from here?

[Zerstiren]

I am fully-employed, with a $24,000 annual salary, working in accounts receivables for a medical practice. All of my training came from on the job, and I wouldn't consider myself good with math; however, I am tenacious, and according to my employers, I have managed the accounts far better than their previous hires.

I want to do something different, or at least get a career with more pay. I feel I have very strong people and organizing skills, but I'm not confident on this. I've already tried the aptitude tests at my nearby community college, and it didn't give me any useful insight (admittedly, I probably didn't like any of the jobs listed in their catalog).

Where can I find a pinpoint accurate aptitude test, something which takes everything about my performance into account, rather than asking me multiple choice questions, and matches my skill set with even the most obscure jobs?

I really don't want to live on $24,000, if I have a natural ability for a job paying $60,000-$100,000.

edit: and I don't want to protest on the streets. I identify with the OWS movement, but I want things to get better without committing days, even weeks to a civil rights movement.

 

[thebakedpotato]

Get a few med certs and see if you can do some clerical work in a hospital?

 

[Beldaros]

Sit down in a quiet room without any distractions and think about what you want to do. It may not come straight away but do this a few times and it will come to you.

When you have that answer find out what you have to do to get there and then do it.

People laugh at meditation but it works.

Sit in a quiet room with the tv and games console off. When no one is at home, not even in the bath and think.

If that isn't plausible make a table on a piece of paper, the left column says skills the right column says interests. write down every single thing that come into your head onto that piece of paper. If you can burp the alpahbet write that down. Then think about how you can use them and find out what it is you need to do to get there and do it.

 

[endnuen]

How about you ask yourself: "What do I want to do for a living?"
Answer that and off you go.

 

[IndomitableSam]

How much education do you have? There should be available night or weekend or online courses to give you credntials to back up your accounting. It doesn't matter how good you are - if you don't have the education, most places won't hire you.

What I did when Iw as about 24 was go to all the community college websites (I'd already been to University and was getting nowhere without more than a Bachelor of Arts) and looked at all their courses. Nursing, business, radio, electrician, etc. I saw Library Technician listed and though "Hey! I like books!" and started looking into the classes. ... Most of my education is research-based as well as computer-based. It's mostly IT and learning how to research properly as well as catalogue books. Very technical, hands on, and widely varied career-wise. I've done temp work at public libraries, run a school library and now work for the government. All doing different things. The only time I get to read books is when I'm not at work. I get to order them and prepare them for readers, but never get to look at them myself. Not what you'd expect.

Go online and research what's available - don't look at the career training, look at all the different courses offered individually. Find some you think you'd like, and then see if a bunch of them add up to a career path.

Also know that very few people in life love their job. Or make as much money as they want. You're probably young to think you can go from 25k to 50-100k without decades of work and experience. Not going to happen. You need to go back to school, even if it's just taking a few courses here and there - even those will look good on a resume.

 

[Zerstiren]

IndomitableSam

I do a lot of wishful thinking, I'll admit, but I'm not giving up on the prospect of at least a $60k salary. But life is not fair, and the corporate state won't release its death grip on the world without a fight. I just don't know where I fit into all of that.

endnuen

Honestly? I have no clue. I can't find anything interesting in college catalogs, discovery channel shows, or even my best subject in school, being literature. And I'm not deluded enough to believe I could sell a novel, even if everyone were avid readers.

I am working with a psychiatrist on my energy level and motivation. It's the best I can do.

thebakedpotato

I do want to get CNA training, and work in a nursing home setting for a small stint. I work around the elderly, and don't mind helping them in their wheelchair, explain the doctor's instructions, etc. I have little/no experience in wiping someone or cleaning scat, though I don't believe I would have a problem with it.

 

[Zerstiren]

Beldaros

I struggle to meditate. No matter what technique I've tried: mindfulness, do-absolutely-nothing, single-minded focus, none of it has worked for me. I just can't sink into an uninterrupted flow of thought like others can. And I feel worse after I meditate, not better.