Whether or not you practice self-destructive habits, I thought this article had some good insight:

http://www.elephantjournal.com/2015/08/the-vicious-cycle-of-self-destruction-how-to-get-out-of-it/

Great article. Got me thinking of my job search as possibly a place I need to look more closely at the questions at the end. I am an admin asst with a masters degree. It is a job that requires a high school diploma. I work in a fundraising department and have more education in fundraising than many of the fundraisers I support. My masters degree is in Nonprofit Management. This job, however mundane, is safe. I don't have to challenge myself much to be "amazing" at it. I think I have found a job that will move me into a more logical, given my education, career path, but I am terrified that I will fail or hate it.

Good thing I am going to my therapist this afternoon! Got new things to talk about!

pam

Great article. Got me thinking of my job search as possibly a place I need to look more closely at the questions at the end. I am an admin asst with a masters degree. It is a job that requires a high school diploma. I work in a fundraising department and have more education in fundraising than many of the fundraisers I support. My masters degree is in Nonprofit Management. This job, however mundane, is safe. I don't have to challenge myself much to be "amazing" at it. I think I have found a job that will move me into a more logical, given my education, career path, but I am terrified that I will fail or hate it.

Good thing I am going to my therapist this afternoon! Got new things to talk about!

pam

Yup. Nothing against admins...the two who support my group are wonderful...but you have a masters degree..you are selling yourself short if you do not challenge yourself and find employment that better matches your skill set. Good luck!

Great article. Got me thinking of my job search as possibly a place I need to look more closely at the questions at the end. I am an admin asst with a masters degree. It is a job that requires a high school diploma. I work in a fundraising department and have more education in fundraising than many of the fundraisers I support. My masters degree is in Nonprofit Management. This job, however mundane, is safe. I don't have to challenge myself much to be "amazing" at it. I think I have found a job that will move me into a more logical, given my education, career path, but I am terrified that I will fail or hate it.

Good thing I am going to my therapist this afternoon! Got new things to talk about!

pam

I know as a woman I have been socialized to only go for things I know I can do well rather than try something I think I can do.

After many years I have seen so many men get jobs/promotions with less education, experience, skill, just because their egos have no problem claiming expertise in areas where they have none.

Not that I want to misrepresent my skills and a abilities, but I am trying to learn to be more confident in presenting them.

Being an obese woman was never a benefit. Now that I am regaining my health and fitness I intend to go for it!

@@gowalking and @@Inner Surfer Girl

I have nothing against being an admin. I've been doing it off and on for about 12 years. I was a teacher in my previous life and when I left teaching, I was in a bad place emotionally so I took what I could get and I knew I could be good at. While I was being an admin at a different university than where I work now, I earned my masters degree. I still don't feel like I am really doing anything with it. Unfortunately, now that I've been an admin, its hard to get out of being and admin, especially within the University.

The job I am applying for includes a very tailored training program on how to do face to face fundraising, which is the part I am unsure of right now. I have an informational meeting with the HR recruiter on Monday, and I have a long weekend to prep for the meeting and rework my resume to be more fundraising centric.

Thanks for the encouragement. I plan to own this. I am so ready!

pam

I have been trying to find a better job for about 3 years. I have had excellent interviews, and often told after the fact that I would have been the second choice - I am going to be curious to see if/how my weight loss may affect being in the job market.

I have been trying to find a better job for about 3 years. I have had excellent interviews, and often told after the fact that I would have been the second choice - I am going to be curious to see if/how my weight loss may affect being in the job market.

@@gowalking and @@Inner Surfer Girl

I have nothing against being an admin. I've been doing it off and on for about 12 years. I was a teacher in my previous life and when I left teaching, I was in a bad place emotionally so I took what I could get and I knew I could be good at. While I was being an admin at a different university than where I work now, I earned my masters degree. I still don't feel like I am really doing anything with it. Unfortunately, now that I've been an admin, its hard to get out of being and admin, especially within the University.

The job I am applying for includes a very tailored training program on how to do face to face fundraising, which is the part I am unsure of right now. I have an informational meeting with the HR recruiter on Monday, and I have a long weekend to prep for the meeting and rework my resume to be more fundraising centric.

Thanks for the encouragement. I plan to own this. I am so ready!

pam

Best of luck! You are going to do great. I know it.

@Christinamo7

I am curious too for myself. I also am not leaving anything to chance. I have people helping me prep already eventhough I haven't sent in my resume yet. I have a friend lined up to coach me on interviewing. Another who is helping with my resume and cover letter. I feel like I am actually taking charge of my life. I've been pretty passive and nonchalant. That's done now.

Good luck on your job search. Let me know if I can help in any way! I am pretty good at helping people with their resumes. Just not as good at my own.

pam