I am in a bad place right now financially/emotionally. I had a terrible childhood w/a lot of sexual/physical abuse. I’m trying to start a new life and cut out all of the people who have done me wrong. I am no longer using any hard drugs, which is good, but I still worry about my future. I want to completely start everything over!!
I’m quitting accounting to start a career in forensics, but no one’s hiring me w/o experience. I have certificates, but no actual hands-on experience. I recently helped a family member (who I don’t even like!) pay for chemo, so now I’m pretty much broke. I also received no ‘thank you’ from this person. I don’t have any friends who I can call for help, as most of them are self-centered/unstable. Some of them are only interested in ‘making it’ in the music industry, so asking them to get outside their heads is like asking them to donate a kidney.
I don’t know what’s going to happen to me when I move out of my apartment. I may end up homeless or having to resort to illegal ways to make $. I’m scared. The reason I am quitting accounting is because of horrible OCD with counting/math. It’s a lot to deal with. I also feel like I need a job that is NOT a ‘people person’ job. Kinda like accounting, but without any math. Any advice on a type of job to temporarily get before my career falls in place? I have really great organizational skills. Or, does Anyone have any advice on how to completely start over? I’ve already started by quitting drugs and cutting out some of the jerks in my life. Any advice helps. Thanks.
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Reported for forum change.
Now to answer your concerns, remember that there is government help for you if/when you are truly broke, for temporary assistance until you get back on your feet with regards to employment. Don’t be afraid to accept charity either, if needed. There’s no reason you need to starve or sleep under a bridge in this country (assuming you are in the US).
Job market is tough for a lot of jobs these days, so it’ll take a while. Be realistic about your expectations for how soon you will find new employment. Keep applying and possibly finding out if there’s any sort of volunteer or internship work that you might be able to do since you do have some certifications as you say. This may help you network and get your foot in the door for a possible career move. I don’t know if anything is like that available in forensics, but hopefully you can find out online or by visiting a few places you are interested in working.
Congratulations on quitting the “hard” drugs and try your best to give up the “soft” ones too, if you can. I think overall you’ll be happier but only you know this for sure.
Good luck to you on your struggles and your journey. Try not to give up hope!
Thanks for this advice. Yes, I’ll swallow my pride and look into some government resources. Volunteer work’s a good idea too. I also have to be open to moving out of New York if no one is hiring in forensics here. It’s better than living on the street…and I can always come back when I get more experience. As far as drugs, I’m still eatin’ some ‘special’ brownies every month or so, but other than that, I’m done with drugs. Thanks for your advice
You might consider data entry as a temporary job requiring little social interchange. And with your keying skills you could get an inventory job easily. RGIS is always hiring.
Any particular reason you’re interested in forensics? I ask because it involves a lot of precise measuring and math, something that was causing you problems in accounting. Or are you well suited for it and feel youwouldn’t have to talk to a lot of people? You would have to testify in court, though.
Look in the various forums for threads that might be helpful as you find your new self. Best of luck.
Thanks, Becky. I said forensics because most people don’t know what to make of ‘crime scene cleaner’. It’s basically someone who cleans up after crime scenes, meth labs, etc. Once I get that type of job, I won’t be doing ANY math. Not to get all dark, but I became interested in it because one of my family members was murdered a while ago. Long story, but basically the crime scene cleaners really saved me from losing my mind at the time. Crime cleaners testify in court, but that’s rare…and I wouldn’t mind anyway. Data entry sounds boring, but would work for the time being. I will add that to my list of potential temporary jobs. Thanks!
Cool! I saw something about that on TV, maybe on the Discovery channel. Calls for some resolute skills and very lucrative. I’m sorry you learned about it in such a sad way but you seem to take life’s experiences and turn them into a positive.
Is there some other kind of clean-up work you could start doing to get your foot in the door? A “dirty” job no one else wants to do? Maybe learn about cleaners and techniques.
It sounds like you have a goal, but no plan of how to achieve it. But don’t fret, because a lot of people don’t even have the goal, so you’re a step ahead already!
Do you know the names of the companies that these crime scene cleaners work for? Because you could just pick up the phone, call them and say you’re interested in that line of work and ask them what type of experience they look for in a candidate. Then you’d have a much clearer picture of the path you need to take.
Also, it’s better to take a crap, low-paid job than to work illegally.
If you currently have a job DON’T quit it until you find another one. Lots of us have crappy jobs we don’t like. You don’t quit it and get on government assistance “Just Because.”
First ask yourself if the internet is where you want to get your advice - or are you that desperate? Is it emotional or truly financial? Where are you using a computer with internet from??
Second, find a nice local church that will help you. Don’t rely on government. A) It’s wrong and B) It’s cold and clinical. At least with a church you’ll face the people that help you, eye to eye.
Third, if you’re not well off financially and stability wise, maybe you should go back to the employment that you know and can hold a job in before embarking on a new career?
Nonsense, that’s the way it’s done now! In fact, I can think of eleven million people whom are about to.
It is appealing to “start over”, but it’s not that simple. One element of your life that cannot be replaced is yourself, and that’s a big element - it can, however, be changed over time.
If you wanted to rebuild your house, you could demolish it, and rebuild it from the ground up - which sounds very appealing, until you realize you have nowhere to eat, sleep, shower, relax. The other option, would be to re-do the kitchen, and once that’s done, re-do the bathroom, and then re-do the bedroom, and so on. This approach, while inconvenient, and more work, will still allow you to live in the house.
To put this in a YOU context, you need to change everything, but one thing at a time. Stop running with your self-centered drug-using “friends”. Find a club or activity you’re into, and begin to make a few new friends. Keep your job. Find a new place to live (this will FEEL like the change you are looking for). Once in your new place, find out what it will take to get a new job. Maybe you have to keep accounting while you go to night school. Either way, change the job last if possible. If the job is really a stressor, don’t quit until you at least have some other source of legit income as mentioned upthread.
The journey of upgrading everything in your life step-by-step is what will change you. You will be a better person for each achievement along the way.
Whoa. Way to bring your own personal politics into this for no reason.
OP - there’s nothing wrong with or shameful about relying on government help that you are entitled to as per arrangements reached in a democratic society. Please don’t let the needless judgment of crazy internet message board posters stand in the way of what you have a right to.
I agree. That said, turning to a church for at least emotional and moral support, if not material or financial support, might be a good idea—depending on the church and on you.
I’ve done some housecleaning before. Can’t say that was any fun. People are always watching you to see if you’re stealing things…or telling you their personal business like you’re their therapist. Doing it helped me prepare for crime cleaning tho, so it wasn’t so bad. I thought about hoarding jobs, but that seems a little too crazy for me. I’d rather work with dead people than bed bugs
Yeah, I have picked up the phone and called some places. I have to start doing more of that and stop obsessing about my resume being perfect. Also, you’re right about a low-paying job being better than working illegally. I’m just used to having money, so it scares me to be broke all of the time
::yawn:: I didn’t quit my job ‘‘just because’’. I was sexually harassed by a new boss. I didn’t want to get into every detail of my life on this board.
I agree with your step-by-step approach. It’s hard when you’re in a mess to see things that way, but I have to force myself to. I’m definitely feeling better since I changed my number. None of my old druggie friends have the new one and I quit the whole Facebook thing temporarily. I had to quit my job. There were a lot of great people there, but the new boss was creepy to the point of causing me fear. My OCD is exacerbated by fear, so yay! That being said, I have to stop feeling sorry for myself and get off my ass. Thanks for the advice.
mayaonfiya222, I don’t know where you live, but there are probably some organizations in your area (or the nearest big city) which can help you find housing if you think you’ll end up homeless.
