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Coralie
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10 Jul 2013, 10:51 pm

I'm currently employed as a writing tutor, and I absolutely love it--the issues is, it's hard to find full-time tutoring positions with benefits, and this position is just for undergrads at my university. I need to look for something else as a long-term career option, hopefully a position that will replicate the joy of tutoring for me.
I'm looking for a career path with most of the following attributes:

-something that won't tax my poor short-term/working memory. My verbal short-term memory is okay (I remember what people tell me and what I've read, generally), the issues come when I have to remember where I've put something, a sequence of numbers, etc.

-a position that emphasizes outcome over methods. I'm not good in environments where there are directions that I must follow step-by-step, but I can get the job done--I just need to do it my own way, at my own pace. I guess I'm looking for a job with a lot of independence. I have some significant sequential processing issues, so this limits my ability to follow directions. Being a writing tutor is a good fit for me, because I have a lot of autonomy: no one is peering over my shoulder, telling me what to do. Instead, I meet with the student individually, assess his/her needs, and and provide appropriate feedback. Because I have a high degree of independence and can control the set-up of my sessions, I am less anxious, can keep myself more organized, and feel overall more confident.

-A job that requires a minimal degree of math. I have a math learning disability, and have a hard time with anything beyond basic addition/subtraction/multiplication/division.

-I find technology to be really stressful, and I couldn't imagine myself being a programmer. I send lots of emails at my tutoring job and log sessions in an Access database--this is fine with me-- but I would not excel in a job that focuses mainly on technology.

-I actually really like working with people, but large groups overwhelm me. I am trying to find a career that is like tutoring: working with people one-on-one or in small groups. My comorbid ADHD creates a lot of issues when I am surrounded by many people, but I find that as a tutor, I can focus really well because there is just one or two other people to interact with! I genuinely have grown to enjoy working with others, as long as the environment is manageable and doesn't provoke sensory issues.

-I am very hyper, and struggle with sitting in a desk. Tutoring works for me because I usually meet with students for just half an hour, and then am able to get up, before moving onto someone else. I feel engaged and I don't become restless and start bouncing out of my chair.

-My strengths are long-term rote memorization, writing, talking (even if I am a bit idiosyncratic :) ), foreign languages, and research skills.



Fnord
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10 Jul 2013, 11:30 pm

Coralie wrote:
I'm currently employed as a writing tutor, and I absolutely love it--the issues is, it's hard to find full-time tutoring positions with benefits, and this position is just for undergrads at my university. I need to look for something else as a long-term career option, hopefully a position that will replicate the joy of tutoring for me...

Let me get this straight ... you want a job that:
  • won't require you to remember where you've put things.
  • Won't require you to remember numbers (Phone Numbers?) or work with numbers (Prices? Credit/Debit ledgers?)
  • Lacks structure (No Time Clock? No Fixed Duties?)
  • Allows you to judge the work of others
  • Grants you autonomy (No Supervision?)
  • Does not require the use of technology
  • Requires you to work with a limited number of co-workers and clients / one-on-one interactions only
  • Let's you find out things, especially about other people
Well ... that narrows things down quite a bit. Here are your options, as I see them:
  • Escort / Hostess
  • Reporter / Journalist
  • Real-Estate Salesperson
  • Advertising Model / Commercial Actress
  • Travel Agent
  • Telemarketer / Telephone "Psychic"
  • Interior Decorator
  • Fashion Consultant
  • Personal Assistant
  • Life Coach
  • Proofreader / Script Consultant
  • Makeup Artist / Beautician / Esthetician
That's about all that I can think of in less than 5 minutes. Good Luck!

:D



auntblabby
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10 Jul 2013, 11:40 pm

travel agent sounds doable.



kkorchid
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11 Jul 2013, 12:12 pm

I think that anything with editing and proofreading would be a good fit. Especially if it is small pieces that are constantly changing. Plus you have the ability to explain why something should be changed rather than getting frustrated that the person does not understand what they are doing wrong and not being able to communicate that.



Coralie
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13 Jul 2013, 3:16 pm

Yes, I could see being a travel agent as a possibility, though I've never been abroad, so would that be to my detriment? I could help people coordinate accommodations and tour groups, but I wouldn't be able to provide much insight for more individualized issues, like "what bakeries would you recommend in Paris?" or "how much Arabic do I need to know for haggling in Tangier?"

I would feel very much at home as a proofreader. That would actually be a very ideal job for me. I looked up proofreading jobs in my area, and the only issue is that most are per diem. I would be willing to consider proofreading as a temporary job, but I'm not sure if it's viable long-term since there aren't many full-time positions (at least in my region).