Moving on a Regular Basis - What Can I Do?

Updated on November 28, 2011
P.S. asks from Richardson, TX
7 answers

It seems like this has been happening in my life since I was a kid. We lived in one place for 6 years, then my parents got divorced and it was 3-4 years in one spot since then. Through College, after college, got married, and relocated for hubby's career ever 3-4 years. Hubby's going back to school to be a doctor, so ti will continue for at least 2-3 more moves (to where he goes to school, residency, and then wherever we set up his practice. My son is 4.5 years old, so it'll be a bit hard on him but if we can settle for his middleschool on, I'll be happy.

But what can I do? I have been an admin assistant for quite a few years. I tried to be an entrepreneur but it's not for me. I don't want to and am not cut out to run my own business. I'm more middle-upper management. But I can't get ahead if I keep moving around unless I find a career where I can be transplantable. I am not interested in MLM or sales - it's just not me. I tried it and it doesn't work for me.

I've decided that I will go back to school regardless - I'm taking management classes now at a local community college and doing pretty well.

Can someone help me out with ideas re. careers that can be moved from one place to another? I don't see me being a full time student at the same time as my husband. Someone has to work so we can pay the bills. That's hard enough as it is. I've heard that nurses are in demand, but again, lots of schooling to get there, and don't know if it'll work with my son's age, etc. The little guy's also on the high end of the autism spectrum, so both of us being workaholics isn't going to fly.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed and frustrated, because even if I commit to something, it's going to get uprooted. I just have run out of gas trying to figure this out. I'm 43 years old so I'm still "attractive" job-market wise, but I won't be forever, even though the women live and are active and alert into their 80s in my family. I've got a good 30 years in me at least.

I just need some help and reassurance. What can I do? What can I become? How do I make this work?

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~.~.

answers from Tulsa on

In high school and college I was a licensed insurance agent working in an agent's office. I worked for a captive agent for one of the major insurance companies. I worked for three different agents until I graduated and moved to the Corporate side of the company. A lot of states have licensing agreements with other states so you only have to take the tests once. It may not be your cup of tea, but it gives you a lot of opportunities for jobs when moving.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Honestly... MedAdmin for "now" (aka until you find something you really really love and want to career it with).

Hospitals are used to schlepping people about from dept to dept (burnout... units VERY rarely have the same people in them for years and years, more usually you find someone in surgical, then PICU, then a nursing unit, then ER), and your husband a doctor to be, it would keep your hand "in" (conversationally) as well as give you an in into whatever hospital you're applying for. Same token, because of the schlepping about, when you move in 3 years... the hospital you're applying with will look at your work history and slot you in at an appropriate place. It's VERY easy to "climb the ladder" on the move in healthcare. Gradually increasing levels of responsibility.

Pay is fairly decent, ABOUT the same (a little less for lower level position) as a new grad nurse. Of course, upper level admin pays quite well, but that usually requires a degree in hospital administration.

Most acute care admin slots require 1 quarter of medical terminology (an uber cheap 1-3 cr class through community colleges) AND 1-2 years of acute care experience (which is kind of a pain in the neck / catch22. Meaning, once you've got the acute care experience, you're golden, but it's hard to get in the first place. How medadmin types GET that first 1-2 years of experience tends to be working for free 1 day a week as a volunteer, or wannabe nurses who need a 1000+ hours of healthcare work for their nursing school applications) and then it's (almost) just like any other admin job.

Volunteering is a decent way to try the job on for size as well. Just talk with the volunteer coordinator about 'considering going back to school for med admin', and they'll slot you in with a nursing unit or unit secretary in another dept. You'll be up to your eyeballs in paperwork no one else wants (like stickering), but it will give you a feel for the job.

_____________________

If it makes you feel any better:

I moved every 1-2 years my ENTIRE life until just recently :) NEVER traumatic, just "was". (military)

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J.R.

answers from Miami on

Public Relations -- via traditional or social media
Marketing
Copywriting
Editing
Event Planning

All of the above you can often do with flex hours and from home when needed. your name and reputation always go with you.

Jilly

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L.M.

answers from New York on

There always seems to be jobs available in the health care field.

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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Many companies are offering the ability to work from home, maybe you can find a company that offers that no matter where you live. I know a lot of banking type places offer that. My sister and father are in collections and they have both worked from home - upper level of collections as well as lower to mid levels. It is worth looking into.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

May I suggest you investigate a career in some field that works with people with developmental disabilities. There are almost always jobs at group homes, sheltered workshops, supported living, etc...they live all over in just about every community and most bigger cities have at least a few facilities that support them.

I have over 15 years in the field and with any BA or BS you can even be the Director. Of course a MBA or some other higher degree would be nice but not necessary. I have worked as a trainer, job coach, house manager, driver, teacher (in an ICF-MR), activities director, and many other jobs that needed to be done. Many of the workers have no degrees and have a loved one that inspired them to work in this area.

Another option is social services. Some degrees go over state lines, no re-testing and certifying is needed. I believe a MSW is like that, maybe even all "states" of the USA. Even the islands accept it from any University.

There are all kinds of jobs that can go from place to place. What about somewhere that is a nation wide chain, like Sears. They have to have warehouses everywhere with offices that managers and other business people have to be. They need administrative assistants too.

What about child care, if you ever did want to work at home and run a business you would already have the toys and supplies needed as soon as you set up your house, then you could contact the state to get licensed and on their list to start getting kids. It is pretty much easy money, you only have to buy food and if you do the right food program about half of that can be reimbursed. You can even get paid for cooking and cleaning up by some food programs. If you do a large child care home you can even hire staff to assist you. When you move you just give them lots of notice so they can find other facilities. Once you join the local directors/owners organization you can let them know too and find out if they have openings to suggest to the parents.

One of my friends went to art school somewhere, short classes, like Donna Dewberry, and they sign up people to teach that method of painting. I have taken tole painting classes on several occasions from them. They taught the classes through Hobby Lobby. Even crocheting or knitting or sewing. They are all areas that people have lost as a skill and are looking to learn now.

I think there are many options out there that move from state to state. Several of my friends hubby's are with Conoco and they move every 5-8 years on average. They always do stuff like the things I have listed above.

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R.M.

answers from Dallas on

I'm drawing a blank on professions, but if you're going back to school try doing it on line through University of Phoenix. Everything is on the computer: all classes, participation, grades, assignments. I finished up my bachelors and then masters with UOP - all online. As long as you have a computer and the internet, you can get your homework done regardless of moving.

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