Need ideas for someone

Posted: Wed, Apr 18 2012, 11:07 pm Post subject: Need ideas for someone

Putting this question out there for someone I know, not sure where else to put this. I'm looking for career ideas for a girl coming back from seminary soon. She's NOT an academic person, therefore traditional pathways for pursuing a career are not a great option for her (at least in the short term). She's charismatic, personable, creative, and good with kids--but her achilles heel is that she can shut down when she gets stressed. She's had it rough in her academic career thus far, so she's looking for a way to regain her confidence and get a positive experience. Knowing how hard it is to earn a parnassah these days in a "traditional" field, does anyone have some creative ideas for what she can do next year and beyond that perhaps we haven't thought of? She's not from the NY/tri-state area, so that is an important consideration.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Is she good with her hands? Maybe she could learn locksmithing, home repair, auto mechanics, HVAC, etc. Look into career training through vo-tech or community college programs. Both are likely to be well-equipped to help students with learning issues.

Does she tend to "shut down" from non-academic stress as well? That would make any kind of training or career challenging. Perhaps stress-management issues should be dealt with prior to making a career choice.

Executive Member Joined: Sep 14 2009 Posts: 464

Is she talented in hair-styling or makeup? If so, there might be demand for that in her community. Or she could work for a sheitelmacher washing & blowing out sheitels. Just a thought.

Silver Member Joined: May 18 2011 Posts: 625

If she likes cooking, culinary school is another option. I know someone who is in a non-Jewish culinary school and she just practices her cooking at home, so if she is interested in that, I can put her in touch with my friend. That's a more hands-on type school.

I also know someone who became a head pastry chef after culinary school for a high end frum restaurant and I can see fancy pastries/cakes/cooking/catering being high in demand, especially out of town.

Diamond Member Joined: Aug 07 2006 Posts: 2556

Gold Member Joined: Jul 14 2009 Posts: 2094

massage therapist?
beauty school for manicure/pedicure, waxing....
sewing, either alterations pre-tieds or making hair accessories for children...'
balloon/flower arrangements..

Senior Member Joined: Feb 01 2011 Posts: 133

preschool teacher, day care/babysitting?

Platinum Member Joined: Jun 30 2009 Posts: 8274

Well, what ARE her strengths?

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2010 Posts: 2158

If she's good with kids and her hands, maybe hairstyling in a kids' salon would be something for her to aim for.

If she's looking for a job right now, and thinking of getting more training or education once she figures out what to do, maybe she can look into working at a children's museum or activity place (like Gymboree or Little Gym). If she can live at home and it's ok to do a lower-paying job for now, those are great ways to get some experience and find more direction for the future. I actually envy people who can manage to take a low-pay job, because having real world work experience is SO important.

http://www.cmom.org/sites/default/files/pp_educator_2012.pdf - would something like that appeal?
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Silver Member Joined: Mar 27 2012 Posts: 879

Part time or full time babysitter for a frum family. (I'm sure many frum women who work would LOVE a young post-sem girl to watch their child/children)

Posted: Thu, Apr 19 2012, 11:20 pm Post subject: re: Need ideas for someone

Keep the ideas coming! Yes she enjoys cooking and baking, I just hope that she'll have the wherewith-all to make a successful career out of it--either that or shaitel machering. She lives in a very small out-of-town community where most of these options are already covered by other people there. If she comes to NY she'd need to earn enough to cover the costs of room, board, transportation, and other miscellaneous--so its something to weigh carefully (parents not in great shape to support financially).
Regarding massage therapist, if anyone knows of a pathway for a frum girl to go about it I'd love to hear more information. I know frum people have done it, just not where.