These are my skills, what can I be?

[WendyBoatComesIn]

Have name changed so as not to out myself.

Used to be an actress, then moved into a non-performing job in the film/telly industry, which became patchy once I moved out of London. I've been teaching to keep money coming in but I hate it so I've resigned.

So, what can I do?

good with people
organised
diligent
enjoy ticking things off when done
love working in a team
quite good under stress
decent qualifications and good with figures
enjoy writing
play a couple of instruments to a good level

I wish I was more entrepreneurial but I'm hopeless at thinking of ideas for a business, gaps in the market etc.

Those sound more like attributes and personality traits than skills.

It all depends on what level work you are looking for - from that list you sound like you'd make a good receptionist.

What qualifications have you got?

Do you need to retrain in order to develop your skills and gain specific qualifications (eg administrator)

What was your "non-performing" job - Writing? Directing? Administration?

PR leaps to mind.

Grants administration
Events organising

I have a 2:1 degree from a good university and a postgrad in teaching. I've been a receptionist actually (along with a million other things between acting jobs).

I worked in casting.

Topaz and Fiona, do you have experience of the fields you've mentioned? I've always thought (probably wrongly), that PR is a job for young party-loving gels.

What is your degree in - something vocational?

If you have good organisational skills, can plan and motivate people, I would suggest Project Management.

It's in theatre studies and music.

Yes, I can certainly plan and motivate. Yes, I like the idea of project management, from what I know about it from watching Grand Designs far too often. Can you tell me more about it, is that what you do Bea?

I am currently a Business Analyst but I have done Project Management. My background is administration and I have managed groups of staff.

I work for the Public Sector and there have been lots of PM opportunities over the last few years - not so much now with the redundancies. I have known a number of people who work as PMs and are self employed. There seems to be quite a demand as businesses look for people to come in to work on projects without wanting to employ them permanently.

You can go on short PM courses to get qualifications which will certainly help you get employment. However, the main purpose of the job is to make sure people achieve certain goals within a certain time and analyse any risks that will prevent that from happening.

That's interesting Bea, thanks. I'm happy being self-employed, so that wouldn't put me off. Do you know whether PMs specialise in particular fields? I feel very at home in theatre/film, and I like the people, not sure how I'd fare in a corporate environment.

Just a thought, it seems that event management and PM are very similar, am I right?

To draw a comparison a film/tv producer is basically a Project Manager (I've worked in film/tv too many moons ago).

Is that something you'd consider? You say you've moved out of London, but there are lots of regional tv/film companies about. And you definately sound like you've got the cv to be an attractive candidate.

I haven't any experience with event management but I would say they are very similar - it's about achieving a goal within a set timescale & to a budget.

I should imagine your creative/artistic skills would be very useful in event management.

hairy, the thing that puts me off producing is the securing investment bit, the idea that you can work for months, if not years, on a film and then it never gets made.

Can I be nosey and ask what you did in film/tv?

I started a different thread about being an assistant to a director/actor/writer, but so far haven't had any replies. Any of you ladies care to give an opinion?

Thanks for being positive about my experience, I feel a bit paralysed to be honest, and am always very down on my achievements. I suddenly feel a need to Earn Money.

I was assistant to a producer, then to a co operative of producer directors, then I did a bit of continuity/production assistant (rather than back office) work on both films and tv programmed. It was at small independent companies.

I'm now a CEO in a different field altogether.

Another thought - have youthought about going into some form of training - nvqs or he - rather than teaching children?

Have you looked at the online web sites which can help you assess what you're suited to? Or contacted your local careers office (I think it's
Connexions in England) - they'll have an adult guidance team to help you work through choices.

Best of luck!

The teaching I've been doing is FE and HE, and, whilst I'm pretty good at it, I've had my fill. Training adults, possibly.

I'll have a look at some of those sites. I'm not really aware of what's out there to be honest, careers offices etc are never any use for theatre, film etc so I've not looked at them until now.

Thanks everyone for your ideas so far.

OP god no, PR can be for anyone who is relatively outgoing, well presented and organized as I well know

You do need to be confident and informed.

Wendy- no not really much experience of either but I kind of whisked up all your skills and qualities and could see you working for an org like comic relief or something where you get to be organised, tick things off, see people, work in a team, manage budgets, with a variety of music and other activities in the background!

Fiona, I wish you were able to employ me! I'd LOVE to work for Comic Relief! Make it so!

Actually, I'd be at home with the sleb booking angle of Comic Relief. Perhaps I need to consider a move back to London or thereabouts and then get some blackmail material on Richard Curtis.

Wendy - my position is similar, but with a classical music background rather than stage. I agree that work doesn't exist in the same way outside of London. You move out of the city thinking that although there is not likely to be as much work out in the sticks there must be some? I got quite a shock when I realised local orchestras pay extra players about a quarter of what I was used to!

Are you really against teaching children? There are lots of amateur theatre groups out there needing coaching. If you have good music skills/exams behind you there are various school music providers around the country, but some instruments are more popular than others. Voice & guitar seem top of the lists at the moment. There are also various mother & toddler music or theatre classes that run as businesses Stagecoach/Music for little people - start up costs can vary. I'm thinking anything from Gareth Malone to Jo Jingles!
HTH

Hi pugs. Don't think I could face something like Stagecoach, sorry! And unfortunately I'm not sure the life of a peripatetic music teacher is for me either, too lonely!

You sound as if you would be suited to doing PR for independent film/theatre/TV company.

Not just for young party-loving gals. I made transition from journalism to PR very successfully 3 years' ago and I'm 48!!

Hello George. Can you tell me what you like best about your job? As you've come from a journalism background I'd think you have far more press contacts and know more about press than me.

Well I work in corporate PR and today my boss did a live interview on Sky News, which was a good buzz, as I had to do a lot of organising at short notice, make sure boss was properly briefed and we did some social media around it too.
I get to write a lot, which I love (blogs etc as well as press releases and articles), talk to and meet a lot of journalists and occasionally attend industry events.

Look on artsjobs from the arts council website. It'll give you some ideas and you may even find some things you can apply for.