Hi all. I know I’m grasping at straws expecting the Yahoo Answers community to point me in the direction of my dream job, but other than a couple of points I really have nothing to lose by asking, so here I go:

I am a college grad with a Bachelor’s degree and six years of bookkeeping/administrative/customer service experience, as well as supervisory experience. I mostly stumbled into that line of work haphazardly while I was just trying to make some spare change during my school years. I was hoping to switch to a more personally fulfilling career this year, but now rather than figuring things out at my leisure, I’ve been given a strong push to quickly figure out what I want to do since the facility where I worked has shut down and now I am out of work. I have a decent severence package so I still have some time to ponder the situation, but this whole unemployed thing is getting me antsy. Anyway, these are the qualities I have to offer and/or am looking for in a new job:

*While of course it would be nice, I am not really looking nor expecting to make six figures a year. I am more concerned with quality of life and having free time rather than making tons of money. I am willing to forgo luxuries like cable TV as long as I am otherwise financially secure. At any rate, I live in a two income household so I will not be the only one paying the bills.

*I have entrepreneurial inclinations, or certainly a need to work more or less independently (minimal supervision) with an ability to exercise my own judgment. Almost every single member of my family, including my parents, has done the small business thing, so I know what’s involved. Right now I don’t really have the money necessary to jumpstart any ideas I’ve come up with, so this aspiration may be more of a long-term requirement than an immediate expecation.

*I want to do work that is meaningful and fulfilling. While the day-to-day tasks of work ALWAYS become boring over time, I want to at least be able to look at the big picture and feel like I am fulfilling a positive purpose within the world. In particular, my concerns lie with matters of animal welfare, habitat preservation, and the like. I also have interest in spiritually empowering other people, but I shy away from traditional religion and new age type stuff, so that doesn’t leave me much career option of that kind.

*I want to travel. Even if this travel is not explicitly built into my work, I should be able to get away for a vacation twice a year, and at least one of those vacations a couple of weeks long.

*My strengths include strong writing and proofreading skills, typing, computer literacy, and using the internet for research. I am also detail-oriented, organized, and consider myself to be a planner and a problem-solver.

*I consider myself to be somewhat creative and would enjoy composing written works, but I would not feel comfortable composing written pieces freelance as my primary source of income. I would consider this to be a good side project. I also don’t really have a professional portfolio that would land me a full-time gig doing that sort of thing.

*I am introverted and would NOT be happy in a sales or marketing career. IF I was pitching about something I really cared about and thought was worthwhile, I could probably do it, but I am definitely not interested in hawking some hot new product, whether tangible or intangible.

So is there any semi-secure career option that would play both to my interests and my strengths? Preferably without requiring more schooling? I know it’s a longshot, but I’m interested to see what (serious) ideas others come up with that I might not have considered.
Under the bullet-point mentioning travel, I would also like to mention that I have an interest in other cultures, both in the present and in history. For example, I had considered teaching English abroad as an option that fulfilled all of my strengths/interests, but didn’t like the idea of leaving the country for a full year or more.

The thing about careers is, you don’t get what you want right away, you have to earn it. And when you DO decide on something, this should be your all consuming goal. And remember, you own it, you have control, and you get what you want. But don’t let this goal control you, don’t let it get in the way of important things in your life.

From your list, I think there are several great jobs for you, that you could easily do. You could easily do P.R., or public relations, for an animal foundation like the SPCA, or ASPCA. You are pitching something, and from the sounds of it, you would deeply care about what your pitching.

Second, is journalism. Journalism will take writers for just about any subject, but you have to be prepared for rejection. When becoming a writer/columnist/journalist/reporter, you have to be willing to write something, have it turned down, and calling the people who turned it down, and ask "What can I improve on to make this better." And of course, never stop sending them stuff. This is the kind of thing you have to continuously apply to, always. And even if you write for a subject you don’t 100% agree with, do a great job on it anyways, so they start letting you have stuff you DO want to write about.

Lastly, opening your own business. In many places in this country, there are still places that don’t even have an ASPCA. Like in pensacola florida. There is a lot of animal abuse there, and no local corps. Starting a business like that, which is more a pseudo business, can be done by talking with the ASPCA foundation, and asking them to help you start a local ASPCA. This could be a great starter business, as although your not there to make money, or sell an actual product, you are however getting the management and business ethics experience. Not bad I think.

Hope this helps!

I have previous experience reading and scribing for the visually impaired. Since then, however, I have severe panic attacks and must work from home. I have been a freelance writer for the last four years and am looking for a change of pace. I would love to read for the blind through a PAID telecommuting job, but do not know where to start looking for such a position. I have already conducted such research, and most businesses run through volunteers only. Can anyone help? Thank you for your answers!

PS I have already looked at my state’s Commission for the Blind, School for the Blind, as well as various proofreading services, all to no avail.

If you have previous experience doing this work, then you can use your professional contacts and start there. Call up the people you used to do this for, and ask them if you can do this work for them from home. Ask them if they know of any services that hire people that work from home. Check the website for Lighthouse International, a nonprofit for the blind at http://www.lighthouse.org to see if they have resources or a number for you to contact about such opportunties. Good luck.

Greetings.
I’m a freelance English>Spanish translator. I’ve done free, volunteer services -text translation & style proofreading, webpage translation, video subtitle translation & style proofreading, amongst others- for several non-profit orgs.
I’m also collecting reference letters around the world. Are there any non-profit orgs in Australia (or in the region) needing volunteer translations you know of?
Thanks in advance. God bless you.
I forgot telling: I’m not in Australia. I have always translated from my home, so I volunteer by Internet. I’ve tried searching Google and others but given the few results I’ve got I think asking people can be more effective.

Go to Google and type in
Volunteer Australia
Volunteer <<name of city where you are>>

You will get a list of databases that list volunteering opportunities at a variety of organizations in your area. If you don’t see any requests for Spanish speakers, look for organizations that you think *might* need such, and give them a call and offer your services.

I’m really great with editing and proofreading and I recently started advertising my freelance services. I got contacted by someone who needs a 7000 words document proofread and they want a quote. How should I charge- by the word, page, hour? Also what is a reasonable, affordable rate that can beat out some competition but still earn me money? Thanks.

Here there are good sites on business http://infobusiness2.notlong.com/0AAuzog

I am thinking about starting my own business, doing freelance secretarial work (typing, transcription, and proofreading), personal services- like shopping and errands, and some other professional services (like putting together presentations for people), etc. Does anyone think that this will go over well?? I really need something to bring in some extra income without stealing all of my free time from my family. Hopefully it will pan out and I can replace my crappy retail job with it. I live in MN, just outside of the twin cities, anyone local want to chime in (and maybe hook me up with a lead or two?)?

I wish I knew where to find it (NPR?), but there was a radio show/podcast a few months ago about someone who was doing the administrative part of what you’re proposing, and making a decent living off it. The key would be doing the marketing to get off the ground.

I am a freelance proofreader in the process of building my resume and looking for jobs. I love fiction and would like to proofread books. I am just starting my career and at this time am willing to proofread a job at no charge if in return I can add your name and work to my resume. As I am not interested in a career in writing, I will not plagiarize your work or share it with anyone else. If you are interested, or know of someone who might be, please feel free to contact me. Thank you.

it seems all to insecure and unsafe. no.

I am a freelance writer, so I make money, but not a lot.
I also do editing/proofreading.
I am thinking about getting into selling photos to magazines and such as well.
I have a blog, but those ads really don’t bring in the $, though some people claim they make money, I don’t buy it.

What creative ways have you found to make money in your spare time? From home. Online is good too.

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If anyone posts with those ridiculous links, I will report. Be warned.

I sell stuff on ebay. some stuff I actually make.

I am in the process of completing my CV and have a query.

I have never been in paid employment so have never paid any tax (i’m in my early 20’s and was a student).

I have however been doing freelance copy editing and proofreading for about the past 12 months. However this was mainly just out of interest and for something to do when i wasn’t studying, so as such i haven’t earned very much from it so have not registered for or paid any tax.

I would like to put this on my CV as it is work "experience", however if i was to get a job would this situation matter? Would my employer expect me to provide any tax codes or paperwork or anything, or would everything be fine?

Any advise on this would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

No, your prospective employer wouldn’t be interested in your tax position or paperwork.

I’m considering starting to freelance: writing articles, blogs, and possibly doing freelance editing and proofreading. The problem is, I want to pay my taxes out of each check, the same as if I had filled out a W-4 form from an employer. That way, I know tax time won’t end with me paying a huge sum of money, but rather filling out my federal tax statements and already having paid my taxes in for the year.

How would I go about it? What form would I need to fill out, and how would I pay the taxes from each check? Also, how would I find out what other types of taxes I would be responsible for (ie. state, local, etc)?

I’d really appreciate some input! I’m in serious need of getting out of my current job, and if nothing else, I would need the freelance/home work as a supplement to my soon to be smaller wage!

You make quarterly estimated tax payments using Form 1040-ES. Here’s a link: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf The instructions will tell you most of what you will need to know.

I`m thinking of training as a proofreader as it is something that interests me. I would eventually like to go freelance, but is proofreading something that will earn me money? I will study at my local college as opposed to some fly by night internet company.

Is a proofreader and an editor the same thing……? Makes sense.

An editor, yes.