Job Advice: "How do I get more creativity into my life?"

Katrin Wilkens (45) studied rhetoric and worked as a trainer in further education. Since 2000 she writes as a freelance journalist and others. for mirror, time, FA and Nido. What she is really good at: portraying important and less important personalities, that they howl with happiness. Or with anger. Combine. To put things in a nutshell. To look into people. Discover special features. With her agency "i.do" (which is Japanese and means "change", "journey"), the mother of three advises women on their return - and promises: "In the end you have one answer: the tailor-made job."

Gerda asks: "How is my professional life more colorful?"

"I am 43 years old and work as a full-time teacher in a school for the blind." Working with disabled children gives me joy and fulfillment.

Nevertheless, I ask myself for some time, if that has been all. Does not a job have to do much more than provide security and satisfaction?

Variety, passion and a pinch of craziness are part of my imagination. I could also say: I want more art in my life. My passions include photography and soap making on a vegan basis. Incidentally, I could also imagine being self-employed.

I have two children and I am still very happy married to my husband. He keeps my back a lot. "

Gerda from Berlin

Dear Gerda,

Then hold him tight, the man. If he's a metaphor once again: If your job were a guy, you would not settle for anything less than George Clooney, right?

In reality, however, you love your husband and forgive him (for being so great with the kids), that he may not be good at separating garbage, skipping parent evenings, or being so familiar with Böll's poems.

It is sometimes similar to our jobs: we do not have to press all expectations into it. It's enough if he's okay.

The rest you get in small but fine extra activities: Maybe you actually make soaps that you pack aesthetically pleasing and give them to local beauticians or spa oases? (Quite a stupid question: Can you also make soap for the visually impaired, could it be integrated into your lessons, and how would the smells have to be to make this work an experience for both sides?)

If the financial side of you is clarified, that is, if you deal with the fact that you have less money now and later in the pension, much less (civil servant = pension, freelancer = responsible for the pension), then you can through a training think about the art therapist.

If that still is not enough, art? is, then there is the recent training as a social artist, which is even promoted by the Employment Agency. Here is an attempt to introduce art as a work resource. The training is great, the job prospects will be a lot less, which does not mean you could not give it a try. They could then work in charitable social and arts projects to integrate refugees, the long-term unemployed, and the elderly into a social life that is not only worthy but inspiring. Also in the economic and organizational development you need from time to time such lateral entrants, as you would then. But it takes a long time to get there.

If you are clearly annoyed by your previous work and only then: Dare the jump! Otherwise, you better think of the average man and the average woman with an average job. They do not have to be above average.

Art is more of a way of life than a job description, and so there may be artists in the land registry? and many artists will never be, despite great success. Do not you, Mr. Koons?

Katrin Wilkens, i.do.

Further information about the re-entry after the baby break under www.i-do-hamburg.de

Here you can ask Katrin Wilkens questions!

You're also busy re-entering the job? Then you can tell Katrin Wilkens by email your personal problem. At ChroniquesDuVasteMonde.com she will answer selected questions.