subject: become an agony aunt [print this page] become an agony aunt become an agony aunt
For a very long timeI worked as an agony aunt, therapist and advisor, and helped a lot of people. Sometimes someone came to me for a job as a junior agony aunt and had that special something that meant they could do the job well.It is a wonderful way to work, as every day is different, you help people, it stretches the brain, and you do not have to leave your house! So long as you have a computer you are sorted. You can choose the days and the times you work, though the more hours you work, of course, the more you earn. But some do it very part time and others very full time.
I RETIRED but I like to help other people to get into this line of business. Anyone who likes to help others, or is good at making decisions or solving problems, and has a reasonable grasp of the English language can think of this as a career.It is great too because you can do it part time choosing your own hours. Another reason are keen on finding out about thisis becausethey be their own boss.
As I have retired I do not employ or train up agony aunts, BUT I do know of a site where they do and recommend it. go to this great site I found, run by Charlotte Craig, another famous and very experienced agony aunt, but who has not retired! She can help you to get into this if you want to - her site is at agony aunt.
It pays very well too! Every day is different. And if you work hard at it and take it very seriously and are good at it you could end up as famous and praised as I was and she is if you are really keen.Charlotte Craignow writes for magazines and newspapers and is asked to go on television and radio. I wrote articles for the DAILY MIRROR newspaper recently and I had a book out a few months back.
That could be you. It is suited to young and old, men and women, and it is ideal for anyone who is tied to the home or disabled. So really there is nobody who it does not suit. I once knew a disabled lady who could not get out of her home and was very lonely, yet she was a clear thinker and very sensible and knowledgeable. It was the ideal thing for her. It meant she earnt a lot of money - which she needed! And it filled her time and gave her a purpose, as well as helping others. Contact Charlotte Craig now before she is fully staffed. It is unusual that such a job is available anyway. I went from being an ordinary agony aunt to writing for newspapers and magazines and being asked to go on radio and television.
How to be an agony auntis something I still get asked a lot - it is rewarding work, every day is different, it can feel quite exciting and it gives you a great sense of helping others. But you need a certain type of personality and you cannot learn there, it is either there or it is not. The truth is that if you need advice on the whole thing from someone else you are not up to it. An agony aunt is supposed to be able to work out and solve problems and provide answers , not just ask others questions. I never had any help in anyway. You would not trust a doctor who has to ring a doctor for advice about medical matters.
For the full answer go to Charlotte Craig's excellent website at agony aunt If you merely want to be a part time agony aunt who works under a well known qualified and reputable agony aunt then this is the site for you. If you think you have what it takes to become a full time professional then you should be able to work it all out for yourself, as I did about 35 years ago.
The reason I give advice on this now and point people to this website is simple. I still get lots of people sending me emails asking for advice. As I have been retired for about 12 years I cannot help, so I want to be able to point people towards another agony aunt who is genuine, trustworthy and capable who can help. I would rather write a few articles that point people in the right direction than get loads more emails about people who have trusted an amateur and then regretted it, where it is too late for me to be able to help in any way.
So here is my quick guide to becoming an agony aunt
1. Ask yourself if you REALLY have what it takes! Are you just wanting to do it because your life is boring or you are lonely, or because you need a way to feel more important, or because you think its a way to make quick easy money?
2. Are you good at LISTENING to people? I mean REALLY listening so that you can hear the whole thing and read inbetween the lines?
Most bad agony aunts and amateurs tend to sort of listen - i.e. a lady who tells them that she is housebound and very lonely would be told to go out and meet people. A good one would have worked out from what they were told that she was not able to go out and that was most of her problem
3. How serious is it to you? A part time thing or a full-time? Get a good idea of what you can offer to it
Good luck in your quest - go to problem page for the full info
Please if you decide to go to other sites other than that of Charlotte Craig, who I know for a fact is reputable, genuine, qualified, lots of experience and has had a lot of famous clients, please do not email me after telling me all about how awful it was. And remember that if someone is trying to give you free advice they are probably people who tried to get a job as a paid agony aunt and failed - because they are not good enough - and wanted to do it so much they carried on doing it for free rather than facing facts and admitting to themselves they are not good enough! If you often have friends coming to you to pour out their problems or ask for advice then this may well be for you.
