NHG: Let's talk about career change

[mrs.jacinthe]

Anyone here done a full-on career change?  I've fallen completely out of even like with my job and I need to move on.  But I think I'm holding myself back, because I feel like I'm not really qualified for ANYTHING but what I've been doing.  (Been at this job since April 2008, so 6.5 years)

If you've done a career change, what steps did you take (other than brush up the resume and apply apply apply)?  

Also, if anyone is in a company that's hiring people with very few transferable skills, let me know.  LOL

[Deleted]

I am in a somewhat different line of work from where I originally started, and in a completely different industry. I started out in law, as in I went to college, studied law, and got a paralegal certificate. I worked in law for 8 years and for the most part I loved it. But it was a lot of stress and pressure and it was starting to affect me. I left my job and decided to freelance instead (stupid decision since I had no other source of income and no business knowledge) but could not make ends meet. I started scrambling and took a temp job for what was supposed to be a couple weeks. Long story short, I'm still there nearly 10 years later.   That temp job led to another temp job and then eventually to full time employment.

I do executive support work now and love it. I don't know if I'll be doing it for the next 20 years but now I"m in a corporate environment that will allow me to explore other opportunities. So it wasn't something I set out to do intentionally, it just sort of happened. But the one thing I'll say is, it just felt right from the start. The line of work, the company, all of it. I occasionally miss my old line of work working with clients and having interesting casework, but I don't think I would go back.

What skills do you have? Everybody has something they are good at, even if it is a small niche.  The trick is to figure out how to market those skills.  Is the swim coach what you do FT or is that an additional job that you do?

[Deleted]

I'm in the process of a semi-career change. I wasn't formally trained in graphics but love it and had been working my way in to that more and more when the company I was at went out of business. I took the first job I could get with a paycheck that supported me and I'm stuck here 6.5 years later. It was supposed to be graphics but has so very little that it actually put me backwards in my career. I went through a year of applying with a few interviews but no offers so finally, I've gone back to school. I'm working on a graphic certificate (so I have something officially on my resume) through the community college to brush up my skills, fill in the knowledge holes and most specifically REBUILD CONFIDENCE and get a portfolio together.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Dec 16, 2014 14:21:57 GMT -5 downtonali said:

I am in a somewhat different line of work from where I originally started, and in a completely different industry. I started out in law, as in I went to college, studied law, and got a paralegal certificate. I worked in law for 8 years and for the most part I loved it. But it was a lot of stress and pressure and it was starting to affect me. I left my job and decided to freelance instead (stupid decision since I had no other source of income and no business knowledge) but could not make ends meet. I started scrambling and took a temp job for what was supposed to be a couple weeks. Long story short, I'm still there nearly 10 years later.   That temp job led to another temp job and then eventually to full time employment.

I do executive support work now and love it. I don't know if I'll be doing it for the next 20 years but now I"m in a corporate environment that will allow me to explore other opportunities. So it wasn't something I set out to do intentionally, it just sort of happened. But the one thing I'll say is, it just felt right from the start. The line of work, the company, all of it. I occasionally miss my old line of work working with clients and having interesting casework, but I don't think I would go back.

What skills do you have? Everybody has something they are good at, even if it is a small niche.  The trick is to figure out how to market those skills.  Is the swim coach what you do FT or is that an additional job that you do?

I only coach PT for fun.

Skills/Traits I have: I'm a whiz at just about anything computer related (although I haaaaaaate programming and/or database management stuff and would rather rip my eyes out with a rusty ice cream scoop than do that again).  I learn fast and very rarely require instruction beyond an initial introduction.  Despite generally being the most impatient person ever, I'm a decent teacher/instructor.  I like change and adapt well to it, unless you take my stapler.  I'm (professionally) organized to a fault.  I like helping people.  Currently certified CPR/First Aid instructor.  I know a TON about orthopedics, thanks to my current job.  I get along well with most people.  

Jobs I've done: Lifeguard, Swim Coach, Swim Instructor, Aquatics Director, Office Manager, Data Analyst, Medical Records Analysis.  So I feel boxed into Office Admin/Data/Typing type jobs.  I'd really like to move on to something more intellectually challenging, but my degree is useless (although I have one).

[emoflamingo]

Well, sort of? I took a job, just for a paycheck, selling insurance after I was laid off from a radio station where I did graphics/web master crap. And I finally got back into graphics (though my title is administrative assistant, I do more design than anything else). It took me 3 years to find this job because the market is slim here in general, but definitely for graphic design. I didn't get interviews for most of the jobs I applied for. I was desperate enough to leave my last job that I just started applying for ANYTHING that didn't sound awful.

I ended up registering with an employment agency and told them I couldn't do temp work, but there was an opening and it was a perfect fit.

[treedimensional]

I've changed careers more than once.
Last time, I quit my job, and took an enormous pay cut to be in my chosen field.
Finished my degree, started my own company, then quit working for other companies altogether.
No more career changing.

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 14:35:51 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Dec 16, 2014 14:21:57 GMT -5 downtonali said:

I am in a somewhat different line of work from where I originally started, and in a completely different industry. I started out in law, as in I went to college, studied law, and got a paralegal certificate. I worked in law for 8 years and for the most part I loved it. But it was a lot of stress and pressure and it was starting to affect me. I left my job and decided to freelance instead (stupid decision since I had no other source of income and no business knowledge) but could not make ends meet. I started scrambling and took a temp job for what was supposed to be a couple weeks. Long story short, I'm still there nearly 10 years later.   That temp job led to another temp job and then eventually to full time employment.

I do executive support work now and love it. I don't know if I'll be doing it for the next 20 years but now I"m in a corporate environment that will allow me to explore other opportunities. So it wasn't something I set out to do intentionally, it just sort of happened. But the one thing I'll say is, it just felt right from the start. The line of work, the company, all of it. I occasionally miss my old line of work working with clients and having interesting casework, but I don't think I would go back.

What skills do you have? Everybody has something they are good at, even if it is a small niche.  The trick is to figure out how to market those skills.  Is the swim coach what you do FT or is that an additional job that you do?

I only coach PT for fun.

Skills/Traits I have: I'm a whiz at just about anything computer related (although I haaaaaaate programming and/or database management stuff and would rather rip my eyes out with a rusty ice cream scoop than do that again).  I learn fast and very rarely require instruction beyond an initial introduction.  Despite generally being the most impatient person ever, I'm a decent teacher/instructor.  I like change and adapt well to it, unless you take my stapler.  I'm (professionally) organized to a fault.  I like helping people.  Currently certified CPR/First Aid instructor.  I know a TON about orthopedics, thanks to my current job.  I get along well with most people.  

Jobs I've done: Lifeguard, Swim Coach, Swim Instructor, Aquatics Director, Office Manager, Data Analyst, Medical Records Analysis.  So I feel boxed into Office Admin/Data/Typing type jobs.  I'd really like to move on to something more intellectually challenging, but my degree is useless (although I have one).

What about project management?  That covers a lot of ground obviously, but it sounds like it might be in harmony your current skills but a step up to make it more challenging.  Or could your knowledge of orthopedics be channeled into a sales position, either selling to the industry or to the public, whichever appeals to you more?  It might be worth your while to meet with a career planning coach.  GL! 

[mlvmd]

I've done two. I used to work for non-profits and think tanks then decided to go into law enforcement. I had to go through an academy for that. After a little over four years we decided to start a family and I needed a more normal schedule so I went back and got a master's degree and got into a niche field of the federal government.

My work history is super fun to talk about at interviews and is so eyebrow raising that I actually think it helps me because it is so memorable (and unexpected if you know me).

[Susie]

I can't afford to change careers. After financing my law degree, I need to practice law to make enough money to pay back the law school loans.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Dec 16, 2014 14:43:47 GMT -5 downtonali said:

What about project management?  That covers a lot of ground obviously, but it sounds like it might be in harmony your current skills but a step up to make it more challenging.  Or could your knowledge of orthopedics be channeled into a sales position, either selling to the industry or to the public, whichever appeals to you more?  It might be worth your while to meet with a career planning coach.  GL! 

I like this idea!  

I wonder if I would need to pursue a graduate degree to maximize potential or if it would be better to just go after the jobs directly (even the ones I'm not 100% qualified for).

[Deleted]

Dec 16, 2014 15:12:33 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Dec 16, 2014 14:43:47 GMT -5 downtonali said:

What about project management?  That covers a lot of ground obviously, but it sounds like it might be in harmony your current skills but a step up to make it more challenging.  Or could your knowledge of orthopedics be channeled into a sales position, either selling to the industry or to the public, whichever appeals to you more?  It might be worth your while to meet with a career planning coach.  GL! 

I like this idea!  

I wonder if I would need to pursue a graduate degree to maximize potential or if it would be better to just go after the jobs directly (even the ones I'm not 100% qualified for).

Oh no, I don't think you need any more schooling for that.  You already have a degree and I'll bet you already have all the skills needed.  People I have talked to who do project management say is more about organizational skills and being a self-starter - skills that you've indicated you already have - moreso than any kind of specific head knowledge or training. All you would need to really learn about would be whatever your project(s) is, what it entails, and how it fits into the overall picture for your organization or company. 

Honestly, if I ever get tired of executive support, this is probably the direction in which I will head.  I think it is a natural progression of my skills set, and could be for yours as well. 

[munkii]

Yes. After working for Sallie Mae for a few years, I ended up working in university financial aid. That branched out into working in university scholarships. I did that until a few months ago. The work was rewarding, but it was brain numbing. It's too bad because it really is a field in which I could have gone far.

A few years ago, I started taking one or two classes a semester in interior design. Last year, I took a partial leave of absence and starting going to school full-time. I started working full-time again over the summer, and after a lot of work issues (They really needed someone who would be there full-time the next AY.), I decided to leave. So, I haven't switched careers completely in that I'm still studying, but it's the ultimate goal.

WRT project management, if this is something you'd like to pursue, check out PMI. Also, it may be worthwhile to take a PM course at your local uni as a non-degree seeking student. I actually took a graduate level PM course this past summer, and it was eye-opening about the level of detail that goes into projects and their plans.

[emjacobs]

Dec 16, 2014 15:12:33 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

Dec 16, 2014 14:43:47 GMT -5 downtonali said:

What about project management?  That covers a lot of ground obviously, but it sounds like it might be in harmony your current skills but a step up to make it more challenging.  Or could your knowledge of orthopedics be channeled into a sales position, either selling to the industry or to the public, whichever appeals to you more?  It might be worth your while to meet with a career planning coach.  GL! 

I like this idea!  

I wonder if I would need to pursue a graduate degree to maximize potential or if it would be better to just go after the jobs directly (even the ones I'm not 100% qualified for).

You don't need a graduate degree to go into pm, you can get your pmp certification to reach the top but they are usually short courses that end in certification.  Last time I was looking into it it was $1800 for the certification but I think that was a one off special. Also look into Product Management, your technical background could help with that. 

[pitterwoo]

I haven't, so I have no advice. But I just wanted to chime in to say that I feel similarly and have also been trying to figure out what my options could be.

I'm not in a huge hurry in that my job/company are nice enough, but I just don't make much and have no opportunities for advancement. It actually makes me feel like I'm going backwards every year that passes (with no raises) and that's such a downer.


It sounds like you DO have a lot of great qualities, so I hope you can figure out something good soon!

[candreco]

I'm starting to plot one. My education is engineering, current job is DoD acquisition program management, and I'm hoping to move in STEM education outreach. I've got about a year left on my current project, and I'm hoping to transition after that. My plan is to get more involved in the volunteer STEM outreach my organization already does, and be more active in my local professional associations, particularly SWE, for networking with other people who do STEM outreach.

[Marmee]

Sort of...I'm an Architect but I quit when I had kids. While at home I fixed up houses & spun that into enough money to start real estate investing. Now I manage my properties & am always looking for new. I'm considering getting my RE license but mostly just for personal knowledge. The last couple months I've been working p/t as the Assistant for a 3 time Olympian who owns a Fencing Club in town. I do billing/marketing/attendance/etc for her. I met her randomly & we were just talking & she offered me the job unsolicited on the spot. I set my own hours & take my toddler. I won't do it forever but it's a fun change...my property management is really only busy in Fall when most of my leases end. I'm not sure when I'll go back to practicing Architecture but I think I will...it's just too much for me now with 4 kids 10yrs & under.