Made a massive career change? Or thinking about it?

[gailrmv]

Discussion on another thread got me interested in this. Someone said they had gone to law school then became a teacher. I know another regular decided to become a teacher after working in another field for some time. I''m really curious to hear about people who have made a career change - how did you decide, and how is it going?

(I don''t have any personal experience w/ making a big career change, but I just think it''s interesting!)

 

[akw94]

I''m interested to hear too b/c I''ve thought a career change for sometime now. I''m an attorney and haven''t really ever felt satisfied. The funny thing is, I''ve *always* wanted to do what I do so it''s hard to change and harder to figure out what to choose. I''ve thought about teaching. I''ve thought about opening some sort of center for the youth. I have learned that I really like working with kids, probably middle-school/high school age so something involving them would likely happen. I''ve done quite a bit of research about changing but haven''t gone any further. Plus, finances is a key factor. Although my income isn''t huge, it''s decent and having a child, I can''t afford a pay cut. It''s an important decision.

 

[Haven]

Date: 12/5/2007 11:28:08 AM
Author:TanDogMom
Discussion on another thread got me interested in this. Someone said they had gone to law school then became a teacher. I know another regular decided to become a teacher after working in another field for some time. I''m really curious to hear about people who have made a career change - how did you decide, and how is it going?

(I don''t have any personal experience w/ making a big career change, but I just think it''s interesting!)

That was me! I''m misleading, though, because I went to law school with the plan of becoming a law professor, and then quit after only one year to become a teacher. I taught English at a community college first, and now I teach high school.

I had an inkling that law was not for me on the very first day of class. I had always wanted to become a professor because the pursuit and exchange of original ideas makes me tick. I realized that law wasn''t going to give me that opportunity, and that I was better off in my original discipline, literature, so I pursued an advanced degree in education so I could get into the classroom.

Great thread, I''m interested to hear everyone''s stories.

 

[Sha]

Hi,
I was working in Corporate Communications for 5 years, and am now working as a Counsellor. I switched about 8 months ago, because I realized I wasn''t completely cut out for the Communications/Marketing role. I love writing articles, press releases etc - but hate any kind of thing that puts me in the spotlight, and I hate public speaking! And my old job called for a lot of that. OOhh...it was terrible.

Working with people is my natural inclination...and I already had a B.A in Psychology to build on. So I started a Masters program and then applied to be a Counsellor, and was successful.

It''s great so far - I''m still in the learning mode, but I think this what I should''ve been doing all along. I have a natural passion for social issues too.

One of the drawbacks of a career change is that you often have to take a pay cut to get your foot in the door. I had to do that - but I think the payoff of doing what I want to do is greater than a couple $$$.

 

[Haven]

Date: 12/5/2007 2:32:18 PM
Author: dixie94
I'm interested to hear too b/c I've thought a career change for sometime now. I'm an attorney and haven't really ever felt satisfied. The funny thing is, I've *always* wanted to do what I do so it's hard to change and harder to figure out what to choose. I've thought about teaching. I've thought about opening some sort of center for the youth. I have learned that I really like working with kids, probably middle-school/high school age so something involving them would likely happen. I've done quite a bit of research about changing but haven't gone any further. Plus, finances is a key factor. Although my income isn't huge, it's decent and having a child, I can't afford a pay cut. It's an important decision.

Dixie--if you get a job in a great district you could start out earning a decent salary, at least. I dont' know what new lawyers earn, and it's not huge, but we start first-year teachers with only a bachelor's degree at 43K this year. One master's degree will get you a minimum of a 10K raise, depending on your years of experience, and you earn a raise for all of your additional advanced coursework. For example, I have two master's degrees, so I'm in the fifth pay lane (lanes: BA, BA + 15, MA, MA + 15, MA + 30) which means I earn considerably more than someone with only a BA, and I could get myself another substantial raise if I complete a doctoral degree.

Of course, you shouldn't go into teaching for the money, but I think it's a huge misconception that teachers don't earn much. (But trust me--you EARN every penny you make!) You should definitely look into teaching if you're interested. I doubt a district would put you in the doctoral pay lane for a JD because it's only a 3-year degree, but they'd probably put you at least in the MA + 15 lane, which would start you at 57K in my district with no teaching experience. It's not "a lot" of money, but I'd say it's worth the pay cut to be satisfied with your job.

 

[Clio]

I was a college professor on the tenure track and left to become a grantmaker in a small federal agency.

I was very nervous about making this change. I had always thought I wanted to be a history professor and spent 6 years in graduate school to make that happen. But after 3 years in my new position, I can honestly say that it''s one of the best things I''ve done.

 

[Pandora II]

I was a designer for 11 years (first textiles, then fashion, then jewellery - and I got to be thei diamond buyer...) and then went into politics...

I am currently looking for a new job and had a meeting with a headhunter today - she told me I had the weirdest cv she had ever seen!

Basically, I have a lot of transferable skills, I''m a quick learner and very flexible so it''s never been difficult moving.

The worst thing is the knots your mind will try and tie itself into trying to convince you of all the reasons you shouldn''t do something!

 

[sera]

Psychiatric Technician to Interpreter

I was a Psychiatric Technician until I had a bilateral knee injury. Around the same time I was offered a job as a wolf trainer and was planning on the exotic animal training degree at Moorepark. Because of the knee injury, I had to leave my current job and could not take the offered job or degree program.

At the time I was married to my first husband and we decided I would not pursue a career but would volunteer my time doing inner-city youth ministry. That was my dream "job" but when I divorced him I had to find work. Unfortunately, what I had been trained for I couldn't do anymore and didn't know what else I wanted to do. I decided to become an interpreter, so I went back to school to continue with my Sign Language. I was offered a job as a Sign Language instructor, but since I had to return to school, I could not take the job (time conflict). I got a job at an elementary school as a one-to-one aide, which I am still at.

Last night was my last class (woohoo!), so I can't say how that's going yet. When I get up the nerve, I will start looking for a part-time interpreting job.

Although these are different careers, they are both still a "practice profession" (dynamic/working with people). For right now, I want my schedule to be flexible to allow me to do short term mission trips. Eventually, I may want to interpret in a psych. ward or prison (both places I had experience in as a P.T.) or with abused/troubled kids/teens.

If phsyically able and given the choice to return to my old job or be an interpreter... hands down (or in my case, hands up), Sign Language Interpreter.

********************

L's for love.

 

[zoebartlett]

I changed careers a few years ago and it was the best professional decision I''ve ever made. I think this has come up before in another thread (to which I responded to, so I may be repeating myself).

I used to work in children''s publishing in Boston. It was the idea of my job more than my actual job that I loved. I wanted to love what I was doing and I tried to learn as much as I could in the few years spent in that field. I ended up deciding to leave and go back to school full-time for my masters in education. I wanted to get as much out of the school experience as I could, and I knew that it would only happen if I went back full-time. I don''t think I would have been as invested in school if I was trying to fit it in among everything else I was doing -- especially if I was workign full-time. It wasn''t an easy decision though. It was very hard leaving the financial security and moving to a new area (same state as where I had grown up though, so it wasn''t too much of a transiston) to begin a new career. It was hard but very rewarding and it was, like I said, the best thing I could have done. I also met my FI while working in this area, so that''s a big benefit!

I ended up finishing grad school after 2 years and a year-long internship. I stayed in the area for an additional 2 years because I loved the area I was living in at the time (the same area where I had gone to grad school). I ended up getting a job in another part of my state and I''ve now been here 3 years. So far, it''s been great. I love my school and my kids, and I know I made the right decision.

I''m not looking to change careers but if I could go back to school again, I''d probably get a degree in library science. I''d love to have experience as a children''s librarian in a school someday. We''ll see...