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| My brother just told me that he accepted a job that's a complete career change for him; he's spent his entire professional career (15+ years) in one field and now he's moving into a different one. It got me thinking... how many of us have completely changed career trajectories like that, going into an entirely different field after a number of years building a career an unrelated one? If you have, what's your experience been like? |
| Spent 10 years in the fitness/sport industry. Went back to uni, became a teacher. Now, after uni degree #3, am trying to set up a business as a freelance writer. I get bored, so I study and change jobs. |
| This is kind of similar. Growing up, my ambition was always to be a primary school teacher. (Or, maybe, it was just my parents' dream.) My whole school career was working towards my going to university to become that teacher I craved. And then, after getting the grades to go to my first choice university in Bristol, I began my English degree and teacher training. At the end of the first year, I knew it was not for me. I found I had far too little patience and way too little confidence. The end of that first tear included an eight week straight placement in a school. I think was a nervous wreck by the end of my first day. No, no, no. Teaching was not for me. So I switched to a straight literature degree, with the vague hope of becoming a writer of some kind. And then I graduated, and simply because the job was there, and I was offered it, I started to work for an insurance company. I didn't use my dare at all, except for spell and grammar checking my boss' documents. I underwrote insurance, sold insurance, processed claims on insurance. Plus, our office was connected to the National Farmers' Union, so I dealt with union work as well. Not at all what I had dreamed of or what I trained for. I'm not sure it was a career, as such, but I did work there for thirteen years. So it was something. Looking back, I wish I had studied history or creative writing. That would have helped with a career. |
| My first degree was science, majoring in biomechanics. My second (obviously) education. I am now at an age where I am doing things for me, and not because it is expected of me, so my third degree was creative writing, so it's never too late to do what you want to do! |
I have done that a few times. After high school, I started working in retail. Groceries and in a copy shop. I was even promoted to copy shop manager. I left there to go to university since I didn't have a degree. The copy shop company offered to send me to trade school to become an office worker, but I had my mind set on university. I didn't graduate from there, but it was a good time. I ended up going to nursing school. I liked the profession, but once I became a mom I didn't want to work overnight any more. I couldn't I was so tired all the time. That's when I moved to the USA and went back to jobs. I was a barista and then I worked online for several years. Now, I want to get back into office work.  Life is funny that way. I hope your brother likes his new career. What was he doing and what is he starting now? Annette Mod Squad |
| My brother has spent the past fifteen years working in the hospitality industry (most recently as the general manager of a hotel). He just got a job with the State of California, managing an office facility for one of their departments. |
| My brother spent years going from one mechanic-type job to another. Then, Covid hit, and the folks weren't hiring much above minimum wage in my area, and his Unemployment had long run out. Well, I am the sort of person who needs a community/ self-determination aide in order to be out and about. My last one though, a young mother, had left me - on good terms - to spend more time with her family, given what was going on. I looked at him, and said, "Well, you could be a Community/ Self-Determination aide. Job pays (more than decently above minimum wage), has flexible hours, and you get paid for mileage." He looked at me. "That much, just to keep an eye on you?" Well, cue the background check, mandatory training (plenty of which isn't needed for one like me), and now he's getting paid to drive me around, from place to place, as well as do various activities, some of which he gets paid for.
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| Well, I suppose I have done some career changes over the years. My first bachelor's degree was in integrated studies, so I got a job as a cashier. While working with the company, I used their study program to take the test in order to become a pharmacy technician. Worked for years in that with the company including a shift up to a management role. A few years ago, while working, I went back to school online and managed to get a bachelor's degree in psychology. Did live the retail pharmacy company in favor of a job in behavior therapy. However, I do work pharmacy tech jobs still on the side since BT isn't a consistent, full time type of job so it's hard to make rent on that alone. On top of that, I do pet sitting. So, in a way I didn't change careers but just kept adding on things and looking to add one or two more in the near future. |
| Hah! I spent four tedious years getting a computer science degree...didn't actually get to work anywhere with that degree though (because I was stuck in retail at the time I was in school), but then...boom! one morning I decided to switch to Nursing, and here I am ten plus years later. Best decision ever made? Still deciding on that one. House Targaryen Badge Earth Day Awareness Kiya - Angel Army   Kiya's Published Works   "Kiya's Graphic Designs Portfolio"
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| I can safely say that my career path changed significantly twice in my life. Well, one and a half times anyway. I attended college intending a career in Law. But to get through school, I accepted an ROTC scholarship, which led me to an Army career as an Engineer officer. Thirteen years later I found a new path. I left the Army on an early-out program after the first Gulf war, and opened a custom woodworking shop, specializing in custom kitchens. Those skills were learned through trial and error doing odd woodworking jobs while in the army. I worked that vocation [this was never a job] for 32 years, retiring earlier this year. What a ride; not one regret for my changes. |
| I can't say I have. I spent 11 years in the military as Military Police and when I got out, I got a job working a dispatcher for LAPD. Sometimes though, a radical change can be a good thing. They can be doing they need to so as to earn money. The change might put them in a field they enjoy. Ultimately, I just hope he's happy with the change. I know a lot of people aren't fond of change, but sometimes, you have to roll with it. If anything, being in the military taught me a life skill -- flexibility! |
I have made a couple of career changes in my life. First, I worked in sales and was pretty good at what I did. I could work straight commission and still make a good paycheck. Then I went to work as a Circuit Board Repair Tech. I did that for a number of years, and really liked it. However, technology was evolving, and pretty soon, many of our jobs would be taking over by robotic arms. So, then I went into nursing. I really loved nursing, though it finished ruining my back. You have to lift, pull, shove, move a lot of weight, constantly. You're supposed to do so with another nurse or tech, but if we did that, no one would ever get moved or shifted. So, then I took my hospital work to home nursing which wasn't as demanding. I did that for a while, before I had to help take care of my sister, and then my husband. I enjoyed nursing I think the most out of all of my working years. I love helping others. And when you can truly make a difference it's amazing!  |
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