Anyone ever changed careers?

[Wendy]

I am really wanting to change careers. There are a variety of reasons why I am interested in changing, the bigest one being I really need some flexibility. Any suggestions?

[Dennis]

Wendy, I'm thinking the same thing, but it's hard at this point in life.

I changed careers pretty quickly after college - I wanted to be a sportswriter and I did that for a year and realized I wanted something else. I was able to get into computers pretty easily because I was fine with an entry-level position and I didn't need to go back to school. And the entry-level position I got still paid more than the newspaper did.

Now I'd like to do something in the medical field, but I'd probably have to go back to school. With a family to support, taking a year off to go to school is just not an option right now. And even if I found something that I could get into right away, it would probably be a large paycut. So I'm pretty much stuck here for now.

Dennis

[NickiB]

I am thinking the same thing. I work in computers right now but would like to change to something that offers more flexibility. I don't know what I would like to do yet though.

What do you want to change to and what are you changing from?

[Wendy]

Niki- right now I am a litigaton paralegal and have been doing this for about 7 years. While I dont mind my job (all the time anyway) I really just need something that gives me the opportunity to be flexible with my hours etc. For example, I really want Abby to go to a pre-school. The problem is that I cant find one that I like with hours anything other than 8:45 or so a start time. If I have to be in court, I have usually have to be there by 9:00 or 9:30 which makes it impossible to drop Abby off in the morning. Roger just got a new job that is much closer to home w/flex time so that is going to make things easier but.....

I am really thinking of selling real estate. I think that if I did that I would be able to replace my income pretty quickly. Which is like Dennis said, a big concern as well. Once you get to a certain income level it is hard to take that big of a step backwards. :)

[Shel]

My first degree is in medical technology. I worked and loved it until I had my second job. It's hard to work 3am to noon with 2 kids. When I became a single parent, it became downright impossible. My neighbor owned an accounting firm and I started with her part time because she needed some help, LOVED the flexibility, and went back to school to get my accounting degree. I keep up my med tech just in case (Heck, I was making $100K a year so I may go back once Riley is in school)

[Rebecca]

I'm seriously, SERIOUSLY considering changing careers and becoming a teacher. For me, it means going to get my Masters. I'm hoping to actually start teaching (getting a provisional teaching license) while getting my MA, but who knows?

BIG change, but I know it's the right choice. But, it might be a few years down the line. I'd really like to make the switch before my DD gets into school.

I agree with Wendy, though... After you are making a certain amount of money (and I make a very good salary now), going backwards is very hard, and I will be taking a drastic paycut (over half!!!). Teachers definitely don't make enough.

[MizLacey]

The hardest part of the change itself for me was getting the new jobs. "Why do you want to make a change?" was the common question, though now it seems to be more widely accepted.

I hope you find something you like better!!!!

[Dennis]

Shel, what exactly is medical technology? It sounds really interesting.

Dennis

[Shanna2]

My husband completely changed careers. He worked in Marketing/PR for 15 or so years and then decided to be a SAHD and find something part-time to keep himself active. After doing some research, he found that he could teach at one of the local colleges here and there.

I agree that the decline in income sucks, for lack of a better word. :lol: However, you do get used to it and I think we really improved our quality of life. He has more time to help around the house and is doing something he likes a lot better. :)

Good luck!

[NickiB]

Wendy, I have a friend who does real estate and asked about going into it. She told me the only thing to consider is that sometimes you have to go show a house on the spur of the moment. If you are on child care duty it might be hard. Also, you may have to work weekends and nights because that is when your clients may need you. Just food for thought. Maybe with your dh having a more flexible schedule it could help.

Shel, I would also be interested in what your job was with your previous degree.


I have thought about teaching as well, but am not too sure about it. I think it might work better for me to teach at a local college or something on a part time basis.

[Wendy]

Well, I think I am going to do it! I am going to start out part-time at first so I can build an income stream and then jump right in :)

[Katrina]

I know this is a little outdated but my MIL works real estate and loves it. She pretty much can set her own schedule so she has the flexibility to come visit us for the weekend or take the baby to help us out when we need the help like when I was in the hospital for gallbladder surgery and stuff like that. (we live 2 hours away)

But with that flexibility comes the pay. If she doesn't work, she isn't getting paid type of thing. She takes a weekend off and comes up here, thats a weekend she cant show and sell houses and meet with clients.

[Cat]

I changed my career drastically, I was a dental hygienist for 9 years, then became an IT manager, now I am a mom! :lol:

I think if your heart is there to do it, you should take the bull by the horns so to speak. I know when I changed career after 9yrs, it took a lot of balls for me to do it. I think because you are so comfortable and stuck in your ways taking the plunge can be scary. But it was the best thing I ever did.

Good luck in your decision, I think you will be a top house seller :)

[TMFKA-TWTEZNAN]

Yes, First I went to school for Beautician (when I first graduated High School), Then , I went to school for Medical Assistant and Licensed Pratical Nurse ...But....I am now going to school for Real Estate.I have done everything I wanted to do when I grew up ..:tongue2:

[Dennis]

I'm bumping this up again. I'm wondering if anyone has changed careers when their salary was critical to the family, and if so, how they did it. And also how they managed to balance working, school and spending time with their family.

I'm thinking about a career change that would require 2 years of full-time schooling, so it would require me to quit my job. I could find something part-time on the side, but I wouldn't make nearly what I do now. Not to mention that if I was going to school and working, I wouldn't have any time to spend with Mary and the kids.

Has anyone done something like this?

Dennis

[JamieA]

I'm bumping this up again. I'm wondering if anyone has changed careers when their salary was critical to the family, and if so, how they did it. And also how they managed to balance working, school and spending time with their family.

I'm thinking about a career change that would require 2 years of full-time schooling, so it would require me to quit my job. I could find something part-time on the side, but I wouldn't make nearly what I do now. Not to mention that if I was going to school and working, I wouldn't have any time to spend with Mary and the kids.

Has anyone done something like this?

Dennis
Haven't yet - but am thinking about it - If I can't find my niche in this field soon, I'm definately going to quit and go back to school. I'm tired of having a job I hate and want to finally not dread waking up in the morning.

[Katrina]

Dennis,
We are about to do it. Hubby is getting out of the Army in January (he has about 10 years in for pay and is making over $60K, plus excellent benefits and tax breaks) and he is going to go to Law School, hopefully full time but that would mean he would only be able to work part time and so our income would drop drastically. I am only making $10/hour at my job right now but am about to switch and will hopefully be making somewhere in the $40-$50 range to start which would help us offset the change. Is it possible to go to school part time and still complete it in a reasonable about of time? We are considering that for John, which would be 4 years in stead of 3, so its not a HUGE difference but we both want him to go full time so are trying to work that instead.

[Dennis]

Katrina,

The problem is all of the programs for what I am interested in (radiologic technology/radiography) are full-time day programs - part-time isn't an option. I'm still deciding if I really want to do this, but unfortunately this is going to be a big factor. I would much rather do an evening program even if that meant it would take 3 years instead of 2, but it's not an option.

One thought I have is to wait a few years until Joe and Frances are out of daycare and in school (we spend $2,000 a month on daycare right now) so that would make it easier financially. But it still doesn't help with the time factor - if I'm going to school full time and working part-time, when will I have any family time?

Dennis

[Jayne]

Dennis, My mother is a radiological Technologist. She has been for about 35 years and the work can be stressful. She was head of her department until my Sr. Year when she took a pay cut and a step down (having her children start College really stressed her out) She now runs the floor (basically like a manager) and loves it. BUT it was a lot of hard work. I was talking to her last night and I asked her if you could even remotly do something like her career on a part time basis and she didn't think it was possible at all. The school, and then you have to be a student in a hospital..It is a lot of time. Just thought I would inform you..not that you probably havn't already done a lot of research..but if you have anyquestions about the field don't hesitate to ask.

Jayne

[Dennis]

Thanks Jayne. I have done a lot of research on it. The programs are all classes combined with the interning or whatever it's called, which is why they are full-time during the day. Mary's aunt is the CFO of a hospital up in Boulder and she is setting it up so I can spend a day there and see what the jobs are really like, so that will give me a much better idea of whether I really want to do it.

Dennis

[Lyndee]

I'm bumping this up again. I'm wondering if anyone has changed careers when their salary was critical to the family, and if so, how they did it. And also how they managed to balance working, school and spending time with their family.

I'm thinking about a career change that would require 2 years of full-time schooling, so it would require me to quit my job. I could find something part-time on the side, but I wouldn't make nearly what I do now. Not to mention that if I was going to school and working, I wouldn't have any time to spend with Mary and the kids.

Has anyone done something like this?

Dennis

DH did! He spent 9.5 years in the Navy as a Russian Interpreter then decided to go into Network Engineering. He started school during his last few months in the Navy then got a job right away as a Network Administrator. Our initial plan was for him to quit his full time job but he ended up working full time and going to school 25 hours a week! Thankfully, this was all before we had DD. We didn't see each other much during the time he was in school but the time went by very quickly. I just made sure that I had his lunch packed for work and his dinner packed for school. Every so often, I'd meet up with him during his one hour break between work and school. I'm so glad he switched careers! He loved his career in the Navy but it just wasn't very profitable like career now.

[Katrina]

Katrina,

The problem is all of the programs for what I am interested in (radiologic technology/radiography) are full-time day programs - part-time isn't an option. I'm still deciding if I really want to do this, but unfortunately this is going to be a big factor. I would much rather do an evening program even if that meant it would take 3 years instead of 2, but it's not an option.

One thought I have is to wait a few years until Joe and Frances are out of daycare and in school (we spend $2,000 a month on daycare right now) so that would make it easier financially. But it still doesn't help with the time factor - if I'm going to school full time and working part-time, when will I have any family time?

Dennis
Yeah, I hear ya. We are still grappling with this as far as what kind of part time job he could do (so he could go to school full time) that wouldn't eat up too much of his school or family time. Oh, and still be pretty lucrative!! yeah right... what a bout a job that was shift work? Like working the late or third shift or something? Like you would go to work in the evening sometime and work till like, 2 or 3 am? I know those kinds of hours are crap with sleep but I worked a lot of shift work as a police dispatcher and was amazed at what I could do on my time off as far as school went. I wish I had a better answer for you but if I did, we couldn't be struggling with the exact same questions! If you come up with anything..let me know!!!!

[nicolet]

Wendy,

I have also thought about changing my career and going into real estate. I love looking at houses. I loved it when we were looking at ours.

Do you know if you have to take any college courses? Can you just study on your own and take the test?

Actually DH and I are computer programmers. I'm on disability. But DH is going into the state police. For the next 7 months he will be making $1500 a month. Of course I'm only bringing in 70% of my pay. So we took a big pay cut also.


Nicole