Drastic career changes

[wink]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 8:40am

Although I'm not yet near the burn out stage in my career, factors such as incompetent managers, inconsiderate co-workers, and the unrealistic demands of the general public are starting to wear on me.

For the first time, I've begun to bring my work frustration home with me and have nightmares about it. I love my job and can't imagine anything more fulfilling, but if I have to leave, I want to do so on good terms. I'm thinking of leaving now while I'm still feeling mostly positive about it.

Anyone else experienced a complete change of careers? And have you done so with a drastic pay cut?

Posted: 4/11/06 at 9:28am

I had the same sort of feelings about my job. The office manager had her little "pets" in which they could do no wrong, or if they did, the were rewarded by getting another job within the office instead of being booted out on their....resumes. After a while, it gets very discouraging when you're working your butt off, and others seem to be able to slide through anything with their very high level of incompetence. So after a long (and really not too difficult) decision, I quit, and am currently making plans to move to Fla in 2 weeks.
PS: the office manager also quit about a month after I did, and from what I hear from friends there, it's now a no-BS office. :)

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 9:56am

I left a well paying corporate job with very nice benefits to move North and work with kids. Right now, I make about 1/3 of what I made before. I don't have any benefits at this point. At times I get a little panicky, but I have never had a more rewarding job. Finally I am doing what I have always wanted to do instead of a job I moved up into before realizing I was miserable. Now if I could just get a personal life again, all would be good.

[BrianWilsonFan]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:19am

You can't put a price on peace of mind. Pursue it relentlessly.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:22am

I have thought about leaving my profession and joining the Rent tour.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:24am

frankly I just got an email from 'The Sound of Music" a really great music store in Essen, Germany looking for a buyer......I would love that, as in a past live was a purchasing agent....but then I'm not sure what I'd do with Steve....

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:25am

Dump him! (just joking)

[Elphaba]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 10:31am

heh heh........sometimes.......

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:16am

There are some days, like this past weekend when I would prefer to send them all packing!

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:36am

Even though I've always had 'desk' jobs, I've gone from Office Manager to Production to Graphic Designer. Every time it has been a step up for me, both financially and personally. I am preparing for a drastic career change that will be about 6 years in the making.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 11:51am

Wink: just for you. Found this on msn.careerbuilder. If the link doesn't work, go to the careerbuilder website and search for the article, "Help! I'm Stuck in the Wrong Career"

Updated On: 4/11/06 at 11:51 AM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:17pm

my dad went from owning his own bike shop, to selling cars, to being a traveling salesman and now he lost his job when the company decided they didn't need so many salesmen and now he's trying to become a full time emt. he's already a part time emt/firefighter volunteer.

[Kringas]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:26pm

I spent six years in finance before I finally got up the nerve to get the hell out. Currently I wait tables and work in an art gallery. The money is a lot less, but as BrianWilsonFan said, you can't put a price on peace of mind.

I'd advise you to bank some money before you many any sort of change, as well as making sure you've got something lined up.

The things is, it doesn't really sound like you want to make a career change. It just sounds like you're having problmes currently at your job.

Is there any way to work on the problems you have at your job, rather than quit? You said you love your job and you can't imagine doing anything more fulfilling. If that's the case, I'd strongly advise you to try to fix the problem from within, rather than doing something drastic.

Updated On: 4/11/06 at 05:26 PM

[beacon1]

Posted: 4/11/06 at 5:36pm

If you love what you do--would another venue be a solution. Same profession, different location?

I love my current job. It was an incredible blessing to get it. I'll never earn what I might at another company but I can't put a price tag on the work environment I'm in and the wonderful boss and co-workers. It is perfect for me.

So, I'm a poor little mouse but I'm so much happier than I'd be elsewhere.

[wink]

Posted: 4/12/06 at 8:10am

Thanks to all of you for your advice. I've been trying to work on solutions to the barriers I percieve and have actually been commended for bringing about some of the changes in my job. But I feel the confrontations for better working solutions are usually up to me and no one jumps on the bandwagon until I stick my neck out first.

I think it's just a matter of how much longer I can withstand a few particular situations. I have a meeting with someone higher up in management than me on Friday morning, and I'm hoping to enlist some support from her.

So many of my job frustrations are out of my control, but at the same time can easily be remedied. I guess I'll start building my case yet again over the next few days.

All I really want is better patient care and lately I feel the health care team is breaking down.

Again, thanks for your thoughts.