Damn, I'm having a mid-life crisis. How did you change careers???

[RiverStone]

I was really hoping to avoid this, though after 20+ years in education and rapidly approaching the BIG 50, I'm having mine.

I'm not seeking an analysis of my resume, transferable skills, or marketing strategies. Gawd, there are zillions of books & career workshops out there. Lets just say even with the great schedule, I'm sick of government bureaucracy. I punch the clock and have lost the passion that goes with working for kids.

My question here is about YOU.

For those out there that took a career leap and totally shifted gears, HOW DID YOU DO IT? :think:

[Kerrytravelers]

1. You might try a different area of education.

Perhaps at the junior college level or perhaps working for a textbook publisher? I'm working as a Curriculum Specialist for a charter school for families that have to home school for various reasons but still want to follow the public education standards. I still work in education, but the parameters are quite different now.

[Sabriel]

6. My thought exactly

Do you want to stick with education, RS? How about going back to grad school for a different certification or level? There are high need areas that you could move into with recertification or further graduate work.

That's what I did. I couldn't take high school much longer, so we saved up for 5 years to go to grad school. I'm still teaching, but now it's future teachers instead of high schoolers.

[caty]

2. I've heard you should

figure out what you love to do and try to find a way of making money doing it. What do you love to do?

Years ago I saw a segment on a news show about executives who had lost their jobs after over 20 years. It showed how they were trying to adjust and find new jobs. Everyone of them found jobs that were totally different from the ones they had lost. One was working in a bait and tackle store. Every one of them said that they were happier doing these new lower paying jobs.

[RiverStone]

5. Yes. Happier is my #1 priority!

Good advice; believe me transforming what I love to do into $$$ has been a long time hope.

Though I'm also a dedicated divorced dad to 2 teenagers; so I can't be reckless in my leap.
I fear I would let them down financially (even though both kids summer jobs); I want to be able to
help with college, car insurance, etc.

Thanks!

[Redstone]

3. Being oblivious helps. Seriously. I've done it several times, at stages in my life

when anyone else would have said "what am I, nuts?"

And with little more planning than "I'll figure it out as I go along." And it's worked out every time.

I guess God actually DOES watch over idiots.

To summarize: Go ahead and give it a shot. If you don't, you may spend the rest of your life wondering if you should have.

Redstone

[NMDemDist2]

9. sounds like me Red

:hi:

I'm an expert at landing on my feet (one of my most valuable skills) :evilgrin:

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. I just did it.

No real process, I just switched careers. Working at company A in career path A, I started interviewing at company B in career path B, and voila - over I went.

Four times now.

Though the final career change required some schooling as well, so I just packed up, moved to NYC, and went to school for it.

No big deal.

[crispini]

7. I wish I knew. I'm thinking about the same thing

My problem is I have no idea what the "target" career should be. I just want to do something that will help people and make the world a better place. And with less bullshit, you know?!

[NMDemDist2]

8. i never had a choice, i was downsized, outsourced etc

so i'd just look for the "next" job with a match for my skill set

just sold my biz this spring and am interviewing Monday as a Retail Store(s) manager with a major national corp. I'll probably get it too since they've been looking since 10/24 and the middle management personnel in this small town is slim, so here I am -- 51 and making another jump

:shrug: ya just do what you gotta do yanno? so I'd start reading the want ads and seeing what sounds interesting. research the ones that do and before you know it, it will be clear what to do

good luck! :hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Did it a couple of times; I have a short attention span.

Got a totally useless B.A. in music; couldn't get a job in that field because I basically sucked at it. Worked for about seven years at various sucktatious clerical jobs, finally went to law school. I liked law school, graduated with honors, got a job in a hoity-toity law firm, and soon totally hated it; eventually left the firm, went to work on my own, damn near starved. So then I got a pilot's license, did some flight instruction for awhile; now (at an older age than you) I work as an instructor at an airline and I really enjoy it a lot. It took a long time, but I finally actually like my work. So figure out what you'd want to do, get the training you need and just do it.

[RiverStone]

15. Quite the path from A to B! or A to P. Congrats on...

...finding that which you like; even after turning 50. Heck, we're gonna live another 50 right?

Thanks for sharing Ocelot.

[gr8dane_daddy]

11. I'm currently planning on pursuing my PhD...

after working since 1995. I talked to many doctoral students at a recent conference who started their PhD program in their 50's. My advisor from my MBA program started his at the age of 46. So I feel I'm getting a head start at 38. I also spoke with lots of individuals who gave up executive level positions to pursue their doctorates. Good luck with your decision.

[Xipe Totec]

13. That's me alright

50 and thinking of starting on a PhD; Funny how that works.

My mid-life crisis was: Gee, I'm bored. Now what shall I do? ;)

[reyd reid reed]

12. Once my youngest started school

(coincidentally, the very same time my oldest moved into his first apartment), I gave up the daycare and providence rang.

I'd sent out a resume about six months before...the position was filled but then they called. Completely different from anything I'd ever done before, but I love it. Wouldn't trade a minute.

Well...maybe a minute...

Or ten.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. I was a college professor who was forced out

when I was denied tenure at a time when no other jobs were available (not any that weren't worse than the previous one, at any rate).

Luckily, according to practices common in academia, I was given a final year before having to leave, so I brainstormed with people. One of my sympathetic colleagues suggested textbook publishing, since I wrote so many of my own materials.

As luck would have it, an old friend called to offer me a job as a free-lance textbook editor, taking over from her. I worked at this job during my last year of teaching, and since I didn't need it to live on, I saved all the money. However, my ultimate goal was becoming a translator.

The textbook editing job lasted about two years and gradually trickled down to nothing in the third year. By that time, I had networked my way into some translation jobs.

Now I'm established as a free-lance translator. I sometimes miss the classroom and having colleagues to interact with, but I do NOT miss faculty meetings. Nor do I miss grading midterms and finals. I like being able to use my Japanese at a high level, as opposed to teaching the first- and second-year courses over and over again.

[RiverStone]

16. Thanks Lydia. Cool that your brainstorming...

...led to a better place! I work at the secondary (high school) level. School work does provide for lots of transferable professional skills; the challenge is many of us in "academia" are rather removed from real life day to day aspects of working in a business.

Somehow I see transforming my years on the front lines working for kids into a consultant, maybe bridging school to work; but I have yet to put the puzzle pieces together.

Thanks for sharing.

[AllegroRondo]

17. Mine was not by choice

I used to be a musician. Bell's Palsy ended that career.

So I found something else fun. Now I'm a computer geek.

[seemunkee]

18. furniture maker -> IT work

Came home from a meeting with a client and opened the phonebook to computer schools and made an appointment. Took 7 months of night classes while finishing up my last few jobs and then started with a temp company.

[EnviroBat]

19. Wow, I'm having that dialog with myself right now!

After almost 20 year in the I.T. industry, I see the fecal matter splattering the walls, so I'm out. I'm taking a Home Inspection course in the spring. I don't know how the housing market will play out, but I should have some steady part-time work. Then I will spend the rest of the time in Audio/Video production. Hopefully it will all work out nice...