Need career advice

[SQLGeek]

With the wide variety of life experience we have here, I figure this may not be a bad place to ask this question. This is going to be a bit of a mind dump so I apologize in advance.

I have not been really enjoying what I've been doing for a living. I'm starting to hit the point where I want to start making the moves to make a change as I'm having a hard time seeing myself do this for the length of a career.

Logically speaking, I should be very happy with my job. By all intents and purposes, I do have a good job which pays very well, with great benefits and plenty of mobility within the company. In this economy, it's nothing to sneer at. I should be thrilled with what I have and believe me, I am thankful I can provide for my family. I cannot shake the feeling in my stomach though that I am just not happy. Still seems foolish to write out...especially in light of how hard it has been for some to find work but I can't help but feel this way.

This is not a rash decision I've come to but has been several years in the making...here's my other problem and why I come to you for advice. I can't really find a replacement I'm sure about. My degree is in Business with an Information Systems concentration. In college, I had come to realize my desired career was in law enforcement and made some moves to pursue that. I was currently a Civil Engineer major at the time and knew I wasn't going to want to finish with that and eventually chose business as my major. I chose IS because it would require less credits to finish and well I wasn't really going to need it anyways...right?

Yeah...well let's say for a variety of reasons, the law enforcement career path didn't work out of college like I had hoped. Needing a job after college, I basically fell in to what I'm doing now. I've been doing it for about 4 years plus an internship and I've about had enough.

What I'm having trouble with now is figuring out what I want to do as a replacement. I did enjoy my accounting classes in college and nearly majored in that. I've thought about going back and getting the accounting credits needed to become a CPA.

Other than that, I'm pretty much at a loss at figuring out what I'd want to do. I have an interest in law enforcement still but that doesn't pay much at all out here and would be an incredible pay cut. I'm afraid I'll have to let that dream die. A few other career fields seem intriguing but I'm not sure the earnings potential is enough. I've done a lot of research online and with books such as "What Color is Your Parachute?" and it's just not clicking.

I'm not opposed to going back to school or the idea of a complete career change but I don't want to hop around always chasing the idea of something better. I'm open to a pay cut...I just want to find work that intrigues me and allows me to thrive.

Has anybody here gone through the career change process? Was it worth it? How did you choose your alternative career?

Thanks for the place to brain dump...it's been helpful.

[pbwalker]

Man, what timing. I'd love to sit down over a cup of coffee and chat sometime.

I'm in the same boat, though I have taken the plunge. I've been in IT my entire career, and just gave notice to a job that I have been with for the past seven years. In those 7 years, I have gotten married and had two kids. To say I am nervous is an understatement.

As I mentioned, I've been in IT for my entire career (14+ years). Support, Sales, Training, and DBA work.

In the past 5 years, I've found myself gravitating toward the business side of the house. No more IIS resets or MySQL dumps...now, I'm dealing with $2+ million configs for Fortune 50 companies.

But alas, I've taken a new position with a school district as the Director of Technology. Slightly less pay, summers off, and less stress. Is IT my dream career? Nope...not anymore. If I had my druthers, I'd go back to school for Meteorology. Not the TV weather guy type, but the science guy working for NOAA. Who moved MY cheese? :)

I needed a change, much like you. The only thing I can offer is to use your experience to slowly move out of it. From supporting Excel and Power Point to a Director position, I've been making the move. Ideally, my next move will be to a C-Level position where I am out of the day to day techie stuff.

If I'm rambling or making no sense, my apologies...I'm tired and can't fall asleep.

[Texas Dan Mosby]

I just want to find work that intrigues me and allows me to thrive.

That's the ideal, however.....

Sometimes, actually MOST of the time, the ideal is NOT conducive to REALITY. Look at the "artistic" careers for example. While painters / poets / writers may achieve some semblance of personal satisfaction from their work, does it pay the bills?

More often than not, NO. So while you may gain some satisfaction pursuing a career that "intrigues" you, your satisfaction will be offset by the financial difficulty that you may encounter as a result of your chosen profession.


Keep your job until you can find something you can pursue that is viable. Job satisfaction is vital, however, if you can't pay the bills, it is irrelevant.

Good luck.

[hangfour]

Nice topic for discussion. I'm pretty old now and have seen a lot vis a vis work and careers. My thoughts about all this are:

1. The purpose of paid work is just to get paid. I have found that trying to find deep satisfaction at work or within a career is elusive and, if found, won't last long.

2. One's passions (sports, travel, music, even working in law enforcement) are best separated from work. That way one can pursue one's passions without having the constraint of money (which is always huge).

3. These days, too many of us are trying to find deep meaning in work ... when I went to college (and graduate school), I never heard the word 'career'. School used to be about finding out why we are put on this planet and getting the tools to carry out that mission.

In summary, I agree with some of the earlier posts ... keep your well-paying job and spend your non working time discovering why you ended up here. Don't waste your life focused on something as trivial as a career.

Good luck,

[OldCurlyWolf]

I am working in the same field I started in working for my father in May of 1967. 44 years ago. I have done other things but I always come back to where I started. I will probably never even retire from doing it. It is nice when you can make a decent living at something that, in spite of the aggravations that come with it, you thoroughly enjoy doing.

[SQLGeek]

Thank you for the thoughtful posts (and PMs), they are truly appreciated. Make no mistake, as I stated in my OP, my responsibility first and foremost is to provide for my family and that much I realize. This is why I'm hesitant to jump all over the place in search of this but that doesn't mean I'm not looking.

pbwalker, I'm in transition to another part of the company I work for, which is less technical and will not require day to day support or odd hours support calls. That will be an improvement in itself.

Thanks again everyone...patiently I wait and listen.

[BobCat]

I think hangfour hit the nail on the head. First, you need to pay the bills and provide for your family. Job satisfaction is a great side benefit if you can get it, and might extend your life by lowering your stress and blood pressure, but first pay the bills.

I stuck to the technical side and avoided promotion into management, so my job satisfaction has been great for years. It is getting lower and lower as the bureaucracy gets thicker and thicker - it was time to leave for a smaller, riskier company about 10 years ago, but I was too focused on the near-term to see it.

You are wise to recognize your discomfort and ought to keep your eyes and ears open, without necessarily making a precipitous move. Just look and evaluate, and write things down so you can look back on your thoughts of a few weeks or months ago. Patterns will emerge and you will see what direction tempts you, and what starting points there might be in such directions.

Working for a large company, I've seen some really incompetent folks promoted into high positions with high salaries. The ones who find a way to get the job done usually prosper, the ones who can hide their incompetence often prosper, and the ones whose incompetence is glaringly apparent get promoted into a dead-end with a nice salary, no decision-making, and no staff.

Despite my job satisfaction, as I approach retirement age I worry that my wife will not have enough in her old age. Too many people I know dropped dead within a few months of retirement - I want to put off retiring as long as possible, and keep putting away in the 401k so she is not left short.

Money that looks great today, tomorrow will look like chump change. I'm the punk kid who ragged on the old men who said, "Boy, when I was your age, a cup of coffee was a nickel, a Coke was a nickel, and gas was 15¢ a gallon." I thought, "When was that old man? When the dinosaurs and sabertooth tigers were around? Coffee is a dime, a Coke is a dime, gas is 25¢ a gallon - that's the way it is, and the way it will be." Some day you will look down at your tray at McDonalds and think, "Golly, that cheeseburger isn't worth $35!" Problem is, even if you put money away it is shrinking - interest rates well below actual inflation, unless you are sharp in the Market the dough you stash will be worthless when you need it - catch 22. Check out http://www.measuringworth.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; - interesting calculators. And stockpile .22 LR, it will always be worth something - worst case, one .22 = one rabbit = one dinner for two.

So - first, survive and pay the bills. Second, discover "what you want to be when you grow up" by writing yourself a notebook and re-reading periodically.

Best of luck however you proceed!

Regards,
Andrew

[Purplehood]

Based on what I read from your post, you sound a lot like my second Ex. She is highly intelligent, communicates well, is a people-person, has an MBA and always wanted to be a Teacher.

She simply is never happy with whatever it is that she is doing and is looking for something more challenging. She has gone through a variety of "careers" and is thinking about more school in order to become a lawyer. You sound exactly like that to me.

I only have one suggestion, get a Reserve Commission in the Military.

[Mach1]

All the smart books say you should only work at the job you love! I say, hogwash. If you are lucky enough to get that job, good for you. But, a job should never be your life, only the means whereby you are able to enjoy life. Let your life center around your God, your family, and your friends. Just recently read an article in which someone interviewed men in a hospise house. Every one of the men said they wished they had not spent so much time working and more time with family.

[TexasVet]

I respectfully disagree with the people who say that work is just for making money. I find that people who do things they love or at least enjoy most of the time are happier and if you really like what you do it shows and can lead to increased financial rewards. I am lucky that I am doing something I love most of the time. I don't think anyone loves every minute of their work, there is always something one does not love, but overall I think that me enjoying going to work, looking forward to the next challenge, continuing to learn will keep me interested in my job and not get burned out.

[Texas Size 11]

Based on what I read from your post, you sound a lot like my second Ex. She is highly intelligent, communicates well, is a people-person, has an MBA and always wanted to be a Teacher.

She simply is never happy with whatever it is that she is doing and is looking for something more challenging. She has gone through a variety of "careers" and is thinking about more school in order to become a lawyer. You sound exactly like that to me.

I only have one suggestion, get a Reserve Commission in the Military.

I have the same type of characteristics as your ex as well. I am always looking for something more challenging. I tend to get bored easily. I am working on my MBA now and am contemplating what further schooling I want to do post MBA. PhD and be an instructor maybe? Possibly another field all together?

To the OP - I've been in the same field for the last ten years (mortgage) and have done some different things within the business. I most recently made a jump (August 2010) to a new position within division that sounded somewhat interesting, but maybe not exactly what my personality dictated. As a result I am having a failry difficult time in this position. It is the first time I have encountered something like this since I have always been very successful at what I have done. My advice here is to make sure that whatever you choose fits your personality. I have found it is important.

I don't know many people that are fortunate enough to work in their dream job. In the interim while looking for one, I tolerate what I do and come in and give it what I have. One day I may wind up doing something I truly enjoy - that I will want to do forever. I'd love to own a range at some point in my life. At this point, I haven't found what I am looking for either, but having a good job right now is a good thing now given our economic conditions.

Best of luck to you...I'd like to hear how your journey ends when you get there.

[SlickTX]

I have no idea how old you are or what your situation is, so I'll speak of others instead and perhaps some of it will apply.

I've had to counsel many people in many situations, one of which is the fairly young (late 20's, early 30's) type who is 5-7 years out of college. Who has been fed the "self actualization through career" stuff and the "work at what you love and it won't be work" stuff. I've seen people who literally define themselves by the job they have/do.

I've had to counsel those with many years of experience who are not advancing and who really don't have a true prospect of advancing in their careers. To each of these general groups, and to others, I've told them (in a diplomatic way) to get a life. To do the job to the best of their ability while on the job, then leave the job, physically and mentally, when they walk out the door each night.

I've told them to find hobbies of their own or activities they can share with their families. Buy a boat and go sailing or motoring. Buy a camper and camp. Get in the car each weekend and head in any direction and tour. Seek out the best hamburger, pizza, BBQ or other joints within driving range. Join a bowling club, shooting club, bird watching club, etc.

Define yourself broadly and you will find happiness in LIFE not happiness in JOB. The job is a means to an end, it is not the end.

[bnc]

I have no idea how old you are or what your situation is, so I'll speak of others instead and perhaps some of it will apply.

I've had to counsel many people in many situations, one of which is the fairly young (late 20's, early 30's) type who is 5-7 years out of college. Who has been fed the "self actualization through career" stuff and the "work at what you love and it won't be work" stuff. I've seen people who literally define themselves by the job they have/do.

I've had to counsel those with many years of experience who are not advancing and who really don't have a true prospect of advancing in their careers. To each of these general groups, and to others, I've told them (in a diplomatic way) to get a life. To do the job to the best of their ability while on the job, then leave the job, physically and mentally, when they walk out the door each night.

I've told them to find hobbies of their own or activities they can share with their families. Buy a boat and go sailing or motoring. Buy a camper and camp. Get in the car each weekend and head in any direction and tour. Seek out the best hamburger, pizza, BBQ or other joints within driving range. Join a bowling club, shooting club, bird watching club, etc.

Define yourself broadly and you will find happiness in LIFE not happiness in JOB. The job is a means to an end, it is not the end.

I'm one of those late-20's people who was focused on being a job, and it has not been what I was looking for. The decisions I have made thinking that the job definition will bring me satisfaction in life have resulted in the exact opposite. Now I live in a place I don't like and work terrible hours that kill any sort of private life all for a career I regret getting into in the first place. Sure, I thought that it would be fine because I would love the job and that is where you spend most of your time anyways so the other aspects wouldn't be so bad. But then, when the job goes downhill for whatever reason there is not much else to be satisfied with. I've realized what Slick has said and plan to do something about it, but that is certainly not easy, especially now. The next career decision I make I plan to choose a job that will allow me to have a life rather than choose a job to be my life. Don't put all your eggs in your career's basket.

[2up1down]

May I respectfully submit the book 48 days to the work you love
http://www.48days.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;