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How to change careers?
I have been following the 9-5 board for a while, I am looking for advice on how to change careers. I have been in operations and sales in the manufacturing world for 5 years. I know I don't enjoy any aspect of the work. It just feels like busy work, but I am having trouble finding ideas on how to changes careers without spending a ridiculous amount of money going back to school.
I have a BA in History, I realized mid way through college that I was not a great communicator and therefore would make a poor teacher. However I continued with my Bachelors because its the "what you're supposed to do" thing. Now I feel like I have to start over... It gets me depressed and my better half hears me moan and groan but doesn't know what to do.
Any advice on how to get a vision would be great.
Re: How to change careers?
If you figure that out PLEASE let me know, lol.
Ok, but seriously- what do you enjoy? Even though you don't want to go back to school- you could always look at something like certifications to help you get where you want to be.
I'm not sure what you can do with a history degree other than teach- but maybe you could work on those communication skills and practice training people, etc... which might help you get into that teaching niche. Or maybe get training in something like archaeology (yay for travel and playing in sand!
) or even working in a local museum or something like that?
Do you have any hobbies that you enjoy? Maybe starting your own business if you have some sort of talent - like selling on Etsy or eBay?
I know this is pretty random- I'm just throwing stuff out there.
I hope I don't sound like the debbie downer here but from my experience trying to switch fields it's really really hard right now, unless you have an inside connection in the field you want to get into who is willing to help you out.
I have tried really hard and applied to hundreds of entry level positions of the new field I want to get into and never hear back. Companies are going to hire you based on your experience, not what you want to do, or may be capable of or think you'd like.
What about being a researcher or urban planner? DH has a degree in Social Science Education, and is a teacher. They don't get raises (in the county in Fl where we live, no raises in 6-7 years). He has thought about switching to something that pays more that he will still enjoy, but it is difficult.
I am in the process of changing careers from legal to medical. This requires me to return to school. If I were you I suggest doing some networking, get involved in a few areas by volunteering in doing what you plan to do, and I suggest updating any skills you may need or acquire some new ones that pertain to the field you are interested in entering.
You can also browse online for jobs in the field that you are hoping to enter and see what skills and other things you need to apply for the job. I think this will be helpful to you.
You need to isolate what about the job you specifically do and don't like and work from there. Because odds are that your next job, no matter what "field" it's in, will have similar traits to what you're doing now, just applied in a different manner. You've been doing it for 5 years-surely you've developed some skills that will transfer. You probably understand product line development, some amount of logistics and industrial engineering, possibly some project management (budgeting, staffing, scheduling, etc), quality assurance, and on and on. Don't look at your past 5 years as a waste-look at it as leverage for a new career. You are far from needing to start over...
As you get older, schooling becomes infinitely less important (unless you're a subject matter expert and that doesn't sound like you) than who you know and what experience you've accumulated. You already have 5 years of experience; I would look into complementary training that your company might pay for or certifications over more formal schooling. PMP, MS certified, supply chain/logistics, etc. Instead of going to school, start looking at people within your company that are successful and you admire; ask them for advice for moving around within the company. How did they get to where they are? Seek out people in your line of work that are outside the company. Join a related professional organization and see what they offer by way of training and networking.
Not for nothing, but you will need to become a great communicator and I would focus on developing this as a skill. This is a core employee competency and it will be difficult to succeed without it. The good news is that with practice and asking for feedback about your communication you should be able to easily improve.