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Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Are there any career changers out there?
I in the process of changing my career. It's a slow process, I knew that going in because I am working full time while I go to school. Financially this is best.
I'm curious to know if anyone has changed careers, if so from what to what. And why?
Thanks 
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Re: Are there any career changers out there?
I went to school for Accounting and Computer Info Systems, but knew I didn't want to be an accountant. I worked for 7 years as a consultant for financial software. I loved the mix of the accounting, technology, and consulting. I grew tired of the billable hours and travel. Part of my job that I loved was teaching/training clients. I thought I'd be happiest if I did that all day, so I became a teacher. I teach high school business and technology classes. I was able to jump right into it because of my background. After my first year, I started on my MEd in Instructional Technology. 5 years in, I had to go through a certification program to keep my license. It was long, but I was happy to be working while going through it. I'm going into my 6th full year of teaching in a few weeks.
I've changed careers three times (actually, really four times). First I was in the Air Force (I was an aersospace ground equipment technician and then cross-trained to dental and was a dental assistant). Then, I was a dental assistant for several years after I got out. I completely burned out on being in dental and did not enjoy the feeling of being at the constant disposal of a dentist (the ones I worked for were nice, but it wasn't a great role for my personality).
Then, I started college and about halfway through, became a conference registrar and planner. That was just way too frantic and paperwork heavy for me. After graduating from college, I moved into the communications arena doing public affairs/relations. Then, I went back to school for graphic and web design. I currently work at a museum as a public relations and marketing director (with a heavy graphic design function) and freelance as a graphic designer. I changed careers for happiness. I have been most happy in my communications/design/PR roles.
MA
My story is quite similar to Flamingo's. I graduated with a BA in English, went to work for a lobbying firm, and after three years decided to certify as a high school English teacher. I needed 18 graduate hours in Education before I was eligible for my certificate, but had my own classroom within a few months of starting the program.
This was back in 2006 when the market for teachers was much better than it is now--I wouldn't recommend alt cert to anyone who isn't in either a high-demand discipline or who has confirmed with area districts that candidates graduating from that particular program in that particular discipline are needed and will be considered serious candidates for hiring.
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I'm pretty anti-higher education, and in my book I'd consider you a professional student. You don't need to go back to school/get a Bachelor's/start from scratch to change careers. Most people's careers migrate over time; the key is finding how to get to where you want to go with the education and life experiences you've built. JMO.
I am also not starting from scratch. I only need 8 classes to get an AA and half the credits to get a BS. I only need half a degree or less. My career will not migrate from one to the other as they are completely different fields. My current job is a dead end and we are taking a 33.5% paycut.
For the health field, yes, you do. I cannot enter the medical field as in a occupational therapy, physical therapy or nursing without a degree. AA at the very least, but probably in the future a BS. Yes, I could be an LPN or whatever, but at that rate, I'd rather be miserable at my current job making 2 to 3x the pay of that. Here, where I am from you are considered a "professional student" when you do not actually work while you are attending school.
I agree somewhat but not all professions are like that. Specifically, teaching, nursing, CPA, or basically anything that requires a specialized certificate.
Also, I'm a career-changing teacher.
That required quite a bit of additional schooling, as my undergrad was in business and psych.
BlackDiamond, I'm sorry I guess I haven't been following this page enough to know what career field you're in. My apologies-good luck!
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