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I am having a career crisis
Okay, "crisis" makes it sounds more dramatic than it is, ha, but the reality is, I am bored stiff at my current job (been here 4 years), and I have been pretty actively looking for a new job for the past 3-4 months. I just finished a master's degree.
But the problem is, I am not 100% sure what I want to do for the rest of my life. I can think of at 3 or 4 semi-related, but different jobs that I would really enjoy. I'm trained/educated for 1 or 2 of those (like what I'm doing now, which I do enjoy). But I'm getting to the point where if I continue in the field I'm in, I'll be at a pay grade/experience level that would be hard to let go of if I decided I wanted to change fields a little bit. Know what I mean?
Basically, I am job searching (no interviews yet), but kind of paralyzed by the thought of actually accepting something new because if it's (1) in the field I'm already in and have 6+ year of experience in, the chances of me getting to do something different in the future probably decrease a lot, or (2) in a new field, I'll probably be taking a pay cut, COL downgrade, etc., and I'll feel like I'm taking a step backward.
More schooling is a possibility, but since I just finished the master's, I'm not interested in going back for at least another few years.
Eh. Any thoughts? I'm just a paralyzed right now as to what I should do.
Re: I am having a career crisis
I believe that some people are not career motivated. Rather, they may be family motivated or whatever. Society tells us we are our careers. But in Europe, there's much less focus on how you get your money. I don't think I'm career motivated, so I keep myself happy but still make sure I am self sufficient.
What motivates you? Having a family? Learning (are you a career student)? If it isn't a career, that's ok. Just make sure you are happy and can take care of yourself.
Consider this article:
http://www.askamanager.org/2011/12/thinking-about-grad-school-think-again.html
I don't think you should feel like you're "taking a step backwards", if the ends justify the means. If changing career paths is what you know will make you happy, and you are in a place to be able to take a pay cut for the time being, I say go for it. You have the new challenge of working your way up in a new career, that you may love.
But if you find more happiness in the things you do outside of work, and your current job funds those things, that's something to consider as well. If you love to travel for instance, is that something you would have to give up?
It sounds like you are approaching it right though, so don't feel paralyzed by the whole thing. Take your time and weigh your options. I always say, "Go with your gut." If you have an interview, you will probably just know what you want to do.