Today’s post is a little different because all I really want is to know something about YOU.
You see, the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about careers. Specifically career changes. I’ve had some interesting talks with a friend about our careers and what we would do if we didn’t have our current jobs. She knows the specific job she would like but isn’t going for it because it requires more schooling.
I, however, know I want to do something else but I’m not sure what.
I’ve been working in marketing in various settings (agency/non-profit/startup) for a few years and now I’m thinking about doing something completely different. Perhaps it is because I’m nearing 30 and want a big change, but I don’t see myself as a Marketing Manager/Director/Executive for the next 30+ years of my life unless it’s for a really amazing company. That vision of the future made me realize I should start considering a change of some kind.
What that change will be? NO IDEA.
I’ve been toying with the idea in my mind a lot but it’s all a mess of random thoughts at this point:
- I want to help people, should I consider something in healthcare?
- I like being around kids, should I try teaching seriously?
- Blogging pays my rent, should I do that and freelance writing full-time?
- Real estate has always interested me, should I pursue that?
- I’ve always wanted to own a business, should I buy into a franchise?
- And so on with more questions than answers!
I obviously have been thinking a lot about career options without any real decisions made. I found the conversation with my friend interesting because she likes her field but immediately knew what else she’d rather be doing.
It made me wonder, how many people have a career but want a different one? Is there something we’d all rather be doing? Is this a case of the grass is always greener? Or are lots of you out there really happy in a career that perfectly suits you?
I’d love for you to do me a favor…
Comment below with your current career. And if you have something you’d rather be doing, share that too! If you’ve successfully changed careers before, do you have any tips for making the switch?
Feel free to post anonymously if that helps. :)
I work in “event marketing” which is really just a fancy way to say that I manage exhibits for trade shows. My company is hired by other companies to design, build, store, and manage their trade show booths. We have a full production shop (carpentry, painting, graphics, etc), a design studio (3D and 2D) and a sales and client services team. I’m in client service, so I work with the client to manage all the logistics for each show. I make sure the right booth gets there and gets set-up! I love my job…I get to travel to conventions all over the world and work with a lot of different clients and people. I used to work in non-profit, and although I loved doing work that made a difference, I’m really a planner and I love to execute events. I found this jobs allows me to do that much more frequently than I found in a non-profit job. Don’t get me wrong…I work LONG hours and I’m often that annoying person constantly answering emails and phone calls all weekend, but I wouldn’t change jobs!
I think working trade shows sounds really fun! I follow a couple people on Instagram that do this and it’s really interesting! Thank you for sharing Maddie! :)
I am a software engineer. I build web applications, which is less screen design and more business and data logic. I started working in 1993. In 1999, I got really burnt out and considered going back to school to be a librarian. But I changed jobs to something that was less client centric and am much happier. Writing software is quite enjoyable to me. I often work alone, solve puzzles and have to learn new things.
If I were to pursue another job, I’d like to do travel reviews. I love to travel and dole out recommendations based on my experiences. I also like to organize things, which is contrary to my house, but I think that would be kind of fun as well. My mom always calls me when she is trying to get rid of stuff.
Cool! I’ve found most of my friends building software love it when with the right company. None of them like dealing with clients either, haha.
Travel reviews would be amazing! If you ever do that or start a travel blog let me know because I’ll be a reader. :)
I work for four financial advisors, managing their client services. My favorite part is being with the clients, helping in ways only I can, and getting to know them and their families better. And I love it. And I’ve done it for 17 years. :)
Very cool! That actually sounds really rewarding to be able to help actual clients with their finances.
I’m a Contracts Administrator. I started off in Marketing and moved into this role about 12 years ago. I actually went back to school recently and earned my BA degree in business, thinking I might want to do something different. Now that I’ve graduated, I decided I really love my current job. I manage my company’s largest contract, which requires a little bit of customer service, marketing, sales, finance, collections, problem solving, purchasing and contracts. I talk to many different people every day and do lots of multitasking. I’m super busy, work long hours but at the end of the day when I have helped satisfy a bunch of people then I feel good about what I do. I often think how bored I would be just doing one thing such as crunching numbers in finance. Growing up, I really wanted to be a lawyer and I still think about it at times but the path didn’t work out for that and at 51, I don’t think I’m brave enough to pursue it now. I think you have to find what you love to do and figure out how to get paid to do it! Good luck pursuing your dreams!
Thanks Lee! That’s awesome that you love your job! Do you feel like getting your degree was still worth it even though you didn’t make a change?
I’m an Executive Administrative Assistant / Import Manager. I’m the owners right hand at the office which at times makes me wear different hats. This is the title I wanted most to obtain since I started working many moons ago BUT in my last 2 jobs I’ve had the responsibility of cordinating the transportation of containers from China into the USA, I’ve fallen in love with that. It’s such a sense of accomplishment knowing that my job got a container to cross an ocean, delivered into our warehouse and then put the product into a store, which eventually will be in someone home.
I also dabbled in direct sales, with the lure of making big bucks and being my own boss. I loved meeting new people but realized that I rather work for someone than work for myself.
Michelle I love your perspective! I never would have thought of thinking of transportation in that way. With your positive perspective I bet you can find meaning in any job you hold which is a really awesome trait to have. :)
I am a nurse and almost a midwife. 10 years ago I graduated from university with a degree in economics. After 6 years working unhappily in the field I finally jumped ship and went back to Uni to complete my nursing qualifications and I am now 4 weeks away from fulfilling my ultimate goal to become a midwife. A huge risky career change but hugely worth it. Go for it, do something completely different, you only live once! :)
That’s a big change! That’s so great that you took a big risk and are doing what you love now. :)
My title is Office Manager, but in a small business that means I am in charge of HR, finance, IT, payroll, accounts payable & receivable, vendor management, 401(k)….you get the picture. I work in an engineering firm and anything not engineering related is my job! I’ve been here 2 years, and the previous 13 years I worked in non-profits in grant management, event planning, department liaison and the ubiquitous “other duties as assigned.” My undergrad degree was in Art History, and my non-profit career was actually somewhat related. I also have a masters in Public Administration, and at some point would love to get back in the public sector as an administrator. I love working behind the scenes of an organization to keep everything running smoothly. I only left the non-profit world because I was laid off, but I am grateful for my current job because it has really expanded my skill set.
I’ve worked for a lot of small businesses so I know exactly what you mean! It’s cool that you get to wear a lot of hats. Maybe you’ll get to keep expanding your skills and go back to the non-profit world? The future is full of possibilities!
My title is Senior Epidemiologist. I track infectious diseases and report them to the CDC. I also detect disease outbreaks and investigate diseases of public health importance. If I was going to have another job I would be a recipe tester/chef. I love trying to make new things and make them healthier. Maybe I should try being a food blogger on the side as a way to balance two interests. I think the grass is always greener.
That sounds like a really important job!
The grass is definitely always greener but I’d totally read a food blog from you!
I am SO GLAD I took the leap to start my own business last year – becoming a full-time freelancer was the best decision! I knew for a long time that I wasn’t happy at my job (non-profit sector – project manager & development coordinator), and I knew what I wanted to do, but it took me a while so that I could build up my skills and get clients and my business ready before taking the plunge. I absolutely love every day of it and it is so RIGHT for me at this point in my life.
Straight out of university, though, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, so I “flirted” with a bunch of different types of work, such as public relations and coordinating projects etc. I think it’s important to be okay with playing around with a few different things to see what you want to do! And I think it’s also useful if you can dip your toe into things, or at least think about them VERY seriously, before diving in.
For example, if you like real estate, do you like talking to people all day? Do you like having to organize your life around other people’s schedules? Do you like being in sales?
Or with being a teacher – are you okay with being around 30 kids for 7 hours a day? How do you feel about making lesson plans? Are you interested in working a structured schedule?
It’s so good to think about the nitty gritty of a job before going for it to test if there are any major red flags about how you feel about it :) You’ll figure it out though, Mary! And whatever you choose… it doesn’t have to be forever. Try something and if it doesn’t work, head off in a different direction.
oooh, it sounds like we have similar histories actually! I’ve flirted with project management (ugh!) and pr (meh!). It’s been interesting to try different things.
You also raised all the questions I have about all those careers! I might just end up trying some different things and seeing what works. You’re so right about things not being forever.
I’m so glad you are freelancing and love it! I remember reading your work from forever ago and always thought you were so talented!
That’s amazing that you can pay your bills through blogging. Good for you! Right now I am an office manager for a construction company. Doesn’t really feel like a career though. I need one of those too.
To be fair I’ve blogged for a while and I live in a low cost of living area. Having low expenses makes it easier for sure to pay for things via blogging income! I’d still blog even if I didn’t make anything – it’s just my fun creative outlet. :)
I liked begin an office manager but I understand what you mean about it not being a career. There isn’t much upward mobility. If you could do anything in the world, what would you do?
I’m a career counselor. I work with people who are looking for primarily entry level work find employment. If I were to switch I would write 100% of the time and if it were a perfect world, I would have someone manage the business part for me.
I love the people I work with, but it may be time for a change. Which is scary. I’ve been here for over 9 years now.
I am a computer programmer, but I specialize in COBOL, a language that is the backbone of many legacy systems on mainframe computers, but that is generally being replaced. I’ve been doing this since college, 5 years at one company, and 26 years at this one. I love writing code, but I rarely get to do that. Even when I do develop or change something, it takes almost 2 weeks to implement, if everything goes right. Projects take forever to complete (many times, my part is finished early on, then I just have to wait for all the other parts to finish). There is a lot of redundant paperwork, test cases, etc. that have to be done and approved by varying levels of management. That part of the cycle has taken the joy out of IT. If I could just write code, then I would be happier. I’m learning a new system right now, but I’m not sure how that will pan out. I would love to do something different, but I have no idea what. I’m at a pretty late age to completely start over! Plus, right now, I am the breadwinner and insurance provider, so that is something I have to consider. Is there any kind of job where they pay you to live in a mountain cabin and read books??? I could probably excel at that!