How to Navigate a Career Change

Do you like your job? We all go through times when we feel restless in our careers. Many people fantasize about going back to school, living off the land or doing something completely different. But how do you actually make the switch? I talked to 10 people who changed careers to see how it’s done…

My dad worked at the same company for 35 years, which now sounds archaic, but many people stick to the same career path even if their minds are wandering. A study in 2008 found that 80% of people over 45 years old consider changing careers, but only 6% actually take the leap.

Still, switching paths is becoming more and more common. “As a generation X-er, I grew up assuming whatever field I started in, I would retire in,” says Cheryl Wischhover, who was a pediatric nurse practitioner for 15 years before she became a beauty editor. “But I realized it’s okay to have two or three careers in your working life — it’s even a positive. More life experience makes you more well-rounded.”

After all, Julia Child was an advertising manager and a spy (!) before she became the cook we know and love. So, over the last few weeks, I spoke to 10 people who went through major career changes. Not just switching jobs, but complete 180s — from an investment banker to a wedding planner, from a magazine editor to a psychologist, from an accessories designer to a nurse, and more. Here’s what I learned:

You Can Love Your Career and Want Something New

Lina Perl did marketing and editing for magazines from the age of 21 to 33, then she decided to become a psychologist. “My editing career was exciting. I loved brainstorming ideas, researching and writing, but I always wondered about the path not taken. I had been a psych major in college and even as a kid I used to tell people ‘I want to be a psychologist who writes books!’ As I grew older, got married, and had my first kid, I thought about that childhood dream more and more. But I was afraid to tell anyone because I thought people would think I was nuts. I had a good job that paid well, I was heading into my mid-30s with a family — why would I go back to school for five years? But when my second daughter was born, I suddenly knew I couldn’t spend the rest of my life wondering what if.”

Cheryl was a pediatric nurse practitioner for 15 years before she became a beauty editor. “I loved working in the pediatric oncology department. It was high-tech, so you had to know a lot of science, but it was also personal. Many families were there for a few years getting treatment, so you really got to know them. But when I had my own kids, I just couldn’t function the same way. The parents going through all this horrible stuff were suddenly my peers. I would see these sweet bald children, and I would start crying and have to run into the office.”

Burnout is Real

Sarah Walzer managed art galleries in Los Angeles, Berlin and New York for 10 years, now she owns a farm-to-table restaurant in rural Pennsylvania. “I loved my job for a long time, but after a decade, I got burned out on the art world and city life. I wanted to be outside. There’s something to be said for needing to get back to the land and environment.”

Siobhan Quinlan worked in production for TV commercials for five years before she decided to go to beauty school to become a hairstylist. “The TV industry was amazing, but it had crazy hours and could be very high stress. People older than me were always talking about their exit plans and how to get out of the lifestyle. It was hard to have a life outside work.”

Difficult Times Can Bring Welcome Change

Amisha Patel was a lawyer for four years and is now a children’s clothing designer and entrepreneur. “While I enjoyed the law, I’d always wanted to create and build things. Litigation felt like just the opposite, and it had begun to wear on me. Then, in 2008, the economy crashed, and my five-year-old nephew was diagnosed with leukemia. This gave me a much greater sense of urgency to pursue my passions and to embrace the uncertainty inherent in that pursuit, so I began to plot my exit.”

Nadia Kaufhold worked in finance for 10 years before she became an interior designer. “After my husband passed away from a long illness, I couldn’t spend another day at my finance job. It was suddenly clear I had to start expressing myself. It was like a compulsion.”

Both Tocha Albert‘s parents were artists, so he went to an art high school and college and ended up becoming a licensed accessories designer. But after 10 years in the industry, he decided to go back to school to become a nurse. “I was unhappy for a long time in my field — sitting at a computer all day designing backpacks and things for brands like Walmart, but I didn’t know what else I could do. Then in 2010, my dad died from cancer. He mentioned he had a nurse that he really liked and that he was a man. My dad was a hard guy to please on most days, but especially toward the end, so this meant a lot. It made me think start thinking that I could be a nurse, too.”

The First Step is the Hardest

Meg Dinga worked in the film industry for seven years, her last three as a talent agent, before switching to graphic design. “The period between realizing you don’t feel fulfilled and starting the career change was very stressful. For a while I was straddling two jobs — working full time as an agent, while also attending classes and producing design work. It was intense, but my overall trepidation and uncertainty made the transition even more stressful.”

Lina: “The year leading to my career switch was not happy. It was very hard for me to admit to myself that I needed to make a change. In fact, I spent a lot of time trying to convince myself not to take a risk. But when I was 33, I took the GRE. I figured if I did badly, I wouldn’t apply to schools. But I did well, so I figured I’d apply and if I didn’t get in, it wasn’t meant to be. But I got into a great Ph.D. program. Once I decided to take those first steps, doors started opening. Getting your doctorate while being a mom to young children is not easy. There are many challenges — financial, marital, not enough hours in the day — but these have been four of the happiest years of my life.”

It May Sound Cliché, But You Can Do What You Love

Tzo Ai Ang worked as an investment banker for seven years, then became a wedding planner. “Before getting married, I never thought about how I wanted my wedding to feel, but I loved every minute of planning it. I found myself reading the wedding blog Style Me Pretty every day, and I realized wedding planning was what I really wanted to do. So, I started researching industry events and networking at anything I could get myself into. I created a website; studied SEO, social media and marketing; and figured out where successful planners got published. My first client was through a friend of a friend, and I worked for basically nothing. I was lucky because the wedding got published on Once Wed. Looking back, I can’t believe I managed that wedding myself with no assistants — now I have two!”

Cheryl: “I had always loved fashion — the business, the personalities, the designers. I started blogging about style while I was nursing and really enjoyed it, so I decided to take some writing classes at NYU. I saw that the fashion website Fashionista was looking for an unpaid intern. I told my husband I was going to apply, and he said, ‘Are you crazy? Do you know what interns do? They get coffee.’ At this point, I was a 37-year-old nurse and mother of two. But I sent them a long and (I thought) funny email saying if I could handle toddlers’ tantrums and a bunch of doctors, I could handle the fashion world. I got the internship and was hired as an editor a year later.”

Siobhan: “Working in production, I always secretly wished I could hang out with the hair people on set instead of sitting at my computer. My whole life, I had been interested in hair, but I never thought of it as a job possibility. Once I moved to NYC and saw stylists with amazing careers, I thought more and more, ‘Why can’t I do that?’ Then during a slow time for production when I was watching lots of Tabatha’s Salon Takeover, I finally thought, I can do this. I gave myself six months to save money and then went to beauty school. I loved learning about hair and still do. I’m now the creative director of my own salon.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask

Shannon Rodriguez was a flight attendant for three years, then in advertising for 16, and now she owns three juice bars. “About five years ago, I walked into a Nekter Juice Bar and I knew they were onto something. I wanted to be a part of it. Nekter wasn’t franchising at the time, but for a year and a half I kept sending them emails saying I was interested and eventually I got my first store. There have been lots of tears, lots of hours, lots of hard work, but with passion and perseverance I have gotten through it. I love being my boss on being able to reinvent myself. I just got rid of all my suits, now it’s yoga pants and Free People.

Sarah: “My husband always said the Indian restaurant in our small Pennsylvania town was the perfect restaurant location. It wasn’t for rent, but one day I went in for lunch and asked the owner if they’d ever be interested in renting the space. He and his wife had run the restaurant for 15 years, and it turned out they had been thinking of retiring. I had recently moved from New York to rural Pennsylvania to be with my husband — but I didn’t want to continue my art career there, and he was working as a chef in mediocre restaurants. We thought, this is our shot. We were both very interested in food and were already raising chickens and growing a garden at home, so we decided to open a farm-to-table restaurant. It was huge challenge and risk, but it was our chance to create something together.”

Being Older Can Be To Your Advantage

Lina: “I used to wish I had gone to grad school at 21. For a while, I considered all my years as an editor a long wrong turn in life, but now I see that they were incredibly valuable. I learned a ton, and I hope to come back to writing in my new career, just in a new form. I’m also at a huge advantage because I know how to pitch myself as a psychologist and market myself to get clients.”

Cheryl: “My bosses at Fashionista were 23 and 24, while I was 37. When I started, I was so nervous. Can I actually do this? Am I going to make a complete ass out of myself? I wasn’t trained as a writer; I didn’t go to journalism school; I came from a place where I was a mentor and now my bosses were millennials. But later they told me they saw me being older as a positive. So many interns are 19 and 20, they said — they can be flaky, they don’t know how to act in an office, maybe they don’t have that work ethic down yet. I probably made too many jokes about my age, but I came to realize that it was a plus. I could remember trends and brands that the 21-year-olds didn’t even know existed, and when I wrote about beauty, my science background was really helpful.”

Tzo Ai: “Since I had worked at a bank, the organization of wedding planning came very naturally to me. On a trading floor, you get used to working with very difficult personalities, and that groomed me well for dealing with difficult wedding vendors.”

Check Out the Field First

Tocha: “While I was taking my nursing pre-requisite classes and still working, I decided to volunteer at a hospital. I told the director that I was trying out a career change and didn’t know anything. ‘I haven’t even taking anatomy and physiology,’ I said, ‘I just want to see if this is right for me.’ She said, ‘I know the place for you,’ and put me directly in the intensive care unit. Right away, I was assisting the nurses in some very outrageous situations. I found that I had the stomach for it and I got along well with the patients. I finally felt comfortable to give this nursing thing a real shot.”

Sarah: “Don’t be afraid to take a risk on something that sounds completely insane. If you have an interest in beekeeping, figure out a way to get an internship and learn more. Be courageous! It’s okay if you make the wrong decision; it’s worth trying things out.”

Learning Something New Feels Good

Cheryl: “Writing and meeting people in the beauty industry has given me new life. When you have two little kids you’re run ragged, and sometimes you lose sense of who you are. I can’t say enough about learning something new later in life. And you should never discount learning from people that are younger than you.”

Nadia: “After my husband died, I contemplated many different avenues. Should I go into political writing, academia, photography, healing modalities? Ultimately, I embarked on a gut renovation of my apartment and decided to go to school for interior design. My three-year-old twins and I moved into a small studio during the renovation. I would study by lamplight while they slept in a bunkbed a few feet away. That period of grieving which mobilized me was crystalline: I was focused, efficient and absorbed information like a sponge.”

You Will Probably Make Less Money at First

Siobhan: “One of the hardest parts was going from a well-paying job to having almost no income in beauty school and as an apprentice. But don’t let money hold you back; if you want it enough, the money will figure itself out.”

Cheryl: “You’re going to have to start lower on the hierarchy, so it’s important to save money and be financially ready. There was a significant time where I was not making any money; none of this would have been possible without my supportive spouse.”

Amisha: “Going from the top of the legal industry to the bottom was an adjustment. Foregoing a salary, benefits and free office supplies was also rough.”

But You Won’t Regret It

Tocha: “If you put one foot in front of the other, you’ll eventually get wherever you need to be. And if you get there and it’s not quite right, you can always take a few steps to the left. Am I 100% happy as a nurse all the time? No. But now I have a whole other field ahead of me with options. I’m also very proud to be a pediatric nurse. I leave work every day exhausted, but fulfilled by the work I’ve done. I’ve been able to make a difference in these kids’ lives, even if only for a moment.”

Lina: “The most rewarding part part has been finding a career I love and being able to share that with my kids. Although I’m super busy, I genuinely love working with patients, and I think my kids see that. I’m showing them that work can be wonderful. I’m intellectually challenged, and I’m happy to be making a difference in the world by helping others.”

Sarah: “We just celebrated the Blind Pig Kitchen’s second anniversary. It’s been hard, stressful, fun, extremely rewarding, a big learning experience, a test of our relationship — it’s been everything. But even when we’re super overwhelmed by running a restaurant, it’s our restaurant. I still get excited when I think about the change that I made. You get a little spark: this actually happened.”

Are you thinking about changing careers? What would you most want to do, in your heart of hearts? Let us know — we are rooting for you!!!

P.S. Career tips from smart women, and the best work advice.

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Hyerin

December 8, 2021 11:05 am

I went to an expensive business school and was certain I’d land a high-paying corporate job and live a satisfying life. But this isn’t the case. Now I’m working in healthcare and serving kiddos diagnosed with autism. It’s a plot twist that I didn’t envision when I was in school full of business-ready minds. But once I graduated and re-examined my priorities, I was brave enough to listen to my gut. Sometimes when you’re in a particular environment, you think there’s one definitive path, but there’s always multiple paths in hindsight. This article is comforting in that we always have a choice to look within and make the changes we want for ourselves.

Sheila

August 6, 2018 10:48 pm

In 2011, at 30, I switched from accountant to social worker. I loved my job as an accountant, but felt that I wasn’t doing much to make a positive impact in the world. I’m now an adoption social worker, which I think I was always meant to do. Even in college (at a business university) I said that if I had to start over I would do social work. I’m glad though, that I took the path I did because I wouldn’t be the social worker I am today without having been the accountant I was for almost a decade.

Samira

March 14, 2018 6:18 pm

Loved this article! Having just switched from the tech world to the beer industry, I really connected. My heart is unbelievably happy to have made the move I’ve been most anxious to make. Feeling some trepidation about moving in a completely different direction but hell, I’m 26. I’ve got great people skills, an all-to-real love for beer, and the desire to learn. When else am I gonna live a little and pursue something that scares me? Best to get a move on now.

Emme

March 6, 2018 10:45 am

This is one of my favorite articles that I am constantly re-reading. I am currently a speech-language pathologist hoping to transition to a more creative career and this article gives me motivation to pursue that change… and not feel (too) guilty about the time and money that I spent to go to grad school.

Thank you! xoxo

Dandy

June 22, 2017 12:08 am

I need to change careers! I’m nearly 40, been doing freight forwarding/transportation for well over a decade now, I have no idea how the H#ll I got here. If I stay in this line of work, I’m going to end up with severe health problems and / or not be able to retire even with the 401K match that I take advantage of. I see too many people in this industry working 2nd jobs after hours, and by 45 or 50 end up crashing and going out on disability or breaking down due to stress. I’ve looked at our competitors, and it’s the same thing. From time to time I reach out to customers to see if they have any openings but nothing’s come up. I love to write and would be interested in getting into the legal or medical field, but have no $ to go back to school. My salary is not terrible but as a single mom and sole breadwinner it’s difficult, I really can’t afford to take a pay cut. I don’t know what to do, but I know I can’t do this for another 30 years!

Kate Watson

Reply to Dandy

April 22, 2019 12:04 pm

What did you end up doing, if you don’t mind sharing? :)

Kathleen Wise

June 6, 2017 8:43 am

I so needed this article! I’m transitioning out of a career in the arts to humanitarian work and am terrified every day that I’m making the wrong decision. It’s so helpful to hear that it will be worth the risk! (Isn’t it always?) Thank you!

Jose Brando

May 30, 2017 12:32 pm

After 15 years in the advertising industry, I think non-stop about launching my own public-speaking and presentation training company. Interpersonal communication has always been my greatest skill and also a passion – I love talking in front of a group of strangers, and after taking dozens of company-mandated training courses I realized I should be the one doing the training. So far I only have a potential company name and an outline of the course, but I’m slowly moving towards a change and it’s exhilarating.

Sarah

May 26, 2017 3:44 pm

Wow. I NEEDED this today. I’ve been contemplating a career change for some time but I have found myself going back and forth with the “What if’s…” Now I’m confident I just need to make the jump.

Patti

May 25, 2017 6:59 pm

I have been heavily pondering a career shift for some time. It never seems to be the “right” time though. I am the primary breadwinner in my family and it stresses me thinking about the possible dip in income. But I know that staying in my current career isn’t going to be sustainable.
In my dream world I could work for a good website/magazine and be a recipe tester of some sort. I am madly passionate about cooking – specifically a grain/dairy/sugar free pathway – and would love to eventually create my own blog and blog about this passion. No clue how to get there from where I am today, but I’m sure I’ll figure it out. Does this sound completely crazy?! I just know that working as a construction manager & designer isn’t cutting it anymore. All I think about is my passion – cooking!

Tracy Kaler

May 24, 2017 10:35 am

Losing my job more than five years ago motivated me to make a career change. I realized that I hated most aspects of working in sales and what I really wanted to do was write. I didn’t have a journalism degree (still don’t), so I started from scratch and learned as I went. I still learn something new every single day, and this ongoing journey to becoming a writer continues to change me and open up my world to new and exciting possibilities.

My advice to anyone contemplating a career change is to seize the moment and do it. It’s never too late to make a change. If I had not followed my heart, I would’ve had regrets and been mad at myself. Even if I decide not to write any longer, I know that I “went for it” and with that comes a great sense of accomplishment.

Kathryn

May 24, 2017 9:46 am

As many others have said, this post comes at a perfect time. I am so bored by my job, I’m unhappy and unfulfilled. I used to love my job and it made me feel as though I was really doing something – that I was part of something, but now it’s drudgery. After 13 years, I’m ready for a change. I’m really scared to give up the comfort of a steady job but I don’t think I can do it until retirement. I’m 46 and I keep thinking that there has to be more to life. That happiness could be within reach. And that makes me think the risk is worth it. The fear, the uncertainty and struggle – it could pay off. I think I would regret it if I didn’t try. Someone recently told me that I could do anything I want. I’ve never been told that before in my life. She said I’m smart and skilled and capable and also for the first time in my life, I’m inclined to believe her. And so, I’m getting there – inch by inch. At least allowing myself to dream the dream – to acknowledge that there are options and that possibility could become reality. Imagine that.

Natalie

May 22, 2017 5:39 pm

Thank you so much for sharing this. I literally am in the middle of (very slowly) trying to make a career change…from law to business…which I also realized that I really need to try to do while pregnant with my first child. Great timing huh. I wish I had applied to business school and gotten it out of the way immediately after I realized that working at a big law firm wasn’t for me, but I stayed at the firm too long and have now stayed at an in-house job too long. I feel old to be doing something like this, but then I also think that I’m only 33 and have at least 30 more years of work ahead of me…and being a lawyer for the next 30-35 years makes me want to bury my head under a pillow and cry.

Rachel

Reply to Natalie

May 26, 2017 2:10 pm

Would you mind sharing some of your goals/aspirations? I’m a disgruntled attorney, too, and am desperate to make a change. I feel “too old” a lot of the time, too (I’m 35 with two small kids), but I can’t do this for another 25 years. I’d love to be pen pals? My email is treehugginglawyer@gmail.com. (Good luck to you, btw!)

Jessica

Reply to Natalie

May 30, 2017 10:01 am

Another disgruntled lawyer here! I live in a small town and can’t move and am having the hardest time figuring out what another viable option would be. But I’ve been ready to be an ex-lawyer pretty much since I started law school. I’m 37 and am also absolutely certain I can’t do this for the long haul.

janine

May 22, 2017 2:09 pm

This couldn’t have come at a better time for me! I’ve been working full time and freelance writing on the side for several years – I actually used to write more, and then went on a long hiatus for various reasons. But over the past 2 years, my writing has really taken off. I just quit my full time job on Friday, and took a part-time job, so I could write more. I’m so excited by having 2 full days a week to write!

Donna

Reply to janine

May 22, 2017 7:05 pm

Congrats!

Alexa

May 22, 2017 9:48 am

I had so much anxiety about leaving my old job and changing career tracks, because it seemed so final. Once you leave research, it’s hard to go back, so I had to be sure. It took me nearly three years to build up the courage to finally close that door…and now I couldn’t be happier that I did. I started my own science editing business and it’s been a much better fit for my skill set, interests, and personality. Maybe I should have trusted my instincts and gone for the job change earlier, but I used those three years to thoroughly test my business out as a side-gig. Working two jobs was exhausting, but it allowed me to test the waters for a little while and then gave me the confidence to just go for it.

Aggie

May 22, 2017 4:24 am

Another “this is so timely” comment! I’ve had a reasonably successful art career for the past decade but I’ve been accepted to law school for next year. I’m excited and terrified.

Lana

May 22, 2017 12:57 am

I just love this. I was an investment banker for a decade then went back to medical school to follow my heart. I’m almost finished and couldn’t be happier. It has been hard work, and not easy, but I feel grateful for learning all that I am learning and getting to see life in a very special way. I had our first child in my second year at age 33. It is a terrifying thing, making big career moves but I believe it is so important to follow what moves you in your soul. Thank you for this encouraging post!

Conny

May 21, 2017 5:00 pm

It’s been 6 months since I left my job (I was studying for nurse at the same time and also married with one daughter…hahaha) . I worked in an export company and I REALLY HATED the job and at first I felt completly good about my decision but now…my husband has a job and I suddently feel dependent and is rough. It makes me feel unsure about everything…I was happy about studying and now I feel the old lady(the rest of the students are 19, I am the only older student that attends classes.
Kisses from Spain and LOVE YOUR BLOG

Greg

May 21, 2017 3:28 pm

Thank you for the post. I have been an engineer for 33 years. While there are aspects of the job that I still enjoy, I would like to spend my remaining work years (and beyond) doing something that I love, makes me happy, and makes other people happy. I just don’t know what that “something ” is. It seems that nothing I do really makes me happy. How do I find out what I can do that makes me happy? And would make others happy.

Anne

Reply to Greg

May 23, 2017 9:07 am

I’m struggling with that myself. Do what I enjoy? Not even sure what that would be. Follow your bliss? Right now I have no “bliss”. I stayed at home with my kids doing small part time jobs as they got older, none of which I would want to go further with. I now have the freedom to do almost anything but haven’t a clue where to start.

Joanna (Not that one)

Reply to Greg

May 23, 2017 2:45 pm

Meeting with a skilled and sympatico career counselor/ life coach person really made a big difference for my husband and several of my friends as they contemplated and then made changes, both big and small. Maybe it would be helpful for you?

Kelly

Reply to Greg

May 24, 2017 4:42 am

Someone had this question on COJ a few weeks back and a great podcast was suggested. Thought maybe it could help xx
https://cupofjo.com/2017/05/best-underwear-no-panty-lines/

May 21, 2017 1:34 pm

This is exactly what I needed to read today! I’m one week away from finally quitting a soul-crushing job at an insurance company, and I’m struggling with the desire to jump off of my career track and start my own small business. My husband and I are trying to start a family and facing infertility, so it’s definitely not the ideal time to leave a dependable, salaried job with benefits and health insurance. I’ve always been the responsible one and the breadwinner, but something inside me keeps calling me towards the scary (but exciting) path of entrepreneurship. It’s nice to know that others have made the leap and come out on the other side grateful that they took the risk.

Sam @ Hygge Wellness

May 21, 2017 10:22 am

I left my career as a corporate attorney last year to start my own business helping other women learn how to start or grow their own businesses online. I can so relate to Amisha. As a corporate attorney, my job was to take down or disrupt people’s businesses. It was heart-wrenching and stood against everything that defined who I was. Now, it’s my job to help build opportunities, freedom, and pure joy for women – not tear them down.

http://hyggewellness.com/blog

Janna

May 21, 2017 7:49 am

I just found your blog. Man oh man does this post hit home right now!! I love what I do, but not so much the responsibility (i have the most tenure so it’s assumed the responsibility is mine) or the people (very smart person knows they are very smart and not afraid to tell you how not smart you are). I have considered doing something else but don’t know what. Plus I have a child (hopefully) starting college in the fall of 2018……so not a good time for ME to go back to school. I am also primary breadwinner. I’m stuck.

May 20, 2017 11:27 pm

This post resonates with me as well. I’ve been a nurse for 12 years in multiple specialties and I have to say the last several years have left a really bad taste in my mouth. Last year I was at a crossroads: leave nursing entirely or apply to grad school and see if I could make it work. I will graduate in December (which hasn’t been easy with two young children), and in the meantime had the opportunity to leave my small hospital with little potential for professional growth for a larger company, and while it has more opportunity for advancement and offers great flexibility right now, I’m still not entirely convinced health care is where I want to be. If I had to do it all over again knowing what I know now, I would choose something completely different. I do know that now is not the time for me jump into an entirely new field, but I am hoping that I can transition into something more creatively satisfying in the future.

May 20, 2017 9:14 pm

I made the switch from a career as a paralegal to a real estate agent about 2 yrs ago. I just couldn’t sit behind a desk anymore. I needed to get out! I also wanted the independence of having my own clients and dealing with people in my own way regarding a topic I love. I had initially thought that I would be a paralegal up to retirement- it paid well with full benefits and an easy/predicable 9-5pm schedule. I landed with an amazingly supportive, small brokerage and I feel so thankful that I made the jump at 35. Its refreshing, challenging, and liberating. If you’re on the fence but feel driven to make a change, DO IT!

Reply to KB

May 23, 2017 10:02 am

I’ve been thinking about a similar switch to real estate, having moved 13 times in my youth, and now 12 times as an adult, including an overseas stint (mostly corporate job moves as adult)….

Encouraged to hear you’re content with your decision – I’m still on the ‘fear fence’ a bit – mostly due to college student kids. Another couple years and I think I’m going to make the leap!

Elise

May 20, 2017 4:15 pm

I’ve been working in a technical business role (pension actuarial consulting) for 8 years and longing for a creative outlet. After a failed side business, I realized it’s crucial to prototype your idea/product, test it in real world and build an audience before diving in!

Anyway, I feel so inspired by some comments here to start a blog-based community for women in science and tech (for a variety of topics including getting in and out of a career in STEM). Who else in interested? Email me at elise.rong at hotmail and we’ll see what we can do!

Danielle

May 20, 2017 12:23 pm

I’ve been contemplating this topic in my own life (career choice at the moment is burning me out). Not sure what my next step will be, I am more of the creative type, but I like reading the post and comments.

This is such a huge topic yet I never hear anyone talk about it whether they have done it or not (whether it was intentional or what). There could be lots of reasons for a career change, but I’m sure it happens.

Lex

May 20, 2017 5:26 am

I left my dream job as director of an arts center after 7 years to work for city government. I loved my job so much but as my life changed, we started a family and put roots down in San Francisco I began to realize there were parts of my job I loved that were not exclusive to the arts. When the job opportunity came up I was interested but also afraid of such a big change. A close friend advised me to explore it, even though things were going great. She said I didn’t want to wake up three months later and wonder “what if” … and she was right. Two years later I’m so happy I followed my instincts (and the advice of a good friend).

Emma

May 19, 2017 10:29 pm

I feel like you are speaking to me! Yesterday I spent all day at work looking at teaching programs after realizing how excited I got at the prospect of coming in to a friends day care to have a “french culture class”. I miss living in France, speaking French, and I love how children exude joy, delight and whimsy in learning new things. The joy of being in HR is sometimes hard to find (for me, at least) so maybe instead of managing workers I can spread my love of French to children!

Maggie

May 19, 2017 10:14 pm

It is uncanny of the timing of this post and fascinating everyone mentioning that- thank you Jo. The comments, successes and stories of hope everyone is bravely sharing, has inspired me to DO THIS- something. I have been feeling stuck for two years now. I graduated with a BA in Art History during the financial crisis and none of my attempts to break into the art world in NY panned out. I ended up taking an EA role at a great company, getting comfortable, moving to Asia, traveling the world, but always coming back to the EA role because it was what my work experience qualified me for. Now i have practically 10 years of being an EA on paper and I am so unfilled. I clock in and out. Since marrying my husband who looves his job and deeply knows his calling and having a baby girl , I am even more driven to change careers. I am deeply creative and i know I want to make something or be part of something meaningful in the hours i spend away from my growing daughter but i havent found that vocation calling- besides wanting to be a mother. I have wanted to be a mom my whole life, and now that i am, i know even more i have to show her you can do something you love for work. I just wish i knew what my job was, id love to just be able to be her mom.

Allison

Reply to Maggie

May 20, 2017 6:53 am

I recently watched a talk that suggested asking yourself what you can do for work that is valuable (rather than what you love or will make a lot of money)… maybe that is an easier question to answer? The idea being that fulfillment will come from knowing your work is valuable.

Lindsey Petersen

May 19, 2017 8:37 pm

At 30 I decided to go back to nursing school (already having two previous degrees) and now I’m almost done! It felt very crazy at the time and I am legit in classes with 20 year olds but I think I’m on track for a job and lifestyle I’ll really enjoy.

Adrien

May 19, 2017 8:34 pm

When I saw this post I audibly said “oh thank god!”. This is so timely for me – I’ve been considering a career change and my partner is also looking for new work. I haven’t been doubting that I need to do it, but I have been dithering in the details of how to approach things and catching myself on looking for a playbook of how this all works instead of just diving in. Thank you Cup of Jo for this little push. Its so great to see all the comments here knowing that so many others are going through the same thing.

Eva

May 19, 2017 5:34 pm

Last year I changed careers. From a stationery designer and letterpress printer to a blogger (writer, photographer, stylist). Stationery felt too limiting to me creatively and I wanted to express myself and my personality in so many more ways than just a print on a piece of paper or someone’s wedding invitation. I had been thinking about the change for years, but it took me a while to take the leap despite no one but myself standing in my way. I have not looked back once on that decision and only wish I had made the change sooner! It’s never too late to listen to yourself. I still sell my greeting cards on Etsy, but I’m not longer actively managing or building new inventory, and I use all the design skills I learned and apply them to my new work.

One thing would be helpful to share would be to talk a little more about the process of making the change – i.e. how to talk to loved ones or partners about your new goals, how to trust yourself, how to make a plan for the switch, etc. A lot of people fear these situations because they can’t breakdown how they’ll actually go about doing it – but then again, ignorance can also be bliss at the start of a new endeavor!

http://www.shessobright.com

Lauren E.

May 19, 2017 1:38 pm

I recently decided to take my hobby of “writing stories” and put some effort behind it and hopefully get a romance novel published. I realized my own insecurities and doubts were holding me back so I sent my first manuscript to a friend and she wrote back gushing – it gave me all the confidence in the world. When I sat back at my current job and realized how much I hated it and how much I’d rather be writing, I had to go for it. Here’s hoping.

Eva

Reply to Lauren E.

May 19, 2017 5:26 pm

Good luck Lauren! Nora is my fav! ;)

Kim Gray

May 19, 2017 1:28 pm

I currently work in property management but have always dreamed of working as an interior designer. I studied Communications for four years at University and so wish I had delved into the design world head on. Now, recently married, and beginning the house hunt, it feels like it would be irresponsible to make a career change. I truly want to find a job that allows for more creative fulfillment, so I hope I’ll have the guts to just make the leap one day! I’m confident I have the talent, and I’m always complimented on my eye for desin – I just need to figure out all the little steps in between now and that dream…

May 19, 2017 12:51 pm

Is it a thing to just cold call people in a profession you are interested in, and ask them if they’ll talk to you about it?

Lauren E.

Reply to MK

May 19, 2017 1:30 pm

I’m sure it depends on the profession, but I have a friend who works in academia but has always wanted to be a comedy writer. So she reached out to every female staff writer and all the late night comedy shows, and asked them if they’d be interested in mentoring her. Some ignored her completely, some politely declined, and some told her to send them her stuff. You never know!

Gen

Reply to MK

May 19, 2017 4:36 pm

It’s a thing! It’s called an “informational interview.”

Dani

May 19, 2017 12:38 pm

Perfect timing! I’m in the process of pursuing a different career path myself and even though it’s not such a big leap from what I’m currently doing, I’ll still be giving up a few things like a regular salary, prime business location and the (daily) company of my awesome office friends. I’ve already tendered my resignation, but I found myself tempted to take it back so many times this week. Ultimately, I know that I should do it; this article confirmed it. Loved every piece of advice. Bookmarking this as a reminder as I step closer to that new chapter of my life!

Sophia

May 19, 2017 11:56 am

This resonates with what I’m going through right now. I’m doing admin/marketing/project management in a telecommunications organization that isn’t doing too well right so I’m contemplating switching gears to something else–marketing in tech, culinary school, or some kind of career that will bring more satisfaction and challenge me. The whole process has been difficult, and it’s so helpful to read that I’m not alone.

Melody

Reply to Sophia

September 21, 2017 2:01 pm

Sophia, I’m in your shoes too. I do admin/marketing/project management as well, and I’ve found it to be a good starting place, but I’m so ready to move on! It can be a tough process, but there’s something out there for you!

Amy

May 19, 2017 10:16 am

This article almost made me cry (though that could be because I’m 9 months pregnant). Thank you for sharing this with us, it was just the encouragement I needed to keep going. I just finished my first semester of grad school while pregnant and working a 40 hour a week job with an international NGO. I have been exhausted, but as soon as I found out I was pregnant I knew I needed to finally do what I had always told myself to do: go to grad school and get a job I actually love. So I’m doing it. I need my daughter to see that hard work pays off and working a job you’re passionate about isn’t just a pipe dream, it’s something to pursue.

Valerie

Reply to Amy

May 19, 2017 1:00 pm

I love that Amy! You sound like a very strong woman – keep going!

Melissa W.

Reply to Amy

May 19, 2017 1:03 pm

WOW! Go get em, Amy!!!!

Maggie

Reply to Amy

May 19, 2017 10:39 pm

so incredible Amy! I feel the same why now having a baby girl, although i didnt start grad school yet. good for you! how did you know what you wanted to do?

Maria

Reply to Amy

May 22, 2017 7:41 am

That is amazing and very inspiring! I’m in grad school now and we’re also trying to start a family (I’m 34), so it’s awesome to hear about other women taking the same path.

Gretchen

May 19, 2017 10:12 am

I was an attorney in the HR/EEO field for years and hated it. I am now a school librarian and I not only love my work, I love my life.

Emma

Reply to Gretchen

May 19, 2017 1:17 pm

Hi Gretchen! I am interested in becoming a school librarian and have some questions. Did you have to get a masters in library science? I’d love to hear how you got the job!

Gretchen

May 19, 2017 10:11 am

I was an attorney in the HR/EEO field for several years and hated it. I became a school librarian and I love not only my job now, but my life as well.

Kayla AKA Kilo Bravo

May 19, 2017 9:58 am

This is soooo timely for both my husband and myself. My husband quit his job as a director in sales about 6 months ago to try something on his own. He wasn’t sure what but I (taps self on back) was very supportive and we luckily had a nest egg to lean on for a while. He started one company from scratch in what he felt he should do – going from credit card processing to expense management consulting – but had a pet project idea “Sales in Cinema” (basically video essays analyzing sales tactics). He has made two youtube videos that have already had great success, and he has decided to pivot again and try his hand at branding himself as a sales training consultant, something he feels much more passionate about. Meanwhile, after 12 years in tax, I find myself trying to figure out if I can switch to academia…I’m not sure I’ll make the move just yet (I think we need one successful career change at a time in our household!) but it’s cathartic to think about it and do my due diligence.

Abby

May 19, 2017 9:28 am

This is exactly what I needed! After 7 years of teaching, I’ve taken the plunge and decided to stay at home with my baby daughter next year and work on my fiction writing while she’s in daycare two days a week. I’ve written the entire time I’ve been teaching (and finished a novel that’s on submission!), but I never felt like I had enough time to really focus on writing the way I wanted to. Add a new baby, and the idea of having time to write is laughable. It was really scary to give notice at my school, and I love it there, but I realized I’d always wonder what could have been if I didn’t take this opportunity to focus on my daughter and my writing. Thank you for the timely and encouraging post!

Jami

May 19, 2017 9:28 am

The number of times it feels like COJ is reading my mind…y’all are too good! :)

Mary

May 19, 2017 9:09 am

After 30 years in administration, I went back to school and got an MS in Nutrition and Integrative Health. I wasn’t able to complete the hours to become licensed–an internship + full-time job was too much. It didn’t bother me because I discovered that I really don’t like working one-on-one with clients. Just two weeks ago my company asked who would want to be a part-time health representative to develop and organize wellness programs. I was able to jump on the opportunity and I have a network of wellness practitioners to reach out to. It may take time for all the pieces to fall into place.

Cait

Reply to Mary

May 21, 2017 9:18 pm

That is so neat! I hope it works out well for you.

Mouse

May 19, 2017 9:01 am

I’ve been thinking lately about the difference between a job and a profession, or vocation. Perhaps it would be helpful to think about that difference when contemplating a change? I don’t find the language of “following your dream” realistic or particularly inspiring, although I suppose many people would look at what I did for years (I was an opera/classical singer) and think that that was what I was doing. It didn’t seem that way to me–I worked insanely hard to be a working, successful musician which to me was/is a PROFESSION. I wanted to go deep and support myself doing it, which I did. I never made a huge amount of money but I did what I wanted to artistically and professionally.

Now in my late 50s, I wonder if I’d rather have a JOB–something that allows me to take care of my garden, my friends, family, house, cat. It’s an interesting difference, and backwards to what many of you are talking about doing.

Kari T

Reply to Mouse

July 19, 2017 11:58 am

I hear you!! I am a geologist right now (12 years now, what?!) and feel I’ve peeked at the level of responsibility I’m willing to take on. Filling out a 5 year goal was so difficult for me, I don’t want a promotion, I’d almost prefer a demotion honestly. The idea of doing my JOB and then just being done with it for the day is what appeals to me the most. I do not want to be answering emails on the weekend or working late during the week….maybe I’m just lazy!

Mrun

May 19, 2017 8:55 am

I think about this so much. I am a software engineer, working in IT and IT has been unsteady for a few years in India. It depends a lot on world and American politics, since most of the IT service industry depends on outsourcing; which is dying slowly.
So I want to be prepared with an alternate career. The problem is, I am interested in a LOT of things, passionately even. But I never seem to rest on one thing to make sense as a job.
A well written and researched article, I enjoyed it very much!

Emily

May 19, 2017 8:38 am

This is a wonderful post. I’ve been in the corporate accounting world for almost 6 years now (how time flies!) and have been debating for at least 3 years whether to change career paths. Part of it was driven by my jobs at the time, but I truly don’t think I love accounting. My true passion lies in corporate environmental sustainability. I’ve always felt strongly about treating the Earth as best we can so we can sustain its beauty and leave it to inspire for countless generations to come. It makes me sad to see so much waste in the corporate world driven by profit. I would love to one day get involved in operational implementation of sustainable activities, or something along those lines. There is also a new masters program offered by a school in my area which gives the graduate a “Masters in Business Sustainability” and I’ve been toying with the thought of applying for 2 years now. Every year the deadline comes and goes and I can’t make the plunge, but I think in a year or two I’ll just apply to see if I get accepted and go from there. The program is online over only a year so it doesn’t put me back too far and I can keep working while I take my courses!

Polly

May 19, 2017 8:20 am

I loved this post! I massively believe in people having totally different careers in their lifetime. My mum was a cook for 13 years, then a stay-at-home Mum, now a teaching assistant. My dad worked for years at a graphic design firm, and then retrained to work in operating theatres in a hospital in his early forties. They both love their jobs.

I am feeling restless with what I am doing at the moment and listened to a podcast called ‘Unstuck’ by The Hidden Brain yesterday which talked about people stressing about knowing ‘THE’ right choice to make in life. Instead it suggests trying to realise that we do all have multiple options and there is not necessarily one right one. Instead of trying to make huge life choices and getting them right the first time, we need to prototype our choices. Not sure if I explained it very well but it was a REALLY good podcast!

Also doing the 16 personalities test (mine was SPOT on) and then reading the Career section helped me learn a couple of things about myself and what might make me happy.

Maria

May 19, 2017 7:17 am

I just went back to school to become a librarian after six years in public media. Not a huge left turn, but going from a good salary and lots of responsibility at work to having part time jobs and internships at age 34 has been an adjustment. I’m so glad I made the leap, and as stated in the article, having the work ethic and experience of a 30-something has helped me immensely!

Yolene

May 19, 2017 6:41 am

Thanks for sharing this post that rings so true to me! After trying my hands at a photography business for the past 6 years or so, I realised I was losing my passion for the photography I love, the act of just grabbing my camera for personal projects or some that were closer to my heart. I was still putting a lot of care in the work I was doing (for very happy clients) but there was something missing, and it was starting to affect my mental health. I decided to put an end to the business itself and it felt like heartbreak. On those sad days I had, my husband told me something that really helped: ” you may have broken up with this career, but it doesn’t mean you can’t remain good friends!”. This was I needed to hear.
Now, I work for a company we created together last year (data analysis, so really different from that creative world I was working in but something I enjoy working at) some of the days and still work on personal photo projects (without the business side of it), my blog etc. on the other days.
I know it’s not easy for everybody to make those decisions but in my case, it was essential.

Alexandra Donnelly

May 19, 2017 6:11 am

It’s amazing how Cup of Jo posts seem to resonate with so many people who identify with the topic at that exact moment in their lives! For me, I’m currently work for a bank where I spend half the day dreaming of becoming a freelance writer. Being Irish I feel like I am a natural story teller and want to really stretch these creative legs I’ve never allowed myself to use. I just have no idea how to do it!! Looking forward to the rest of this series to help give me the courage to make the move in to a whole new chapter :)

Donna

Reply to Alexandra Donnelly

May 20, 2017 6:42 pm

Start a blog. Moonlight for a bit pitching articles for community blogs or publications in your area. Surely your bank has internal employee communications you could assist in writing or editing which you could use to build up your portfolio/clips?

Lucy

May 19, 2017 4:07 am

Oh my god, thank you for posting this, it’s just what I needed to read.

I have been working in advertising for the past 4 and a half years, but I’m not fulfilled. For the past couple of months I’ve been thinking about going back to uni to study marine biology, a path so different to what I ever saw myself doing. But the thought of it makes me feel so passionate, and passion is something I have long lost in my current career.

I think I’m going to do it.

Nina

May 19, 2017 3:57 am

Until very recently, I worked as a lawyer and, while I received good feedback (including from Judges) about my work, I did not enjoy my work (90% of the time). I did not look forward to going to work and felt very stressed almost all the time. So, I decided to apply for a policy role in a government department and everything fell into place really quickly. I have been in my new role for a month. I had to relocate and move away from family but I feel like I am doing what I always wanted to do. It’s not perfect – I am still navigating my way through forming bonds with new workmates – but I feel happier and excited about my work. I can use my existing skills in a big picture role.

Francesca

May 19, 2017 3:48 am

I think it is important to recognize signs.
I am currently completing my PhD in law and waiting for the results of my bar exam. Meanwhile, I am doing more and more hours of yoga, both as a student and as a teacher. In order to become a yoga teacher, I have to do a two-year course with several trips abroad: this means a lot of efforts and sacrifices. But I really want it.
Since I chose the yoga route, I am receiving a lot of opportunities from the law sector. I think it is a test: life is testing me, in order to see if I am strong enough to pursue my passion. You have to recognize the signs.

May 19, 2017 3:45 am

THIS IS SO INSPIRING! I fell into my career because I was too ill to go to university at the time. I completed a workplace apprenticeship and gained the skills to get me a position I really love. It’s been five years of hard work, but I love my career.

However, I don’t see myself doing this forever. Whilst I’m not sure what I will be doing, I’m pretty sure it’s not this…

Lo
http://www.themixtures.com

Danielle

May 19, 2017 3:42 am

I was really glad to see this post. I’m currently in the midst of trying to make a career change while not knowing what exactly my next step should be. I’m 28 and have my masters degree in social work. About 3 years ago I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. The combination of dealing with my diagnosis and the job I was in lead to burnout. As much as I love helping people I’ve since realized that I need to learn how to care for myself first. So as much as I’ve struggled to keep up, about 6 months ago I quit my job and relocated. I’m now considering a variety of jobs in hopes that I’ll find a new and fulfilling path. This post is inspiring and helpful in my journey. Thank you for sharing.

Katie

May 19, 2017 2:01 am

What a thought provoking article – thank you Megan, and kudos.

Along similar lines (and also jumping on the back of some of your fabulous recent posts putting a question out to the CoJ community like “how old are you?”)…I would LOVE to know how much money people are currently making in their careers. I know it’s impolite and we aren’t supposed to ask (or care?) in “real life,” but it’s absolutely critical that women understand their worth in the workplace…..and a lot of that comes down to knowing what peers are making.

Plus, if we are talking about wanting to change occupations, compensation can be a real factor. Yes, money is not everything. But do you like to travel? Would you like to live in a desirable city or part of town? Plan on having children? All of these things are much more feasible with a certain amount of $$$.

I’d be so interested to know what salaries we are all earning and I wonder if others might feel the same interest, and be open to sharing. Thanks!

Reply to Katie

May 19, 2017 12:05 pm

Ask a Manager has 2 posts about this! There are hundreds if not thousands of responses in every possible job description you can imagine.

Joanna Goddard

Admin

Reply to Katie

May 19, 2017 12:35 pm

for sure!!! love this idea, and we’ve been working on something very similar. please stay tuned!

Greta

May 19, 2017 1:31 am

I wake up from yet another rotten night of anxiety and restlessness caused by the fact that I feel misplaced and unfulfilled in my very prestigious highly paying job as a lawyer and I see this post!!! I take it as a sign that the career change I need may be in the cards for me!!! I have been contemplating a change for more than five years now but I’m too scared, too uncertain, too insecure to take steps in that direction. But most of all, I have no role models, no one who I could go to for advice on the practical issues. This post is gold for me, it puts into concrete suggestions things that I have intuitively known but for some reason was unable to bring out to conscious level – find a way to get to know the field you are interested in, take classes, mingle with people from the world you are looking to jump in, intern. Probably the most important take away from this eye-opening, hope-spreading post is to just put one foot in front of the other in the new direction. I don’t need to have all the answers when I start and I don’t have to be fixated on a particular career path before I start. I must make those little steps one foot at a time and hopefully the farther I get the clearer things will become. Thank you, Joanna and co! You’ve made my day!

jess

Reply to Greta

May 20, 2017 7:19 pm

I feel exactly the same. I don’t have any solid mentors and I don’t really know to go about finding one. How do you approach someone and ask them to be your mentor? I would be very interested in Cup of Jo doing a post on finding a career mentor. A mentor can be a huge source of support!

Marie Lamensch

May 19, 2017 1:02 am

My brother quit the fancy world of management and financial consulting to become…a baker! At 29, his is now just starting baking school. It’s a passion he developped years ago and basically taught himself. I can’t tell you how proud of him I am considering how drastic this career change is. But he is happier baking bread for people then taking care of the portofolios of rich people who are never happy about their 3 house or their first boat

Evel

May 19, 2017 12:19 am

I am currently on my 35th year in the tourism industry – started to be a frontliner assigned at the airport, then transferred to marketing & sales and now in the corporate planning department. While employed in the same company, i was able to teach college part time every saturday, and occasionally, a wedding planner.
I want further studies and looking forward to be a fashion consultant, too.
But i cannot change career as it is my bread and butter, plus I get to travel abroad for free.

Lauren

May 18, 2017 11:19 pm

I am a school psychologist, and will be retiring in a couple of years. I need to keep working after that, and want to keep working, so I’ve been exploring different options. I very seriously considered nursing as I like helping others, want a fast-paced job, and want to be able finish a shift and not have ongoing work to complete later. I like that you can work three 12-hour shifts a week, and make decent money. There seems to be flexibility—you could work as a traveling nurse, even in your home town. However, I just don’t have the energy to go to school full-time and work a stressful full-time job, so my search continues.

I recently read a book, So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love, that refutes the-do-what-you-love-for-work premise. He talks about the importance of ‘career capital’ so that you gain more control over you career which is one of the keys of being happy at work.

Also, I came across this career website where people anonymously share what they do, what part of the country they live in, and their salaries, which is rather eye-opening: http://www.askamanager.org/2017/01/how-much-money-do-you-make-2.html

Based on one of my dear friend’s careers, I hope that some of you consider engineering and other STEM careers. My friend has had a very rewarding career as an engineer and because her company is so large, she has held different positions which has kept things interesting.

Happy soul searching and job hunting everyone!

grace

Reply to Lauren

May 19, 2017 4:15 am

I saw that book recently at the library but didn’t get it. Now I think I will! Thanks for the recommendation! And best of luck. I’m also a fan of Ask a Manager so I’ll definitely get sucked into that post and many more over there…

Kate

May 18, 2017 10:49 pm

After a 15 year career as an Occupational Therapist which I loved I took 8 years out to focus on being a stay at home Mum to my three kids. I have loved having this time with them but it’s time to re establish myself in some way outside of my role as a Mum. I have started a small online business selling Vintage interior pieces. This is totally out of my comfort zone professionally but somehow feels like the most authentic thing I’ve ever done other than being a Mum. It still remains to be seen for me if my passion will pay any bills (!) or lead me where I want to go but it felt essential to try.

Sierra

May 18, 2017 10:19 pm

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as well.
I’m 39 with 2 little kids and have been an accountant for 20 years (!!!). I still enjoy some parts of it, but my company has gotten so big my job feels pointless and I’m ready for a change.

I’m obsessed with interiors, my ultimate dream would be to interior decorating, own a homewares store or even renovate houses. Every night I’m on Pinterest, going through interior blogs etc! BUT, a couple of years ago I enrolled in a course in interior decorating, it started off with colour theory and the first month involved writing about colour theory and also painting a million little paint swatches in varying shades. I found this sooo boring and dropped out. Which made me think obviously I didn’t want it badly enough. I would much rather learn on the job, or just by studying what I think works in other people’s projects.
Now I don’t know, does this mean it is not the path for me, or is there another way to get there…?

Jenny

May 18, 2017 10:00 pm

This is so interesting! My experience is a bit different, as I’ve always seen my career path as more fluid (It’s also important to note that I do not have a family to support at this time, so I feel less financial pressure). I was an elementary school teacher for several years, which I loved and found to feel natural and meaningful. I worked on a masters in school and mental health counseling while I worked (some larger colleges have supportive, smaller weekend programs geared towards adult learners!) and I now work as a counselor for children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD. I imagine that this too will shift as I gain more knowledge and experience! Above all else, I hope to always work with fresh eyes and a sense of gratitude for the people I’m hoping to help.

A note to those making a big switch:

Value the knowledge and experiences you have gained thus far, and appreciate the way that these contribute to your understanding of yourself and your world. Starting in a new field requires patience, resilience, and an ability to tolerate uncertainty. (Parents- what important traits to model for your children!) If you feel passionate about what you’re doing, and feel that you’re somehow making a difference that matters to you, the work is inherently important. If not you, who??

Michelle A

May 18, 2017 9:52 pm

Thank you so much for this post!

Emily

May 18, 2017 9:51 pm

This is so fascinating! I love my chosen career and I’ve followed my passion to it, so I expect to be in the field for my working life– but I do intend to go back to do a graduate degree in a few years, and to work up in the field after. My parents went through a few different careers when they were young before finally settling into being a lawyer and professor, so I definitely grew up knowing that careers can be malleable.

Naomi Jacb

May 18, 2017 9:17 pm

My husband and I traded successful careers in NYC to start a business in Kerala, India! We’ve done a 180 from what our lives used to be like and then some… We now own a gym unlike any other in the region – we have coed classes, a fun, intense program and an amazing group of people – and a health food cafe. We push the boundaries of what is considered normal and even ( especially) challenge existing flawed ideas about health and wellness. Particularly when it comes to women. I would never in a million years have thought of doing this. Before moving, my husband was a Management consultant and I was an interior designer. Those skills came in handy for both of us in our reinvention!

http://www.facebook.com/kromecalicut/
http://www.instagram.com/kromecalicut/

Amanda

May 18, 2017 9:14 pm

Loved this post but I kept reading hoping to find just one about a woman that went from a “paying” career to a career solely at home raising children. All mothers are raising their children but the choice to go from working outside the home to a “stay at home mom” is an interesting career change as well.

Joanna Goddard

Admin

Reply to Amanda

May 18, 2017 9:15 pm

we have a larger post coming up on JUST that topic! stay-at-home moms to the workforce, and vice versa. please stay tuned! :)

Molly

Reply to Amanda

May 19, 2017 8:12 am

YES!

Liz C

Reply to Amanda

May 19, 2017 2:54 pm

Yes, please! I’ve been at stay at home mom for almost a year to my two children. So many emotions go into ‘giving up’ a career for your children, but it’s not permanent, and the days are precious. So interested to learn more about fellow moms in this scenario!

Malia

Reply to Amanda

May 19, 2017 11:38 pm

Yes, this! I gave up an unfulfilling career (job?) in administration to be a stay-at-home mom and it’s time to get back to work doing something new. My problem now is figuring out which path to try out–there are too many options!

May 18, 2017 9:11 pm

I find myself thinking about making a career move when I feel like my manager doesn’t have my back or when there are a lot of changes happening in the organization that disrupts the culture. Of course there are plenty of other reasons why, but I feel more compelled to make the change when I feel like I’m not thriving in my current job.

Jessica Payne

May 18, 2017 8:38 pm

I just barely began the transition from working in politics to becoming a doctor. A few people say I’m too old, I’m thirty next month and it will take me three years before I can start, but I haven’t felt more at peace about something in a long time. I also believe we can have two simultaneous careers. I want to be a surgeon but I can also work on my writing and cooking book at the same time. Getting away from black and white thinking has been good thing for me.

Reply to Jessica Payne

May 19, 2017 3:23 am

The oldest women in my med school class started at 40, and she graduated top of class. Ignore the nay-Sayers- you can do this! We need more awesome lady surgeons around.
The road is long and hard, but it’s so worth it.

Jessica Payne

May 18, 2017 8:27 pm

I just barely began the transition from working in politics to becoming a doctor. A few people say I’m too old, I’m thirty next month and it will take me three years before I can start, but I haven’t felt more at piece about something in a long time. I also believe we can have two simultaneous careers. I want to be a surgeon but I can also work on my writing and cooking book at the same time. Getting away from black and white thinking has been good thing for me. :)

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