decision making...career changes

LegacyUser

just putting it out there....does anyone have trouble make decisions? I would like to make a career change but dont think I can actually make the leap in case it doesnt work for me.....I am in a very well respected professional job which I know would attract many questions and looks of "are you mad??" if I do change career paths....I have spent the past year miserable swinging to and fro on this decision and still cant seem to make any decisions.......does anyone have any experience of leaving a very safe and secure situation to change pathways into a complete unknown future??
thanks it would take me all day to type if I was to go into depth on my situation but I guess happiness and peace of mind is more important but am I right to make my job/career my future instead of concentrating on marriage/hobbies/family/friends??

AngryBadger

OP your post is a bit too vague for anyone to be able to offer much in the way of constructive advice. Some more specifics would be helpful.

In general though, I would ask, what's the point of being in a certain job if you're completely miserable?

crazzzzy

do u knw what profession ud like to work at if u do change? would u need to go to college r could u start lookin for job?

would u have to take pay cut? is there many jobs advertised for the profession u interested in?


its difficult to give advice as you havnt given much info.

marzic

would it be possible for you to take career break from where you are? would you be able to work at your current profession in a different environment/ setting? may i suggest you give a few details, as it is often hard to give generic advise

MagicMarker

All i can say is in todays climate, you're unlikely to be able to start a new job in a completely new field, as most employers will want someone with experience, and the ones who don't mind experience levels will slap on the dreaded ''over qualified'' label!

I was applying to jobs left right and centre and the only responses i got were for the ones i had experience in.

I got offered a job today!!!

But there's no harm in your applying though, just don't do anything rash! Be glad you have a job!!

Peewee_lane

OP You are mad changing jobs unless you have a better job to go to. I left my job in August, I presumed I could get a job easily. I had to sign on last month, money got that bad. Im currently temping and considering taking a retail position, as long as it is full time, and they pay me a decent wage.

Peewee_lane

Magic Marker, congrats on getting the job offer.

mikemac

MagicMarker wrote: »

I got offered a job today!!!

Congrats, of course you won't be using boards in work in your new job!

OP, go for what you want but I would strongly advise that you have a job lined up before you jump from your current position.
Best of luck

little lady

Hi,

I changed careers about a year and a half ago, went from IT to Accounts, went back to college for two years at night, started an Accounts job about 4 months after starting the college course, no experience.

I finished the course in May and I'm still in the same job and I love it, it was the best move I ever made.

The only draw back was that I had to take a pay cut as obviously I'd no experience, but I knew that would happen so it wasn't to bad.

Todays climate is different but you could always star a couse in the direction you want to head but stay in your current job until things improve, and you can still look for new jobs while in your current position.

homerun_homer

I am in a similar boat to you OP except I want to to change job/career and make a move to Dublin at the same time. In this climate it's tough so hang in there until you find something, anything that you think will make you feel better. Leaving without another job is a bit scary in these times which is why I haven't just moved straight up.
I've been applying to jobs, some I hear back about and many I don't. Went for an interview last Thursday and havent heard anything back. It went well but the crowd were only looking for Christmas Temps as it turned out and the jobs will be gone in the new year. Considering I was just getting my head around taking a pay cut to move to Dublin, this was a kick in the teeth. The agency should have known and told me this and warned me since I had far to travel.
Good luck in finding what you are looking for. I hope it doesn't take too long.

LegacyUser

apologies for being so vague....I shall fill ye in a little....I am a qualified physiotherapist (9 years ago) but really want to be a doctor and want to head back to college....I am getting on now and need to make my decisions.....do I stick to a pretty unrewarding job (for me that is) or do I change career path and go back to college for 5 years and work another 3 or 4 to get to the wages I earn now or do I stick where I am in a career that doesnt satisfy me and try to make the best of other things in life......I am just so confused and kind of annoyed that I am only starting to question things now....hope that clears things up a little and thanks for all the responses....its nice to know that other people have the same troubles (tho they are only little ones all things considered!)

LegacyUser

I know someone who left phsio in year 3 to do medicine and as far as i know they didnt have to do year one med. might be worthwhile looking into

lilly03

Hiya,

This is a bit mad but Im in exactly the same situation . . also a physio, graduated bout 11 yrs ago and also thinkin of goin back to do med. Have been driving myself and my long-suffering family mad with the 'will I, wont I' see-sawing. Its really hard to decide isnt it. I think I'll apply, do the GAMSAT and see what happens.
Best of luck

Firetrap

Thanks for filling us in with more detail. I think you should go for it. The way I see it, we spend enough of our lives in our jobs that if we can do something that we like or at least don't hate, that's a bonus. I know people who have changed careers and/or gone back to college full time and they're all the happier for it.

I'm speaking as a complete novice here but medicine strikes me as a profession that's recession proof. You've also said you're unhappy in your current job. You've got nothing to lose by jacking it in and going to study something that you believe you're genuinely interested in. Don't worry about what other people think - it's your life. I assume as well that if you realise down the road that medicine doesn't suit you, you can always go back to being a physio.

As an aside, I don't see how your going back to college has to mean compromising marriage/hobbies/family/friends. It might mean some sacrifices but I don't see how they're mutually exclusive.