For those of you who have successfully changed careers how do you do it?

[Initech]

I'm just wondering because I am not having a good time at my job right now and I'm looking for any way out I possibly can. If I quit I'm screwed financially but if I go back to school I might be better off for it. I've been applying to and looking at trade schools and I'm hoping that's what will do it for me.

[Betty88]

1. Went back to school

I was working as a cable TV tech. for Time Warner for about 5 years. One day while hanging sideways off a telephone in an icy rain I said to myself "I just can't be doing this when I'm 40" I was 35 at the time. So I talked it over with my partner and decided to take a big risk. I made a plan to quit work and go back to school, gave myself a year to figure out how to do it. Almost a year to the day I left my job and started at Chubb in the networking program. I figured I could not be out of work for years so I picked a accelerated program and studied till I puked from the stress. I got real lucky and one month after I graduated I got a job with AT&T. I have been there for 11 years now.

Good luck

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

2. Went back to school -- a couple of times.

In both cases it meant working and going to school at the same time, which was kind of tough, but many schools have night and on-line programs to help this. You might be able to stay in your current job while getting yourself trained for something else.

[raccoon]

3. Just check out the job market for whatever it is you're going into before

spending a lot of time, money and effort on it.

Don't take the school's word for it. You're asking the barber if you need a haircut.

[mdmc]

4. I don't know if I did so 'successfully'

but I transitioned from retail management to human services. I simply left the high paying retail job and accepted a low paying job in human services.

[Wapsie B]

5. I've considered a switch as well. However what happens if someone is working in a specialized

technical job already and desires to move into a more artsy, creative line of work? Many people go back to school to pick up some sort of technical skill they can use in the job market. But I don't want another technical skill. I have no desire to be a nurse, accountant, or engineer for example. There is no college path for someone like me.

[kwassa]

6. Night school.

but as other have said, really research and check out the employment opportunities in the area you would be getting trained in, and the future career path, and don't leave your old job until you find your new one.

I did a fulltime load at night and on weekends while working 40 hours a week. It was a huge challenge, but I did it. It proved to me what I was capable of.

[old mark]

7. I went back to college in my 40's, changed direction completely.

I was in drafting and design of factories, then there were no more factories being designed. I went for Social Work, got lots of student loans and lived off them, working when necessary in social fields for experience. Got some interesting jobs out of it all, with real benefits and savings and investment opportunities that allowed me to retire at 59.

CAUTION: make sure that you really want to do what you THINK you want to do. An old work mate spent years getting a teaching certificate only to find out that he really hated it...
Good luck.

m

[mike_c]

8. ten years of college and grad school...

...and I'd do it again in a skinny minute. Best life decision I ever made, despite the considerable financial consequences.