Elistan

I'm not Vintage, but I thought it would be best to get some Vintage thoughts on this, from people who've probably gone through it.

As the title states, how do you know when it's time to change careers? Not just change departments within the company, or change to an new company. But your actual career.

I'm feeling burned out doing my Windows server admin job, but I can't tell if its simply the current position I'm in or if it's an overall dissatisfaction with doing IT support in general.

I have plenty of other interests, but they typically COST money - it's not like I can make a living being a race car driver.

So the discussion is - did you ever make a wholesale career change in your life? How did you decide to do that, what steps did you take to ensure some income during the process, and did it work out for you in the long run?

MsPerky

Rob (ralper) has posted some about his major career change, so maybe he'll respond to this request. I'm sure there are others.

NNY S2k

Whatever you decide just try and do something you enjoy so you don't dread going to work to earn the $

boltonblue

well, if you thinking about making a change think of it this way. the sooner you do it, the longer you have to enjoy the change.

and of course being contrarian with myself, take a look at the economy at the moment.
it might be worth sitting tight for a little while.

Filthy Beast

I personally have never done this, but i know many that have. Some made it
some did not. There's some questions you have to ask yourself.

Im i still young enough to make a difference ? Do i have the time.

Will i have to be totaly retrained ? Or do i have some skills that i can take with me.

Economic's, Will i make as much ? Will i have to start at the bottm ? How long will
it take me to get back to the scale i was making or greater.

Will i like this ? Sounds good at first, but i dunno now.

Commute, thats always a pia.

Job security, is this field stable ? How many are going to be ahead of you for promotion.

There's lots more, main key thing here is to think it out. Good luck if you do.

Bill

Edit...I just re read your post......if you absolutely dread going to work everyday
its time for a change.

DrCloud

It seems to me that part of knowing when to change careers is to have a reasonably good idea of what "change careers" means.

I've made what I'd call significant course corrections in my career path (relative to the narrow scope of that path in general), and those were made by combining prior intent with serendipity.

On the other hand, going off in a completely new direction (which would implicitly involve new education/training and possibly an entry-level-like apprenticeship) ought to be planned carefully, particularly to deal with transition cash-flow issues.

So, if you're a Windows systems administrator, becoming a Unix SA could be a minor correction; becoming a hardware jockey could be a major correction; and becoming an insurance salesman would be a real, complete change. It all depends on motivation and current dissatisfaction levels. HPH

tof

Have you given much thought about what aspects of your current job are causing your dissatisfaction? What things do you have to deal with throughout your workday that have really gotten old? Do you enjoy troubleshooting or is it just a pain in the butt? Do you like the support processes where you interact with users? How about your upstream support resources?

Once you have made a list of the things you like and the things you hate about your current job you can look at other jobs (in IT or elsewhere) that involve more of what you enjoy about your current job and less of what bugs the sh*t out of you.

And put it all on paper. Its amazing how much writing it all down will help clarify and focus your thinking.

MsPerky

I definitely agree with writing your thoughts down. It helps to focus. Have a plus and minus column for your current job. Compare the two once you've listed them and weigh them carefully. Then see if you still want to change. As stated above, it would be much easier to change to a different area of IT than something entirely different. Good luck!

RedY2KS2k

I did it 10 years ago. I worked for a tool company for 17 years. Near the end of that time, they moved the production from Ohio to Mexico. When their products were made by union (not UAW wages, but middle-class) labor in Ohio, they paid me a decent wage to repair the product. Over the next few years, it became apparent that I would no longer be able to maintain my standard of living repairing their tools, so I quit and went back to college.

Got my degree and work in IT now. For once I timed something right: I graduated in 9/1998 when work on Y2K issues was at a frenetic pace, so jobs in IT were easy to come by. Luckily, I've survived the periodic layoffs (the weasels call the "re-orgs" or "downsizings") since. 3-6 more years and I'll have a (modest) level of financial security I would never have had but for NAFTA.

paS2K

It would be helpful to know WHAT type of new gig you have thought about? If there is at least ONE impt SKILL from your current job that would transfer, then you would have something for 'starters'

For example, I have a friend (Chem PhD) who was downsized from a good job with a water treatment/ filter company (Betz Labs?). He went back to school to get teacher cert in PA.....then was able to get a decent job teaching High School Math...then Chemistry. It was a big (50%?) paycut, but he seems happy with the change

Note: His +1 is a full Prof at Bryn Mawr College.....helping to keep bread on the table during his re-education time. He also got a very nice severance pack from his former employer....maybe 6 mos salary and healthcare.