Changing Careers

Have any of you completly changed career pathss? If so how did you do it? Did you have to take a huge pay cut? If you have almost 10 years experience in a particular field (i.e. Marketing) is it really possible to completely change directions?

Re: Changing Careers

I tried- I have 5 years experince in consumer products development - not including my degree

I wanted to switch to pharm sales- I got a few interviews - but it always came down to the fact that I didn't have outside sales experince

so I went on outside sales interviews- and most of them were all comission- with the average being $20K less then my current salary, having to use my own car ( mine's leased so that's out of the question) etc


so I decided that it wasn't worth it- and to stay with my current field-

Re: Changing Careers

I think it depends how far away from what you want to be doing you are actually doing. I changed my path from when I first graduated college but am in something somewhat similiar so I didn't require additional schooling. Not sure I would have done it if I needed to go back to school. It can be done but I think it can also be challenging depnding on what you are going to do. I know a lot of people that traded in their careers to become teachers--I also know a lot of people that can't find FT jobs as teachers and now sub...who knows though, i am not in the teaching field and in my field jobs can be tough on Long Island. It can be done, you always need to follow what you think is best for you...I'm a firm believer in this, hope this makes sense.

Re: Changing Careers

Message edited 2/24/2022 8:02:10 PM.

Re: Changing Careers

Thanks for the insight!

As I have mentioned before my company is moving to NJ this coming summer and I have to decide shortly if I want to stay with them. If I decide to leave the company I think I really want to change directions completely. I just don't think I can do that without taking a pay and benefit cut. I already have an MBA and I know that many of the companies I am interested in aren't going to give me time of day because I have been in Marketing for almost 10 years.

Change is scary and I am afraid I will make the wrong decision. There are soo many things to take into consideration at this point.

Re: Changing Careers

Yep. I went from Bar management to Publishing. I took a huge paycut, but now I have things like normal hours, holidays off, a pension & medical benefits. It is still hard and frustrating at times (like around holidays when I could rely on generous bonuses), but also great when I know I will not get called in to fire a waitress at 4am.

Re: Changing Careers

I did and I make more now than I did before, but I had to go back to school, and didn't work full time for a long time while I was in school.

I was able to do it at the time I did because I was single without children and had no big debts other than other previous student loans I was able to defer.

Re: Changing Careers

i went from fashion design to working w/stockbrokers-

comp. diff field-but ive been workin in it 2 years and i ike it much better

Re: Changing Careers

I went from being a medical biller to an electrician. Mega cut in pay to begin with, but made up for it big time.

My GF went from being a health inspector to being a RN. Mega raise for her.

I think it is definetely possible!!!

Re: Changing Careers

Wow - I am glad to hear about so many positive experiences!! Makes me feel a little better about the idea of taking the risk!

Re: Changing Careers

I was working in commercial real estate and went back to school for an MBA in Accounting and Computer Info Systems.

Didn't pay off that much financially in my opinion, considering the school loans I had to take out, but I am much happier and have gained the respect of my co-workers --- which I definitely did not have before in my previous field.

Re: Changing Careers

I was working for a textile company working with overseas vendors - I switched to non-profit event planner. No pay cut. I tried to find as many similarities as I could between the two positions (even though some were stretches...) but it worked!

Good luck!

Re: Changing Careers

I've been working in university administration for 7 years, 7 years in publishing before that. Now I'm hoping to switch careers again to become a nurse. Each change for me has been an increase in pay, but I would do it anyway for peace of mind.

Re: Changing Careers

My husband did two years ago... he went from working in retail for 10 years, making decent money at that point to a job where the long term benefits was something he could not give up and yes he took a huge paycut, which pretty much explains why I'm still working ... anyway, it will be worth it!

There are times when I wish I could make a career change and go back to school to be a teacher, but by the time I get the balls to do it, I'll be too old...

If this is something you truly want to do, I think you should do it this way you don't regret it later on!

Message edited 1/17/2007 5:02:00 PM.

Re: Changing Careers

I changed careers, I was an Accountant for 5 years then went back to school to get my MBA in Marketing. I've been working in Marketing for over 5 years and love it. Since you already have an MBA you should be able to stay within a MBA salary no matter where you go.

Depending on the industry Marketing can be very different. I have worked in Consumer Packaged Goods in Brand Management for over 5 years. I did work outside of Consumer Packaged Goods for 9 months in Publishing as a Brand Manager and hated it to say the least so now I am back in CPG.

Are you looking to get out of marketing all together or do you just want to do a different kind of marketing?

Hope this helps!

Re: Changing Careers

Yes - I went from retail (I was a buyer) to marketing. I did take a pay cut, but it wasnt huge. It was worth it for me - I was so bored and needed a change. I was in retail for almost 10 years.

I kind of fell into the opportunity. I wasnt even looking and one of my friends got promoted and she needed to find a replacement. She sent a blanket email to a bunch of her friends asking us to let her know if we knew anyone that needed a job. I decided to go for it myself!