A little lost… career change?

[Stocky]

When I couldn't guide anymore to keep myself sane due to covid travel restrictions. I went from earning quite alot as a project engineer to becoming a fresh apprentice getting his foot in the door via an offer of minimum wage employ to be reassessed in an industry I had a strong interest in. I treated it like being paid to learn a new skill. Because of the enjoyment I thrived and found myself head of department within a few years as I genuinely loved what I did. Not always the day to day but it made work "easy". Im also in a position I could start my own business vs one I'd never want to own my own business in.

Put a few ducks in a row accept it might be financially tight for awhile and go for it. Just make sure you pick the best role not some halfway point as you learn fastest from extremes. Its easiest to find the best balance when you have experienced a wider range of things.

 

[TresComas]

i work in technology sector as an software engineer. worked in different domains, finance (personal and auto insurance, payroll), retail, law, quick service industry, pharma, medical devices.

i get bored of a job, i change job. learning new domain/industry keeps me on the edge and interesting. technology keeps changing every few months (underlying coding doesnt change much). although AI assisted software development and evolving vibe coding stack may eliminate redundant software engineers, i still enjoy what i do.

 

[307]

i work in technology sector as an software engineer. worked in different domains, finance (personal and auto insurance, payroll), retail, law, quick service industry, pharma, medical devices.

i get bored of a job, i change job. learning new domain/industry keeps me on the edge and interesting. technology keeps changing every few months (underlying coding doesnt change much). although AI assisted software development and evolving vibe coding stack may eliminate redundant software engineers, i still enjoy what i do.

Seems like AI will have a big impact in software development.

I think keeping an eye on AI and how it will influence/change job options is critical, yet very challenging to predict accurately, in the next several years.

 

[Hunt_Jefferson]

This thread hits close to home. I don’t know if it’s a mid life crisis (just hit 40, wife & two young kids, sole breadwinner) or just extreme somewhat self-inflicted burnout but I’m getting ready to put in notice only 18 months after being promoted into what I thought was my “dream job”. Pay & benefits are great but I have taken on so much responsibility over the years as an individual contributor - now in a leadership role and the organization won’t backfill my old roles or allow me to outsource citing budget issues.

So I’m faced with the impossible task of doing 2-3 FTE plus leadership responsibilities or leave. I’ve worked nights and weekends to try and make it work but the toll it’s taken on me and my family just isn’t worth the pay anymore. I’ve been fighting for resources for 5 years and just can’t anymore. I’m not burned out on the career/industry just my employer however I’m in a very specific niche where it’s incredibly difficult to find a similar role without relocating (which is off the table).

Trying to pivot within the industry using the network I’ve developed but nothing has developed into an offer yet. Lots of interview opportunities and bridesmaid rejection emails.

I’ve looked real hard at completely changing careers - Surveying in particular looks really interesting and seems to fit my working style but the thought of going back to school & starting from the bottom is daunting when you have a family relying solely on you for financial support.

Long post and a bit of a vent but knowing I’m not alone in feeling this way is helpful. Keep on keeping on.

Interesting how things can change in a month. Since posting this I have found a similar role at a local company - accepted an offer yesterday and gave notice today. Excited for the new opportunity and to reset mentally with a new organization.

 

[atk629]

To anybody in this situation: PLEASE do not "follow your heart". Stay where the money is. The money you make is what allows you to do the things you want to do. Jobs are not fun, that's the nature of the beast. The only people with fun and fulfilling jobs are those who are very lucky to have been born into it or wives with "girl jobs" (excersize the horse for an hour then send a fe lw emails)

 

[Stocky]

To anybody in this situation: PLEASE do not "follow your heart". Stay where the money is. The money you make is what allows you to do the things you want to do. Jobs are not fun, that's the nature of the beast. The only people with fun and fulfilling jobs are those who are very lucky to have been born into it or wives with "girl jobs" (excersize the horse for an hour then send a fe lw emails)

Id have hung myself if I stayed "where the money was". I now make more because actually liking my job made it exceptionally easy to excel.

A jobs a job but bare minimum your shouldnt hate it and enjoying it atleast most of the time is great.

You spend roughly 45-70 hours a week at a job or driving to it out of roughly 112 waking hours and 84 daylight hours. And in that leftover time you have to do all your life admin. Its the majority of your life leaving very little for things that actually matter.

If your not making so much money you can retire or take large amounts of time off super young your trading your youth for a paycheck. Can't imagine there are many 80 year old billionaires that wouldnt trade their fortune to be 18 again.

By being borderline financially responsible you will still be able to do plenty and have a job you enjoy with the typical everything has tradeoffs only an individual can make that assessment as to what they value.