Made a career chane

[WyoBowhunter21]

Well I have to vent. I made a career change on Monday. I currently work for an oil and gas service company but the hours started taking a tole. I decided to find a more family friendly place. Switching from engineer to compliance. I am really excited to get started. Bad thing is I have to pay back some bonuses. This brings me to my question, how many of you guys have switched careers for reasons such as spending time with family or even to hunt more? Did you do it for less money?

 

[Jason Snyder]

I didn't change careers, but I took a job in a different state so that my wife and I could have more family time together. It's been a win-win. I don't live in a hunter's paradise anymore, but I can afford to hunt other states and get more days in the field than I ever did. All while getting a lot more time together with the wife and kids.

 

[7mag.]

I did. I worked 4-10's, Friday through Monday. When I was off on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, my wife was at work, and my son was at school. When they were home, I was at work. I didn't get home until at least 8:00 pm, so I didn't see them that often. When I wanted to take my son hunting or fishing, I had to take a vacation or take him out of school. I took a job making about $15000 a year less, mostly for health reasons, but the schedule change was also a huge part. Now I still work 4-10's, but Monday through Thursday. I'm home for dinner every night, and get to spend all kinds of time with my family and friends. It's amazing how much happier it has made me.

 

[William Hanson (live2hunt)]

I am seriously considering a career change as well. I am a construction contractor the does mostly flooring installation. It pays decent I suppose but its hell on my body and the hours are horrendous in the busy season. The complications I am finding is while I do want to change I don't want many family to suffer a great deal through it so need something that pays decent enough that we don't have to eat ramen noodles while we transition. My reasons are family, health and hunting in that order. I am tossing around the idea of college to facilitate this change. Also we are wanting to move (probably Colorado) to distance ourselves from family and for hunting (shhh don't tell my wife).

 

[Jesse Jaymes]

I should probably STFU, as I a not a Sage, nor am I Wise. But I would warn to be VERY calculated in making life changing decisions in careers and finance. Only my opinion, but I don't feel this is much of a Boon time. I have been around a handful of guys who are Hunt Fanatics. And base life decisions around Hunting. Of course they say it's for family, more money, better Security, etc. Everyone is trying to make it to the Holy Grails of Montana or Wyoming. But many do not have a seat when the music stops so to speak. Just be careful. My best bud made a Leap of Faith and sold me on how great a new job was. The pay, the vacation, the commute. Only to have the company fold. 13 years Civil Service was squashed. Then you are a 40somehting scrambling for a job and way behind where you started.

 

[JoshTX]

I have made the change before and while I did get to spend more time with my family, I did regret the drop in income. As has been stated above, it's tight times right now. If you have a good gig that pays well but the downside is the hours, I'd suck it up and deal with it. That said, if the income isn't absolutely stellar, it's not worth the time away from family. You can never get that back. Clear as mud?

I used to work 60-70 hour weeks like it was nothing. The money was outstanding and in general, the juice was worth the squeeze. That all changed in 09' and I had to work the same hours for a lot less money. Once it no longer became worth it, I moved on and found something different.

 

[5MilesBack]

I completely gave up a job two years ago because of family separation. Then turned down a job in CA........well, for obvious reasons.......it was in CA. So here I sit, still looking........and filling my time with odd jobs, and then doing work for others for free. It's not a bad gig. Plenty of time to hunt.

 

[Sooner]

My wife an I are looking to move to CO in the next year or so. We both have very good paying jobs now, so that has been the only thing holding us back. The number one reason for the move would to be close to my dad and sisters again(being close to elk and mule deer is a bonus). I have no doubt that we could both get good jobs fast. Just scares the crap out of me to take the leap.

 

[mAv]

My wife an I are looking to move to CO in the next year or so. We both have very good paying jobs now, so that has been the only thing holding us back. The number one reason for the move would to be close to my dad and sisters again(being close to elk and mule deer is a bonus). I have no doubt that we could both get good jobs fast. Just scares the crap out of me to take the leap.

My wife and I did the same, granted I was 6 months out of school and she had just graduated, less ties but the best move we have made hands down for a lot of reasons.

 

[Sooner]

My wife and I did the same, granted I was 6 months out of school and she had just graduated, less ties but the best move we have made hands down for a lot of reasons.

Good to hear. Seems like more people are happy after the move than not. She now has a year under her belt as an RN. I have nine years an a bunch of vacation where I am though. If everything goes as planned, by the end of the year we will be there.

 

[JJHACK]

Go for it, nobody is going to make a worse decision on this topic then I did.

I was married to a woman that developed serious substance abuse issues. I changed rolls taking a big cut in pay to stay home more and look after her, I moved the family to a rural area to keep her away from the bad influence friends she had. In weeks there was evidence around the new house of continued use. Our struggle to get this fixed reached a huge level of stress, she took her life. That left me with a 5 year old a very responsible job, but reduced travel, and without family here.

My son is now 12 and we are doing great. In my case changing jobs and moving to a less risky location for her was not the family benefit I anticipated.

 

[JoshTX]

Go for it, nobody is going to make a worse decision on this topic then I did.

I was married to a woman that developed serious substance abuse issues. I changed rolls taking a big cut in pay to stay home more and look after her, I moved the family to a rural area to keep her away from the bad influence friends she had. In weeks there was evidence around the new house of continued use. Our struggle to get this fixed reached a huge level of stress, she took her life. That left me with a 5 year old a very responsible job, but reduced travel, and without family here.

My son is now 12 and we are doing great. In my case changing jobs and moving to a less risky location for her was not the family benefit I anticipated.

Damn dude, that is awful. I'm happy to hear you and your boy are good. It sounds like you've been through the ringer, and I hope you are finding some peace.

 

[Brock A]

I just had this talk with my current boss this morning as this is in my near future. Not so much a career change but a big relocation. I would change employers which is crazy given the fact that my current company is amazing to work for. My boss ended our meeting with saying "Brock, you have to work to live, not live to work. Do what makes sense". That really made me feel at ease about it.

 

[WyoBowhunter21]

Thanks everyone for he responses. I am nervous for the change but I do think it will make my family better. Right now I average 100 hours a week if I don't go into the field, if I do then its a lot higher then that. I made my decision because currently I work Wednesday to Wednesday. My fiancé only gets weekends off and that leaves me with 2 days to do things with her and our pup. Sadly I didn't get any holidays off last year and that was really hard for us. I think I made the right decision, other than not being ale to buy a 4 wheeler now. haha

 

[Matt W.]

I found this quote helpful when looking at life...

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

― Brian Dyson

 

[Jesse Minish]

I have been in the trades since graduating high school. Been a self employed mason for the last 10 plus years. Sick of the wear and tear on my body and the cheap crazy home owners. Finally had enough and should be starting my first real job any day now with BNSF (railroad). I am starting all over but I am very excited!

 

[KMT]

I quit my job and moved back to Colorado 15 years ago. I took a 50% cut in pay. But my prior job required me to work 60-100 hours per week. And for those if you that have done it, you realize that you can't enjoy your money or family when all you do is work and sleep.

 

[ohhiitznik]

I'm happy I decided to go a different path as well. I'm 29 and I just got accepted into PA school (Physicians Assistant) You're basically one step below a doctor, work 3 12 hour shifts, and get paid very well without the overhead and headaches of having insurance as a physician. Should give me a lot of time to spend in the outdoors. It also makes it easier because I don't have a GF, or a family of my own. Just my parents and my brother.

 

[Forestryguy]

Glad I am not the only one in this boat. I have a good job now, great pay and benefits in my field (Natural Resources). But my girlfriend lives three hours away and I am having a hard time finding work in my field up there, and that pays decent. I am looking at going back to school to get into a field that I can more easily move and find work. We have talked about moving to Colorado, but the cost of living seems very high compared to here in Iowa or in Wisconsin. I am willing to take a bit of a pay cut but, like others I do not want to be eating Ramen to keep the bills paid.

 

[gethuntin]

Thats a good way to look at it. For pay wise in my state i would say i am median income but my busy time is the summer where i work nights and weekends and holidays its killer on the family and friends time wise especially since the summer is when i work 2 other part time jobs to help try and get ahead. So the summers are rough and the falls the kids go back to school and that is when i try to relieve the stress of the pass 5 6 months and go hunting. I am trying to work more family time and into the falls bc it seems about the only available time but summer would be ideal. So i am always contemplating a career switch; before kids i didnt have a problem with working my tail of in the summers bc i had my falls pretty open. Now with kids it def changes things.

“Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them - work, family, health, friends and spirit - and you're keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls - family, health, friends and spirit - are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life.”

― Brian Dyson[/QUOTE]