Patrick Said:

Who among you have tried changing your career?

We Answered:

I was a horse trainer, ran a boarding stable and taught riding lessons, and had to give it up due to getting injured and there being no money in it. I went into sales, customer service, became a makeup artist, ran a pool cleaning business, and a few other things. 13 years later I'm still looking for my ideal career. I'm thinking about becoming a dental assistant or hygienist in the near future, which would require a lot of time, school, and money before getting anything back from it. Currently I'm a stay at home mom waiting until my daughter starts school before I can really jump in with both feet and do something with my life.

Caroline Said:

What prevents you from changing jobs or your career?

We Answered:

Starting a new career is a huge risk and some people are too scared to take it. They find it easier to keep hating their reliable job, rather than chance trying something new and failing.

Jane Said:

Have you ever thought about changing your career?

We Answered:

Career changes are tricky at best and something you should put some serious thought into before doing. Don't just decide one day to try something else and quit what you're doing because it could have consequences.

I am going through a career change right now but it's because I had no choice. I worked as an engineer in high tech for 15 years. High tech collapsed 7 years ago and 4.5 years I got laid off from full time work. I went unemployed, under-employed and only had 2 short contract in tech for 3.5 years. It became apparent last January that there is no recovery and that I am faced with getting into a new career. That has proved to be very difficult, largely because of my age. Once you work too long in one field, no employer in another field will hire you easily. Their big fear is that you won't stick at the new career if jobs return in your original career. You're earning less in the new career and the temptation will be too much to go back. The new employer will think this even if they don't bring it up with you. I discovered this as no one would hire me outside high tech. The other option is to re-educate but that's a least one year, usually more. I can't afford that. So, I was in "No man's land". The only alternate careers that would hire me is some kind of sales job but I'm not the sales type. So, I decided to start my own business. But it's tough starting out, money is tight. it's not easy.

I wish you the best but if you've worked more than 5 years in one field of work, it's hard to convince someone to hire you in another.

Best,
-- Andy

Elmer Said:

Have you ever thought of changing your career anytime later in the life?

We Answered:

I think it many times. But it is so difficult to leave comfort zone and risk your career no matter how do you have confidence on your talent and skill.

Judy Said:

How to avoid changing career, when you have decided your career?

We Answered:

I don't know how old you are, so please feel free to throw away any or all of the answer if it doesn't fit! I wonder how much time you have spent considering careers before choosing one to follow. A lot of people just go for a career--for lots of reasons--without really thinking it through. If you are young and just considering careers, it may be really normal to wonder about what your life would be like doing many different things. I think that it is REALLY important to like what it is that you do for a career. The chances of doing it well are increased if you like what you do. And if you do get into a career and decide that you don't like it, you can always change careers, even if it is difficult at times.

Two years ago, at our annual religious service to honor all those who had graduated from high school and college, one of the boys who won one of our scholarships said something that really makes sense to me when he was giving his acceptance speech. He said that he had chosen the career that he wanted to follow because his father told him to try a lot of things out through internship programs and to choose to do something with his life that he liked to do so well that he would do it for free. That just made so much sense to me. I personally like my career so much that I would do it for free if I had to! Most people though fall somewhere in the middle I think--they often don't really like what they do, but they don't really hate it either. Life's just like that sometimes I guess.

Good luck with whatever you choose!

Rita Said:

What is the best way to approach a potential employer at a career fair with intentions of changing your career

We Answered:

Just walk up and talk to them. Be confident in yourself. They are at the fair to find good people.