I’ve lost my zeitgeist. And this is no mere case of the existential hoohaas. This time it’s for real, as I tell my wife. I’ve been in law enforcement/criminal justice for nearly a decade. But I’ve recently come to the conclusion I no longer want to wear a badge, carry a gun or take people to jail. My job makes me feel old at 32 years of age.
For those who’ve made career changes … how did you do it? Where do you start? What is the process?
Before you yahoos start lecturing me about doing real research – chill. I am. But there is a great deal of wisdom and experience on Slowtwitch that I would like to tap into.
I would suggest you identify what is that you really want to do, or what activity makes you the most happy if it is something marketable. If you can nail or narrow down what it is that will give you what you want, then look at the steps that will needed to get there. It may not be an immediate transition, and may require some retooling (advanced education, etc), but I believe it will be worth it in the long run.
I am speaking being in the midst of a big career transition from the military to the investment banking world and I am doing the necessary retooling.
What is important to you? What do you want to get out of the change? What do you want to be different this time? To find another career that you love (i.e., seems like a hobby more than a job)? Something that you want to live, eat, sleep? To do the most good in the world? The next one it, or something temporary? To get the highest bill rate possible in order to best fund your triathlon addiction? Get the most flexibility in working hours? Travel, no travel? Requires school or not?
Not a suggestion, just evidence that it may be worth the effort.
My wife and I both went back to school when I was 30, got new bachelor degrees, and then master’s degrees and we both got new careers in totally different fields than previous. We hated our jobs before and we love them now. It really worked out well for us. No regrets.
my wife is becoming a nurse after 30 years with AT&T. she was laid off, luckily with full retirement benefits. he decision was based on the fact that she’s naturally inclined to that work and there’ plenty of jobs in that field. especially here in florida.
btw she started at AT&T when she was 19 so she’s still a youngster
Ten years ago, I was an internal auditor with a bank, two master’s degrees in business, and climbing the corporate ladder. I got involved with a “Junior Achievement” program, and the very first day that I walked through the doors of the high school, I knew that I belonged there working with kids.
I went to a near-by college and talked with some profs in the counseling department. Within a few months, I started back to grad school at night to become a guidance counselor. That was around '95 and I’ve been a counselor since '97. It’s been great!
I thought that the schooling at night would just exhaust me after working all day, but the opposite was true. It seemed that after just “going through the motions” at work for so long, there was now a light at the end of the tunnel, and it actually invigorated me. (For what it’s worth, I did the Hawaii Ironman in the midst of this busy period. I wasn’t married, but I was seriously dating the woman I ended up marrying, so the relationship required some attention, too. The point is, the rest of your life doesn’t have to go completely on HOLD during this time.)
Perhaps you can take your experience in law enforcement and turn it in to counseling at local schools or juvenile facilities… or maybe you are heading in a completely different direction.
Try the website www.educationplanner.com and click on “DISCOVERING” for some basic career assessment tools.
I was a cop from age 23 to 45. 22 years. 10 of those as a Chief of Police. I quit as Chief and went to another Dept as a bicycle cop. Low man on the totum pole. It was great. I then packed it all in, put everything I owned in my Jeep Cherokee and moved to Florida…nope…no job…just moved at age 42. Took a job as a security guard until I could find something else. I was a bike security guard. I then found a job at a high school as a Criminal Justice Instructor. Worked there for 4 years.
THEN…my wife, of 2 years, and I both quit our jobs. She owned her own Avis Rent A Car Store in Tampa. We packed it all up and moved to St Augustine, FL. Sunk every dime we had into a bed and breakfast. We moved in with $600 in our pockets. 1 1/2 years later that 600 became just over $330,000 when we sold the place. Then bought another B&B about 1/2 mile from the first one…that 330,000 is becoming just short of $600,000 when we sell this one (we’ll have a contract this week) after 15 moths. We are moving to Sedona AZ where we are purchasing our 3rd and fnal B&B. We’ll have full staff, 2 chefs, housekeepering staff, gardners, innkeepers, and we’ll be semi-retired. We went from near broke to semi-retired in 3 years. Not to bad for a guy with an Associates Degree in Criminal justice and with NO money 3 years ago!!
Making money is not Rocket Science. Just find something…have a plan…work the plan…and POOF…done!!! Oh…and…own your own business!!!
Your story is very inspiring…I live in Scottsdale, and would love to visit you in Sedona.
I too am in the midst of a career crisis. I was laid off in July. I am an attorney, been practicing for over 20 years and hate it. But it was something I did, was able to support myself and my children when I divorced. Now at 47, both children gone from the house, good husband, but struggling what to find out what to do with my life. I have a small business doing graphic design, making signs and banners, I thought I would transition into doing that after I got laid off, but it doesn’t excite me.
I’m taking a contract job with a major corporation for 6 months to give me some breathing space, some cash till I figure it out. During my 4 months off, the only thing that I know is that I want to work in a helping profession, working with people. Still figuring it out…
I had been in healthcare administration for over 25 years. It stopped being fun a few years ago. My VP job was eliminated after my entire admin carrer with that employer. It actually has been a major relief. I rode my bike almost everyday from July to now. I am back working a less demanding schedule as a consultant and looking for the next challenge for me. Our children are grown and we have no major debt, so money is no the major priority. We should be able to work at something we really enjoy. That was harder for me with four children and all the financial commitments. Good luck in your search.
