What kind of career change have you had to make?
Jimbo18
Posts: 2,336
Losing your job and looking for a new one is very stressful, especially if you have to make a career change in order to do it.
I am retirement age, but still need to work, so when I was severed last year due to the downturn in business (thanks a lot 2020), I applied for a couple jobs close to home. I ended up getting one in the paint dept. at the local big box store. Huge change from sitting behind a computer all day and juggling schedules in a textile mill.
8 years ago, I also had to find new work when I was laid off due to a huge customer leaving our company. That time, I found work in a collections agency. Terrible work, but I did well in it by being nice over the phone. The people we called weren't used to that.
Fortunately, my previous company called me back after 10 months, because that job was destroying my soul.
So, who has had to make a huge shift in their field and how'd it work out for you?
I am retirement age, but still need to work, so when I was severed last year due to the downturn in business (thanks a lot 2020), I applied for a couple jobs close to home. I ended up getting one in the paint dept. at the local big box store. Huge change from sitting behind a computer all day and juggling schedules in a textile mill.
8 years ago, I also had to find new work when I was laid off due to a huge customer leaving our company. That time, I found work in a collections agency. Terrible work, but I did well in it by being nice over the phone. The people we called weren't used to that.
Fortunately, my previous company called me back after 10 months, because that job was destroying my soul.
So, who has had to make a huge shift in their field and how'd it work out for you?
Comments
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I haven't had to change major job functions, but I've changed industries several times. Agency work included finance, hralthcare, construction, data centers, then I moved to various other industries in house. Enterprise software, pro A/V hardware, commercial real estate. Who knows where I'll land next.
You can try to outline your career path, but sometimes you just adapt to what fits for the time being.Analog: MoFi MasterTracker > MoFi UltraDeck > Sutherland 20/20
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Discogs -
I went to school at first for Aeronautical Engineering. Then switched to Automotive Technology. Worked in the field for several years while also detailing. I worked for a Nissan/Pontiac/GMC dealer and used me as a switch hitter. A manager was lost in the detail department and they promoted me to manager.
My Tool box got used less and less as they preferred me in the Detail department as I was very good at it.
I was unhappy not turning wrenches all the time but in the same breath loved detailing.
I was always a Hobbyist in the Audio video world and shopped at a local Bryn Mawr Stereo and video store that turned into Tweeter years later. The Regional Manager was in the shop and over heard our conversation and asked if he could speak to me privately. I said why? He said I want to offer you a job.
So for the sheer hell of it I entertained his offer and went and talked to him. He asked me where I worked and wanted to steal me away from the other Audio Video shop I worked at. I told him I was a Automotive Tech and at first he thought I was a Audio Video spy from another shop. LOL he told me he would double my salary in less then 3 years and match what I was making now if I decided to come work for him. Needless to say I took the job. He double my salary in 10 months LOL.
Anyway that was back in the 90's and I have been in the Audio Video field ever since. When 2020 hit with all its mess I was laid off for 3 months and wasn't sure what was going to happen. I went back to work in June and then mid December I fell and twisted my knee and have been out of work ever since.
My current employer is taking care of me and waiting for my return. I also have a small Audio Video business of my own that my Partner has been running since I went down. I can't sit here and say I haven't thought of switching careers as over the last few years this business has really tainted my love for it. I don't come in here nearly as much as I use to because my love for this isn't as strong.
Sure I still have a passion in my heart but the last few years have been rough. The gear overall sucks , the failure rate of equipment today is so much higher than ever before. Clients get very upset when things don't work and getting yelled at on a daily basis wears on you when you know due to everything being internet network based things need attention or fail.
I fear going back to the Automotive world as I have been out of the game since the 90's. I recently purchased a 2020 Charger Scat Pack and as I'm learning about Mods , things are different than when I was racing my 87 Grand National.
I'm 50 going on 51 this year and thinking about switching now I don't see like it's a good move or a wise one for me. I'm pretty locked into the Audio Video world and my current job takes good care of me. My lack of passion isn't with the company I work for it's in the equipment failure and frustrated clients beating me up every-time something fails. Doesn't help I'm a Service Technician for them as I don't Install anymore and haven't over the last 8 years.
Also I have watched good companies go away and others offer lower quality products.
2020 was a hit to most people so I get it man especially since your older like me. You sound like your further down the road than I am but ever since I turned 50 , my questions on my future have been many.
Dan
My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time. -
Hitting your 60's is like being dipped in kriptonite.
Most employers aren't that interested.
They seem to like 30-45. Over or under, not so much.
And they want lots of experience. They have no interest in training
or developing employees. I'm in IT right now, working a large distributed phone system cut over to a new system.
In my last job, they replaced everyone with remote guys in India.
And they knew NOTHING. As this happened, customers bailed, which caused them
to cost cut by doing more of the same.
Expect anything that can be off-shored to be off-shored.
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
^^ A 2019 poll of US companies with manufacturing in China when asked if they would move manufacturing back to the US, 70% said no.The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
They are going to take everything off shore for everything.
At some point, the off shore guys will decide they don't need US management.
The next step isn't pretty at all.
other than rap music, what do they need us for?"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
... to buy their stuff...Remember, when you're running from something, you're running to something...-me
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I had a fair kissing booth business.
You can imagine the hit I took.Speakers: Polk Lsim, ATC SCM19 v2, NHT SuperzeroSpeaker Cables: DH Labs, Transparent, Wireworld, Canare, Monster: Beer budget, Bose ears -
"The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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A pleasant little read.
Available a B. Dalton.
Ok, Waldenbooks.
Darn it , how about Books a Million ?
Barnes & Noble then, if you can find one near you.
Shoot, just order off Amazon.
Everybody else does anymore.
Sal Palooza -
Been working at a large Gov facility doing pretty much the same function for the last 28 years. Before that move though, I was an electrician for a small family owned company for about 5 years, which I really liked. But the bottom sort of fell out on the remodeling boom here on LI, I went from working 40-48 hrs/week with optional Saturdays to working less than 30 on a regular basis. So I decided to move on.
After few years I decided that I'd like to try my hand at running my own business, so I started one - that was 21 years ago and I still have a solid client base. Not bad for a part time gig I had no serious experience with
. So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?
http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/ -
My older son started out as a toyota mechanic.
He is now a network engineer with AWS.
There was never enough work as a Lexus/Toyota mechanic to make ends meet.
Thankfully it only took a couple of years for him to realize it was going nowhere
and he re-invented himself. He worked a number of places and continued
expanding his skills. Son 2 is still finding his way."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
motorhead43026 wrote: »^^ A 2019 poll of US companies with manufacturing in China when asked if they would move manufacturing back to the US, 70% said no.
TAXES...
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
mrbigbluelight wrote: »A pleasant little read.
Available a B. Dalton.
Ok, Waldenbooks.
Darn it , how about Books a Million ?
Barnes & Noble then, if you can find one near you.
Shoot, just order off Amazon.
Everybody else does anymore.
During my book downsizing I saw about 10 books about our government being wasteful and other stuff . I quickly said I don't need to read them now at my age. My heart can't take much more than it's taking on now. Nope!
If I was younger, you're suggestion might've easily ended up in my house. I had Sam Walton's book about how his Co. got so big. I can tell ya with-out having read it yet. Things in Walmarts were supposed to be only made in America. 
Most people just listen to music and watch movies. I EXPERIENCE them. -
His heirs turned that upside down. They went to all the companies they were buying
product from, and told them what they would pay for it. They then would give them
instruction on how to move their operations off shore. That pretty much drove a stake
in the heart of "made in the USA"."The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson -
motorhead43026 wrote: »^^ A 2019 poll of US companies with manufacturing in China when asked if they would move manufacturing back to the US, 70% said no.
TAXES...
You mean the 2017 corporate tax cut wasn’t enough? Then what was the point of passing it? Sounds like we have been duped once again.
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
It is imperative that we recognize that an opinion is not a fact. -
motorhead43026 wrote: »motorhead43026 wrote: »^^ A 2019 poll of US companies with manufacturing in China when asked if they would move manufacturing back to the US, 70% said no.
TAXES...
You mean the 2017 corporate tax cut wasn’t enough? Then what was the point of passing it? Sounds like we have been duped once again.
Meet the new boss, same as the old boss....
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“When once a Republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil.”— Thomas Jefferson -
sucks2beme wrote: »My older son started out as a toyota mechanic.
He is now a network engineer with AWS.
There was never enough work as a Lexus/Toyota mechanic to make ends meet.
Thankfully it only took a couple of years for him to realize it was going nowhere
and he re-invented himself. He worked a number of places and continued
expanding his skills. Son 2 is still finding his way.
That's why the Lexus service bays are so small at my dealer.
