[lenjan]

I am beginning to wonder if I am cut out for my job. I can outwrite anybody and am a thorough reporter (the two are different things), and most of the time I enjoy it. But the hours stink (and are going to get worse for me next week), the money stinks, and I'm crumbling under the pressure of having to produce high-quality work constantly.

I'm wondering if anyone out there has changed horses in midstream, as it were, and how you did it. I have two ideas of what I would like to do -- one would be a lateral move into another medium, which would require very little on my part, and one would be a complete departure from anything communications-related and involve going back to school, etc. It also would involve taking classes that scare me and that I'm convinced I can't do because I was constantly told I was stupid and lazy in that particular part of the curriculum, and that "girls don't do that" type of work.

I don't know what's bringing this on. I don't know if it's a combination of a new job and a new town (which I hate living in), or if it's boredom or a midlife crisis or what. I just want to figure out what my options are and hear some real-life stories. Anybody?

CB

sorry i don’t have any "real" advice to offer,

I have only this, you said its a new town, new job, you don’t really like it, I say this is not about your job, its about you, your not happy with the way things have worked out, your not happy that your in a job that is not working out for you, your not happy with your surroundings, so stop using the job has an excuse and talk about what is really bothering you.

that’s just me and my 2 cents worth, ( the other 8 cents are for free)

You know..... mellors might have something in saying that it could be you-- not the career.

I have been recreating myself my whole adult life! in twenty years as a working adult I've been anything from a teacher's assistant-- to a head office manager -- to a stock clerk at a department store-- to a clerk that inputs advertisments for a newspaper...... and so much much more!! All the while-- I blamed the job, the people, the circumstances-- whatever-- for my quitting ...... until...... this last psychologist I had--- He helped me to see that it wasn't any of the reasons I had always thought-- it was ME!

anyway-- I do know what it's like to change careers/jobs.... I think I'm a human chameleon!

but maybe-- you are just ready for a change??

keep us posted how things go!

mandy

[lenjan]

In my last 20 years as a working adult, I've been a reporter, editor, or graphic artist, with a side job as a university professor. Period.

So it's not really "I don't know what I want to be when I grow up" -- it's "I think I'm tired of this."

God knows I have had enough therapy to figure out what's wrong with me, and largely fix it. (There's always room for improvement somewhere.)

in your last 20 yrs work history were you happy? you said the word period, followed by a fulll stop, which implies to me you had no choice but to be happy, the decison was made for you, is this you rebelious streak?

[lenjan]

Mandy told of all the things she's done in the last 20 years -- I was trying to show I have spent it in the same industry, just at different jobs within it.

And yes, for the last 10 years or so, after I left the crappy jobs behind and started getting some worthy of my IQ and talent, I've been happy. But there is big, big change going on in the print journalism world and chances of it existing in 20 years as we know it today is next to nothing. The major metropolitan dailies, with reporting staffs of 400, are laying off people left and right, 75 or 100 or more at a time. The midsize papers like mine are doing OK, but still having to deal with the changes.

Most days I can tolerate myself. Every other day, I can tolerate other people <WINK> . I like a lot about my job. But in the 7 months since I started, I have had both full-blown manic AND depressive episodes, a crappy 6-month review, and am wondering if this is really what I should be doing. Right now I'm doing the bare minimum I was told I need to do to get by without pissing off the executive editor (who then yells at my boss instead of me). I'm almost never not thinking about work and what I have to do next and what will happen if I don't get it done.

[h0kie]

Hubby switched. He graduated with a degree in Mining Engineering. After little success finding a job in that, he got a job as a soccer coach (pretty far from an engineering job) and LOVED it. He volunteered for a few months to get a foot in the door, but after 6 months, his boss searched out money to pay him and keep him around.

Now? He's a math teacher and a soccer coach. So both his degree and his real passion have come together. He starts classes for his master's degree in September.

Changing careers has been the best thing for him. Yes, it was scary, but it's been worth it for us. It's different for each person though. I hope you find something you enjoy. Whatever it may be.

In the middle of your main paragraph you go straight into, a for a better word “assumption of blame” like you trying to justify something, damn if you have the choice to change carrers (sp) then change it if you have that option, there is no question of choice here, is it going to be better for you I hear you ask?, is it going to be any worse is my reply!. Either way just do whats best for you in the long run and live with it.

[Direction]

I've been in property management in one form or another for 15 years...I am burned out...

I'm taking 2 weeks off...hoping this will help...

Anyways the owner of the buildings I manage gave notice to the company I worked for that they no longer needed the company services...It was at that time when I thought I would no longer have a job...that I though about what other things I could do...

I think if you want to change fields...that the key of course to figure out what field and then position your resume to demonstrate how your skill set can match up to the new field...research what things are required in the new field...

my mind is racing so this may be confusing...

[WinterRose]

I'm just beginning needed changes to get out of my job and into a new career. It requires going back to school, which is scary for me too. (And the financial aspect is troubling too.) But my therapist is supportive and excited for me and my psychiatrist seems to be encouraging. They both agree that I am not reaching my full potential where I'm at and this is part of my trouble.

If you can change, change. Change can be revitalizing. I read somewhere that when people look back it's the things they didn't do (the opportunities they didn't pursue) that they regret most.