[LostIntrovert]

Several months ago I quit a software job due to a combination of depression and burnout. I dreaded getting up most mornings and was self-medicating with alcohol a lot. I thought that taking a break for a few months and traveling a bit might help me feel better and figure things out. I’m not quite as depressed as I was 3 months ago and I’ve cut way back on the self-medicating, but I still haven’t come close to figuring out what I want to do next. Whenever I start to think about my next career move I get overwhelmed by anxiety and fear.

I don’t really see a future for me as a software developer, just because I’m not interested enough to constantly keep up with the rapid pace of change in that field. (I've done a few interviews when recruiters have contacted me, and failed them all--my heart's not in it). Given that, I’d rather not stay in the SF Bay Area, just because it’s so freaking expensive, and it’s a place where I’ve had a lot of bad experiences both recently and in childhood. I’m thinking of trying to get a job as a bookkeeper (I’ve done it before and I was good at it) to pay the bills for the next 6-12 months, which would give me more time to explore more options and work on my mental health issues.

I’m anticipating a couple major issues, however. One is the “overqualified” label – I have an MIT degree and spent the last 3 years in a six-figure tech job, and I can’t leave either one off my resume without leaving a glaring hole. Second, if I do look for jobs in other parts of the country where I might want to live, it might raise more red flags and I wouldn’t be able to come in for in-person interviews without paying for plane tickets myself.

[Mrs. Mania]

I feel your pain. I'm also looking for a career change. I work as a nurse aide and have for 18 years. The physical aspect is beginning to be too much. I love taking care of people and have been depressed when I worked in the hospital office. Ugh, what to do. Also I am desperate to get out of the state I live in. On the bright side, I have had phone interviews out of state and gotten the job. It won't be easy, but maybe be possible. Good luck to us both!

[hvert]

I was in a very similar predicament a few years ago re: tech burnout. I left my job, did some traveling, thought something new would come to me... and it didn't. I find it very hard to leave tech because of the money.

For the past year I've been doing contracting, mostly for one client 20-30 hours a week... and that's kind of meh. It's great because it gives me time to figure out next steps, theoretically, but I haven't done much work around that practically.

What about moving and then getting a job? Do you know where you want to live?

[LostIntrovert]

hvert -- I don't know exactly where I want to live. I love outdoor activities so I think someplace like Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico might really appeal to me. Or eastern California closer to the mountains. I don't have any friends or family in those areas though. Just picking a town randomly and moving there hoping to get a job seems less than ideal.

[JustJenny]

Apply for jobs in the places you like before you move there. Depending on the company they might even cover your travel costs for the interview. It is often like this with academic jobs.

[growlycat]

If a company wants you, it is typical for that company to pay for your plane ticket and hotel. I am doing a nationwide job search because anywhere is better than where i'm at now.

I understand burnout-I am there. Wishing you the best

[hvert]

Originally Posted by LostIntrovert

hvert -- I don't know exactly where I want to live. I love outdoor activities so I think someplace like Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico might really appeal to me. Or eastern California closer to the mountains. I don't have any friends or family in those areas though. Just picking a town randomly and moving there hoping to get a job seems less than ideal.

I agree, randomly selecting a town might not be the most wise choice (but I envy people who do things like that and pull it off!). Strategically selecting a town based on your desired lifestyle and the health of the job market doesn't seem like an awful thing to do.

Would you want to do any kinds of outdoorsy things for pay?

[HappinessHunter]

I'm not sure you need to be that concerned about the overqualified label or travel costs.

Regarding "overqualified," it's my impression that cover letters still carry a lot of weight. Explaining in your cover letter that you're ready for a change and giving examples of how your tech experience provides unique skills and assets that are useful to the prospective employer could make you a really attractive candidate. Especially, if you successfully relay the feeling that you're excited to return to this other field.

Additionally, perhaps you could organize your resume in a way that highlights your accounting experience up front and then provides the additional detail of your tech experience further down or on the next page. Might that work? Perhaps you could solicit the advice of a resume consultant?

Regarding traveling for interviews, more and more companies are open to interviewing candidates on the phone or on the internet through Skype. And like others have mentioned, sometimes a late-stage candidate can be flown out. I echo the other suggestions to research places though. Particularly if you know that living in a place you hate would make even the best new job a terrible mistake.

[ladytiger]

I thought about moving to Vegas the market there is terrible and ridiculous. No better than AZ, I don't want to leave my job and find out it will take another couple years to find some other job in another state.

[LostIntrovert]

Thanks again for the input.

hvert -- I've thought about outdoor jobs like park ranger, etc. From what I've read, the job market can be extremely competitive and it can take 5-10 years to get any stability/security. Given my depression and significant fear of "putting myself out there" I'm not too confident in my ability to handle that.

HappinessHunter -- thanks. I do plan to see a career counselor to help me with my resume. The tricky part will be conveying the feeling that I'm excited to return to this other field. I really haven't been excited about much of anything in the past year or so. Even things I really enjoy, I worry about what might go wrong and have to sort of push myself out the door to go do them.

[on the mats]

Wow I'm kind of doing the opposite of you. Got my degree in Finance, worked a job that was finance-ish for 9 years, but once I left that job I got super overwhelmed and basically had a nervous breakdown. So I figured I needed a change. So I decided to go to IT. Like you I had feelings of burnout which I carry even now, but it's gotten a lot better since I was at my worst. And like you I was in the six figures, but when I interviewed for this new job which is an entry level position I just told them I wanted a career change and they understood. Generally the only time where taking a step down is seen as bad is if you are staying in the same field. People are pretty accepting when it is due to a change. Good luck on your new endeavors.

And I live in the Bay Area too. I could never leave California, but I don't think I will stay in the heart of this expensive *** place forever.

[HolisticGal]

Just food for thought but applying to "Accountant" rather than "Bookkeeper" positions usually pays more. You may consider taking a few financial accounting courses at community college or an Accounting certificate/AA degree.

The pay ramps up pretty quickly so not to worry, though you may have to do a little job hopping and cover the hopping. Hopefully you have a friend that owns a business to vouch for your excellent Accounting skills at the point that your intellectually ready but not resume ready if you get my drift. 6 figures however are usually reserved for the CPA, CFA, CMA licenses which take considerably more time.

Like on the mats, I'm actually burnt out of this field due to the long long hours, micromanagement, little appreciation, pressure by some bosses to fudge #s (borderline illegal), and ultra conservative culture of most Accounting departments. I dream of an IT career but I've got student debt and bills to pay.

[markdl]

I've found the right thread. I'm suffering from depression and find it difficult to go to work and effectively deal with my students. In fact, I called in sick today. Been at this 25 years now, and am constantly thinking of what to do next. Not old enough to retire and have 7 more years until I reach that age. Not sure if I can make that long feeling this way. Looking around at other jobs, but not sure what to do. I am taking medication and have started seeing a therapist again a couple of months ago. Wish I could take a sabbatical, but I have a wife not working and our child I must support. Sucks being a responsible adult, if I wasn't I'd quit and run off somewhere warm, and live off the land or some crazy stuff like that. Thanks for reading my rant, and if people pray, send one up for me, and I'll do the same for us all.