When to do a career change?
March 9, 2010 2:07 PM Subscribe
Career Change Filter: I've decided to change careers, but don't know when. Should I do it now, or should I wait and work more on my social life. Any advice appreciated.
I'm a 25-year old, single male currently in a job that I dislike. The actual work is okay and I neither love nor hate it. However, I have to spend a lot of my free time studying to become certified, and the studying absolutely kills my social life for 3-month blocks twice a year. If I continue on this path, I will be doing this for the next 5 years, which I don't want to do. I didn't have much of a social life to begin with, so this is very difficult for me because it's tough to cultivate friendships with people. It doesn't help that 90% of my company is older than 35, so it's not like the social aspects of it are any good. Of the people in my age range, ALL of them are married, engaged, or live so far away in the suburbs that becoming good friends with these people is very difficult. I've looked at getting another job with another company, but the other jobs wouldn't be much different, or they would require me to move which I'm not willing to do.
I've neglected developing much of a social life in my youth, instead opting to focus more on my education (which turns out was a big mistake since I don't like what I currently do). I only have a few friends in my current city but I'm not very close to them. My closer friends all live hours away from where I currently live. I'm still a virgin and I just got out of my first relationship (3 months) a few months ago, but we never got past the heavy kissing stage. As you can guess, I REALLY want to have an active and fun social life.
I've decided that I will eventually quit my job and go back to school in an accelerated program for something completely unrelated to my current job, but I'm conflicted on when to do this. Here are the options that I feel I have:
Option 1:
Work at my current job for two more years, but opt out of becoming certified. Based on what I know about my company and what they are currently dealing with, I feel like this won't be a problem. This will allow me to save up money and allow me time to cultivate the social life I've always wanted before having to worry about the rigors of an extensive accelerated program. I've also got some nice benefits with my current company, so not having to worry about things like health insurance will be nice. The only bad thing is that, because of my current job, I will have to work on my social life much more than option 2.
Option 2:
Quit my current job soon, and get some job like a waiter or bartender for 2 years. This will allow me to work on my social skills since I work alone at my current job, and it would be more beneficial to my social life than option 1. The work would probably be more fun than my current job, but I probably wouldn't make as much money. This would be a con because I don't want to get into a lot of debt going back to school. Also, I wouldn't have the nice perks of health insurance or 3 weeks paid vacation if I chose this option.
Option 3:
Quit current job soon, and enter the accelerated program as fast as I can. This will allow me to get into my desired profession sooner allowing for more earning potential later in life. But I would have to go into debt, and I feel that the rigors of the program would not allow me to have the social life I want at this moment in my life.
Based on what these circumstances, what would you choose? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm not set on these 3 options, so if you think of something else, feel free to speak up. Thanks for reading.
I'm a 25-year old, single male currently in a job that I dislike. The actual work is okay and I neither love nor hate it. However, I have to spend a lot of my free time studying to become certified, and the studying absolutely kills my social life for 3-month blocks twice a year. If I continue on this path, I will be doing this for the next 5 years, which I don't want to do. I didn't have much of a social life to begin with, so this is very difficult for me because it's tough to cultivate friendships with people. It doesn't help that 90% of my company is older than 35, so it's not like the social aspects of it are any good. Of the people in my age range, ALL of them are married, engaged, or live so far away in the suburbs that becoming good friends with these people is very difficult. I've looked at getting another job with another company, but the other jobs wouldn't be much different, or they would require me to move which I'm not willing to do.
I've neglected developing much of a social life in my youth, instead opting to focus more on my education (which turns out was a big mistake since I don't like what I currently do). I only have a few friends in my current city but I'm not very close to them. My closer friends all live hours away from where I currently live. I'm still a virgin and I just got out of my first relationship (3 months) a few months ago, but we never got past the heavy kissing stage. As you can guess, I REALLY want to have an active and fun social life.
I've decided that I will eventually quit my job and go back to school in an accelerated program for something completely unrelated to my current job, but I'm conflicted on when to do this. Here are the options that I feel I have:
Option 1:
Work at my current job for two more years, but opt out of becoming certified. Based on what I know about my company and what they are currently dealing with, I feel like this won't be a problem. This will allow me to save up money and allow me time to cultivate the social life I've always wanted before having to worry about the rigors of an extensive accelerated program. I've also got some nice benefits with my current company, so not having to worry about things like health insurance will be nice. The only bad thing is that, because of my current job, I will have to work on my social life much more than option 2.
Option 2:
Quit my current job soon, and get some job like a waiter or bartender for 2 years. This will allow me to work on my social skills since I work alone at my current job, and it would be more beneficial to my social life than option 1. The work would probably be more fun than my current job, but I probably wouldn't make as much money. This would be a con because I don't want to get into a lot of debt going back to school. Also, I wouldn't have the nice perks of health insurance or 3 weeks paid vacation if I chose this option.
Option 3:
Quit current job soon, and enter the accelerated program as fast as I can. This will allow me to get into my desired profession sooner allowing for more earning potential later in life. But I would have to go into debt, and I feel that the rigors of the program would not allow me to have the social life I want at this moment in my life.
Based on what these circumstances, what would you choose? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm not set on these 3 options, so if you think of something else, feel free to speak up. Thanks for reading.
Option 4. Stay at current job for one year without doing the study. Spend spare time working in a bar. Save up dollars then quit. Obtain working visa to Australia. Come stay for a year or two and work/travel (you can stay for two years if you work in a rural area for 3 months). Make friends from around the world and go back to country of origin with some savings in hand from the working in Aust and a whole list of international friends. Work another year to save up more money, go back to accelerated program to learn what you want.
posted by Kerasia at 2:26 PM on March 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Kerasia at 2:26 PM on March 9, 2010 [2 favorites]
I've been waitressing now for several years and, when I stop to think about it, it's been wonderful for my social skills and comfort level. That kind of job forces you to be friendly and open, unless you don't want to make good tips. Also, it's pretty pressure-free so there's down-time to go out and see friends, etc. I don't think it makes sense for you to move to a foreign country, though, since your goal is to have friends where you live, isn't it? I would say live somewhere where you want to be indefinitely, be a bartender or waiter, and really put it out there that you want to meet people (friends and potential dates.)
posted by tacoma1 at 2:37 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by tacoma1 at 2:37 PM on March 9, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm in a remarkably similar boat and I love Kerasia's suggestion. I hear Buenos Aires is nice, too!
posted by jander03 at 2:48 PM on March 9, 2010
posted by jander03 at 2:48 PM on March 9, 2010
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posted by Not Supplied at 2:18 PM on March 9, 2010