Contemplating Career Change

[lman]

I’ve said it before and will say it again —- God is great, beer is good and people are crazy!

MoKelly

Sounds like a song.

 

[RoyJackson]

This is what is called a First World Problem.

I worked at a job I mostly hated, supervisor in a union factory, with a lot of constant conflict involved for thirty seven years. The upside was that I made very good money for our area and was able to provide for my family better than most.

Been there...never again!!!

 

[MossRoad]

About 9 years ago I stepped out of I.T. management and switched to a maintenance position. I lost about 25 pounds, my blood pressure went down to excellent, my blood sugar went back to normal, and people noticed a physical difference in my face, as in, I didn't look scary anymore.

About 5.5 years ago, our jobs got outsourced, we all got let go, I took a 30% pay cut and got a job as what can best be described as a handyman with few deadlines. Never been happier.

If your physical and mental health are suffering, and you truly do not like the job you are doing, are comfortable with the position you would move into, and are financially able to do it, then do it.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[ultrarunner]

My wife has always been in management. She says that she's done, but somehow, it happens again. She has done everything at different hospitals from being a Charge Nurse, to the Manager or Director, to even a Chief Nursing Officer. When she went to work at the University, she became the Director of the Nursing Program and was in consideration for a Dean position. But then Covid hit and our priorities changed. Being the boss wasn't as important as being home and able to work on what's important to us. She stepped down from her Director position and she is now teaching a couple different classes that pay the same, but she works half the hours, with the same benefits. For her, and us, it was a huge win-win.

I see that in nursing as the options are many…

A lot of young energetic nurses starting out will work a lot of hours often having jobs at several hospitals and basically non stop work to buy a home, etc.

I know RNs in their 20’s earning 250k

Once they hit their late 30’s or early 40’s they cut back to one job maybe 3/5ths schedule and shun any advancement or manager position…

 

[Eagle1]

About 9 years ago I stepped out of I.T. management and switched to a maintenance position. I lost about 25 pounds, my blood pressure went down to excellent, my blood sugar went back to normal, and people noticed a physical difference in my face, as in, I didn't look scary anymore.

About 5.5 years ago, our jobs got outsourced, we all got let go, I took a 30% pay cut and got a job as what can best be described as a handyman with few deadlines. Never been happier.

If your physical and mental health are suffering, and you truly do not like the job you are doing, are comfortable with the position you would move into, and are financially able to do it, then do it.

Good luck in your decision.

15 years ago I walked away from a systems integration gig doing some interesting one of designs. Bought a campground and make less than 25% of what I used to earn. Could not be happier, outside all day most days, play with tractors, mowers, chainsaws and guns. In the middle of thousands of acres of wilderness and wander woods all I want. Now getting ready to retire and quit dealing with people in general.

 

[ultrarunner]

I think if I were to do over it would be to remain fully self employed as it proved far more lucrative and being your own boss comes with freedom even if you work a lot harder...

I come from a family where none of the men ever retire... farmers and small business owners.

 

[3930dave]

I have the ability to move back down and get back into my old position that I am managing currently. It would cost me 6,000 a year loss in pay and they would have to fill my position. I think they would probably hire one of my current employees based on the conversations I have had with them (they know I am tired and stressed/burnt out). I could work for any of them. It is also still great pay, keep all my benefits and I can get by just fine. I am really struggling with this. I am tired of having to make decisions and review everything and be questioned constantly. I am an expert in my field and if I take this step back, all I would have to worry about is my own workload. I have a good group of folks I have hired and trained and I would still be working with them. It is the upper management and customers that I am tired of dealing with everyday.

Am I making a bad decision/thought process about possibly moving back instead of forward for my job/career?

Even if that $6K is after taxes, in the situation you describe I'd be stepping back into the worker-bee role. No question.

Working with a good group of people (one who may be your new boss) AND in an expert-role is nothing to toss away lightly IMO. Not sure how closely your present work is coupled to govt, but it sounds like financial stability is not an issue with this company. Next couple of years are going to be "interesting" economically - touching on that, as you don't sound old enough to remember the early 80's, as a worker at least. That was a rough time, esp. for many private-sector companies.

One of the things I didn't do well enough (aside from remembering to book holidays...) back in my Tech days was spend enough time on hobbies that engaged me (tough to fit into 80 hour weeks). I mention that counterbalancing vector as it may fit your near-future, IF you throttle back to expert-bee only..... you can take time, $, etc. and engage in the things you are missing - volunteer for Habitat (or some other charity using electricians) and get your hands dirty doing something constructive.

I come across once in a while, companies that were founded late 1920's - you can be successful, even during a brutal economic cycle, but the energy and commitment required scales accordingly.

Best of luck with your decision.

Rgds, D.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

Please do yourself a favor and take your old position!!! I think you will thank yourself latter!

I changed jobs twice in my career, both due to Industrial plant closings. Went to school twice to retrain and ended up with my goal of being an electrician.
Long story short, I ended up managing multi-million dollar projects and being an on site manager on larger projects. Lots of stress dealing with project deadlines, employees and sub-contractors that didn't perform to contract obligations.
I gave the employer a 6 month notice to terminate, so they could train a replacement. They apreciated that, but not as much as I appeciated not having any more stress in dealing with the multi-taasking.

Like MossRoad said above, no more stress, cholesterol went to normal in 4 weeks, lost 25 pounds, felt better. And a couple of former co-workers even commented that the mean look I used to have on my face isn't there anymore.
Took a huge cut in pay and I was happy with it. Of course I had no bills as I paid cash for everything.

 

[scootr]

I can only reiterate what others have said except I was forced out of my high pay, high stress, long hours job by economic crash of 2008. A friend gave me his golf cart repair phone number as he closed shop and moved away. The phone would ring once in a while and I piddled with what was a hobby, then an online store, and now a very successful 2nd career.
When I told my wife I was going to do this she said you have 18 months to become a success or it's Walmart for you.
Anyway - I should have done this at 30 not 55... oh hey there was no internet when I was 30 . You kids today have lots of opportunities for income that didn't exist 20-30 yrs ago.

 

[WVH1977]

Update: So it has been around 9 months ago since I posted about this. The job got progressively worse. The micromanaging has increased and not improved. A few of the folks I work with have already left and others are looking. Moral is definitely down but upper management cannot see it.

Anyway, back in August I reached my tipping point and started aggressively looking for other jobs in my field. I was turned down for three positions, two were lateral in pay and one was a step down. I started feeling like maybe I am not going to be able to find another job until one of our customers sent me a job announcement for their group. I have done a lot of work with the customer over the years and very familiar with their processes because I already assist them with it. I actually sent hem a letter back in August telling them about myself and what I could bring to their team. I applied for it and interviewed and they hired me!!!

I still cannot believe it. It is a substantial raise and I will not be in management anymore. Really blessed. For those that maybe feel stuck like I did, keep pushing forward. Don't give up and accept failure and move on. Also, I started feeling like I was not worth being in the pay ban that I am in and was nervous about applying for jobs that payed more. I am so glad I pushed through even though I doubted myself. I did not quit and kept looking at all options. It took a while and a lot of hours building and tweaking my resume but payed off.

I have to say that even though I am starting a new job, the last couple of years dealing with new management and working through all the changes being implemented, I learned a tremendous amount about myself and new ways to do things. I lost a lot of sleep over this last job. 15 years of dedication to it and it was not easy to get away/leave. I do care about the organization but my personal life was taking a huge toll. I feel like a weight has been lifted. Thanks for all the responses in this thread. I know it is just a tractor forum with folks I don't know personally but reading the responses did give me hope and new ways to look at things.