Comments on: Checklist for career change http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:30:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: TJ http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-135109 TJ Mon, 04 Feb 2008 02:29:50 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-135109 One thing I found is that as long as you can still buy food & shelter, changing the world is a lot more fun than spending money on material goods. One thing I found is that as long as you can still buy food & shelter, changing the world is a lot more fun than spending money on material goods.

]]> By: Nyrie http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-106475 Nyrie Sat, 18 Aug 2007 21:25:29 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-106475 I'm about to do a major career change, but I'm afraid of losing this salary. I also think my husband will have real issues with the change. I have suggested moving into a smaller, cheaper apartment, but change is VERY difficult for my husband. It would have prepared us to such a transition. But I'm so miserable like your husband and can't imagine spending another year or doing another performance review any longer. If I could maintain my full-time job and do this part-time internship that will help follow my dream of being in book publishing, life would be great. How can I do this without my current employer finding out? If I can't do both jobs, then I would love to still leave and would have to get another job on the side to supplement the missing income to pay my high NY/NJ rent and bills every month. It's definitely scary because I have real responsibilities. I'm about to do a major career change, but I'm afraid of losing this salary. I also think my husband will have real issues with the change. I have suggested moving into a smaller, cheaper apartment, but change is VERY difficult for my husband. It would have prepared us to such a transition. But I'm so miserable like your husband and can't imagine spending another year or doing another performance review any longer. If I could maintain my full-time job and do this part-time internship that will help follow my dream of being in book publishing, life would be great. How can I do this without my current employer finding out? If I can't do both jobs, then I would love to still leave and would have to get another job on the side to supplement the missing income to pay my high NY/NJ rent and bills every month. It's definitely scary because I have real responsibilities.

]]> By: Justafellow http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-69160 Justafellow Thu, 10 May 2007 16:22:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-69160 A very insightful book on such matters is Your Money Or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. One of the issues it addresses is the concept of "Job Charming". Just as there is no Prince (or Princess) Charming, that is, an absolutely perfect partner that can do no wrong, there is also no Job Charming. Which in turn stresses the importance of having a life outside work. I have been in the same job for 22 years and while it has its ups and downs it is gainful and does allow me a life outside. Expect income from your job and emotional satisfaction from your life outside. A very insightful book on such matters is Your Money Or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. One of the issues it addresses is the concept of "Job Charming". Just as there is no Prince (or Princess) Charming, that is, an absolutely perfect partner that can do no wrong, there is also no Job Charming. Which in turn stresses the importance of having a life outside work. I have been in the same job for 22 years and while it has its ups and downs it is gainful and does allow me a life outside. Expect income from your job and emotional satisfaction from your life outside.

]]> By: David http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-68113 David Tue, 08 May 2007 16:54:25 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-68113 I was an athletic maanger for Chuck Erbe in the middle 80's when he was at Southern Cal - so we have something in common. My wife and I have shared your collective circumstance, having chosen to raise extended family members, so to keep them out of foster care. Since I was the one who was unemployed / underemployed, I was rewarded with the "stay-at-home" duties. What got me back in the workforce in my former career (albeit as a temp) was the potential of having to pay for medical care of an elderly parent. Fortunately, my mother has remained independent. However, at the end of the day, you guys are going to have to send your kids through college AND retire comfortably. The reality is that dads don't get to REALLY see their kids grow-up. This fact crosses racial-lines, economic status etc. The kids grow up and when your husband WANTS to return to making a decent salary he won't be able to, notwithstanding prior successes. I would recommend that he go to night school, take student loans to replace his contribution to the household and get say an MBA part-time at night or better yet, online if that provides the necessary flexibility. With your husbands tech background - Supply Chain Management would be a perfect fit ... and you'll both probably be more happy. Also, if you work online, relocate to like Raliegh, N.C. somewhere to bring down your housing costs, but maintaining a good quality of life. Being close to Research Triangle, your husband ought to be able to find good opportunities (at night) even if he doesn't choose to take the go back to school route. I was an athletic maanger for Chuck Erbe in the middle 80's when he was at Southern Cal - so we have something in common. My wife and I have shared your collective circumstance, having chosen to raise extended family members, so to keep them out of foster care. Since I was the one who was unemployed / underemployed, I was rewarded with the "stay-at-home" duties. What got me back in the workforce in my former career (albeit as a temp) was the potential of having to pay for medical care of an elderly parent. Fortunately, my mother has remained independent. However, at the end of the day, you guys are going to have to send your kids through college AND retire comfortably. The reality is that dads don't get to REALLY see their kids grow-up. This fact crosses racial-lines, economic status etc. The kids grow up and when your husband WANTS to return to making a decent salary he won't be able to, notwithstanding prior successes. I would recommend that he go to night school, take student loans to replace his contribution to the household and get say an MBA part-time at night or better yet, online if that provides the necessary flexibility. With your husbands tech background - Supply Chain Management would be a perfect fit … and you'll both probably be more happy. Also, if you work online, relocate to like Raliegh, N.C. somewhere to bring down your housing costs, but maintaining a good quality of life. Being close to Research Triangle, your husband ought to be able to find good opportunities (at night) even if he doesn't choose to take the go back to school route.

]]> By: Penelope Trunk http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-637 Penelope Trunk Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:22:01 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-637 That's a good question, Elizabeth. Part of why I love writing about careers is that I get to hear about what other people are doing -- both failures and successes -- because I always get great ideas about what I should be doing. I wish I could tell you that things have worked out great and I have all the answers, but I don't. Here is <a href="http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/05/my_adventures_in_sharedcare_pa.html" rel="nofollow">sort of an update</a>. Good luck with your change. I hope you share the insight you gain with all of us at Brazen Careerist. That's a good question, Elizabeth. Part of why I love writing about careers is that I get to hear about what other people are doing — both failures and successes — because I always get great ideas about what I should be doing.

I wish I could tell you that things have worked out great and I have all the answers, but I don't.

Here is sort of an update.

Good luck with your change. I hope you share the insight you gain with all of us at Brazen Careerist.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-636 Elizabeth Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:10:11 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2004/06/09/checklist-for-career-change/#comment-636 You may have answered this elsewhere, but do you have an update on this? Two years later, how are things working out? I'm the one in my family who just took a paycut for a job, and I know what you're saying about the "pressure to love the job." You may have answered this elsewhere, but do you have an update on this? Two years later, how are things working out?

I'm the one in my family who just took a paycut for a job, and I know what you're saying about the "pressure to love the job."

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