If you could work anywhere...

[bob]

I don't know what most of you guys do for jobs/careers/etc., but I'm seriously considering a change in my life.  I've been working for 10 years at one of the major financial firms as a Quant analyst and software designer.  I've been monitoring another company that is local and glancing at recent openings.  The problem is, it's a TOTALLY different field and industry.  But a company I have long wanted to work for.  At 37, I feel like I still have a good amount of work in me and change may not be that far fetched.  Once in your 40's, it gets harder and harder to make a career change unless you are already sitting on a pile of cash and it doesn't matter what you do.  As a middle class citizen with an at-home wife and 3 year old twins, it's scary.  Especially considering I get paid quite a bit more in my current job than the new place would probably pay me.  But is it worth it to get out of bed for something that feels "stale"? 

Anyway, if you could flip the script tomorrow, where would you like to work?  Or at least what area/industry of work would you like to do? (or you may already be doing it, and if so, I commend you!)

[BlueBMW]

Ive been a BMW mechanic off and on for the last ten years.  Im planning to quit this summer and try and finish school.  I want to get into alternative energy research and maybe someday teach at the college level.  We will see what happens!

[xelement5x]

I'm reaching this point myself a bit, I've been with the same company for about 4 years and debating making a move, but I've also got a 1 year old baby and stability (in pay and hours) is very nice.

[Tatsujin]

one day I'll quit and try to work for nintendo.

[_joshuaTurbo]

Perhaps contracted or consulting firms for IT? 

I work at a consulting firm as an ETL developer and work for 2-6 month at a time projects for different clients all around the US.  I get options to work from home and at the office and each project usually winds up feeling very different than the last.  I also work in project teams of 2-8 people each time and the team members switch in/out each time unless a few of us demand to stay working together.

Advice?  Much like what others have said- it'll get easier the older your kids get and don't need as much daycare $$.  However, I would say waiting even longer until they are around middle-school and more self sufficient.  I went from Systems analyst/support in 2012 to this career of straight developer and also had a pay increase.  Our youngest was 5 at the time and since we've welcomed another little monster into the family.

I really don't know if I'd be able to take a pay cut and sacrifice money that our family needs even if I wasn't feeling as fulfilled at the workplace.  Maybe go in with the mindset that you're toughing it out for your family?

[esadajr]

I feel pretty comfortable at my current job. Being an IT manager in a manufacturing company has been really fulfilling, but at the same time, if I could be in charge of a larger team and work for a different kind of manufacturing business (the company I currently work for doesn't sell retail, I'd like to work for a company that sells retail), then I'd jump ship.

If I were on galam's shoes I'd probably stay at my current job if it seems stable. Basically try to do what's best for the family in first place.

[bob]

Maybe go in with the mindset that you're toughing it out for your family?

Yup, only thing that gets me up every day right now.

Also, I do have quite the flexibility that I won't find in most other places.  Ability to work from home at will and vacation isn't tracked.  No status reports to bother with and I get to mingle/work with the very senior folks which keeps my exposure up.  So there are some intangibles that keep me going too.

Being an IT manager in a manufacturing company has been really fulfilling,

zero experience in manufacturing is what's going to keep me from the company I am interested in.  they do sell retail, but I have no background in the manufacturing/retail production space.

[Ninja16608]

Crazy... You've got a couple of years on me (and a stay at home wife) but I'm in virtually the same boat.  Been working IT for a biometric/forensics company and love what I do and get paid well for the region in which I live, but the atmosphere at work is growing increasingly negative and I've been wanting to either jump ship to IT for the local school systems, or go back to school for a bit to become a certified latent print examiner (since I already could pass the test).

With 3 year old twins, daycare is super expensive... so I'm stuck. No chance in hell I can change careers.  Similarly, 3 year old twins keep a stay-at-home mom ultra busy so your waifu likely can't get a 2nd job to take up the slack if you were to switch to a job that makes you happier but compensates you less.

I think the answer in both of our cases is:  Wait for the kids to get in kindergarten @ a school with an 'after school' program that will watch them until you get off work.  In my case, that'll save me enough on day care that I can afford to gamble on a new job.  In your case, that would afford the waifu the free time she'd need to get a part time or full time job to pick up the slack if you jump ship.

I used to work IT for a college im my area and I loved it. I gave it up for my second little man that just came 10 months ago. Wifey makes awesome $$$ so there is no real need for me to work but I do work from home and I hate it. I really want to go back to the real work force but I also will never trust a daycare or school system, our kids are supposed to be raised by us parents not a day care or school and with all this common core crap 2+2=5 if you can explain how you got there crap don't work for me. So it's home school for mine. I am college educated and have a degree in computer science and networking, and a cert in web design (what I do from home). In the long run for me it's about the quality of life for my kids, I won't be here forever so I have to try and make sure they get the best out of everything they can in life.

My bottom line...The kids always come first for me.

[Nando]

I'll be 37 in a few. Been at my current company for 13yrs and I've been on the hunt for a new gig for about a year. Easier to look when you have a job.  On my end, it seems my company decided to mimick the Titanic, on a much longer time scale mind you, so I've been actively seeking.  Mostly Account Planning/Advertising gigs which is where a big core of my experience is.  In my market, the biggest thing is the amount of talent far outweighs the availability of opportunities.  So a company might go with a greener/less expensive person.  I have a 5 and a 3yr old and my wife works.  Expenses certainly go down once they start Kinder. Best of luck!

Write down all the pros and cons ala "Along came poly"



Ideal job? well I am working on Lucretia Demon princess.  Too bad is a side job to everything else. Would love to be able to dedicate more time and resources to it and make a living out of it.

[Black Tiger]

I'd love to work on PCE games full time.

[nodtveidt]

I am already doing what I have always wanted to do... running a game dev studio. I am also setting up my own trading company, since my ex runs the export company now. I still plan to open my own pizza parlour/game shop/classic arcade someday.

[bob]

I still plan to open my own pizza parlour/game shop/classic arcade/BAR someday.

...I hope

[Tatsujin]

one day I'll quit and try to work for nintendo.

get a rope...

I already did ^^

[roflmao]

I used to work as the Art Director for a Multimedia company and made great money but hated my boss and the work environment (though I loved my co-workers and clients an projects).  I finally couldn't stand putting money in the pocket of an a$$hole so I jumped ship.  After working freelance for awhile (which I also loved but wasn't consistent) I got a job working for a nearby Chamber of Commerce.  The work environment there is so much more positive that I'm willing to take a significant pay cut.  It means cutting things from our personal life (dinners out, fun toys, etc) but I'm in such a better place emotionally, physically, spiritually that we're all doing better. I actually love what I'm doing these days, not just the stuff that I'm doing, if that makes any sense.

[Desh]

It's funny this topic was brought up as I just went through this scenerio 3 years ago now. 

I did do 1 year in a mechanical engineering program out of high school and realized I hated it.  I was also 18 and was too tempted to party instead of study.  My hobby was cars so I got a job at a local shop.  I worked my way up and got a bunch of ASE certs and became a master technician.  Eventually I got sick of working on other people's junk all day it made me not want to work on my own projects.  I then made the move to the management.  I ran a few shops around town for a few years and just got fed up with the whole business.  The company I worked for was great but my assistant manager was a d-bag (I didn't hire him) and the customer base at one of the shops was not good (store in the ghetto).  I felt trapped because I had a 2 year old and 1 year old at home and made awesome money.  The issue was the shitty hours, working weekends and I would get pissed and stressed at work and bring it home with me.

I started looking around a bit and got an offer to be an HVAC service tech.  The problem was it was half the pay I was making but the perk was they would pay for all the required schooling for a certificate and associates in order to get my local journeyman card.

I must say, I was scared as shit but I took the leap.  These past few years have been hard but I knew there was no way I would be able to go back to school any other way.  Now I'm back to what I was making managing the auto shops and will be making quite a bit more when I finish school in the fall.  I am also so much happier and work with great people.

So happy in fact, that my wife must have started to like me again and we have a 3rd child due in September.  Then a few weeks ago I stumbled upon this forum and I feel as if I have found complete zen.