Starting Over - Career

[InquisitiveSoul]

Has anyone quit their job and went back to school while supporting a family? How did it go?

I've been contemplating a career change for some time as my income has fallen off over the past year with the struggling economy. I work too many hours to keep my job and go back to school currently, but I do have a "fall back" plan in mind so I can go back to school full time and get it done as quickly as possible. It will require a lot of sacrifice by my family as well for a couple of years, but in the long run I think I'll be in a much better place with my career and finances.

I'm interested in hearing how it went for you if you have been in this position. Thanks everyone.

[marshac]

Has anyone quit their job and went back to school while supporting a family? How did it go?

I've been contemplating a career change for some time as my income has fallen off over the past year with the struggling economy. I work too many hours to keep my job and go back to school currently, but I do have a "fall back" plan in mind so I can go back to school full time and get it done as quickly as possible. It will require a lot of sacrifice by my family as well for a couple of years, but in the long run I think I'll be in a much better place with my career and finances.

I'm interested in hearing how it went for you if you have been in this position. Thanks everyone.

Yup. I was a software developer for 5 years, eventually getting into the management side of things towards the end of my tenure. Over time my work was becoming less and less fulfilling, while I simultaneously became increasingly pleasant to be around. One day while in the bathroom at work I had an epiphany- I needed to do what would make me happy, and that I wasn't too old to do it ('it'=become a doc). Over the next year I worked to reduce our monthly expenditures and save as much money as possible- at the end of the year, I quit my job and went back to school full-time. At first it was odd being back in the classroom with people 10 years my junior, but eventually I actually became good friends with many of them. Today ism still not yet finished with school, and although my 'career' as a postbac is over- I'm now a med student. My wife is a RN, and her hospital has on-site daycare at a very reasonable rate, so that's how we mange. A guy in my ward is a 2nd year med student at the same school I go to, has two kids, and his wife stays at home.... as a med student you can borrow a crazy amount of money, so that's how it's even possible.

What field are you thinking about going into?

[justaname]

How old were you when you went back to school marshac? Ive thought a lot about trying to do med school, but I think Im getting a bit old.

[marshac]

How old were you when you went back to school marshac? Ive thought a lot about trying to do med school, but I think Im getting a bit old.

You're not too old, assuming the age in your profile is truthful. I first went back to school at 27. There are students in med school in their late 30s, and it's not unheard of for students to be in their 40s. Even at 40, you still have 20+ years of practice- I personally don't plan to ever 'retire', but am planning to simply cut down on the number of hours per week as I get 'up there' in years- I know an old surgeon who works once a week- he's good, has a valuable skillset, and really enjoys what he does- why stop?

[InquisitiveSoul]

My BS is Business Administration and I've been working in this field for almost 20 years. I'm earn a base, plus some comission & bonus, but these days I'm not making much more than my base pay for my administrative work.

I'm looking at going back to become a CPA and do some consulting as well. The original plan years ago was Law School, but I got married and ran out of gas, now I'm wishing I had stuck it out! I know one man who didn't finish law school til he was 52, so there is still hope for me if I want to give it a try.

I always like to hear from people who went back and pulled it off. Going back is a challenge and knowing others have done it makes it seem more possible and real to me.

[Hemidakota]

Has anyone quit their job and went back to school while supporting a family? How did it go?

I've been contemplating a career change for some time as my income has fallen off over the past year with the struggling economy. I work too many hours to keep my job and go back to school currently, but I do have a "fall back" plan in mind so I can go back to school full time and get it done as quickly as possible. It will require a lot of sacrifice by my family as well for a couple of years, but in the long run I think I'll be in a much better place with my career and finances.

I'm interested in hearing how it went for you if you have been in this position. Thanks everyone.

Really tuff! I will never attempt this ever again.

I couldn't believe I was pushing 21-units per semester, working two-part time jobs, how in the world I ever managed to survive those days.

[Voyager]

Has anyone quit their job and went back to school while supporting a family? How did it go?

I've been contemplating a career change for some time as my income has fallen off over the past year with the struggling economy. I work too many hours to keep my job and go back to school currently, but I do have a "fall back" plan in mind so I can go back to school full time and get it done as quickly as possible. It will require a lot of sacrifice by my family as well for a couple of years, but in the long run I think I'll be in a much better place with my career and finances.

I'm interested in hearing how it went for you if you have been in this position. Thanks everyone.

Sad part is that with the recession many people in their 40s and 50s have lost good jobs that will never come back. These people now have to find something else to do. Experience can kill your chances of getting a job in your previous field. A man in my ward is an unemployed teacher. He has almost 15 years experience. Schools know that they would have to pay him more due to his experience and degrees. So no school district has called him for any interviews this year. He has tried to get some job to do so he feels like he is paying the bills but he cannot even get a pizza delivery job. My priesthood teacher is turnig 50 and he has had to go back for training in another field. Many jobs in tech have been outsourced to Bangladesh. Manufacturing jobs are in Indonesia and China. Even when the recession ends,, if it does, it will be like a big game of economic musical chairs for everybody.

[Hemidakota]

You can always work for the government.

[Guest mirancs8]

Has anyone quit their job and went back to school while supporting a family? How did it go?

I've been contemplating a career change for some time as my income has fallen off over the past year with the struggling economy. I work too many hours to keep my job and go back to school currently, but I do have a "fall back" plan in mind so I can go back to school full time and get it done as quickly as possible. It will require a lot of sacrifice by my family as well for a couple of years, but in the long run I think I'll be in a much better place with my career and finances.

I'm interested in hearing how it went for you if you have been in this position. Thanks everyone.

I've been seriously thinking about the same thing. My field of work the opportunities have completely went dry, and the pay is 1/2 what I made. On top of that because I have 15 years experience people won't hire me because they fear I won't be challenged enough. They think that I will leave for a better position if one should come about. For 2 years I struggled interview after interview and them saying to me that I'm over qualified and that I would be bored. It was very frustrating because I really needed a job! To be honest I don't feel the same about the type of work that I do like I did some 8 years or so ago. It doesn't fulfill me nor challenge me like it did.

I've been thinking of doing a major career change but have no idea what. I can't even imagine going back to college again at the same time working. My brain just isn't the way it was in my early 20s For me at this point in my life it's not so much about making the most money it's more about finding something fulfilling to do. A work with purpose.

I guess that's why people become doctors and nurses. I keep hearing about people in their 50s having to make major career changes and that just has to be so difficult at that age. Thinking about it at my age stresses me out I can't imagine in my 50s having to start all over again.

I think the big hiring pools seem to be in the medical field and government jobs.

So here's a question. If you had a choice to do something other than what you do right now for a career what would you choose to do?

[Guest mirancs8]

Really tuff! I will never attempt this ever again.

I couldn't believe I was pushing 21-units per semester, working two-part time jobs, how in the world I ever managed to survive those days.

It's amazing what we were able to accomplish when we were younger!!

[Voyager]

Aside from agriculture and "adult entertainment" what areas does the US far outpace all other nations?

[marshac]

Aside from agriculture and "adult entertainment" what areas does the US far outpace all other nations?

Union leaders

[marshac]

I think the big hiring pools seem to be in the medical field and government jobs.

You would think so, but not really- with the exception of maybe physicians. One of the big problems right now is that new grads from nursing schools are backing up- they can't find jobs because a lot of recently retired nurses went back to work after their 401ks cratered- my cousin had to move from WA to TX to get her first job as a RN.

I would avoid government work- as tax revenues continue to collapse, layoffs and service reductions are inevitable.

[pam]

Where's Snow to respond to this one?

[marshac]

Where's Snow to respond to this one?

Did someone mention Apple?

[pam]

No but with his profession I thought perhaps he would have some thoughts on this.

[Mahone]

Did someone mention Apple?

That's a taboo word, don't you know?

[Daniel2020]

I was eight when my father graduated from law school. He quit a job and moved to another state where he could attend law school at night. (Not as easy back then as it is today.) My mother was a stay-at-home mom with two kids. I don't know how my father was able to support a family and go to law school simultaneously, but somehow he did it. (He passed the bar number eight.) Yes, we did without during those years, and, yes, it payed off in the long run. Financially and spiritually. (There's nothing like struggling to help you turn to the Lord.)