Hellobee Boards

Would you be doing the same task - just within a new industry? Not to minimize it...just trying to understand if the job is the same just industry that is different?

AFM...I am an accountant, I went from 6 years auditing financial institutions to in house auditing for a manufacturing company (automotive parts). It was a HUGE transition. Lots of new concepts, acronyms (industry and company specific), terms, rules, codes, etc. I would say my learning curve was 8-12 mos before I felt I was at the place I was in my time with financial institutions. Still to this day (4 years later) I learn things about automotive that I did not know before.

I think the biggest thing is to be 1) humble and accept its a new industry and you dont know everything 2) inquisitive - ask questions and admit short-comings and 3) use common sense. I remember on my first few plant tours I had questions - but was able to figure out the ones that may make me look really dumb. I found some confidants who I knew understood my learning curve that I could ask these "stupid" questions to. Because no matter what they say - there are stupid questions.

I haven't changed fields, but I've definitely thought about it. It's a big move! Wishing you the best of luck.

My move wasn't overly drastic (didn't require any new education that wasn't on the job training), but I did shift industries. When I moved to DC, I started out in public policy (because what else do you do with a political science degree) but after 7 years I was so burned out on writing papers and listening to politicians argue about issues I was monitoring that I needed a major change. I spent some time thinking about what I loved to do (event planning) and what got me up in the morning (helping people) and I looked for more operational/logistical positions in the non profit sector instead of research jobs. And landed a job managing a donation system of over $80 million in children's books, which I did for 5 years before moving on to my current position (also in program management and in a nonprofit but with a slightly different focus). Focusing on your strengths and passions are my biggest piece of advice.

@.twist.: land for O and G and land for renewable are pretty much the same type of issues exactly. I think the skills you already have would transfer over well.

@.twist.: he is a civil engineer. He did land development before o&g. He now does battery storage, wind and solar. He thought it was a pretty easy transition, though he had to learn a lot. Pay was comparable, a bit lower at first, but a raise in the first 6 months brought it back to the same rate. It should be more.by next year. Also, great benefits, which is important here in the US.

Girl, you can totally do this! I think it's a great idea to find something that fits YOU better! We spend so much of our time at work, it's a great feeling when you find something that agrees with you.

@Mrs. Microscope: How awesome! How did you find a career in alcohol? I did micro as my minor and loved it, career wise I have been more oriented with my zoology major.

@.twist.: You can totally do this!!!

It's funny, I was catching up with a very old friend of mine at a wedding over the weekend and he was talking about how he had left a job he'd been at for 11 years. He'd never really interviewed, had never even written a resume before, and he said it was the scariest thing he'd ever done, and the absolute best. He said the very hardest part of it was just making the decision to go for it.

@.twist.: You go girl!! You've got this!! I know you have been talking about this for a while. So exciting!

and because this basically sums up my feelings..

I say if you're interested, always apply. You really have nothing to lose! I've switched industries twice, though nothing too drastic. But I'm currently in the best job I've had and I don't think I'd be as happy if I'd stuck with what I was doing at first. If it's not working, it's not working. Change is always scary, but just think about how rewarding it can be in the end. Good luck!

@.twist.: Yay!! I'm so excited for you! If you remember, I was pretty miserable in my career for years too. I thought about changing careers a lot but really dragged my feet because of fear of change and self doubt. But then I got fired! It was the best thing to happen to me really (not that I recommend it to everyone, lol) because it FORCED me to change and think of new possibilities.
I am rooting for you! Keep us posted!

@.twist.: I am happy EVERY SINGLE DAY that I no longer have to go to work in an office I hate, doing work I didn't like, for people I didn't respect, basically wasting away in a cubicle! Every. single. day.

That doesn't mean it has been easy. We lost half of our income, and our health insurance coverage. My husband made a career change right after I got fired. We were just in a risk taking life changing mood I think! We made some sacrifices on the home front but we've survived so far (8 months and counting!). I'm basically a stay at home mom for now, but I'm blogging, exploring some other online business options and doing some freelance work (and people are paying me, whoo hoo!).

I'm definitely still in the midst of the transition but I don't miss my old work at all and I don't regret it for a second. I wish I had been braver earlier, so I could have made the change on my own terms - like you!

@.twist.: Yay! Keep us posted!

@.twist.: Does the position listing have an end date? If so, you could consider contacting them maybe a week or 2 after that.

@.twist.: This sounds like an ideal opportunity for you - so exciting!!

Just caught up! Congrats! That is a big step! You go girl.