Author Topic: Switching Careers  (Read 2184 times)

chaitea

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Switching Careers
« on: August 28, 2014, 03:06:24 PM »
Here's the skinny. I'm 26 years old doing sales in the Oil and Gas sector of Alberta. I get paid pretty well @65K year plus quarterly bonuses (mostly impossible to hit but sometimes we get one or so usually at 1~2K).

Being in sales my job has a lot of perks: client lunches, coffee, mileage for car, cell phone and just plain old hanging out with people who are generally interesting and relaxed.

I just don't feel like I want to keep climbing the sales career ladder. It's fun but I want to do something a little more technical and I'm not sure where to start. Most of the job postings don't want someone completely green which is practically what I would be if I started anew. Ideally, I'd like to work in the regulatory sector or environmental (rec/rem) for O&G.

I'm pretty good with my money. I have about 5 months in TSFA mutual funds that I can take out if something were to happen. I wouldn't mind taking a pay cut to the 55K range if it meant I had more job potential in the future or end up doing something that would be interesting/technical.

What does everybody think?

Mrs. SSC

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Re: Switching Careers
« Reply #1 on: August 28, 2014, 04:16:09 PM »
Both my husband and I switched careers in our late 20s. It was worth it.  For both of us we had to go back to school for a few years, so a short period of tight money.  I know MMM is all about FIRE - but you still want to go through your day smiling - so a job change to something you like more, is a good way to go.

Beric01

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Re: Switching Careers
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2014, 04:32:26 PM »
I guess my question to you would be how far away FIRE is for you? If it's just a few more years, then the pay cut may not be worth it. You can do whatever you want after you FIRE, regardless of pay. For example, I don't adore my job, but I don't hate it and recognize this is the fastest vehicle to FIRE.

But if it's 10+ years and you're going to be miserable, than you might want to seriously consider changing careers. Being miserable can affect your performance, and ultimately your pay, as well.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!