Thread: Changing your work.

Anybody done a certain job/career then changed to do something completely different.
Only asking because I fancy a change.
Would be interested to hear other members stories. ..

It has been said that for a fulfilling life, one should completely change one's career every ten years.
For me, from subsistence farmer/fisherman, to government meat inspector to student to engineer to now, with odd jobs in between...quite wide-ranging occupations, and so I can say that the above could be a fair comment.

From trustee beneficiary to between-jobs to trustee beneficiary....

I won't completely change "careers" in my field, but I take available promotions or lateral position moves when they are appealing or I'm feeling bored. I'm quite happy in the offshore oil & gas sector. I get anywhere from 4-6 months off a year paid time off and can live anywhere on the planet I want and the employers pay for all travel & expenses.

So I don't really get burned out too much, just go on time off and recharge.

I have thought about it sometimes but usually only during LONG hitches, and after 4-5 weeks off I'm like "wtf was I thinking, fuck all that".

Edit:

I did change careers a long time ago to overseas work, and it was the best thing I ever did.

I've got plans to change yet again... at least 2 or 3 more times... it's funny how good things can be born out of bad and constraining situations...
It's only good if the people are fun, and the work is new... it would be nice to take a time out and contemplate it all a bit.

Space & Satellite engineer for about 15 years

Hotel construction and management for 10 years

Teacher and trainer for 10 years

Originally Posted by Chittychangchang

Anybody done a certain job/career then changed to do something completely different.

Never, I am afraid. Would think it greatly depends upon your skill set. Changing jobs completely can be hard if you have a very specific skill set.

Plus factor in age - easier and cheaper to train a young dude in a line of work than an older bloke.

Still, nothing ventured nothing gained. Just make sure you have the new job lined up before you quit the old one.

(and a job in a completely different part of the country may have certain attractions. Especially if you forget to leave a forwarding address)

Working to benefit yourself or family and community?

...or "working" to benefit them - the controllers?

I've changed so many times I've lost track. Numbers running, forest fire fighter, circus roustabout, drywall plasterer, house painter, deckhand on salmon trawler, abalone diver, ice hockey player, gas station attendant, encyclopedia salesman, riverboat driver, engineer, marketing, business manager and finally a gentleman farmer. All good. Variety is the spice of life.

I got told today I will finish with the company at the end of the month,( actually they said have a rest and see you if and when things pick up ) times are tough and have been so for a while, fair enough. Might change my occupation to Retired. Can't see myself selling to many encyclopedias around here

Wouldn't mind making the switch from teacher to some sort of NGO educational development gig in the next few years. Not that fussed, but variety is the spice of life and all that.

Originally Posted by Norton

I've changed so many times I've lost track. Numbers running, forest fire fighter, circus roustabout, drywall plasterer, house painter, deckhand on salmon trawler, abalone diver, ice hockey player, gas station attendant, encyclopedia salesman, riverboat driver, engineer, marketing, business manager and finally a gentleman farmer. All good. Variety is the spice of life.

^ Nice!

I haven't gone through these in awhile....always leave 1 or 2 out...


Grocery store clerk, cook, bartender, liquor store/lotto clerk, car salesman, house painter, landscaper, surveyor, underground locator, counselor, door to door steak salesman, direct care, deck crewman (salmon processor), digital music producer, film editor/consultant, EMT, singer and.........<wait for it>.........

tefler! (<<ewwww, gross) Seems like I should be 70 years old(!)

getting old. forgot about the farming, pigs, fish, corn , peanuts, mun, etc.

Rocket surgeon, steeplejack, bare-knuckle prize fighter, train driver, astronaut, special forces soldier, stockbroker, and finally schizophrenic.

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Still, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Oh yes,

Your career change has been a complete success Eh.

Tefling up in shitsville getting paid 30 K a month.

Topped by getting 1 K a month Being a Filthmyster on here.

The smart money is to start off and remain in a profession that one likes and is good at.

This will lead to an early retirement well cashed up which in turn leads to a very happy life.

If ya don't do that that ya will end up as an old fuk Tefling in Thailand and surviving on 30 K a month with sweet fuk all in ones life.

Next move is flying lessons in Pattaya.

Up to you innit.

Tell us about your "super" pension scheme, anything left now, Teary?

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Still, nothing ventured nothing gained.

Oh yes,

Your career change has been a complete success Eh.

Tefling up in shitsville getting paid 30 K a month.

Topped by getting 1 K a month Being a Filthmyster on here.

Reading a bit hard on you terry? Like I said, I have never changed jobs. Still doing the same one I always have.

Now, why don't you try stopping being an utter cock for a while eh?

Originally Posted by nidhogg

Now, why don't you try stopping being an utter cock for a while eh?

Might as well ask a soi-dog to use public toilets in future.

I suppose that moving from teaching in Thailand to teaching in Myanmar is a bit 'different'. It's been more than just a little change in terms of work expectations and just general day to day life.

Work is cool, more paperwork than before but now their is a clear educational reason for it rather than just giving me something to fill my time with. Kids are kids- plan well for a lesson and it will probably be a success- no massive change there.

Biggest change is day to day life. Mandalay is decades behind Thailand and this can be a shade frustrating sometimes. Banking and infrastructure are still years away, for example. However the stunning countryside, unique travel opportunities, friendly locals and just the fact that the place is something of a final frontier make all its shortcomings well worth it. Leaving Thailand was one of the hardest choices I made but may turn out to be one of the better ones.

Afterthought: I don't have such a wide circle of friends here like I did back in BKK. If isolation and occasional loneliness are an issues then Mandalay could be a real hardship. Good job I'm a bit of a loser.

^ Can you save more than 2k usd/month and/or teach adults?

^ Yes, although not sure if you could teaching adults. The money is in international schools and private schools. The benefits are also nice:

Yearly round trip flights home
Silver level health insurance that will evacuate you to BKK if you really take a bad turn
Free schooling for your kids
Free housing
Driver during the week for local trips around the downtown area
Free fights, hotel and visa costs every 70 days

Well, thanks very much for taking the time and sharing that info., Mandaloopy.

If I come to my wits end grinding it out here in Saudi,
I'll look more deeply into that.

PS: Do you know Joko?