Chosing a career thats different from your field

[05149S2]

^ We're in the same position sis. I graduated two years ago, had two jobs, and now unemployed. I was recently diagnosed with clinical depression so the act of hunting jobs  is all the more difficult (emotionally). Ako kasi mismo yung namimili ng work. I specifically wanted to work in startup companies, and I want it to be in Makati lang. We all want to be financially dependent at darating din ito. Siguro kung may lesson man lang akong natutunan sa mga past jobs ko in two years is that YOU SHOULD FIND AND DO THE CAREER YOU LIKE. It doesn't matter how long it takes you to look for it basta hanapin mo yung nag-iisang career na gustong gusto mo. Never settle for "okay lang" or "sige na nga". Diyan nakasalalay happiness mo eh.

But if you need to earn money asap for the family (bread winner duties), there are BPOs that could provide you employment given you pass their assessments. In fact, I applied in one out of desperation. Then by the time I was due for the final interview I realized my worth. I have the skills and the passion to have a career mostly related to my course, so why am I here? Parang hail mary pass na yung pag-apply ko sa BPO eh. Plus, I didn't agree with the schedule (night shift). I need to take care of myself first.

As with passion naman, think of the skills you have. What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? Do you like to write? Blog? Write fan fiction? Edit videos? No matter what it is, own it. Skill mo yan eh. Talent mo yan.

To go back to the topic, so far related pa naman sa course ko yung mga jobs ko. But I wanted to pursue graphic design professionally. I don't have a graphic design background. I'm not a Multimedia Arts graduate. In fact, my background is film, tv and radio production. But I enjoy it enough to pursue it as a career. Mahirap lang sa job hunting because they always look for an experience which I don't have at the moment (reason why I'm applying in the first place).

[lovely_carrot]

I'm a computer science grad but my job is in hotel industry, working as exec secretary. I have no knowledge at all sa hotel industry. I even started as a Cashier sa resto ng Westin (now Sofitel). When I got pregnant, nagpahinga ako. When I started working again, thai resto for 6 yrs as admin officer then exec secretary for 3 yrs sa hotel. I am going to start my work abroad sa isang int'l chain hotel as exec sec din. Di ko siguro talaga 'calling' ang IT industry.

I never would've thought that I will end up in this career but no regrets. I am enjoying it

[vanillawaffle]

I graduated ng Nursing and i passed the board exam but i've never practiced after college.

For 2 years i worked as an ESL teacher for Koreans. Another 2 years in a BPO in Taguig. I'm now working as an Executive Secretary abroad for a year. But i feel like hindi pa rin ito yung gusto ko, and IDK kung ano ba yung hinahanap ko. Super gulo pa din ng utak. Wala kasi career growth dito so im planning to move to Dubai next year.

[leapilario]

Sales is always a good option to turn to kasi you dont need a degree for it. Real talk plus sales talk and diskarte lang yun eh. Being a networker is also a good advantage kung magssales ka

[hartii.nartatez]

hi just need some advice,  I am registered nurse but I haven't get the chance to practice my profession, after board I started working in call centers and that was the biggest mistake I ever did because I am now stuck here for 5 years now, I am married and already have a baby, I am 26 now turning 27 this Dec and I am not happy with whats happening with my career, I feel that there's no growth for me here, I am so fed up with this job, but I don't know what to do or rather how to start a new career. I am planning to go back to school and take CPE --continuing Professional Education and be a teacher, or one option that I am thinking is to take Psychology, naaaah no concrete plans yet.. I just dont know what to do

[boo.dha]

^ Why did you choose to work there in the first place?  Is it because it pays more?  You have after options like working in a diagnostic centre, and clinics naman

[Girltalker2]

I think sa pinas puede idaan sa sipag and passion kahit ang pinag aralan mo not related sa work. And this is especially true when one is young.

However, if you have plans going abroad, they will look at your experience as well as your qualifications (degree, certification, license etc)

So ang mga mapapayo ko sa mga nag career shift is to take further studies or qualifications to support your experience.

[pinkonearth]

Sis hartii, it's hard when you're in a situation where you are no longer motivated to work. But consider what your priorities are. The circumstances are different when you only have to support yourself and now that you have a family.

If you think that the best move is to pursue further studies, align the expectations din with your husband. Because this means your finances will be allotted for this also. There are a lot of implications to shifts like this in life but we have to remember rin nga what our goals are. Most of the time, it will take a lot of sacrifice. It's important to really think decisions through, pray hard and discuss with those who will be affected yung plans. No one is saying you can't but plan ahead and persevere.

Remember that there truly are a lot of times when we feel that the workplace sucks, even the people we work with. But don't make the mistake of quitting your job based purely on emotions. Emotions change all the time.  

I know of several people who left well-paying jobs to pursue careers they are happy with but had to settle with lesser pay. I know of people who stuck with jobs that pay the rent instead of pursuing what they really love because it's the responsible thing to do. At the end of the day, you decide what you pursue. There will always be a way to make things work as long as we are determined to push through.

Don't make abrupt decisions. No one is pressuring you naman to decide now. Importante, when you make yours, you will be secure knowing na pinag-isipan mo mabuti.

[Girltalker2]

^ agree, don't decide based on emotions or being fed up with the job. It still pays the bills for now so hang on.

About planning for the future, question ko lang sis hartii is - do you really need to start a NEW career from scratch? If you're unsure, parang mahirap mag shift lagi di ba?

What's wrong with pursuing your original plan - nursing? 

[ploutos]

This is a nice thread. I'm also a nurse but never practiced the profession. I've been working for 5 years now in HR. But until now naguguluhan pa din ako on what career to pursue.  Parang ang gusto ko na lang is kumita ng malaki.

[khaleesi619]

May nurse ba dito na nagwowork sa isang goverment agancy like DILG?

[mikelly]

I have been doing careers shifts in my life.  From being a Masscom grad I have been part of Collections team in a bpo company, disputes, reconciliation then real estate marketing staff.  Honestly, masaya! kasi you'll get to learn and widen your mind about these things.  I think it is just a matter of what our goal is and determination just to accept these changes.  Ang mahirap lang dyan if the company only accepts/hires with such same background.  It is very rare nowadays for companies to accept people with different bckground kasi most of them prefer nila familiar na on the process they have.

Also, we have different reasons why we are giving up with our jobs.  Burned out, no longer motivated, bored, etc.  But consider this, it is not easy to look for a job, grabe! No matter how experienced we are, ang hirap pa di dumaan sa proseso.  There are times we will be taking exams and a lot of interviews and after all you'll know you failed.  Let's just be reminded that we should be thankful with the work we have no matter how nakakasawa it is.  Let's just think of other people who really doesnt have a job and they really need one just to bring food on their table.  Unless the work really sucks or di na makatao. 

[imyourangel]

I am a Psych graduate, worked as a teacher for kids for 4 years, and now in a university for office work and in charge for internships.. Medyo naguguluhan na rin ako sa career path ko, haha! I wonder where would I be years from now. As long as it's academe siguro, I'll take it.

[missyuko]

ako din ee, mga inaapplyan ko ng kaka graduate ko lang ay puro saliwa sa field na tinapos ko pero himala na napadpad ako sa pinaka iniiwasan ko nun na job..long story. IT graduate ako, nakapag turo ako sa university ng 6 months dahil yun lang contract ko at hndi ko na nirenew ngayun, naka pasa nako sa Civil Service kaya balak ko non IT ulit sa Govt office mag apply pero kung matagal talaga ang pag process baka sa BPO industry muna ko magbakasakali, gusto ko kasing mag take din ng law someday if makakapag ipon ako

[poems and petals]

Hardest part for me: Convincing myself that I do not need to live up with people's expectations (family, relatives, friends on the same field, basically everyone who knows me). Nakakapanghina minsan yung may magsasabi na "graduate yan ng gantong course, pumasa pa yan sa board, tapos ganyan lang ang ginagawa" "sayang  pinag-aralan" "ang daming gustong maging <insert profession> tapos sinayang niya lang" "<insert profession> yan, magaling yan sa ganto, paano ba yung ganto? Iba naging trabaho mo? E di ba pumasa ka sa board?".

Really, it's a struggle between not wanting to disappoint anyone v.s. finding yourself and pursuing what you really like.

[abuelita]

^I can relate re: having to live with everyone's expectations. I cant help but feel exasperated when I hear things from people (titas), sayang pinag aralan, tapos diyan ka lang mapupunta. Eh hello, mas nakapagipon naman ako kesa mag paalipin sa mga hospital disguised as "training" 

I graduated nursing and board passer but never pursued it, and worked at call center/BPO with healthcare accounts, basta tunog medical, but who am I kidding, nasa ibang field pa din ako. after 5 years, I abruptly quit my job, even though I don't have a new one lined up. I got burned out, demotivated, and worse a topic of chismis. I got a new job within the same field, pero after three days nag quit ako. I just can't see myself doing it for the next five years.

Ngayon I'm back on the job hunt, pero mas malinaw na sakin na gusto ko talaga i pursue yung writing, specifically content writing. Hindi ko alam saan exactly magsisimula ng experience, cause all I've been writing is my personal blog. I've been applying to a different field/ job but they keep reprofiling me based on my background. Hindi ko talaga alam paanong transition ang gagawin ko.