New Year, New Job

The New Year has brought with it a new job. My friend with the PR company that had given me a few projects to do last year has hired me full time. The pay is not what I was making as a dentist (goodbye, personal trainer! farewell, dual gym memberships and other extravagances!) but I’m grateful for this opportunity. My friend and I agreed that I’d work for him for six months and then re-evaluate. If things are going well, I will stay on. If not, I will leave with six months of great field experience. I should also have a better feel for where I want to go next—back to dentistry or onward to another career. I will say that so far I have not missed the dentistry.

I’d forgotten how mentally draining it is to start a new job full-time. I guess it’s because everything is new and takes your full concentration. The type of work is very different than what I am used to as well. A day at the dental office is very structured—you have appointments set and finite expectations of what you will do in the time given. In this PR office there are usually several projects going at once. You work on one thing for a while, then something else is given to you, or you may have to go back and revise something that you thought you had finished! I’m also learning the software and formats so it’s been doubly challenging. So far I’m enjoying it, though. My friend has also been a great mentor, so that’s fortunate.

For anyone who’s considered making a career change, I do have some advice.

1. Make sure that you’ve saved a financial cushion for yourself, because most likely you will have to start at the bottom of the ladder. This means less pay while you are learning your new trade. Hopefully you will be able to support yourself, but it will be a lot less stressful for you if you know you have some reserves available.
2. Don’t let that discourage you. I was making good money but wasn’t happy. I’d gladly take a pay cut in exchange for some bliss. I still believe that if you love what you do and work hard, the money will eventually come.
3. Use your social connections—friends and colleagues are your best resource. They are much more likely to take a chance on you than a total stranger would be.
4. Feel the fear and do it anyway. You never know until you try. If things work out, great. If they don’t—at least you now know that whatever you attempted is no longer an option. Isn’t that better than always wondering?
5. Don’t burn bridges! If things don’t work out in your new career, you want to be able to turn to the associates in your former career either to hire you back or recommend you to someone who can hire you.
6. Be humble and willing to learn. I was a doctor in my previous job, but in this one I am an apprentice. Taking initiative is fine, but I don’t need to be giving orders quite yet!

I guess that’s all for now. This blog has been great therapy for me, and even with the new job I intend to keep it going. Right now, however, I need to get back to work!