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What are some of the best ways to pivot or transition into a new/different career path, after realizing the one you're in might not be the best fit for you? What challenges, if any, have you faced on your transition journey? #Spring23

Hi! I'm a college and med school graduate (internationally trained), however I realized I was not very happy practicing medicine. I feel very guilty about this because healthcare is a tough profession to get into, and a platform to help people, and so I should feel very lucky to be in it. However, I'm not happy :(
I have therefore gone back to school and I'm currently a grad student in an MBA program, and I wish to hear from others who have had similar experiences of leaving one career path for another. Thank you.

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Dana’s Answer

I will tell anyone you must listen to yourself. I have had changed career paths on more than a few occasions. I started school off in the field of Mechanical Engineering, then Electrical Engineering. I did not like either one, but I wanted to stay in some sort of Tech field, so I migrated into the Electronic Technician field. I figured out shortly that this path was not for me. At the time, I was learning about investment stocks. So, I went and got a job at a bank and changed my major again to Business. I still felt unsatisfied. One day I was watching TV and a commercial came on and it said, "Wouldn't you like to create cutting edge designs for websites?" So again, I changed my major to New Media and that is where I stayed for a while anyway. What I am trying to say is do not feel guilty because you want to transition to something different that best suits you as a person. You may want to brainstorm to truly find out your passions, because I do not recommend going my route. In the end, I am happy with my final choice.
Thank you comment icon Hi Dana, thank you for your response! It helps to know that sometimes, there is not one straight path to follow and it's okay to take multiple steps in different directions before finding what makes one happy. Thank you again for sharing. Olayinka Remilekun
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Taylor’s Answer

I value your openness in discussing your experiences and discontent with the medical profession. This field can be incredibly tough, so I commend you for paying attention to your feelings and putting your happiness first in your career. You might want to explore related "helping" areas, such as nonprofits, medical-focused organizations that require business skills, or Human Resources.

I began my career in operations and project management at a nonprofit, where I worked for nearly six years. After some time, I started questioning if it was the right fit for me. I sought guidance from a career coach, who helped me discover my interests and passions. This led me to pursue a master's degree in Organizational Psychology. Now, I work in Human Resources at a large tech company, where I help employees flourish in their work settings. I wish you the best of luck, and remember to keep listening to yourself and following your heart.
Thank you comment icon Thank you Taylor! You're right, discovering my passions would be a vital step in making the right decision. Thank you so much for sharing your story, it really resonated with me. As I work towards my MBA degree, a career path that interests me is Healthcare Management, and a lot of its roles overlap with Operations Management. I am also interested in Human Resources like you suggested, as I would love to create a thriving environment for healthcare professionals and make a difference in their challenging work environments. If you do not mind, I would love to connect with you on LinkedIn. I would appreciate an opportunity to chat with you further about your experiences, why Operations Management was not such a good fit for you and hear more on how you're thriving in your new role. Olayinka Remilekun
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Jennifer’s Answer

There are multiple methods to change your career path, but remember that numerous skills you acquired in medical school can certainly be applied elsewhere. You can pursue a mini-degree or obtain certifications in your desired field. Encountering obstacles is normal, so make sure you have a strong support system, including family, friends, mentors, and so on. Best of luck to you; believe in yourself, you can do it!
Thank you comment icon Thank you Jennifer. Your words are so encouraging. Agreed! I'm working towards some certifications now, and I'll be sure to highlight my transferrable skills in my resume. Olayinka Remilekun
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Mikel Anne’s Answer

If you're feeling unsatisfied with your present direction and want to switch to something different, begin by identifying the aspects of your current path that you genuinely enjoy. Consider which other fields might contain those enjoyable elements from your existing area of study. You might be amazed to discover that these similarities can be found in entirely different fields.

Take my experience, for example. I worked in the banking sector as an educator for nearly two decades before the training function was outsourced. I spent six months searching for another training opportunity within a financial institution, but had no success, especially during the 2007-2009 period when many financial institutions were collapsing worldwide. Eventually, I decided to explore entirely different industries and landed a job at a major wireless provider. While I still create educational content, it's for an entirely new audience in a completely different environment. To find a suitable match, I had to concentrate on the aspects of my current job that brought me genuine happiness and step out of my comfort zone in the financial industry.
Thank you comment icon Thank you Mikel Anne. Its sweet of you to share your experience as well! Olayinka Remilekun
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Becky’s Answer

Throughout my life, I've embarked on numerous career paths, gaining valuable experience in diverse fields. My journey has taken me through retail as a supervisor, technology as a customer service representative, quality manager, service manager, content developer, and into education as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and systems manager. Various reasons motivated these changes, such as prioritizing family, relocating, or seeking renewed passion in my work. Reflecting on these experiences, I discovered a common thread: my love for teaching and training others.

Transitioning between different industries (retail, technology, education, and back to technology) presented its challenges, particularly in effectively communicating my skills to potential employers. While skills are transferable across fields, the language used to describe them may not be. To overcome this hurdle, consider seeking advice from someone within your desired field to review your resume and help tailor your language to better showcase your abilities and expertise.

With a solid foundation in both medicine and business education, a world of opportunities awaits you. Wishing you the very best in your exciting career shift.
Thank you comment icon Thank you so much Becky! This was really sweet of you. Thank you for sharing the challenges you encountered and practical tips for me to navigate through. I appreciate the well wishes as well 😊 Olayinka Remilekun
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Trevor’s Answer

I would start with inventoring your current skillset vs. researching skills needed in the area you're interested in. Then, determine how you need to plug those gaps (is it college, is it taking online courses, or is it real-world experience). Based upon that you can build a plan to pivot!
Thank you comment icon Thank you Trevor! Olayinka Remilekun
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