New Career Thanks COVID...

Question

I was in my last position for 23 years unfortunately I find myself laid off due to covid. The thing is, I wasn't super happy anyway and I'm one of the lucky ones with a husband who has so far kept his job. So I have some time to really think about my next steps. In my last job I was a retail apparel buyer. I liked my job but I think it's time to get into something different. Being almost 50 I also can't commit a bunch of years to education right now. So I was leaning toward Surgical Tech or Cath Tech...something along those lines. Are any of you in these fields that could offer a glimpse into your day-to-day?

Kelli Nori · Answer

Good for you! I'm in the same boat being laid off after being with the same company for 11 years. I am also 6 months pregnant so getting another job right now is difficult although we all know it shouldn't be we all also know it is.  I'm using the time that I can't actively pursue another career to get my real estate license which has been a bucket list item for me for a long time! Wishing you the best of luck!

The Career Counter · Answer

I can relate to your post because I too was able to change my career situation due to COVID. I started a job literally four days before COVID hit!!! But as it turns out it was a job I didn't really want.

I appreciate hearing stories about the silver lining in all of this chaos and disruption!!

Good luck with your new career path. Sounds like you're approaching it in the right way in terms of doing research and talking to people!!

Debbie Scott · Answer

I applaud you for having an open mind to want to embrace something new. Continue to do research. Reach out to local schools and speak with the guidance counselor. Call the local hospitals and talk with some of the Techs and get their insight. If it's in your heart to pursue either of these paths, go for it. You won't know until you TRY—best of luck to you.

Melissa Martinez Lavandero · Answer

I am impressed with your level of motivation and admire  you for that! My sister has worked in this field all her life in labor & delivery. She loves her job but she's on her feet all the time, works in a hospital and on night shifts to get pay differential to get around the low pay.  She recently worked in a private clinic during the day assisting in ambulatory surgeries (such as eye cataract).  It's impossible to make a decent living if you are the only household income.  There are plenty of jobs like this, but pay is even lower and if there are no patients to operate on, or surgery is done early, you are sent home.  So now she's back at a hospital working night shifts.   Good luck with that!

Anonymous · Answer

For anyone looking into career change or stability:

1. Sign up for notices of publications to the US Federal Register - follow the money.

2. Sign up to receive federal GAO and OMB reports. It shows you what funding will be removed from or directed at.

3. Sign up for trade lobbyist highlights from your field. It will usually show you where the are headed - so do you want to head there too, or go off in your own direction?

4. Repeat item 3 for other industries you are interested in.

5. Attend remote job fairs that are now being hosted.

6. Consider opening a pro bono business to build your job history / resume and reach out to non profits for small projects. You don't want to replace an employee, but what about lightening their load?

Anonymous · Answer

Hi, Congrats on the courage. If you're open to tech, consider AI, block chain, and robotics in government or health care sector systems tech - among others like supply chains of the future.

It's the wave of the future, using 'AI' to reduce Garbage In, Garbage Out and quicken the spead of informed decision making and better automated internal controls and service improvements. The certificate programs from good universities seem to run between $5k and $8K depending on what your stats, data mining, and analysis skills were used in your retail career. These programs are for existing professionals who are pivoting or enhancing their skills. Gov't is good because of the CARES act stimulus, unemployment fraud from non US citizens, increased audits and healthcare is good for a number of obvious and non-obvious reasons.....that will be the same for online learning and reform of education at all levels.

They are often called 'Fin Tech' boot camps, but that's a dumb buzzword that I'm certain is specific to my City. The national remote CPE conference I attended in July 2020 in Government Management did not call it Fin Tech.

Christina Cord · Answer

Good luck on your next adventure! I quit my job during the pandemic and feared that everyone would think that I had lost my mind. I too, am lucky enough to have a partner that is still working so that I can focus on pivoting to a new career that is something I truly love. Just know that you are NOT alone in 'starting fresh' during these strange times :)

Agrenfell · Answer

I work in Radiology and there is a huge demand for cath lab techs. I'm not exactly sure what the path to recieve your certification for cath lab would be, but my assumption is you have to start in x-ray school. Not to dissuade you, but you will most likely need a year of pre-requisites before you can apply and some schools have a very low acceptance rate (or at least they did when I went through). Job shadowing was also a requirement to apply, so I would start looking now for places you can shadow. You may find you prefer surgery over cath lab or find something else entirely. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I'd be happy to answer as best I can. Also know that of you decide on either of those positions, you will most likely be required to take call, so there will be restrictions for some nights and weekends. As for pay, it can vary a lot depending upon where you live. Most cerified cath lab techs i know make about $25/hour and up (I'm in the Denver metro area).

Laney Balis · Answer

I too lost my job due to COVID and am almost 5 - 0. :O

I was an account manager for many years for various companies in a few different industries but was quickly becoming bored. I was let go the end of March and while it is something I've wanted to do for a long time I've only just made the move to switched gears completely and am now studying to take my real estate exam.

Good luck on your next adventure. Hope you find something that makes you happy!!

B Thompson · Answer

Being able to check off bucket list and back burner items is a silver lining to being laid off. Especially if there was monetary compensation.  It's important to take a breath and think about how you want to take your next step. You may find yourself stepping outside the box.

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