Transition from marketing to a career wherein I could work for children.

Anonymous

June 13,2023 at 5:00AM UTC

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Transition from marketing to a career wherein I could work for children.

I am currently in my late twenties and working as a marketing professional. As much as I love marketing, I have been thinking of transitioning into a career where I can make an impact in the lives of children. I have always wanted to make a difference there and it's been a what-if career choice for a long time now.

Even though I have been volunteering with an NGO wherein I get to work directly for children, I have realised that I want to spend more time doing it and making a bigger impact, if possible. I have, however, heard that there's high burnout in careers related to child welfare and it doesn't pay much and I am not aware of other options I could explore.

Has anyone here made a similar transition or worked in a field that allowed them to create an impact in the lives of children? How's the experience been like? Would be super helpful if you could please share it as I feel quite conflicted about it.

Thank you in advance for any help you could offer :)

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AnonymousJune 13,2023 at 5:24AM UTC
I'm currently employed in Customer Success, but I started my career working with children, doing 1:1 behavior therapy with students with special needs. I loved the work that I was doing at the time, but unfortunately moved to the software world because I was burnt out, and the pay was pretty terrible (at the time, I was only making about $20k/year). I've been considering trying to find a path back to working with children, or doing therapy in some capacity, but I've learned that you need at minimum a master's degree for many jobs (at least for therapy, social work, etc.), especially in order to earn a livable wage. Many teachers also struggle to earn a livable wage (I've worked with full-time teachers who had to work a 2nd job after school in order to make ends meet).
Working with children is hard work, but also incredibly rewarding. It would certainly be a great opportunity for you to give back, but there are absolutely trade-offs you'd have to make transitioning from the business world. There are pros and cons to both routes, so either way will probably take lots of soul searching.
Good luck! I hope you find something you truly love, and helps you feel like you're able to give back :)
AnonymousJune 20,2023 at 3:47AM UTC
Thank you so much for taking out the time to write such a detailed response!
Never expected that someone would take out time to share so much and it has given me more confidence to go all in for 'soul searching' as you rightly put it :)
Your response is quite insightful and helps me reflect more on how to go about this, especially the part about making trade-offs.
I also hope you are able to find a path that helps you get back to what you loved doing. I am sure there would be a way :) All the best!
KatJune 13,2023 at 2:16PM UTC
Have you considered speech language pathology? You can work in schools or in early childhood intervention (birth-3) programs helping children with communication issues. You'll need a Master's Degree in most states to practice, but if you already have a BA/BS, there are plenty of bridge programs to get you the required courses (mainly science, biology and child development) you'd need to apply to a Master's program. I can provide you with lots more info and links if you message me here on FGB. Another option is being a children's librarian. You'd work with children to foster a love of reading, plus there's less chance of burnout than teaching or social work. You'd need a Master's, but if you already have a degree, finding a program that aligns with your background shouldn't be too difficult. While in school, you could find a job being a line therapist (working directly with children with special needs), nanny/au pair, or working in a early childhood intervention program to give you income and practical skills to add to your resume. Good luck!
AnonymousJune 20,2023 at 4:03AM UTC
Hi Kat. Thanks a lot for sharing career options I could explore :) I have been looking for alternatives to teaching and this really helps!
I didn't even know something like speech language pathologist or line therapist existed. I would definitely research more about these options and reach out if I need more help :)