Is it impossible to switch career directions at this point?

[Anonymous]

I have worked in Pr for the past 12 years (for the most part) and I hate it. Unjust don't have the right personality for it. Once a story is secured I am great at getting the writers all of the info they need, coordinating, etc, but I hate pitching and cold calling. I'm not sure where to go next or what direction to take and I often feel stuck. I'm 36 with one dd and id like to have another child. I currently work part time for a hospitality group and my family relies on the little money I bring in to help. I'd love to get a degree in something else but not sure if it's feasible. Has anyone here done a major switch successfully ? I hate not feeling good about what I am
Doing everyday

[Anonymous]

How about communications for a non-profit or association or some other type of organization that fits well with your values? It would probably be a pay cut but it sounds like you have the right set of skills for it so you wouldn't have to re-train. And at least at the association where I work, the communications people don't have to cold-call or anything like that. They write press releases, and they answer reporters' questions, but they're not out there aggressively pitching stories and cold-calling, which sounds like the part of the job you hate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How about communications for a non-profit or association or some other type of organization that fits well with your values? It would probably be a pay cut but it sounds like you have the right set of skills for it so you wouldn't have to re-train. And at least at the association where I work, the communications people don't have to cold-call or anything like that. They write press releases, and they answer reporters' questions, but they're not out there aggressively pitching stories and cold-calling, which sounds like the part of the job you hate.

My husband did exactly this. He used to be in PR for a large corporation in the entertainment industry. He is currently doing communications / publications for a small nonprofit. The hours are much more humane and he actually did not take a pay cut at all.

[Anonymous]

OP,
I'm a former journalist who's worked in communications. Maybe instead of a career switch, you could find something in communications that works for you. I too would hate having to try and place stories! Media placement is a tall and often ungratifying order. What about, as others have suggested, finding a job at a nonprofit or digital agency? Social media's big. Georgetown's School of Continuing Education has some certificate programs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about communications for a non-profit or association or some other type of organization that fits well with your values? It would probably be a pay cut but it sounds like you have the right set of skills for it so you wouldn't have to re-train. And at least at the association where I work, the communications people don't have to cold-call or anything like that. They write press releases, and they answer reporters' questions, but they're not out there aggressively pitching stories and cold-calling, which sounds like the part of the job you hate.

My husband did exactly this. He used to be in PR for a large corporation in the entertainment industry. He is currently doing communications / publications for a small nonprofit. The hours are much more humane and he actually did not take a pay cut at all.

I was just going to ditto that you might not see a pay cut- especially depending on the association or ngo that you work for. I used to do legal work for a big hospitality chain, they are notoriously a lower paying industry, so it might be fine $-wise.

FWIW, after about a year of really aggressively looking and completing a master's program I just got a job shifting me to public management work, away from private/corporate paralegal work. Good luck- its totally doable, even if during the search there are some heartbreaks!

[Anonymous]

It's not impossible at all, OP. What do *you* want to do? It doesn't have to be in communications unless you want it to be, there are plenty of good options for a career switch, and 36 (my age, too) is far from one foot in the grave.

My mom got a MSW in her early 40s after being home with me and my sister for 10 years. She's 66 now and has had a terrific second career (worked in editing before she had us). She really loves her work, and I'm so proud of her.

Really ask yourself, what do you want to do? What are you good at? If you're going to go to the time and effort of making this switch, take your time and figure out what would be a good fit for you. That doesn't mean it'll be perfect, but I bet you could find something that's much more well-suited to you than you describe your current work. (I hate cold-calling/pitching stuff, too, so I can empathize.) Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Op here. Thank you for all of your support and suggestions. It's inspiring to hear everyone's stories and also know that I am not alone. I just don't to waste anymore time doing something that I truly don't enjoy doing and I don't feel good about. I'm going to take some time to really look hard at what I want to do.

[Anonymous]

PP#1 here. OP I don't want to derail your thread here, but these responses make me wonder whether I have an inflated sense of salaries in the PR world, or whether I'm underpaid in my association job! I came from journalism so it was a pay jump for me, but maybe I'm making below industry standard? PPs who said they or their spouse didn't take a pay cut to move from PR to a nonprofit, can you tell me what you/your spouse make? And your title or how senior you are?

[Anonymous]

I am 35. Former media type. Followed by a brief miserable stint in pr (also hated pitching but loved coordinating). I'm now about to go back to school for something completely unrelated. I am married, one kid and one on the way. I don't expect it to be easy, but.I have more unemployed media friends than employed ones. And my pr friends are struggling and unhappy because they are also affected by the change of the media world. I won't have a job again until I'm 40, which is terrifying, but its just time to start over. The career I loved doesn't exist anymore. My new field doesn't have a very high earning potential, but a nice middle class living, and none of the sliminess I dealt with in pr. I feel like I'm making the right decision and that it is possible to start over.

[Anonymous]

17:29, I am the pp who did a brief stint in pr but now going back to school. I left media with 12 yrs experience, and was hired into pr, in nyc, as a Sr account executive for 85k.

[Anonymous]

For the poster who is going back to school for something related what is your new field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For the poster who is going back to school for something related what is your new field?

For something unrelated or related? I posted about going back for something unrelated - occupational therapy.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP,
I'm an RN and I'd say that at least 30% of the people in my graduating class were in their late 30s or older making a career change. It can be done!

[Anonymous]

Op here. It's nice to hear that I am not the only one who thinks working in PR is miserable. I get while it's a great career choice for some but for me it is clearly not. So the question is- where do I focus on next? The part of my job I excel at is after the story is secured. So basically in the details- getting the reporters any info they need, photographs, arranging interviews etc. Any thoughts on where I can apply those skills?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. It's nice to hear that I am not the only one who thinks working in PR is miserable. I get while it's a great career choice for some but for me it is clearly not. So the question is- where do I focus on next? The part of my job I excel at is after the story is secured. So basically in the details- getting the reporters any info they need, photographs, arranging interviews etc. Any thoughts on where I can apply those skills?

I'm the media chick (producer) who left, hated pr, and am now going to school for OT.

With your skills I might look at event planning. I did look at event planning, but the type I was interested in left me with a lot of night and weekend events, with a very young family, and I needed something more mom-friendly at this point. There are also some jobs like that at universities or larger corporations and non profits. I also looked into project management.