Career change

Jampy00

Jampy00

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I've been in industrial automation sales/management (vacuum, pneumatics) for most of my career.
Always enjoyed the challenge. Last year I suddenly lost my job due to the US company pulling Canadian operations. Found another job and it's going ok, but no where near where it should be sales wise. I think I'll be back on the market by 2026 unless we see a uptick in manufacturing.

Long story short, I think my time in industrial automation is coming to an end, just growing tired of the hustle, travel and the new ghosting trend.

Has anyone here actually gone through a major career change. What advice could you give, what lessons did you learn and would you do it again if you could do it over?
 
Jampy00 said:
I've been in industrial automation sales/management (vacuum, pneumatics) for most of my career.
Always enjoyed the challenge. Last year I suddenly lost my job due to the US company pulling Canadian operations. Found another job and it's going ok, but no where near where it should be sales wise. I think I'll be back on the market by 2026 unless we see a uptick in manufacturing.

Long story short, I think my time in industrial automation is coming to an end, just growing tired of the hustle, travel and the new ghosting trend.

Has anyone here actually gone through a major career change. What advice could you give, what lessons did you learn and would you do it again if you could do it over?
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@Mad Mike
 
Jampy00 said:
I've been in industrial automation sales/management (vacuum, pneumatics) for most of my career.
Always enjoyed the challenge. Last year I suddenly lost my job due to the US company pulling Canadian operations. Found another job and it's going ok, but no where near where it should be sales wise. I think I'll be back on the market by 2026 unless we see a uptick in manufacturing.

Long story short, I think my time in industrial automation is coming to an end, just growing tired of the hustle, travel and the new ghosting trend.

Has anyone here actually gone through a major career change. What advice could you give, what lessons did you learn and would you do it again if you could do it over?
Click to expand...
What fields are you thinking about getting into?
Are you looking to work for someone else or for yourself?
Would you do trade work, or prefer sales?

I originally went to school for HR /Training & Development and planned to work in a large scale HR / Training environment. After working in that field for several years in a very well paying job, I managed to save up a decent amount of coin and was moving up the ranks. But I was thoroughly unsatisfied with the corporate work life and what I was doing, so I decided to quit my job, and go back to school for Horticulture of all things. At the time, my happiness in my what I was doing was more important to me than my status or earnings and I wanted to work with plants. I made the choice to start at the bottom and work my way back up. I was 29 at the time and it was one of the best life changes I made, because I've been truly fulfilled for a long time now. However the first 10 years, my earnings were very low as I built up knowledge and experience.

I would absolutely do it again, because I really feel like I have one of the best jobs possible and am challenged and stimulated every single day, sometimes so much that I have to be careful of burnout. I committed to my current role until 2028 and then it's time to revisit. My wife and I often talk about selling everything and leaving town once our parents are no longer around, since we can both work anywhere in the world and love to travel. However, since today's cost of living is much more than when I made the change, it's not an apples to apples comparison to my past experience and we are very mindful of that.

The lessons I learned were that I had to take every sensible opportunity to gain work experience in my new field, spend time volunteering in my field to build up my network of contacts and constantly pursue continuing education, since I was way behind others my age in this field from a education and experience standpoint.

It's not an easy decision and good luck with whatever you decide.
 
Time major changes to avoid mortgage renewals if possible. They don't like to hear you are unemployed/a student.

If money wasn't an issue, I'd probably restart every 2-5 years. Learn a ton about something that interests me, then move on. Always at the bottom of the payscale with that program though.

When you are deciding on your next career consider your interests as well as the economic viability. Going through the process for something you love and discovering at the end that it is a hobby not a job is painful.

Side hustles can help you through the lean times (or become your new career). Start them now. I was watching a video where a guy plants hundreds or thousands of trees (chestnuts, acorns, etc). For the first few years, you can get away with about 20/sq ft. Spread them out after or sell them as seedlings at that point. Not much capital required, not much labour time required, lots of calendar time required and space becomes important if you want to sell larger trees.
 
I've had 3 major careers...7 years in banking/finance...got tired of the rat race downtown and working for less than my staff made (I was management and not eligible for overtime pay)...switched to trucking/logistics for another 7 years...had a great time at one employer for 5 years, then switched to a closer carrier and the manager there sucked (he was Asperger's for sure and very hard to work with)...quit and went back to school for teaching (went to Buffalo for their 2 day/week program for one year and worked part time in logistics with a customer from the employer I quit)...cost a bundle after exchange rate (about $45,000 CDN) but so worth it...that was in 2004...graduated in August 2005 and was hired full time in April 2005...been at it ever since and while it definitely has it's challenges (and I think, more after hours work then my other two careers) but to see the little kiddos' faces light up when they finally get something, makes it all worth while...I was 37 when I started teaching and I'll be 61 when I'm able to get my full pension (4 years from now)...as long as you have the financial means (my ex was making $85,000 as a millwright and our mortgage was manageable when I went back to school) and you find something you're passionate about, I say go for it...good luck!
 
I've went the total opposite as Shane, went from working for others to a business owner in the transmission world, after selling my shop i got in to HET off road, FIFO from the Yukon to NF and Lab for a few yrs, left that and now a Manager managing 130 or more union employees.
 
GreyGhost said:
Time major changes to avoid mortgage renewals if possible. They don't like to hear you are unemployed/a student.
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To add to that, take out as many lines of credit (HELOC, unsecured, increase existing CC limits, etc) that you can while you are employed to increase your safety net to carry you over while you are retraining or working your way up from the bottom of a new industry.

Banks will want to know you can service the debt but will rarely check your employment status after you quit.
 
I'd like to start something with a partner. Any idea?
I have about 60k in loc's unused for emergency use only.
I have enough equipment to start a lawn care business, but lack the truck and trailer...lol
 
There used to be a guy on this forum who I rode with down to Deals Gap with who ran his own lawn care business in Collingwood. If you think this is a real avenue for you that you are interested in, I'm happy to reach out to him and see if he's still doing it and would be willing to talk to you for some advice. I would also suggest connecting with Landscape Ontario to see if they have any mentorship programs in place. Peer to Peer Network - Landscape Ontario

It's great that you have the equipment - can you tow a trailer without a truck to start?
 
raginduck said:
Just renew with the same company and you'll be fine... they won't verify anything.
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Probably correct but you don't want to face the "has anything materially changed with your income?" question. If they ask that question, life gets immediately complicated. If you lie, you are risking major problems in the future. If you tell the truth, they probably still renew you but you may get a crap rate as they know you can't shop around.
 
raginduck said:
Just renew with the same company and you'll be fine... they won't verify anything.
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This is what we did earlier this year when my wife quit her full-time job and started contracting on an hourly basis to some of her previous employers. So I can attest that they didn't verify her employment - maybe if we start missing payments... Luckily the rate wasn't any higher than what was being offered at other lenders, but not always the case.
 
Even though I’ve been thirty yrs in my current job ( which I will likely retire from) , I went from an Autobody tech , industrial welder , crane operator to lumber yard loader . Then the switch to wholesale lumber sales and all related industry. I’d probably take a different path on a do over , but every move lead somewhere better and at least I knew what I didn’t want to do .


Sent from my iPhone using GTAMotorcycle.com
 
GreyGhost said:
Probably correct but you don't want to face the "has anything materially changed with your income?" question. If they ask that question, life gets immediately complicated. If you lie, you are risking major problems in the future. If you tell the truth, they probably still renew you but you may get a crap rate as they know you can't shop around.
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I switched to First National thru a broker a couple of years before we started up ours.. was with them for 12 years.. and never spoke to anyone at FN even once in all that time... just auto renewed.
I would suggest switching your mortgage to somewhere outside our daily bank.. less scrutiny... the mortgage company can't see your accounts, etc.
 
shanekingsley said:
There used to be a guy on this forum who I rode with down to Deals Gap with who ran his own lawn care business in Collingwood. If you think this is a real avenue for you that you are interested in, I'm happy to reach out to him and see if he's still doing it and would be willing to talk to you for some advice. I would also suggest connecting with Landscape Ontario to see if they have any mentorship programs in place. Peer to Peer Network - Landscape Ontario

It's great that you have the equipment - can you tow a trailer without a truck to start
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I was being sarcastic, no idea what I would do. At my age I don't have many "do overs" so planning is key. What I do know is I would have to minimize risk and financial burden, somit would start as a side hustle or part-time job. Just no clue what to do?
 
Jampy00 said:
I'd like to start something with a partner. Any idea?
I have about 60k in loc's unused for emergency use only.
I have enough equipment to start a lawn care business, but lack the truck and trailer...lol
Click to expand...
If you can do it alone that would be best. You will have enough to worry about with a new business and venture. Partners are a worry on their own. If you need expertise in an area hire a pro for a short period. Partnership relationships may start well but usually go south as one accuses the other of not working as hard blah blah when things get tough.
 
Sunday Rider said:
If you can do it alone that would be best. You will have enough to worry about with a new business and venture. Partners are a worry on their own. If you need expertise in an area hire a pro for a short period. Partnership relationships may start well but usually go south as one accuses the other of not working as hard blah blah when things get tough.
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Been working alone for 15 years, this is part of what I'd like to change.
 
Jampy00 said:
Been working alone for 15 years, this is part of what I'd like to change.
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You can have someone work with you and pay them a salary. Way easier to part ways when things don't work out or bonus them if things do go way better than expected. If you must choose the partnership route, make sure you have control by owning 60% of the company and get a shareholder agreement in place before you put any money to work or start doing things together. I've seen partnerships wreck family working together and ending lifelong friendships. Not to mention partners making wrong decisions and bringing the other one down with it financially. There are upsides of course, but the downsides are many.
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