Switching Careers

Huddled on the photographers' platform with over a dozen, maybe even twenty, other photographers and video cameramen, wrestling for prime shots at a fashion show, I started thinking to myself how I never saw it coming. Just a few years ago, I distinctly remember being under a fiberglass hull, tightening bolts at 4 in the morning with a deadline screaming down on my design team. At the time, I was certain that I wanted to be a design engineer and wanted to design the next big thing. Integrals, material properties and equations of state were my life, along with the stresses and strains that came with it. I was certain I had found my calling. I would have bet my last dollar. It's funny how things change.

One of the video cameraman covering the fashion show was in my way, and I felt the bottoms of lenses on top of my head from time to time. My hands were cramping up from holding my camera all day, and my eyes were pretty tired from staring into a viewfinder. But it felt right. Through my years of studying and working as an engineer, I never felt what I felt that moment - contentment. Compared to my salary as an engineer - I'm making peanuts now, but it doesn't bother me all too much - at least until the Visa bill comes of course. It's true what they say, money can't buy you happiness - though, it CAN by you a faster lens... But I don't let that phase me. Singing in the Rain as it were.

A lot of people find themselves in similar situations such as this. In the middle of a career and realizing that they chose a living that just wasn't quite...right. They stop looking forward to work, dread that morning commute, and come home drained and shaking their heads thinking about how they ever got into that mess. Their hobbies become distractions, and eventually obsessions. If only they could do their hobbies for a living - a familiar mantra these days.

I'd love to say, it's easy to switch careers - just do it! But that just isn't the case. I'd be lying if I even hinted at that. Switching careers is never easy - especially switching to a completely different field. I wish I had a magic formula, or recipe to tell you what the easiest way in doing this is, but I'm not an expert. However, I can share with you my thoughts about it.

I suggest taking a few real courses about your career to-be. After taking a few courses, you can gauge how passionate you are about that field. A lot of people find, they don't like the structure, and want to keep things strictly on a for-fun, hobby basis. If you can't stand a few hours learning about it - chances are, you won't want a full week of doing it. Next thing to consider is whether you could do it for someone else other than yourself. Loving something like photography is fine and dandy, but if you aren't willing to shoot exactly what someone else wants, WHEN they want it, making a living from it just isn't for you. This brings me to the most important subject, money. It's always about money isn't it? I would have to say, money is the biggest litmus test of them all. If you can live with the salary that an entry level person would get in your chosen field, if you can be happy with what you would make, then things will be much easier. If you are constantly thinking about the money, and not about the work, my suggestion is to start a little business on the side of your main career - and keep it at that. Scratch that itch for a long while, and re-evaluate in a few years.

With all that said, I must say, I'm glad I switched. I've never been as satisfied or content with my work. I go home feeling fulfilled and proud of my chosen career. I take the money that's paid me and am grateful, because really, it's gravy. At the end of it all - you rarely remember the money, or the possessions. You just remember if you fulfilled your dreams, and had a satisfying life. That's all that matters - that and getting that video cameraman out of the way before the model hits her mark while avoiding an elbow in the ear of course.

Originally appeared on www.imagemontreal.com, October 1st, 2004.

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