Have an Itch to Switch Careers? Issues to Consider for a Smooth Transition

Emboldened by the nation’s strong job market, many people who have long had the itch to switch careers are now going ahead and taking the leap.

Career counselors say they have noticed more lawyers, bankers, nurses, salespeople and teachers, among many other types of workers, preparing for career switches. The recent bustle “is like pent-up energy,” said Sandra Young, a partner in the Tustin-based firm Women’s Focus/Career Focus.

“When the economy is weak, people may hate what they do, but they stay because they’re concerned they’ll never get another job,” she said. “When the economy is strong and jobs are plentiful, they start to look.”

Young and other career advisors say career changes are often financially and professionally risky but that they also can be the perfect tonic for people who have gotten stale or frustrated in their jobs. But does a dramatic career switch, no matter how romantic it sounds, make good sense? Among many other things, people need to consider whether they feel trapped or burned out because they are in the wrong career--or because something is wrong in their personal lives.

There is also the often overlooked question of how much of your self-identity is tied to what you do, particularly if you’re considering giving up a prestigious profession.

When people get together socially, the work they do typically is “the second sentence out of everyone’s mouth,” said Claudia Finkel, assistant director of Jewish Vocational Service of Los Angeles, a nonprofit agency.

She said some people drop the idea of switching careers after evaluating what their current line of work means to them, opting instead for less drastic moves such as altering their job duties or joining a new company.

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Even more important in making the decision on whether to change careers is how much money you need to earn.

In other words, if you can afford to take a steep pay cut then, sure, it may be OK to leave a relatively cushy corporate job to work on a dude ranch or to try running a New England country inn.

But those who need to maintain their current incomes--or who want to make more money--might opt for more subtle career changes. The idea is to shift gears professionally while still taking advantage of your education, work experience and business contacts.

For instance, teachers who have grown tired of dealing with public school bureaucracies and rambunctious children might check out the corporate training field.

Or take, for example, Cynthia Nelson, who worked as a human resources manager for 10 years. Unlike many career switchers, the 35-year-old Nelson enjoyed her profession but she wanted to try something more entrepreneurial and potentially higher paying.

The solution: She took a job a year ago as an executive recruiter at BridgeGate Group, an Irvine-based firm where she specializes in finding human resources specialists for corporate clients.

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Instead of getting a regular paycheck, Nelson’s compensation now hinges on how many jobs she fills. But so far, things have worked out well. Nelson declined to disclose her income, but says she now makes about 50% more than in her previous job.

“I don’t think I would have embarked on this journey in the early ‘90s with the economy as it was,” she said. But with the Southern California economy turning up, she said, “It seemed as if I was going to do it, this was the time.”

On the other end of the career-switching spectrum is Ronald A. Knell of Woodland Hills. After practicing law for 17 years, Knell, now 50, was ready for a major change.

“The combativeness wasn’t my cup of tea,” he explained. “It was something I could do . . . but it was not something I felt comfortable with anymore.”

Initially, he went to a private employment agency for help, but that proved to be both expensive and disappointing. Knell said the agency did little more than provide suggestions on preparing a resume and handling job interviews.

Later, he headed to Jewish Vocational Service and, after a battery of assessment tests and interviews, concluded that he ought to look for a job in the nonprofit field. That soon led to the job he accepted at the end of last year with a firm that does fund-raising for nonprofit organizations.

“What I enjoy so much about what I’m doing now is that I see people working together for a common goal, and see that they’re succeeding at something that’s very dear and important to them,” Knell said.

Knell’s advice for other would-be career switchers, particularly those who aren’t sure what their new line of work should be: Find a good career counselor, one who conducts testing to determine what suits you best. Next, after identifying some new career possibilities, talk to people in those fields to get a realistic sense of what the work is like.

His own story is an example of the unexpected paths that can open up. “I just wanted to find a new field,” he said. Before being guided into fund-raising for nonprofit organizations, Knell said, that type of work “didn’t even cross my mind.”

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Times staff writer Stuart Silverstein can be reached by phone at (213) 237-7887 or by e-mail at stuart.silverstein@latimes.com