How successful have you been changing careers?

L

LLoydizle

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Hey everyone,

I’ve been working as a Producer (Project Manager) for video games for about 7+ years now and it’s all going well.

Thing is, I’m starting to lose the passion and I want to see what else is out there. I still would like to stay in the software development field - preferably as a project manager, but I won’t even know where to look as all I have done my entire career is video games.

Has anybody got any advice or experience in changing careers?
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

I’ve been working as a Producer (Project Manager) for video games for about 7+ years now and it’s all going well.

Thing is, I’m starting to lose the passion and I want to see what else is out there. I still would like to stay in the software development field - preferably as a project manager, but I won’t even know where to look as all I have done my entire career is video games.

Has anybody got any advice or experience in changing careers?
Click to expand...

I would hardly call that a career change, more a pivot.

What differences do you foresee between being a producer and PM?
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

I’ve been working as a Producer (Project Manager) for video games for about 7+ years now and it’s all going well.

Thing is, I’m starting to lose the passion and I want to see what else is out there. I still would like to stay in the software development field - preferably as a project manager, but I won’t even know where to look as all I have done my entire career is video games.

Has anybody got any advice or experience in changing careers?
Click to expand...
You are what I want to be...
 
@LLoydizle

any career change takes years to adapt. its really a tough question you've put out here. if you have the time and young enough to invest that time then go for it.
 
Not very. What I am doing within my field has changed and progressed over the years, but still the architectural / construction industry. Some times I love what I do, but other times I am getting gatvol of the construction industry as it is one of the first industries that gets put on hold when there are economic pressure, nevermind natural disasters.
 
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was also in the construction industry for a few years, planning roof structures for factories etc. that was a long time back but was arduous to say the least
 
LLoydizle said:
Thing is, I’m starting to lose the passion and I want to see what else is out there.
Click to expand...
One thing to consider is that it's somewhat unreasonable to expect that your job 100% fills all your needs in life.

If I hear things like this, it's normally from people who don't have a very balanced life. How are your relationships with your family / community? How is your personal health? Do you take time to exercise / meditate / practice a hobby outside of work?

Obviously without knowing the full situation, it's impossible to say. But I'd suggest that, before falling in the trap of seeing whether a new exciting job is going to give you meaning in your life, make sure that your life is fulfilled in other aspects and then change your job if you still aren't enjoying it.
 
I changed from electrical engineering to IT in 1996 & seriously would do it all over again as its a much better fit for me. Opportunity wise I've worked in the UK thrice, once for just under a year.

I was disgruntled with the company I was working for at the time, had done two big projects in Oracle & was presented with an opportunity to go contract for one of the large commercial banks.

Slept over it, was nervous but decided I could (probably) handle it & have the degree to fall back on anyway, and decided to pull the trigger.. no ragrets.
 
LLoydizle said:
Hey everyone,

I’ve been working as a Producer (Project Manager) for video games for about 7+ years now and it’s all going well.

Thing is, I’m starting to lose the passion and I want to see what else is out there. I still would like to stay in the software development field - preferably as a project manager, but I won’t even know where to look as all I have done my entire career is video games.

Has anybody got any advice or experience in changing careers?
Click to expand...

Project management is project management, no matter the type of software. Sure there are some differences and things to learn, for example normal tech software has a bit of a different workflow than game development, different technologies such as SQL/Web frontends that most games don't use etc.

But in practice its still about managing people's output to the project, ensuring deliverables and communication.

Game development is really small here in SA, so joining business development will give you a lot more opportunities. But once you do it's going to be really hard to go back into game development, if you change your mind later on.
 
why do we pick such challenging topics..its all valid but hell its hard to fathom it out. as for career change YES if not happy.
 
I went from civil engineering to cyber security.

I was bored of my job and basically hit the cap for pay in the market so I started doing some certs and then got my oscp.

Left a good pay check for a crap one but broke into the market, everyone thought I was crazy and my gf at the time left me, I had every regret you can imagine.

While working got a second degree and many more certs. Worked 90 hour weeks for the first 2 years with all the extra hours I was putting in, but now laugh at the salary I was earning in civils and have a job that consistently challenges me.
 
Chemical Engineer to I.T. consultant / developer

I don't even know why I went in to chemistry - I think it was because it was the first decent scholarship I was offered during a time when scholarships and bursaries had become harder to come by. Didn't hate it, but was never passionate about it either. After 15 years in the industry, made the plunge and started a one man web design company when it was still in it's infancy. No qualifications in IT to this day - but had fallen in love with all things PC related.

The only hard thing about the transition was a massive knock in income for the first few years. Fast forward to now and no regrets. No more working at smelly chemical companies, not restricted to working hours, no a-hole bosses (except me), no commuting and was was lucky enough to specialise in an IT field with work that I enjoy and before web related work became saturated.

So only advise - prepare for a knock in income initially or at least have some decent savings behind you.
 
Started in Audit, first 6ish or so years.
Then moved (progressed) to Forensics / Crisis Management. (about 6 Years)
Then Financial Management. Been doing this since 2009.
Definitely glad I made the changes I did.
 
I have been in the Motor Industry since 1995, always in Catalogueing for Aftermarket Dealerships. Have always moved for salary improvements but I can honestly say that none of the moves made me happier. Same crap, just more money. My biggest problem is that I don't know what I would like to do as an ideal job. Also, Im almost 49 and white, so time and opportunities are rare. At least I got to vent, so now I feel better. :laugh:
 
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