Full Careers - What a career change but cant give up the money?

What a career change but cant give up the money?

I work in the finance industry and have for quite a few years. I done it straight out of school coz i was good at it and its good money. Its never been my true passion though. A change in career would be undertaking another course and possibly taking a pay cut. I also have credit card debt to maintain. besides that obvious "just go for it", any word of advice from people who have done this?

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Consider extending your education via night courses.. I know it is a tough road but both my wife and I did it while maintaining our (then) current jobs with 2 kids so we would be able to live. Taking a pay cut needs to be balanced with the sense of self worth you derive from your job and other sources versus the life style you want. I never looked to my job for a validation of the type of person I was. I just worked for the money and to improve my life style. Good luck!!
I am appalled to hear that someone in the finance industry has credit card debt! How are you able to be involved in managing other people's money if you can't manage your own? You should get completely out of debt (except perhaps any mortgage) before contemplating a change of career. Bear in mind that any "real" job you apply for these days will involve a credit background check anyway, and if it's between you and any applicant identical in every way (except that you are "in the hole" with Visa, and they are not), guess who'll get hired?
When we find ourselves in this situation we have to plan our career. Career planning is a deliberate process of knowing WHO we are so that we can be sure WHERE we want to go or WHAT we want to be at some defined point in the future. It involves an analysis of career/job options that are new to you. Career analysis is based on accurate, valid and timely information from --- reading, interviewing primary resources persons and direct observation of those persons while doing their job. Career planning helps us clarify our answers to the following questions: Who am I? Where do I want to go? How do I get there? It is not a one-time event. It is a life long process. Here are some sites, which can help you plan your career. Job Hunters Bible Richard N. Bolles, America's dean of Career Consultants, heads the company and is also the author of the book, 'What Color Is Your Parachute.' This book should be available in your library. http://www.JobHuntersBible.com Careers for the ‘People Person’ http://www.learningandlife.com/options/top-5-people-person-careers.php CareerBuilder.Com http://www.careerbuilder.com CareerPlanner.Com http://www.careerplanner.com/ U. S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/oco/ The Princeton Review Career Quiz - Free. A brief 24-part questionnaire related to the Birkman Method, with intriguing career suggestions. http://www.review.com/career/careerquizhome.cfm?menuID=0&careers=6 The RHETI Test - Free. Related to the Enneagram http:/www.9types.com/ Tests for Sale Analyze My Career - Aptitude tests, personality tests, occupation interests, entrepreneurial index. http://www.AnalyzeMyCareer.com John Holland's Self-Directed Search http://www.self-directed=search.com/ Other Career Tests and Sites http://www.assessment.com/ http://web.tickle.com/take/online-career... http://careerplanning.about.com/mbody.htm?once=true& http://www.ncda.org/ Peace and every blessing!
I'm in the process of doing this and am in the same position you are. What I have done is make a plan to eliminate the credit card debt. I contacted my credit card companies and asked about a low balance transfer rate. I managed to get 5.5% on average between two cards, which is better than the 14-15% I was getting. So, I have consolidated all of my credit and store charge debt onto these two cards. To pay this debt, I'm paying 4-5 times the minimum payment on both. I think it'll take me about a year to pay it all off. How long it'll take you depends on how much your debt is and how much you'll pay. As a finance person, I'm sure you can figure out a good payment plan. As for the change in pay, here's how I look at it. You're leaving a field where the money is good, but your heart is not all in it. But you're going to follow your true passion where the money is not as great, but you'll feel great about what you're doing. What's more important to you?