Changing Professions

[nihilist]

Many people in this forum change jobs due to increasing ennui. But how many change professions from one field to a completely different one?
What is even more perplexing is how some can manage to change professions in this age!

Scientific and professional careers (architect,lawyer) require higher degrees most often directed towards that area. Information technology is a gamble for those who don't have IT oriented degrees. Any other industry(advertising, insurance, media network) jobs accept entry-level positions which most often involve clerical tasks. Of course, this is just based on my map of the world constructed only with books and the net as primary sources.

Any thoughts?

[Miss Anthropic]

Sometimes it requires going back to school....for a long time. But that is the difference between settling for something, and choosing to do something that you really want to do. The problem is staying satsified throughout the whole process and not changing my mind 500 times.

Do other INTPs suck as badly as I do at clerical? That is one job nobody would EVER hire me to do. I hate multitasking, and dealing with people and data entry.

[Bugeater]

My current job is pretty much exactly like Office Space. I sit in an office all day, do maybe 15 minutes of work in a week, and I'm bored to death. I've tried very hard to get fired, but my boss is a pussy. I'm thinking about quitting and shovelling shit at a horse stable, just so I can get some free horseback riding experience. I've pretty much dismissed going to college, because I change my mind so often that it would be impractical to try and work towards a degree.

[Miss Anthropic]

My current job is pretty much exactly like Office Space. I sit in an office all day, do maybe 15 minutes of work in a week, and I'm bored to death. I've tried very hard to get fired, but my boss is a pussy. I'm thinking about quitting and shovelling shit at a horse stable, just so I can get some free horseback riding experience. I've pretty much dismissed going to college, because I change my mind so often that it would be impractical to try and work towards a degree.
If I was independently wealthy I would just take whatever classes I felt like each term, until I got tired of being in school. Unfortunately student loans require a plan.

[Bugeater]

If I was independently wealthy I would just take whatever classes I felt like each term, until I got tired of being in school. Unfortunately student loans require a plan.
Exactly. I'm poor, and even though I could get student loans...I absolutely hate the idea of being in debt. If I could go to school just to learn, without having to pay, I'd be all for it...but those bastards just want your money.

[floyd]

if you plan on working for other people in jobs that require a degree, it certainly makes sense to get one even if you have to take on loans... but choose a degree path that limits those loans to as little as possible unless you can realistically predict getting a job that pays very well right away. the amount of debt the average undergrad is starting to rack up is crazy based on their realistic future earning potential.

[floyd]

parents paying for college also works into the force that keeps people obligated to the machine. it's easier to do your own thing if you don't owe anyone.

[Nighthawk]

I switched from army officer to software engineer after 13 years as the former. It involved going back to grad school for a CS degree. It was a very large paradigm shift. Thinking vs. acting. Individual vs. leader.

The ennui and boredom others mention has a stranglehold on me right now as well. I've been a software engineer for about 10 years. My job is also like office space, although I'm not trying to get fired at the moment. Trying to think of something else I might enjoy doing for the next decade ... but the money here is too good for what little I do. Eventually, it might not be good enough anymore for me to put up with the boredom.