The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that 67% of American
workers don't like their jobs and 41% of them are not employed
in the fields which they studied in school. Many adults think
about changing careers at some point in their life, but few
people actually do anything about it. "Stress is a natural
and healthy part of life, but when it becomes overwhelming it
can have severe consequences, not only on your feelings of satisfaction
at work, but on your entire life as well," (The Center
for Balanced Living, www.balancedliving.com).
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Scott Redilla
on the job.
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Scott Redilla, married and father of two children, reached
the top of his field as Master Auto Mechanic at age 35. Although
he was comfortable and felt 'safe' in his occupation, Scott
was becoming more and more unhappy with his job and his unhappiness
carried over into his home life as well. "Mostly I was
bored," he said. "I felt mentally dull and the job
began holding little challenge for me. I couldn't see myself
doing the same thing for the next 20 years of my life,"
Scott continued.
As Master Auto Mechanic, Scott was responsible for the more
technical systems on vehicles. His job was to diagnose and
repair problems with today's computer-controlled cars and
trucks as well as troubleshoot the electrical system, transmission
and engine work.
Although Scott enjoyed the challenge of tracking down and
resolving complex mechanical problems, he felt a lack of respect
from customers and his employer. "The perception of the
stereotypical 'grease monkey' is very hard to overcome,"
he says.
Scott tried changing careers several times, but kept going
back to the automotive industry, because it was a safe place
to be. "Nothing else seemed to fit me until I got into
the computer field," Scott says.
Scott's friend got him interested in computers and networking
and told him of the Cisco Networking Academy Program offered
at Montgomery County Community College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Scott was ready for a new challenge, so he did his homework.
He talked more about the computer field with his friend, considered
the job longevity for IT-related positions, researched the
educational requirements, then registered for the Networking
Academy program.
Scott enjoyed the Academy program right away. "The instructors
were very knowledgeable. Now I feel that I really know networking.
The hands-on labs were also great real world experience,"
he commented.
In the summer of 2000, Scott received his Cisco Certified
Network Associate certification and is now a Network Engineer
for Elemica, a start-up company in Pennsylvania. He also had
the opportunity to work side-by-side with Cisco engineers
to learn about the setup and configuration of the Republican
National Convention network in Philadelphia in August 2000.
The impact of the career-change decision has been overwhelmingly
positive for Scott and his family. "I feel extremely
confident and am much happier now. My family is happier because
I don't sit around feeling sorry for myself and I'm more mentally
alert," he says. "I am making more money and have
an excellent chance of dramatically increasing my income in
the future," he continued.
One of the most difficult decisions an adult faces in making
a career change is taking a major pay cut. Going from the
top of a field into an entry-level position can be a scary
proposition. Scott was not an exception. He also took a pay
cut at first, but now, just one year later is making 35% more
money than he did in his best year as a Master Auto Mechanic.
The best part is that he has a long way to go before reaching
the top of the networking field. Scott says, "I don't
think that money should even be an issue, because if you are
passionate about what you do, the money just seems to come."
What lesson has Scott learned from his career-changing experience?
"You need to do something that really makes you happy,"
Scott says. "If you don't have a passion for what you
are doing then you should do everything in your power to change
it."
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