Out Of Darkness, And Into Light!

by Geoff Hansell
(Morrisville, PA)

"When you stare into the abyss the abyss stares back at you."
Friedrich Nietzsche

I had been in the same career for the past 18 years, I had been moderately successful, but there were more downs than ups. But I kept telling myself, welcome to the world of work, this is just how it is, stress is part of work. Little did I know at the time I was in the wrong career!

As I continued to progress through my career, I had many pitfalls and challenges, which involved working for 6 different companies in those 18 years. Not too bad, but when you consider that I worked at my first job for 9 years, that means I had 5 jobs in the 9 years after I left what I thought would be my womb to tomb job.

After a tumultuous 4 years with my last company, 2 probationary reviews, and very close to being canned. I was down about as far as I could go. I knew I wanted to quit that job and career, this time for good.

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life (at the young age of 46 years) but I did know that if I stayed at my current job I would continue to be unhappy, and that unhappiness had already begun to seep into my personal life. I was sure of one thing though, I did not want to leave one dead-end job for another.

So, I began with what I liked; I like computers and the internet, and writing so I changed my resume to highlight my skills; what I could do, rather than what I had done. I knew there was a job out there that could use my skills, I just had to find it.

I was on the usual job hunting sites, looked in the local paper, and even met with a life coach (who is the pastor at my Church.)

Then it happened, I saw an ad in my local paper for the job I had been looking for, it involved reasearch, the internet, exactly what I was looking for! I interviewed for the job, was offered it, and accepted this entry level job because I knew it would grow into something better. I have been at this job for 2 months now, and it is going great!!

If you are a career changer, and reading this I wish you good luck in your hunt. You can get the job you want- Just have faith in yourself, and others will also.