Dear Martha:

I’ve been working in healthcare IT for the past five years and you know what I’ve realized? I don’t like healthcare or IT. I’ve been looking into other career options and think I’d like to work at a university. I’m not sure exactly what role (anything but IT). What now?

Sincerely,

In a hurry

Dear IAH:

Given that you’re tired of both the industry you’re in and your function within it, I can see why you want a radical change, but I recommend you take a more strategic approach to your situation.

We at Career Moves @ JVS often counsel our clients to take one step at a time. Changing one’s industry or one’s function can present big challenges; to attempt both at the same time just multiplies those challenges.  

With this in mind, you might explore how your IT skills could transfer to a higher education setting. Once you’ve moved into higher ed you could start exploring other roles you might play there.       

You also might want to do some informational interviews with people in your health care institution who work in roles other than IT. Maybe you’ll discover a job in health care that suits you better.Even if you have to take some classes to gain the necessary skills, it could be worth the time and cost if it’s the ticket to a more satisfying job.Sometimes when people transition to a more satisfying function within the same industry, their perspective on that industry changes for the better.

Best of luck,

Martha Plotkin

Interested in scheduling an appointment with Martha? Contact Judy Bottkol at jbottkol@jvs-boston.org or 617-399-3162.