a very depressed career changer

[lba002]

Hi, everyone,

I am new here. I am career changer still strugling to find out what is best suited me and what profession I should switch to. I am a biology major. But I also got a MS degree in computer science in 2002. But I never got to work in the computer field. I doubt I will be able to find a job in computer field after so many years. Now I am working in a lab in bioscience which i don't like it at all. Now it finally gets to the point that I really want to switch career. And I have been exploring a long time for what my options are. So actuary science caught my eyes. I know I like math. But just don't know how good I can be in it. I am already 34, and long exam process really scares me. I am not sure if I can make such a big commitment to go through all the exams after so many years in school and taking some many exams and getting 2 MS degrees. I am so lost and depressed now. I really want to switch career, and I would rather do it now than later. But I am also scared that I will get into the wrong field again like I did in the bioscience. And I am so depressed now and no one to talk to. Can anyone here give me some advice?
Your responses will be really appreciated

[dmbfan41]

lba -

my situation really cant compare to yours.....i'm still in college and i'm preparing to sit for my first exam this may, however, i went into college originally as a math-ed major, and decided after two years that that career wasnt for me....so i'm relatively new in pursuing a career as an actuary.

however, i can tell you that i did my homework before deciding i wanted to do this, and i can honestly say i have never talked to anyone who has regretted becoming an actuary. literally, every actuary i have spoken to has said that the small sacrifices of studying for exams is not even remotely comparable to the benefits.

[lba002]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. I think it is really necessary to decide what kind of career is good for you while you are still in college. I didn't think too much while I was in college. And I think I paid my price for it.

[Thomas H]

I didn't think too much while I was in college.

There's a lot of unintentional hilarity in that sentence.

As dmbfan41 said it does seem that the vast majority of actuaries are happy with their careers.

[Durh]

Hi, lba002,

I'm sorry to hear that you feel lost and depressed. I'm not an expert in giving career advice. But I like to share some thoughts with you as a friend.

First, you may want to sit down and make a list of what you really want in life, in priority order. Handsome salary? Social Prestige? Job security? Or maybe a lot free time? Then go from there to see what job could be a good match for you. You may not find a perfect match which satisfies everything on the top of your list. That's when you have to make some compromises. If you can't have the perfect job, go for the optimal job. By "optimal", I mean some or all of the items on your list may not get to the highest satisfaction, but your overall well being is maximized. For example, you're not sure about taking all those exams. So the item "not wanting to take more exams" on your list gets the lowest satisfaction level. However, compensations and security may well outweigh this factor, depending on how important they are to you. Actually, I personally see the exams structure as a good thing. It leave little room for your employer to skrew you if you're good at what you do. The exams put a cash value, so to speak, on what you've achieved. Not many professions offer this benefit.

Second, I don't know you well enough to say if the following is your case or not. I'm just talking about my general experience with people. A commom pitfall for choosing career is that people tend to set too many conditions, in the form of "I won't do this. I won't do that..." So they end up not being able to find anything that they WILL do. You said you like math. You know that if there're 100 equations for 2 unknowns, the system of equations is overdetermined and hence the chances are that it can't be solved. Again, I may sound preaching and this is probably not your case at all.

Third, can you try to meet some actuaries to talk about the career? The career service at your university may be able to refer you to some alumni who're working in the actuarial field now.

Last but not least, cheer up! Spending time on the exams may be more fun than spending it being depressed.

I hope you sort it out and find your way. I want you to know that you have friends here.

Take care,

Durh

[Durh]

Hi, lba,

Just a quick follow up. I found a list of local acturial clubs for you. I hope you find someone in your area to talk to in person.

http://www.beanactuary.com/counselors/clubs.cfm

Take care,

Durh

[lba002]

Hi, All,

Thank you so much for all the advice you guys gave me. It was a very depressing weekend for me wondering what my future is gonna be. But after reading all the replies, I feel much better now. And I am really amazed that there are so many people out there willing to help.

[Samina]

Hi, All,

Thank you so much for all the advice you guys gave me. It was a very depressing weekend for me wondering what my future is gonna be. But after reading all the replies, I feel much better now. And I am really amazed that there are so many people out there willing to help.


i usually dont read any of the other forums besides the one helping me study for my exam, but i just happened to come across this thread and it really broke my heart (cheesy i know). lba002, im sorry to hear that you are depressed and dont know if you want a career change. I cant compare to your situation as im still in college, but i think that no matter what, you should definitely change your career because you just cant be depressed doing what you do everyday. im sure you wake up in the morning just dreading to go to work. you have to stop and ask yourself if thats what you want out of life. but as to whether or not you want to get into actuarial science, i think you should DEFINITELY try taking an exam( i recommend taking Exam P first) just to see if you would like and are made out for this field. I have second thoughts myself too sometimes, even though i already passed an exam and got hired for an internship. But you have to love what you do in your career..or your life will seem meaningless..thats the bottom line!

[JBowman]

I was a career changer. I was a nurse for ten years. Hated every moment of it.

Frankly, if my wife wasn't willing to support us financially, I don't think I could have changed careers. But I went back to school. Tested my waters by taking Calculus III, a course I had taken years and years earlier. Did well, took my courses, passed Exams P and FM, and am now one month into my first job.

It can be done.

[lba002]

Thanks all for your advice. It is so encouraging. I am planning to take exam P at the end of this year. If I can pass, I will start looking for an entry level job. Hopefully, I will be lucky enough to get an job with only 1 exam passed.

[newbie]

one of the biggest mistake people make while choosing a career is looking at the salary only. Dont be that person. Find a career that is suitable for you and family(if u have one). Ask yourself, if u see urself doing this job for the next 10 yrs? will it make you happy? do u have the skills for it? some people go to a field or apply for a job that is not right for them for the sake of big salary. Obvisouly, u have two degrees, u can do anything that u set your mind into. See how exam p is first before u decide to change career. Also keep sending ur resume when u see entry level job.

[arcticmouse]

i think you can do it lba002. if you are in doubt, i have a 2006 copy of 'what color is your parachute' i will send you... that book really helped me out a lot. i wish i would have looked at it before *i* went to college.

[soshry]

Hi Lba002:

As an aspiring career changer myself, I understand what you are going through. The prospect of starting over does seem daunting and can easily make you depressed if you let it get to you. I got my MS in Statistics later in life (I was 33) and did a career change into database marketing. I thought I was too old then but I am 50 now and hoping to become an actuary.

It is easier said than done but you should focus on the positives. You are a very smart person. How many people in the general population can get MS in both computer science and biology? Not many.

You received an excellent suggestion to talk to actuaries, you should follow up on that. If you then think that is what you want to do, go for it. As everyone on this forum says, pass the tests and then see what happens.

Hang in there!

Steve

[Lexi_with_Stewart_Search]

There's lots of good advice here; I don't really have anything else to add but wanted to chip in my well-wishes. Career change definitely can be done, and it's not easy, but it's worth considering to make yourself more satisfied in life, isn't it!
Best of luck!