Career Path - If You Were in My Shoes-where Would You Go?

Updated on March 07, 2014
M.H. asks from Madison, WI
5 answers

Hi Mamas,

Since we're all moms here I thought this would be the best place to brainstorm my current career ideas, thoughts, etc.
I want to know your opinions of do I stay in my current field and pursue it or do a complete change (which I'm considering) but it definitely would require going back to school and getting a Masters degree. So this path wouldn't be immediate by any means.

Here is where I've been and where I'm at in my career/education.
I'm in my early 40s.
I've worked in the corporate world for about 7 years.
I currently do subcontract work from home, doing bookkeeping-but very part time, so income isn't much.

Where I have thoughts and ideas about going - becoming a Licensed Professional Psychologist.
I have a Bachelors degree, but would need to complete a Masters degree program. And from what I understand there are intern hours needed for this too.
I could probably cut back on my subcontract work and focus completely on the Masters degree, maybe taking around 3-4 classes per semester. We have kids (elementary school) so I'll want to still have time for them.
So I could probably complete the degree in around 7 semesters - so on the conservative side - maybe 4 years.
By then I would be 46 years old. So I would still have around 20 years in this field, assuming I retire around 65 years old.

In my current career - I am a business owner offering project management, executive assistant type services and of course bookkeeping/accounting - but I have just stayed very low key on advertising, etc. and haven't pursued any clients of my own.

Being a subcontractor, and working only part time hours, as a bookkeeper has perfectly suited me up until now.
What I love about what I do right now as a virtual assistant (my business) is I will always be remote to my clients which means I can always work from home or from anywhere I want really. If my hubby got transferred for his job I would keep all my clients. I can usually do most of the work on my own time in my own schedule.
I've proved to have the discipline to work from home, on my own time - I've been a subcontractor to this same person for 7 years and she in constantly blown away by the quality of my work and my loyalty and dedication in treating her company as if it was my own.
The downside - being a subcontractor, I get a subcontractor rate. That has been fine with me so far. But as the kids get older I am going to be ready to have a career again and I would like to make more closer to a full time salary. To stay in my current subcontract position I would have to work harder, not smarter. Usually the people who subcontract with this person I work for uses her as a spring board and then they move on to pursuing their own clients. I haven't wanted to go that route yet. But that is where I will probably need to go if I stay in this career path.
The biggest challenge for me in the current career path will be networking and advertising my business and trying to find and retain clients.
My ultimate goal if I stayed on this career path would probably be to gain enough clients, and hire subcontractors to assign to each of the clients so my business would be the hub bringing together clients with needs and subcontractors to provide those needs.
But again with that comes much responsibility from both sides. It does seem that it is a big challenge to find dedicated, high quality subcontractors.

Anyway, I'll stop now.
So thoughts, ideas?
Where would you go if you were me?

TIA

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Replying to one comment - What part of my post is a little bit tough to follow?
The majority seem to be able to follow my post. Please explain what is tough to follow and I'll update. Thanks.

More Answers

C.V.

answers from Columbia on

What is it that you want to do with your master's degree in psychology? Therapy/counseling?

If that's the case, I suggest that you look into the market. Because you'll need to find a job where you can get your supervision hours (about 2 years worth) in order to obtain your license. You can't get those hours from your house or in school. They're in person.

Honestly, your post is a little bit tough to follow. It sounds like you've hit a ceiling with subcontracting....?

Perhaps talk with someone who has completed their licensure.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I'd do the school venue and even if you didn't like the major after a while you could always do a second BS/BA in another field. Less stressful than grad school.

I think an MSW would be the path I'd go though. It transfers state to state but a Masters and licensing doesn't always. You might find you're not qualified at all if hubby gets a transfer. My friend is licensed and when she moved from Oklahoma to Missouri she had to go back to college and take 2 more classes before they'd even look into licensing her for their state.

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L.C.

answers from Los Angeles on

Go for the licensed professional psychologist career! What do you have to lose? You might have to give up your business (or at least some of it) while you go to school and intern. You are still young enough for a career C., and as long as your husband is supportive, I cannot see any obstacles in your way. Your kids will learn to adjust, and they will be proud of your accomplishments.

I am of the opinion that mature people make better therapists. Good luck to you!

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M.J.

answers from Sacramento on

I would lean toward pursuing your dream of being a psychologist, but ONLY after you've researched the job market in your area.

A good friend of mine decided to go to law school in her late 30s to pursue her dream. She graduated, passed the bar on the first try and found a lousy job market afterward. She's back in her old field.

I would think that there are plenty of opportunities for psychologists, given the need for mental health services in most communities, but I would really make sure before you invest time and money in the process.

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E.M.

answers from Phoenix on

I think it would come down to one basic (admittedly two-part) question for me- Do you love what you do and do you find it fulfilling? If you can answer yes to both of those now, then really look at why you want to change paths. If the answer is no to either, then you should change what you do.
I would research the amount of debt that you will take on to complete your education versus the job market, but it will still come back to the original question.
Best of luck- these major life choices are daunting!!

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