Transitions

When you’re thinking about changing careers remember that the key word is “change.” My first career was in fashion. I worked in the garment district in New York City and eventually became a copywriter for major catalogs. Strangely enough, my transition from fashion copywriter to computer programmer was not as hard as I’d expected. Probably because after I was hired as a programmer, I spent a few months in a training program before being assigned to a department. Then there was another period of transition between being a “junior” person and becoming a senior programmer.

What really threw me was going from working in midtown Manhattan to working in suburban New Jersey. I felt as though I’d been dropped onto another planet. Where were the sidewalks? The crowds? Why did I have to go to a mall to find restaurants and stores? My new location took a bit of getting used to. Just going out for lunch could be a major production since nothing was in walking distance.

I had a new career and a new location, but the rest of me had to catch up. How long did it take? Looking back, I think it must have taken a few years for me to really feel comfortable. My career change was the right thing to do at the time, but that doesn’t mean that the path was an easy one to travel. Change is not just about going from “A” to “B,” it’s about the journey too. It includes the anticipation, possible disappointments and some discomfort. It’s all a part of making the transition to a new place in your life.