Considering a career change

I am thinking about taking a job at (non disclosure) natural foods distributor as a client support specialist. The job is about the same pay, with about the same pay scale, the benefits are a little less comparable by about 1/2 ($ value). However I am really, really, really, really bored with the work I am currently performing at the UI Hospital (clinical lab). My current job I am certainly over qualified for, so, I've been holding out for more than 2 years waiting for some type of advancement opprotunity within the department. I realize now that within a unionized system that opprotunity will likely never come, and I'm not sure my skillset is best utilized where I'm currently at. My current position guarentees me excellent benefits, and total job security. This other position offers me daytime hours (2nd shift has been a significant strain on my marraiage) and perhaps the opprotunity to shine and be looked at for advancement opprotunities (also the distinct possibility of failure or more likely the same dismal day in day out discontent). Additionally, they have facilities throughout New England, where my heart longs to be, but that's a long shot and neither here nor there really, just a footnote. What to do?

 

Thanks for your input you guys. I'll see how the interview goes I guess, but I'm pretty confident that I will be the best candidate. I've never NOT been hired after an interview (and that's a half a dozen out of the way now, maybe more).


I'm excited about the idea of a new job, I just wonder if that will change after I get used to it for a couple of years. If that's the case then I'll know that it's just me and I'll need to learn how to settle. But I think this might be a position that allows me to branch out and do many new and different things regularly. Where I work now, I know I would have been promoted many times over already if I only had the (on paper) qualifications. I am of course quite neurotic, but it's that quality that makes me employable and in high demand. I think I can sell it, I'll let you guys know how it goes.

 

well, i appreciate some candid input. Let me tell you guys where I am. I'm nearly 28 years old, I've been doing this job since I secured it as a student line 3 years ago, and then moved into a full time position. I have two bachelors degrees; one a BA in Comprehensive Biology, and one a BS in Environmental Science. I knocked out a 2.67 in college, and had plans to go to grad school, but with that GPA, not a snowballs chance. This is primarily because I had to work 40hrs to put myself through college, and I've been engaged with my personal life (my wife and various obligations) through the duration. I went to college half heartedly, knowing that my general set of knowledge and skills would get me through.....although as I learned, short of grad school. (I wanted to be a piscine veterinarian and work for a fish farm). So I studied aquaculture in my spare time, and I have a strong understanding of piscine disease pathology. yet I digress. I'm a bit of a slacker I guess, and in today's competitive market and fast pace world I fell short of greatness and the goals I once desired. In fact at this point and 40k in student loan debt I've really grown tired of college and I wouldnt go back even if it served me well. I've decided to cut my losses and try to have a mediocre life, where I can buy a home, build a small out of home coral business and enjoy my time with my wife taking small trips and vacations for bird watching and camping. The job I have right now is not cutting it. It would be great if it weren't for the student loans really, but..... It is what it is.


In my current line of work,I'm essentially a high functioning paperwork annalist and sticker labeler, I am employed the same as some high school graduates who made a career out of what I'm doing, making 30k, with the promise of 40k after 10 years of tenure, and everybody says I'm far too intelligent to be working there....and I want to stab myself in the face every day. Every one of my superiors asks me, "when are you going to go to MLS school" because they would love to promote me and give me tasks and projects but I'm not qualified due to the lack of 1 year of clinical experience (basically an unpaid internship) and four little letters (ASCP) after my name. (btw I don't have the grades to get into the UI MLS school either, due to it's highly competitive).


I AM worried about the risk. But I know that I am highly capable and very motivated, and I'm hoping that with an entry level position there, that there might be advancement opportunities down the road. There aren't advancement opportunities for me at the U. This is basically what it is for the rest of my life. And I'm supposed to be the bread winner in my marriage. I DO feel a very urgent sense of importance in the agriculture industry and in changing the face of agriculture by promoting healthy organic foods. But I wonder how much this job will entail, and if it will end up being your typical day in day out grind. I guess I will see if they can even match my current pay and go from there. If they do, I will have some serious consideration to do.