X post OT: I need a new career

 so, in thinking about relocating I eventually realized I want a new career, not just the same job in another location. I can do that, right? I'm about to be 50 but that's what WLS is about - total reboot of your life.

currently I work in therapy and I want to do something not so people oriented. so, work with DATA (which is why on my MB thread I posted his photo)

I want something that will be IN DEMAND and not just in this country, I'd like to be able to move to Canada or Europe if that's something I want to do in my 60s or whatever.

so what's hot? you'll have to be specific, since I don't know enough to ask - what's the coming thing in computers? how do I know if I have the kind of brain who could learn to program? I think I do not like accounting, or taxes, thought of that.  

all advice gratefully welcomed!!

www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4441178/OT-need-a-new-career/

I am looking forward to the answers you get.  I am nearing retirement and am looking for my next career too. I've worked with computers for over 30 years and am ready to be done. (I got a MAC so I can just do the fun things with a computer and not mess with windows!).  I've been in Computer/Information systems operations and am ready for a job that is not 'so stressful'.   I'd thought of working with Flowers, but with breaking both wrists I don't have the dexterity.  I'm the opposite, I am thinking I want something where I meet people.  I have been working with small technical projects, never with the public.  THen again I may find the grass is not always greener thing.  It is so hard

I know right now getting a job is tough, and even when I am able to retire I may wait. I will be close to 60 when I start this, so there maybe some age discrimination I may have to deal with.  I'm thinking of taking some computer graphics classes over the next year or 2 so I can possibly do free-lance graphics work.  I don't know what the market is tho. 

Good luck finding some answers.

Baja 

 I figure to wow everyone with my freakin' maturity so the age problem won't arise!  I'm glad to hear from a compute person - I know SO little I don't even know how or what to ask. 

someone where I work who is at her computer all day said go into Health Information Management. well, huh? I know  just enough to know it's like "IT" - a very broad thing. have to narrow it down & no idea how.

ideally, if I need 4 more years of school (or more, yikes) I could do it in two steps. and I would like to learn online, if possible.

do you know what kind of people you would like to work with?  I turned out to really enjoy nursing home patients, especially those with dementia. and making a difference really really feels good.  I think kids are cute, but wouldn't like to work with them - others do, however.

 maybe you could TEACH in your field?

yes, the grass is always greener, that's for sure  

 Okay, so you work in the medical field now, and don't want to, but my suggestion keeps you there, lol.  When you say you do "therapy", what kind?  Like physical therapy?

I work in mental health, and my employer is affiliated with a large hospital.  I was recently talking to one of the recruiters for the hospital, and we were chatting about how much RN's make, and he said that actually right now the people who are most in demand, and making the most money to start are Radiology Tech's.  He said they're starting at 50-plus an hour.  Maybe you could find one of the specialties that involves less interaction?  And I think there are certificate type programs, so you wouldn't necessarily need to do extensive schooling.

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos105.htm




I don't know if this is just a local thing--I'm in the SF bay area.  By the way, regarding your other post, I absolutely love Petaluma.  Every time we go there I say I'd love to live there.  There are certainly areas around there that would have a lower housing cost.  Sonoma County is just spectacularly beautiful almost no matter where you are, in my opinion!

 I work in Occupational Therapy, a lot of overlap with PT especially in long term care & home health. I work for a rural hospital so we do everything: inpatient, outpatient, etc.

thanks for the info, that's interesting. 

and Petaluma sounds like a great place to visit even if I don't move there.   thank you!!

I LOVE this thread.  I am turning 56 tomorrow.  I too want to break out of my long time field.  I've been in Nuclear Medicine for 28 years.  As to the idea that radiology techs are in demand and starting in the $50/hr range.....no offense, but I'd really take that with a grain of salt.  Most health care fields are flooded right now, XRay included.  The starting rate is probably more like 25-30 hour.  I am a specialty in Medical imaging with a degree and I am making $41/ hour.  But the students just graduating are not finding jobs at all, maybe just some per diem or call work.  Maybe things are different on the West coast, but my sources say otherwise.
I want to do something creative, outdoorsy, in demand.  I've been wondering about the "green" sciences.  Enviormental stuff.  The collages in this area are soo expensive though.  I'm considering moving away as well.  I've been in Southern New Jersey all my life, I'd like to move up to New England, it's soooo beautiful, or down near my sister in Southern Mississippi.  Huge contrast between the two!  So yes, any thoughts would be appreciated!
Marie

I don't recommend getting into computers unless you are young and willing to get a BSCS or even an MSCS. That seems to be the requirement for entry level positions these days.

I was lucky that I got into computers back in the 70s when no one had degrees and you could learn on the job. But those days are gone. Plus, there is a lot of prejudice against older workers in this industry. My sister is experiencing this as she didn't start with computers until her 40s. She has had some jobs but also long periods of unemployment.

No offense to Jet, I have 3 friends who just complete training for x-ray/radiology tech programs. 1 person went through a university, did 2 years of pre-requesites and took speciality classes for X-rays. Graduated with a bachelors degree in science with a couple other things.
The other 2 went to a Sanford Brown type deal and got a "certificate" in a 10 month program for their x-ray tech program. None of the 3 have been able to find a job in the 2 years they have been out of school and the ones that ARE being hired, are vetted techs with experience who aren't going in expecting to be paid $50 an hour....even those vets with 10+ years experience are not making $50 an hour...maybe it's different in california, but here in the midwest (I'm in St. Louis) People have been flocking for that job and because the employers have so many people to choose from, they dont have to pay that high, and aren't going to.

 I put in a call to our recruiter--maybe I misunderstood him.  But if not, maybe your friends should consider relocating.  Fabulous weather, great hospital, benefits that cover WLS...;-)

Multipetmom--sorry to hijack your thread, since this probably isn't what you're interested in anyway, but maybe it will help someone else, who knows!  In this economy every option is worth looking at, right?  

Straight from our hospital Recruiter's mouth:

"We hire for four different positions in this category.  Radiology Tech, Ultrasound Tech, Sonographer, and Nuclear Medicine.  The education for these positions is usually 18 months, we most often hire graduates of the Kaiser School for Allied Health http://kpsahs.kp.org/.  Our starting pay rates range between $35 to $64 an hour."

 And as I said in my original post, he said that they are always looking to hire, can't find enough applicants.  *Shrug*.

I'd rather not say  online which hospital I work for, but it is a large hospital in the SF Bay Area with Sutter Health.  http://www.sutterhealth.org