As some of you may be aware from my previous posts, I've mentioned it a bunch of times, I've been working at an auto salvage yard for the last 10 years. It's been an absolute blast, as I've always been a gearhead. As many can imagine, it's like working in a candy store.

most of the time...

Lately things have been going ways that I haven't liked too much, company wise... And although the passion is there for automotives in general, the satisfaction with the job is not...

So, I started poking around, looking for options around where I live, to see what else was out there. Aside from automotives, computers has always been my other hobby. Not just building them and such (which I'm a total nerd for as well), but I found a passion in 3D modeling in high school when taking 3 years of CAD and drafting classes. I fell in love with it, excelled at it in the classes, and continued to play with it since high school to this very day (16 years later) on the side, as a hobby for the most part.

Well, I was presented with what I feel is the opportunity of a lifetime. I have 2 weeks left at the salvage yard, and then I'll be leaving for a position at a civil engineering firm in their CAD department. To say that I'm excited is an understatement! A little nervous as I'm leaving a place that after 10 years I've become very comfortable with and got to know very well, but at the same time very confident in my abilities in my new endeavors.

But anywho, I just felt like sharing. I can only hope that this little story can inspire someone else out there. I have no formal education in the career field (unless you count high school level classes 16 years ago) and no professional job experience in the field, yet I've been given the opportunity to begin a career path that has always been a dream of mine. Never sell yourself short, know your worth, and never give up chasing your dreams and aspirations!

 

Good luck! It's hard to leave a job where you've been for a long time to start a new one. Much more so to start a whole new career. I wish you the best.

 

Good luck! I get what you mean about leaving a company and being scared. My last job I was there for just shy of 9 years, was a lead hand and ran my own department as well as took care of shipping coordinating. Long story short, I was far beyond under paid when I new owner came along and care more about making money then the employees...

I've been at my new job for just shy of my second year, and I make my own hours, and almost doubled my yearly wage!

 

Oh man, that sounds like a really cool opportunity! I'm super excited for you. I bet you'll be really enjoying solving new problems with super cool tools!

Be sure to keep us posted.

 

Congrats! I found myself laid off at the beginning of the year and said what the hell and I've started a company doing something I love and so far things are looking really good. Hope you find what you're looking for in the new career and don't be afraid to learn something new everyday!

 

go for it. good hearing that you found yourself another opportunity.