10 answers
1
Question
Asked
359 views
Can I have more than one career ?
I want to be more than one career and honestly want to know if it's possible to have multiple careers since it's a passion to continue helping people and animals.
Login to comment
10 answers
Paul Goetzinger MPA
Academic and Career Advisor and Freelance Writer
135
Answers
Updated
Paul’s Answer
Yes, you can have more than one career, but you need to coordinate each position correctly, and make sure that hours and days do not conflict with each other.
I was able to continue my career as a law enforcement officer and work as an educator at a regional college for several years. The hours of each position did not conflict, and there were no conflicting or ethical issues involved with the positions.
So, this was a great opportunity, to provide experience, when I eventually left law enforcement, to transition full time into college academics.
I was able to continue my career as a law enforcement officer and work as an educator at a regional college for several years. The hours of each position did not conflict, and there were no conflicting or ethical issues involved with the positions.
So, this was a great opportunity, to provide experience, when I eventually left law enforcement, to transition full time into college academics.
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
Kimberly
Updated
Suzanne’s Answer
Another way to look at this, Kimberly, might be whether you can happily combine both your interests into one career. So, for example, you say you want to help both people and animals. You might look into a career as a social worker who includes support groups for people grieving the loss of their animals.
Or you could look into the process of how support animals are trained to work with people with disabilities and have a career or a side-career in the training of service dogs.
Or you could look into becoming an animal-assisted therapist. https://www.online.colostate.edu/certificates/human-animal-interactions/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=3-sahai-210701-cpc-google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI35P01cy8-AIVQcLCBB2u0AH_EAAYASAAEgLgZ_D_BwE
Check out this link to Michigan State University's veterinary pet loss support group: https://cvm.msu.edu/hospital/services/social-work/pet-loss-support-group
Or you could look into the process of how support animals are trained to work with people with disabilities and have a career or a side-career in the training of service dogs.
Or you could look into becoming an animal-assisted therapist. https://www.online.colostate.edu/certificates/human-animal-interactions/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=3-sahai-210701-cpc-google&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI35P01cy8-AIVQcLCBB2u0AH_EAAYASAAEgLgZ_D_BwE
Suzanne recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Elizabeth’s Answer
Yes I do believe you can. It depends on your careers. For example if you are a teacher and you have the Summers off you can use the summer to do something else. I knew a fire man who flipped houses on the side he would buy houses and redo them and sell them as a side gig. Most careers will require you to be present for 5 days a week. I think it depends on your schedule and how many hours you want to put in. Having a real estate license could possibly allow you to do a little bit of sales on the side. Sometimes it may be easier to have a career and have a side gig rather than 2 careers.
Being an interior designer and real estate agent may be an example of 2 simultaneous careers.
Being an interior designer and real estate agent may be an example of 2 simultaneous careers.
Updated
Chiranjib’s Answer
You definitely can have more than one career.
A few things need to be taken care of, however:
1. There should be no conflict of interest between the organizations you work for. Be mindful of any such clauses in your hiring letter.
2. You have to be extremely good at managing time and priorities. I have seen people jump at dual careers for the money/fame and then struggle with both. Personally, I feel, you should prioritize one above the other.
3. Be transparent about it to your employer, as much as possible. That would prevent any possible surprises if they find out later through other sources!
A few things need to be taken care of, however:
1. There should be no conflict of interest between the organizations you work for. Be mindful of any such clauses in your hiring letter.
2. You have to be extremely good at managing time and priorities. I have seen people jump at dual careers for the money/fame and then struggle with both. Personally, I feel, you should prioritize one above the other.
3. Be transparent about it to your employer, as much as possible. That would prevent any possible surprises if they find out later through other sources!
Updated
Luisa’s Answer
Hello Kimberly,
Of course you can always have more than one career, or switch careers at any point in your life. You are in control of your life. I am about to graduate with a BS in Accounting and I have a notary public certificate and a real estate license. My accounting job will probably be from 9am-5pm kind of job, leaving me with plenty of hours left during the day to do notary public work or real estate. So do what you enjoy the most, or simply try to find a job that you can do both of your passions at the same time. For example, I can try to find a job where I can be an accountant for a real estate firm.
Of course you can always have more than one career, or switch careers at any point in your life. You are in control of your life. I am about to graduate with a BS in Accounting and I have a notary public certificate and a real estate license. My accounting job will probably be from 9am-5pm kind of job, leaving me with plenty of hours left during the day to do notary public work or real estate. So do what you enjoy the most, or simply try to find a job that you can do both of your passions at the same time. For example, I can try to find a job where I can be an accountant for a real estate firm.
Updated
Andreja’s Answer
You can have as many careers as you want.
Updated
Todd’s Answer
Most people have multiple careers over the course of their life. I don't the exact numbers, but this is a trend that is accelerating rather than declining. It used to be common to stay with a career or even the same company for most of one's working years. But this is no longer the norm.
I'm not clear if you mean having two careers at once or not. My experience is that I was an internal auditor for 5 years, decided to make a career change and went back to school for my MBA, and have been a financial advisor for 20 years now. The audit experience was a good foundation, but I knew that I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. Being a financial advisor is a better fit for me in terms of the work and the flexibility it provides in my later years.
I did not try to hold down two careers at once. This would certainly be possible if one or both are part-time or you can work one during the day and the other at night or on weekends. But don't forget to account for your health (mental and physical) and other priorities like friends and family. I would think you could manage working two careers pretty full time for a year or two, but not long term.
Good luck!
I'm not clear if you mean having two careers at once or not. My experience is that I was an internal auditor for 5 years, decided to make a career change and went back to school for my MBA, and have been a financial advisor for 20 years now. The audit experience was a good foundation, but I knew that I didn't want to do that for the rest of my life. Being a financial advisor is a better fit for me in terms of the work and the flexibility it provides in my later years.
I did not try to hold down two careers at once. This would certainly be possible if one or both are part-time or you can work one during the day and the other at night or on weekends. But don't forget to account for your health (mental and physical) and other priorities like friends and family. I would think you could manage working two careers pretty full time for a year or two, but not long term.
Good luck!
Updated
Josh’s Answer
Yes you are able to change your career if you aren’t thrilled
Updated
Chris’s Answer
You can definitely have more than 1 career. You will discover you can evolve as you gain experience and what you are good and passionate about.
Updated
Stuart’s Answer
Yes you can have more than one career. In fact, it's likely that you will have more than just one. Your interests may change over time or you may build new strengths that you can share. Don't feel like you are stuck doing 1 type of job, especially if you are young. If I could do it all over again I would have changed jobs every 3-5 years and I think my career would grown a lot more.