Burned Out, Then Made a Career Change

by Carolyn Osborne
(Columbus, OH)

When I became a director of a social service, I swore to myself that I would quit the job the minute I was no longer able to stand in the shoes of someone I was trying to help. I was in my twenties and I had the endless energy of a mid-twenties person, so I was able to handle a job that was essentially 24/7. I stayed in that job for 3.5 years, which was three times longer than anyone else who had had that job (and, twenty years later, remains the record, unfortunately). Towards the end, I had a family issue that on top of a highly stressful job meant that I experienced a high degree of burnout.

My job had required a masters degree, so I decided to pursue further education so I could change careers. I got into a Ph.D. program and even got a research assistantship so my tuition was paid for and I got a small stipend to live on each month.

It was a real culture shock to return to graduate school after three years of dealing with gritty reality and I realized how much my previous job had helped me to grow in my understanding of people.

My Ph.D. allowed me to get a job as a professor, which has allowed me to use my experience in social services and my social service skills, but without the high stress environment around me. I had run a battered women's shelter, in which I had experienced a significant amount of danger. The university does not have as many potentially violent people running around as my shelter did!

I tell my students that there is no reason to remain in a job that they hate or where they are burned out. There are always options, and when they stay in a bad situation they are not only not helping themselves but they are also potentially doing damage to the people they were originally supposed to help.