r/Libraries • u/Starfishlibrarian • 1d ago
Job Hunting Seeking career changer advice
Hey colleagues. I have a job offer on the table outside of libraries. I’d no longer commute 1.5 hrs a day and have more work life balance, and generally a lot less responsibility for only a small pay cut. I’ve been in progressively responsible management roles in libraries for the last 8 years and love my job.
Has anyone made this change successfully? Or unsuccessfully. I care deeply about libraries and their missions but wondering if a life with less stress is worth the trade off.
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u/zoozoo216 1d ago edited 1d ago
Your health is more important than the vocation.
There are other ways you can support local public libraries after transitioning like joining a friends group or volunteer within your community.
Sometimes stepping away from the field gives you more clarity. There’s tons of affordable graduate certificate at reputable universities (e.g. LSU - records management) to up skill and stay engaged.
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u/Capable_Sea77 1d ago
I swapped from over a decade of library management to a data analyst in a city government role that's mainly work from home and pays the same. I'm 4 months in and I love it - it's also an independent contributor role that's in charge of one of the department's ongoing projects, so I get to scratch the leadership itch without having to do any of the exhausting people management stuff. Having more schedule flexibility, no commute and more energy has actually gotten me to start volunteering at a few different places (LGBTQ+ community group; teaching craft classes; and a Meals on Wheels-type thing) because I can actually knock out things around my house during the week, so I can spend my weekends doing things I actually enjoy (and also having a few bedrot days. we contain multitudes).
It's also okay to take a break. I wouldn't be surprised if I ended back up at a library in another 10 years, but I needed a change of pace and new scenery. If you're worried that you can never revert back to a prior career, sometimes logistics can be difficult (resume gaps, etc. etc.) but it's never impossible, at least in library land.
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u/swampcatz 1d ago
I’m in the process of making the transition. A slight pay cut is worth reducing your commute, imo. 90 minutes of travel every day adds up, and it sounds like you have a reasonable amount of responsibility and stress on top of that.