Career Advisor

Want more meaning from work

By Career Advisor

Question: Hi there, I’ve been a full-time pastor for the last 12 years and I think its time to be done.  I’ve enjoyed the job: most of the time, but it is so draining.  Meetings, nights, weekends, etc.  There’s never time to take a break.  My kids are growing up so fast and I hardly ever have the time and energy to spend with them that I’d like to and then when I do I feel guilty about not doing something else that needs to be done, etc.

When I headed down this path my hope was to make a significant impact into the lives of people.  I get to do that some of the time, the rest of the time I’m just running around plugging holes in the dam while other people watch me or they point out the leaks.  I want to make a real difference in the lives of others, helping folks discover their passion for life and living it out loud.  I’m tired of just swimming upstream and getting nowhere.

I’m worried about putting undue pressure on my spouse as I change careers, don’t want to feel like a failure because I’ve “left ministry with the church”, don’t want the folks at the church thinking they were the absolute reason why I’ve decided to leave…not sure where to begin.

I’ve got 2 degrees, thought I knew what I was going to do for the rest of my life, I’m very good at it but I just don’t love it anymore.

Answer:  I can feel your passion for your work in your writing. My first question to you is, “Do you really want to change careers or are you just burnt out?” Also, are your feelings something that a prolonged vacation can cure? Is there someway that you can change to improve your work - life balance?

If you finally decide to make a career change. I would suggest as a counselor. This may give you the ability to affect the lives of people while still maintaining your work - life balance.

How to become a counselor?

Professional counselors can be found in a variety of settings….

• Private Practice
• Schools
• Colleges/Universities
• Hospitals
• Mental Health Agencies
• Public Employment Agencies

School Counselor: A school counselor is a counselor and educator who works in schools, and have historically been referred to as “guidance counselors” or “educational counselors”, although “Professional School Counselor” is now the preferred term.

According to CACREP (Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs), a school counseling program must be a master level (or higher) graduate program. Each state has its own certification or licensure requirements, and at least one state, California, merely requires a bachelor’s degree, causing concern about competence of school counselors in that state (National Clearinghouse. However, California does have a Pupil Personnel Services credential (PPS) that requires completion of 48 semester hours in a Commission approved program specializing in school counseling (California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, 2004). You can find our more about being a school counselor at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_counselor#Job_growth_and_earnings

You can find extensive information about the different counselor careers at: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm