Greg writes:
I’ve got a BS in Business Administration, and while I have worked in business for a number of years, I have never really enjoyed any of the jobs.
More recently, I have become interested in a career in nursing. One of my best friends is a nurse and I have seen first-hand how rewarding her job is to her — something so lacking in mine.
I did well in science classes in college and know that I could do well studying for a nursing certification, but I worry about how I will be perceived in my field as well as how my family and friends will react.
After doing some serious reflection, I am sure nursing was what I was meant to do. What do you think?
The Career Doctor responds:
There are certainly some pros and cons of working in a non-traditional career, which I will get to in a minute, but I think the most important thing to consider is finding a career that you will enjoy — that you will find personally meaningful and rewarding. I see too many job-seekers who are just not happy in their careers — and are just not sure how to get out of them. Kudos for taking the first steps.
And nursing is certainly a very hot career field right now — with lots of growth and plenty of room for both male and female nurses. Besides your friend — which is a good start — you’ll want to do more research on the field, perhaps even do some informational interviewing and job shadowing before making any final decisions.
If you do decide to go into nursing — a non-traditional career for men — you should be prepared for some cons that many men face, such as people questioning your sexuality, lack of support from family and friends, and a lack of mentors of your gender.
But there are also some pros to working in non-traditional careers. First, you often get more attention paid to your work. And for men working in non-traditional careers, you are often given positions of responsibility sooner — because you are seen as having natural leadership and other key skills. Finally, by working in a non-traditional career, you are having an impact on society, because you are making it easier for the next person of the same gender to break into the field.
Read more in my latest article published on Quintessential Careers: The Pros and Cons of Non-Traditional Careers.
