Contemplating Change from Airline Job to Dog Grooming

JC writes:

I have recently been furloughed from the airline industry. I worked with the airlines for 14 years and now am looking for a new job. I was in the purchasing department for the last four years buying tooling for maintenance for all of our fleets. At this time I am seriously considering a career change out of the corporate world with its stress and politics and taking up dog grooming.

I would appreciate any assistance you could give me. I am 49 years old and it’s a hard decision to make at this time in my life, but if I’m going to do something different now would be the perfect opportunity.

The Career Doctor responds:

A lot of people — especially the baby boomers — are leaving the traditional workforce and moving forward into a world of entrepreneurship — where your destiny and success depends a lot more on your efforts than the decisions of some small group of detached corporate managers. And the airline industry has experienced much more turbulence (pun intended) than many other industries.

So, your next step is deciding on what you want to do with this next chapter of your life. It sounds as though you have already given it some thought and are considering dog grooming. Have you done it before? Are you considering starting your own grooming business — or working with an ? Is the community where you live (and the surrounding communities) big enough to support your interests? Can you make enough of a living off of this venture to live comfortably — or the way you are accustomed to live?

If you’re going out on your own, then there are a whole set of other questions, such as do you have the entrepreneurial spirit needed to run your own business? Do you have the desire to deal with all the issues involved in running your own business?

I suggest you talk with some dog groomers to help you find the answers to some of these questions.

You should also look at some of the many resources we have on Quintessential Careers for freelancers and consultants.