Do you have a college degree and are working, but feel as if you are in the wrong field of work?

Question:

Do you feel as if you are in the wrong field of work? When you went to college, do you feel as if you shouldn't have gone until you were older? You went after highschool, and graduated, but you chose a degree you could finish with but not based on what you would do after school. Maybe you want a new job to make you happier, but doing so means a return to school. If you have faced this decision, how did you handle it? Did you switch jobs to something better even though it meant a decrease in pay? Did you go back to school in some way (campus or online) for another degree and then switched jobs? Please let me know, as I am in this situation myself: late 20's with a degree, but not in a field I like and am thinking of returning for another degree. Thank you.

Answer:
My problem was different. After graduating from college I couldn't find a job related to my degree. I have worked as an English teacher as a salesman and as a shop clerk.
Thankfully now I work as a software developer, which is what I've studied.
However just after school I did go for the wrong field of work studying Tourism and Hotel Management. When I realised I was in the wrong field, and that my best marks were in the Computing unit, I gave up everything and started from scratch a degree in Computing...

No, I was lucky - I have a degree in Mechanical Engineering and am happy with my field. I have a close friend, however, that was faced with a decision like yours. He was 24 and had a degree in Electrical Engineering, but was not happy with his job choices. His Dad had sort of pushed him into obtaining the Electrical Engineering degree, but now he wanted to be a veterinarian - he had always been fond of animals and their ailments. Our home town needed a Vet, so he bit the bullet, got a full time job in his college town (at a grocery store), talked to his councilors, planned his shift in studies, and completed his new field of study. He has stated to me that he is happy that he made the change even though it was a lot of effort to extend his time at the university. Now our city has a good vet. I always tease him about putting some electronic gadgets inside the animals to monitor their progress - he just laughs and tells me to get busy designing their artificial limbs. On a more serious note, if you are going to spend the rest of your working life in a field, take the steps necessary to make it one you are interested in - you will harvest a lot more satisfaction in your job that way. Good luck - I know how agonizing a decision it was for my friend.

Do you have a college degree and are working, but feel as if you are in the wrong field of work?

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