For Daniel Buchardt, then a 31-year-old from Guelph, Ontario, it was a life-changing moment. After spending seven years in sales in the insurance industry, he realized he needed to do something different. As he felt increasingly unfulfilled and uninspired with his work, Buchardt decided that it was time to make a change. So he decided to return to school, pursuing a degree in environmental engineering. His love of nature and dedication to environmentally friendly practices inspired his choice.
Buchardt’s decision was not made lightly. While reflecting on his monotonous job, he stated, “I’m not really passionate about insurance. I don’t think anyone really is.” He elaborated on his feelings of stagnation, saying, “There really wasn’t a lot of upward mobility and it’s kind of like you’re doing the same job day in and day out. I was getting antsy. I wanted to get out of the office, get outside.”
After much searching, Buchardt found a one-year graduate program in environmental engineering at Conestoga College. His father was a pioneer in the environmental engineering industry. He motivated him by assuring that the demand for jobs in this industry is “growing exponentially.” This family support was essential, as Buchardt recounted how during the process of switching careers, his father listened.
During this pipeline transition, Buchardt relied heavily on support from family. He sought advice from a friend who had made a successful return to school to switch careers. The friend provided a candid warning about the challenges of a condensed program: “It’s not a walk in the park,” he cautioned, explaining that Buchardt would “have to be studying every single day.”
Experts discuss the need to do your homework before making a career change. Lance McCready noted that individuals working full-time often do not qualify for government grants or loan programs, which can add financial pressure during such transitions.
Sangeetha Dikshit, an expert in career and education transitions, advises prospective students to do a few things first before jumping into the admissions cycle. She suggests that prospective students should explore online courses through platforms like LinkedIn Learning or YouTube to gain insight into their desired field. Going back to school would be a massive change in focus, in their budget. Are you willing to truly enter that dialogue?” she counseled.
Dikshit noticed that going back to school to make a career transition has been a growing tendency, particularly after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. What they’re afraid of is… Yes, kind of a combination of that financial support, that social support, those learning expectations, nobody ever regrets it after they do it. It automatically creates more opportunities for them,” McCready continued.
As Buchardt begins his adventure in education, he thinks back on the sacrifices that will have to be made in order to find success on this big new road. He is still focused on studying and confident that hard work is the way to succeed in the end. “In order to finish the program and get this degree, you’re going to have to take some time away from something else,” McCready reminded him.
