Keep up to date on articles and news and subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
Changing Direction In The Middle Of A Career
Whether it’s because they’re laid off or their business is cooling off, many Rochester-area residents are switching careers. In uncertain times, some turn to careers that virtually guarantee them a job.
Bruce Rosenbaum owned a business and sold electronics. Lisa Brillian worked at Xerox with engineers and parts buyers until she was laid off; along with hundreds of other people.
Recently, both of them went back to school to study Radiologic Technology at Monroe Community College. The two-year program teaches students how to administer x-rays and prepares them to sit for the American Registry Certification Examination and New York State Licensure.
“I think when you make a career change it’s almost like walking up to an edge of a roof, and taking that step, and hoping that the trampoline is going to be there to catch you,” Bruce said.
Lisa graduated earlier this month. The single mom said her family served as her safety net. She and her children moved in with relatives. She went on food stamps and her parents helped with school expenses.
At her graduation, she said, “They’re as much a part of this celebration as I am, because they worked just as hard as I did.”
Lisa has already started working at Rochester General Hospital. She now looks at her layoff at Xerox as a blessing.
“I’ve been there, so I know it may seem the end of the world at the time. But it’s giving you an opportunity; an amazing opportunity to change careers if you want to,” she said.
When Bruce graduates, he’ll be 50 years old. From his perspective, that’s irrelevant in the decision to switch careers. He is also taking a pay cut to go into this field, but feels it’s a tradeoff as he’ll be able to follow his kids around the country when they graduate from college.
“I don’t think it has anything to do with age. I think it has to do with happiness,” he said.
MCC’s radiologic technology program is very competitive: about 200 people apply each year for just 46 spots. Lisa was on a waiting list for a year.
Eileen Doyle, a MCC radiologic technology professor, said once students graduate, about 95 percent find jobs in the Rochester area. Of this year’s 28 graduates ready to start careers, 26 already have jobs. Salaries start at around $33,000 a year.
Doyle says most of her students have life experience beyond high school; the average age of this year’s graduating class is about 30.
Doyle said, “We are experiencing a nationwide shortage, and I think people are just doing their homework, and know there are jobs there when they get out of here.”
Two of the main reasons for the need of radiographers: the general aging population which requires more x-rays and the aging population of current technicians who are retiring in numbers greater than that of new professionals to take their places.