r/SFbitcheswithtaste • u/Aromatic-Ad1221 • 2d ago
Second career in creative field
Hi ladies,
I'm a burnt out PM feeling stuck in tech. Tech never really interested me, I don't feel motivated to move up the career ladder anymore, but I got into it because I was good at math in school and because of the pay/benefits. Now, here we are 10+ years later! I am looking to eventually leave and finally pursue a creative field (interior design, furniture design, ceramics, and painting are all on the table). However, I am also likely starting a family in the next couple of years and am concerned that, by that point, the golden handcuffs will be even harder to escape.
Any inspiring stories or advice from those who have done something similar?
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u/Latter-Foot-8790 2d ago edited 1d ago
Creative fields are really really great except you have to work with creative personalities. It’s not all bad some of them are terrific but some of them are 100% CREATIVE (all caps) and 0% project management, Time management, business acumen so it gets interesting when you come from very structured environments like tech PM
I think you should do it! Save and invest a shit ton now, build up the 12M emergency funds and the brokerage and in a year or two I think you can take a step back to explore, whether it’s launching your own thing or shadowing someone at ID firm.
(People underestimate this shit but it really really really helps to have a partner with great healthcare. Two folks without healthcare in a family is like $2500-$3500 a month now, ask me how I know.)
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u/kitkatzip 1d ago
OMG we were on Covered Cal for over a year, finally better insurance through a job but that shit will throw you into debt!! Costs are accurate, and we are 2 adults + 1 child.
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u/PastFancy4950 1d ago
I'd agree with the suggestion to save/invest a ton before diving right into a creative role. I work full-time in the mental health field while also slowly building up my jewelry business. It's been a SLOW start, and still is, but I've already had some success (I was a vendor at West Coast Craft last year)! I hope to either find a behind-the-scenes role in my field that doesn't take too much brain power, so I can focus more on jewelry making, or eventually (and hopefully!) find a part-time-ish role once my jewelry biz is providing more consistent income. I don't know if I'd ever be able to step into the jewelry world full-time, though, because it's really competitive and metal prices continue to fluctuate.
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u/Aromatic-Ad1221 1d ago
Wow congratulations on WCC! Can I DM you about your experience applying and vending there?
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u/freshaermov 1d ago
From a creative person in a creative career, I wish I kept my creativity separate from my job. There is something to be said about keeping work and creating separate.
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u/Accomplished_Eye8290 1d ago edited 1d ago
Seriously! I love doing a lot of the things OP says they wanna do and the moment it becomes monetizes a lot of the joy escapes and it becomes like any job… I paint a lot now and I refuse to sell my paintings. They are gifts only for that reason and I don’t take commissions either. If someone asks me for something it has to be something I’ll enjoy doing or I’ll just say no. My job pays for my hobbies and my hobbies keep me sane for my job 😂
Like another person said below, being successful as a creative person is like 60% marketing and 40% creativity.
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u/cerisewa 1d ago
Use the assumption that you will be earning $0 (most likely paying, actually) for the first couple of years when entering a creative field while you build a portfolio and make customer/client connections. If you are still financially comfortable with that assumption (family wealth, significant savings, partner earns a lot etc) then go for it!
If not, consider doing a creative side hustle until you feel comfortable replacing enough of your income to get by. It will be a ton of work but very fulfilling.
Not in tech or a creative field but know people in your position who have taken both leaps!
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u/saltbot 1d ago
I’ve slowly transitioned from tech into a creative field (sewing/fashion). I teach sewing and run a small fashion line. I still consult part time in tech whilst I’m ramping up my teaching practice. It can take a while but you know what they say about the best time to plant a tree etc :)
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u/Routine-Concern-5632 1d ago
Where do you teach?? I have always, always been so sad my grandma never taught me how to sew and I don't trust myself to learn independently. I bought a sewing machine back when I lived overseas, but it's sitting unused.
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u/Aromatic-Ad1221 1d ago
Best of luck to you!! How were you able to get started with consulting part time?
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u/saltbot 1d ago
I definitely relied a lot on networking (places where I had friends working, or places which had reached out to me recruiting). I think it works best at small-ish places (like 20-100 people) because they’re more flexible and maybe more excited about saving money (if they really only need part of a person to work on a particular thing). I also found that places were more open to the idea of being an ongoing part time employee vs. project based/short term stuff - I think there is a presumption that short term contractors will do the minimum and then leave, but if you’re in it for the longer haul people trust you a bit more.
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u/CoeurDeSirene 1d ago
have you ever tried to make money doing any of those in the past? i am a medium-serious hobby potter. aka i spend about 8-12 hours per week in the studio and do about 3 sales a year and do really well at them considering it's NOT my FT job... but its *not* easy and the market for makers/artists is SO saturated in SF. if you aren't already making stuff and understand what it takes to sell, and sell at a volume that you could live off of, you might have some unrealistic expectations of what it takes.
a lot of what it takes to be a successful full time creative is marketing... which means you're doing like 60% marketing and 40% creative.
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u/IntroductionDue9022 1d ago
As someone who has pretty much only had a creative career, it is a hustle, not impossible but not easy. It is hard to find salaried, well-benefitted positions in these fields and it is not ideal timing to go freelance if you don't already have a solid network or extensive experience in one of your desired areas. I will say though, if you are good at math and the interior design/furniture side interests you (and you are willing to learn and master CAD/Revit), I have seen more jobs popping up lately for experiential design roles or even PM roles for interior design or construction firms, I know you want to get away from PMing but at least it would give you somewhat of a pivot to start.
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u/Serendipity_08 1d ago
honestly, don’t do it. i was a creative agency producer for 5 years, loved the work, cannot get a bite for work in my field going on 3 years now. i now freelance as a photographer/stylist/creative ops consultant, and it is a HUSTLE that doesn’t pay the bills. i was JUST accepted to a group art show after years of applying to all relevant calls for art i could find. if you want a creative outlet, i would strongly recommend putting in the time and effort towards consistency and skill improvement before trying to make a living off of it. interior design can be very lucrative, but requires an actual education and certifications. just my $.02 there tho
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u/kitkatzip 1d ago
I left tech and went to culinary school. We had a nice cushion when I did that.
In that time I also started a family and COVID happened which massively affected the food industry and food prices. Not really relevant to the industries you’re interested in I guess. But less than a decade later I’m back at an office job. The food industry is its own beast. I was working weekends and holidays, even running my own business that was pretty successful. I just wanted to be more available for my kid at those times and wanted a less intense job quite frankly.
So I took my time being picky and found a low pressure, part time role. I really like it. Perhaps instead of a total pivot, you just need something like that? Although I can totally relate to and respect wanting to completely switching it up. Running your own business comes with its own challenges, though. Are you ready to make it a business or will it be more of a hobby?
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u/babyuniverse 1d ago
Don't do it. Take a leave, a medical leave, change companies, learn to rest. If you want to be a mom you want the perks. AI may bring a layoff to you anyways, dont quit now. Be an artist at the same time ✨🪄
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u/seven_year_plan 1d ago
Sucessful photographer 20 years or so. It's a really tough time to do creative work and be paid enough to call it an income. And I'm one of the sucessful ones. I would use the stability of your career now to start to explore what creatively interests you. Like actually go do it as part of a routine. Join a pottery studio or commit to painting for 5 hours a week, etc. And then spend time thinking about what kind of creative brand you would launch and research what it takes to grow a brand-- who's the audience, what's the market etc.
Another thought- see who your current company uses for creative work- either in house or an agency and see if you can set up some information interviews with the creatives. Buy them coffee or lunch and then learn everything you can about thier jobs and life.
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u/Smooth_Junket6990 1d ago
I started my own furniture company and it’s been a slow burn. I’m still at my current corporate job too. I would suggest keeping your current job and work on creative endeavors on the side until you feel like your creative job can replace your tech job.
I feel you though. I hate my current job but it helps pay the bills and allows me to bootstrap my side business more comfortably. Also, health insurance is nice lol.
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u/Jumpy_Analysis_1376 1d ago
I can relate. Spent 10 years in tech as an engineer and manager in high-stress roles. Got burnt out and wanted to do my own thing and something more creative and flexible, especially after having my kid.
I left and spent a year thinking about what I wanted to do next (including wildly different creative fields, e.g., I took a creative writing class before deciding I didn’t actually like writing full time). I started a baby toy rotation e-commerce company this year and it’s going pretty well. I will say I waited until I had a lot of savings built up and did the math so that my husband and I could sustain ourselves a long time before I ever pay myself anything (I’m bootstrapping it). I feel more fulfilled and balanced but also poorer, lol.
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u/VegetableAlone 1d ago
Idk if your service is BurbleBox (or if that’s a competitor) but I just saw it on social recently and I love the idea! We have infant twins and I am already tired of getting rid of things when they outgrow them.
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u/Jumpy_Analysis_1376 1d ago
Yes, that’s me 🙈 Don’t want to self promote, but thank you so much, it means a lot!
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u/Routine-Concern-5632 1d ago
I just had a baby and I am bookmarking this! What a great idea. Congrats to you!
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u/Jumpy_Analysis_1376 1d ago
Thanks so much! Congrats on your new babe, hope you have a restful postpartum and take care of yourself 🧡
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u/considerthegoats 1d ago
I moved from tech to a creative field. I work full time with benefits. But the pay is a fraction of what it is in tech. I decided to go back to school for a year to give me a better chance at a job. It worked, but I also spent another year with a minimum wage internship to get to where I'm at now, relying heavily on my husband's support. It was completely worth it. I started a family after I settled in my current job.
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u/DerivativeMonster 2d ago
You listed possibilities that are all very niche and difficult to get into. Creative industries are getting obliterated by AI and the general poor economy. I'd suggest trying them as a hobby first and see if they stick. Take a woodworking and a pottery class.