From an engineer-physicist to targetologists, from a teacher to a dancer: 4 stories of people who radically changed their profession

We recently launched a new sectionLet me know» for your stories. In the first issue, we called to talk about a sharp change in professional interests. We share the answers that made an impression on us.

“We came to an Internet cafe and began to get acquainted with a new world for ourselves”

I had to change my profession not because I wanted to, and not because I did not like my work. For more than 10 years I have been doing research using electron microscopes. Our laboratory was quite unique. And as long as there was funding, everything was fine. I didn't think I'd quit my job when I retired.

But, unfortunately, the state orders left, and we got laid off. It was impossible to find a job in the city, where almost all enterprises of the defense complex were in a state of decline.

Quite by chance, I was offered to work with phone databases in an advertising agency. It was a one-time job, but I soon learned that they were hiring full-time employees.

I asked the director if I could try to become an advertising agent. He answered yes. The first thing that came to my mind was to call the enterprises that are engaged in the production of food products. I found several clients and at the very least began to earn money.

But in 1997-1998 a crisis came. Our agency had a hard time: the most “money” clients disappeared. And I almost stopped getting money.

Then I started doing MLM - network marketing. People could make money on it quickly. At the same time, I noticed that the guys who were somehow connected with the Internet were the most successful. Then I did not own it yet, but one day I decided to fix it.

Together with a friend, we came to an Internet cafe and began to get acquainted with a new world for ourselves. All this seemed very interesting to me.

Soon I spent the Internet and myself. By cards, by phone. Whoever remembers, he will shudder.

At the same time, I started a blog and posted videos. And in 2011, quite by accident, I got to a webinar where they taught how to promote on the Internet. And I realized that I can’t make money on creating videos - after all, the sphere is very competitive. But on their promotion - you can.

After the webinar, I signed up for the first Russian course on this topic. I remember that there was a task to promote 5 videos, one of which was supposed to get 1000 views. I did it. Then YouTube was still at the very beginning of the journey, and many tools were not in it. I remember that the cover could be chosen from three frames.

But I was constantly learning. And then she began to record instructional videos. For example, my colleague and I created the first YouTube channel administration course. Soon I was invited to teach at a business school, and then I became a member of the YouTuber club. At that time, I already had my first customers.

Now mostly people come by word of mouth. I have no difficulty in finding clients. On the contrary, I sometimes share them with my colleagues. But I don't want to create an advertising agency. The age is not the same. Yes, I do not receive millions, but my earnings are equal to three of my pensions. And that suits me just fine. I like doing what I do.

“It seemed that I let the director and the whole school down”

I always liked to communicate with children, so after school I firmly decided to devote myself to teaching.

At the same time, I was dancing. First hip-hop, then contemporary. And later became interested in wog. This is a rather specific dance: it came from the world of fashion. All movements in it are mannered, pretentious.

To heighten the effect, it is performed in shoes on a high platform. Even men buy these for themselves.

I often posted videos from trainings and competitions on my page. It was absolutely natural for me what I do. For me, this is a show. But I didn’t take into account that the vogue performed by a man can raise questions among conservative people.

So one day, without a second thought, I shared a recording of the final run. I was there so beautiful: with glitter, in tight trousers and patent leather shoes. A dream, not a man (laughs).

True, as soon as I posted this entry, I immediately clicked: what if one of the parents of my students sees it? And quickly closed the account. But the video still managed to leak into the hands of one of the teachers.

The next day, the director called me to her place. She is generally a rather soft and tactful woman - the opposite of the teachers of the old school. She started a conversation from afar: “Marat, are you dancing?” I understood what it was all about. “You see, one of my colleagues showed me your video. Pretty… bold. Perhaps you should express yourself a little more gently? Still, you teach children... ”, she said.

To be honest, I felt very ashamed. It seemed like I let the principal and the whole school down. He began to say that the video was published in a closed profile, that his parents should not see it, that I would delete everything and continue to be more careful.

This caused some frustration. I wanted to keep sharing my life with people. But I understood that with my position it is impossible.

I think I tried to postpone the choice until the last. Probably influenced by the fact that I had a graduating class - fourth-graders. And in the middle of the year there was a conversation about what class I would get next. Then I realized that perhaps I should not take on new guys, but should devote myself completely to dancing.

The decision was difficult. And I chose to rely on the will of fate. I thought: if I come across some kind of sign, then I will do so. And the sign came. My sister came to visit and brought awesome ankle boots as a gift. Red varnished! She said that when she saw them, she immediately thought of me. It was the last pair in the store in size 44. Here it is, the sign!

I began to look for jobs for coaches, free hours and venues. The hardest part was explaining everything to the director. We had a very warm relationship with her, and I did not want to leave the school. I loved school. But, unfortunately, this is not the place where you can openly show your individuality. As a result, I finished the class, and then quit. The director even cried. But she wished me good luck in dancing.

Now I work as a trainer. And, by the way, my pedagogical education is very useful there. Because adults are children. They like it when you explain everything simply and clearly. I sometimes miss school, but I think I did the right thing. Now I feel much more like myself. And this is probably the most important thing.

“In the end, I was ready to run away”

I studied at the Pedagogical University in the field of environmental protection. That is, I am an environmental teacher. But she did not go to work in her specialty. At the Orlyonok All-Russian Children's Center, I compiled training manuals and programs, worked with children.

This stage turned my life in the right direction, taught me to think differently. I liked the work very much. But at some point, I realized that I was burning out. I didn’t go on vacation for a year, and because of this I felt very tired. In the end, she was ready to run. Which, in fact, she did.

I do not want to return to this job, although I miss Orlyonok. Therefore, after the dismissal, I firmly decided: when my children are born, I will definitely send them to this camp.

After leaving the camp, I decided to change my field of activity. At first I got a job as a cashier in a small company. Naturally, I realized that this was not my level. I wanted to go further. But only those with a higher accounting education could be hired into accounting. Therefore, the chief accountant herself suggested that I go to study in absentia. So I got a second higher education and thanks to him I was able to get a job first in one company, then in another.

Now I'm on maternity leave. And against this background, apparently, the teacher in me woke up again. Working with my child, I realized that I want to help other children. Therefore, now I sell special educational toys. And this is mine. I feel like I belong. Perhaps the income is not quite the same as we would like. But I attribute this to the fact that I am at home with small children.

It all started as a hobby. My husband supported me both financially and morally. He shared my belief that a person should always be doing something, even on maternity leave. But then this hobby turned into my own business. I want to keep doing it in the future. At the same time, not only pedagogical, but also accounting education came in handy for me - I myself keep accounting.

I think I did absolutely the right thing. I wouldn't want to change anything, because every decision I make has had a big impact on where I am and who I am now.

"Changed five jobs"

All my life I have been searching for my calling. For a long time I did not know what I wanted to do. Changed five jobs. And every time he stopped for a while. Somewhere - for a year, somewhere - for 3 months.

I became a content manager through an acquaintance. I used ready-made website templates and searched for information about treadmills and trampolines. (Laughs). He left, rather, because he did not see development. And the salary did not suit me. Next is the plant. Locksmith. State enterprise. Stability. But it didn't work. Not mine.

The waiters and sellers suffered when I wanted to try everything. I tried - it was enough.

Worked as an electrician for 3 years! This position is perhaps the most liked. Thanks to her, I got a technical background, improved my physical shape, and began to figure out how to use various tools on the farm.

And only then came to IT. My friend works as a tester. I somehow became interested in his profession. Asked for literature to read. He adviced Savina - to understand if I need it at all.

And in the fall I broke my arm. It was time to think and reconsider my outlook on life (again). I began to dig deeper and realized that it was development that was interesting to me - there you can immediately see the result of your efforts. It's funny that I came to this after reading the bible of testers.

At first it was just interesting. But then I realized that it could be something more. Yes, it is difficult for me to study without any mentoring and combine it with my main job. But I've never been so excited about something in my life. I went through a bunch of content, made new acquaintances.

In general, I radically changed my life: in six months I got rid of bad habits, interrupted communication with many people from my environment, retired from social networks, passed my license and went in for sports. I think I did everything right. But I don't want to give up my past. I experimented, I was interested in what life gave me, and this is an invaluable experience.