Career change tips : Clothing Buyer to

So my wife has been in the retail clothing business for over 17 years. She is just burned out. She is a clothing buyer/designer for a rather large National Company right now. She never went to college but did things the old fashion way, she worked her butt off. Started loading trucks in the warehouse, moved to accounting, then assistant buyer, senior buyer to designer. So guess my question for everyone, is how does she go about evaluating what she has to offer and to what end in finding a different carreer. Can anyone suggest any tools, etc? Just think she is burned out and not happy or excited with the industry anymore. She is intelligent, personalable ( I'm married to her and I like hanging out with her ) and obviously not afraid of working hard.

It sounds like she has done very well.

The lack of education can be a challenge for mid-career switches. Not insurmountable. But a challenge. I raise it not too be negative, but just so that you are aware.

Design is one field.
Buying is another field.
She does those in the Apparel + Retail industry right now.

A few thoughts...

A switch in companies can reinvigorate someone. Different people. Different products.
A slight switch in job. More emphasis in one area. Less in another. Or taking a job that has a specific challenge. Perhaps (just as an example), a place where they are starting a whole new product line, and need someone with a lot of experience to take it on. So a bit of a mission to sign on to.
Aligning with a brand / culture that is someone energizing / appealing. Environment, or change of environment can make a big difference.
Taking one or both of her functional expertises and doing it for a different industry. Out of apparel, and into something else, but as a buyer, for example. A bigger stretch, but possible.
A totally different job in the same industry (same or different company). One where they would appreciate and use that knowledge and experience, but the new job is different.
And of course, something totally differerent...

Ian Christie
Career Changers Coach

What Colour is Your Parachute remains a classic for Career Changers and it would be worth reading AND working through the exercises and and tools in Parachute.

Ian Christie
Career Changers Coach

Career Tips

Clothing Buyer to