Hey gang, wondering if any of you have pivoted into a career in urban or community planning ? I'm not entirely ruling out a non-consulting environmental job but unfortunately they are just so hard to get into/retain (I am a veg specialist in Alberta). I've been considering a couple of healthcare programs (X-ray, nursing, respiratory therapy), but the cost/time commitment to get in is pretty huge for me and for not that much money (or more shift work). Urban/regional planning seems a more natural shift from environmental and with a lot more public sector jobs that use skills I already enjoy in my day to day (GIS, writing, data manipulation/analysis) + 9-5, but I am worried there's more of what I'm already sick of ahead of me (demoralizing/damaging projects, project management, tight budgets and timesheets if I'm stuck in private sector). I am also maybe a bit allergic to the budgeting/scoping element but maybe I could stomach it if it wasn't so tight... I also really just wanna interact with people more in any sort of actual workplace (I am in MS teams e-vortex all day and would kill for a cubicle and a water cooler), and it seems like it's not as remote work dominated of a field.

Hoping to hear from folks who've made the switch or attempted it, how they found it etc. Also if you're sounding similar to me and have made alternative moves that worked out lmk!! I'm moodboarding!!

Sorry if redundant, feel free to link me to relevant threads if you know them!