Switching Career Advice

[u/FrenchFriedToast]

I've been in the horticulture industry for over 6 years now as a greenhouse manager and looking for a different career path that can utilize my skills but also pay well (65k+ ideally). The main reasons I am looking to make the switch are 1. Lack of upward mobility in long term career 2. Lack of flexibility with no options of WFH 3. Extreme hours during busy months with no extra compensation as a salary individual (working everyday for 2-3 month stretch in summer) 4. Physicality of the job, coming home and having no energy to live my life as I know I have to do it all again the next day

I have a degree in environmental biology and am based in the Chicago area. Is there any advice or companies in the area that I should look for? Any advice would be appreciated.

[u/deep_saffron]

Don’t know how feasible it is in your area but try to look into biotech. I made the switch for all of the reasons you listed and am now a greenhouse manager in a top of the line facility making well above 70k. When you’re growing plants for research trials , you’re valued a lot more than cranking out annuals and dealing with the seasonal grind associated with it .

[u/YourMomz0 → u/deep_saffron]

This. Also botanical gardens

[u/wtfgey → u/deep_saffron]

This sounds like a really fascinating job!

[u/Ok-Tradition-6218 → u/deep_saffron]

Can you explain how you got to that position? I’m in school studying plant sciences and sustainable agriculture now and hoping to find a comparable job to yours when I graduate.

[u/deep_saffron → u/Ok-Tradition-6218]

I got my degree in Horticulture and spent my first few years working as a grower in a nursery. With that experience I was able to get my foot in the door at a large agrochemical company not directly growing plants, but learning/monitoring the environmental control systems of the greenhouse and all related equipment. From there I was able to leverage that experience of understanding more modern greenhouse tech and the more rigorous standards of growing in a research setting, to land the job that I have now.

I’m very fortunate to be in the position that I’m in. When I look at how it came about aside from the connections I made through various cohorts, the underlying principle was that I knew this is what I wanted to do from the beginning. Of course I had no clue it would look exactly like this and be more on the research end of things , but fundamentally this (growing plants and ultimately overseeing all aspects of production while getting to try new things ) was something that I felt I was meant to do.

It certainly hasn’t all been glamorous and there’s been lots of hardships along the way , but I love this field and from that love was fortunate enough to keep finding ways to make it work for me.

[u/LeonaLux]

If you have management experience you can highlight and focus on that in your resume.

I transitioned into an admin role by highlighting skills that crossed over. Try looking into state, city, and construction jobs. There’s probably quite a bit of overlap with your current position.

You can do it! I hope you find something with better quality of life and work/life balance.

[u/returnofthequack92]

Look into plant pathology! You already have a leg up being in the industry as a greenhouse mngr and your bio degree would be a plus also

[u/rubiconchill]

Maybe look for positions at companies that are breeding or doing seed production, usually there is a lot of greenhouse/controlled environment production required for breeding/seed production and these jobs are likely to pay higher than most commercial greenhouses, another thing that may be worthwhile is seeing if there are grower positions at other commercial greenhouses and trying to leverage your experience for better compensation but as I'm sure you know this can be fairly difficult. I hope you find a better position, you got this!

[u/AdigaCreek25]

I made a pretty good living in Hort sales and I know there are plenty of openings. You might not start at 65K but the upside is double or more

[u/CaptainObvious110 → u/AdigaCreek25]

Wow that's awesome what training did you get for that?

[u/[deleted]]

Look into Ball horticulture. You may be able to stay within the industry, but transition to office related work.

[u/CaptainObvious110 → u/[deleted]]

Nice

[u/AdministrationOk139]

I have seen some folks move from production management into horticultural sales roles and be very successful, growers respect other growers and the knowledge they bring with them. Sales isn't for everyone including myself and is still a very tough role, compensation and flexible work arrangements are possible.

[u/MonsteraDeliciosa]

Those who can do, teach? Our local community colleges are always looking for hort instructors. There is a sizable feeder program into the state Ag schools in addition to the vocational aspect. Some of the courses are lab work but people also need to learn irrigation design, etc..

[u/dubdhjckx → u/MonsteraDeliciosa]

Good luck getting 65k+ with that though

[u/AlwaysPissedOff59 → u/dubdhjckx]

I personally know a person who made over $70K plus pension working in a STEM program at a tech school as a program lead (mid-CoL area). It's certainly doable.