Mid-30s career changer about to move from process tech into EHS — what do you wish you'd known your first year?
I'm finishing my degree in Environmental Health and Safety. Right now I work at a chemical manufacturing plant as a process tech (earning a pretty decent wage), and an opportunity just opened up for me to move into the EHS department. I'm in my mid-30s — spent the last four years earning the degree online at an accredited school after deciding midlife I wanted to change things up. I'll be honest, I'm dealing with a fair amount of imposter syndrome about making the jump.
I'm trying to learn from people who are already ahead of me. For anyone already sitting in an EHS role: what caught you off guard your first year that school never prepared you for? What part of the job eats the most time or causes the most headaches? And if you could go back to day one, what would you tell yourself? I'll take any honesty — good or bad.