Long Term Career Planning

[shanendoah]

I am not as young as some posters here, and I certainly don't have it together, retirement wise, as well as other posters here, so while I am 35, I expect to be working another 30-35 years.

Right now, I have been with my current company for 6.5 years, and in my current position for 10 months. I have no intention of leaving my current position for another 2-3 years.

I currently work in health care, for a local insurance/managed care organization. I believe in my company's mission, but its not where my passion is. I want to stay in health care, but move in to Global Health, going to work for an organization like PATH, the Gates Foundation, or UW's Department of Global Health.

While there are a relatively large number of these organizations with HQs or at least major satelites in the Seattle area, its still a fairly limited and competetive job field. To me, that means I need to start networking and getting involved with these organizations now, so that I have the contacts to make the move when the time is right.

I am looking at subscribing to newsletters, joing facebook feeds, etc, and also going to events in the area. Most of the organizations that have membership are actually looking for corporate members (my current company is a member of some of these), but I do plan on joining one that takes individual members.

Being a one car household and with DH in school full time for at least one year (two if he decides to go for his teaching endorsements), and currently having AWFUL public transporation options, that cuts down on my ability to volunteer, though I may still look at volunteering for specific events.

What other steps would YMers suggest I take?

For reference, I have a BA in History with a minor in Writing and an MBA with a focus in technology and innovation mangement. The school I got my graduate degree from is also a member of many of the organizations I'll be trying to network in and around.
I will have over 13 years in health care by the time I'm looking to make the change with 3 of those years being a manager. I work in administration and operations.

[servant_of_dog]

Do join revelant professional/non-profit organizations. It's the best way to meet the people you want to work with in the future. My DF works in a different industry, but maintaining and expanding his professional memberships has been crucial for his career path.

I'm curious about the public transit comment; we're in Seattle as well, and I've found public transit to be remarkably accessible. I'm sure there are gaps in the system, but overall...?

In any event, it sounds like you have a good plan and timeline.
eta: I'm so weird sometimes.

[shanendoah]

Would you believe that light rail destroyed my public transit options?
There used to be two busses that ran within a block of our house (one of the main reasons we bought it). One went between the sounder train and my work, with a stop at SouthCenter and the other went between the airport and SouthCenter. Between the two of them, I could get anywhere I needed to with just minimal planning.
When light rail was added, both those routes disappeared, with the more popular one running from SouthCenter to the light rail station, without going through the neighborhood. There is now a single route that runs by my house (within one block one way, 5 blocks away going the other direction). It runs from SouthCenter to the airport, but 1/4 as often as the previous bus, and is not a direct route (especially for the next 6 months of roads being closed around SouthCenter).
If I want to take a bus to work, what used to be one bus, 20 minutes to go three miles nw takes either 2 busses and 90 minutes or 3 busses and 60 minutes. In worst case scenario, I could still take the bus if need by, but an hour and 2 bus changes (with tight connection times) to go 3 miles makes it unrealistic.

[thyme4change]

3 miles? Get a Vespa!