Matthew Nehmer, Ph D: 5 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Switched Careers

An Interview with Phil La Duke

Education is not just about the credential. The value of a degree program is elevated by taking advantage of the experience. I went to grad school at GW because I wanted to be close to the world of politics and the people who make it go. Proximity matters. Getting close to people you can learn from and leverage their contacts matters. Taking classes and earning credits is only one piece of the puzzle.

According to the US Department of Labor, “The average person will change careers 5–7 times during their working life. Approximately 30% of the total workforce will now change jobs every 12 months.” The statistic is disconcerting for many. After all, we tend to think of our careers as a linear progression of increased skills and (ideally) earning power. We reached out to business professionals who have successfully switched careers in hopes of gleaning bits of their wisdom. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Matthew Nehmer.