| Career change 14:35 - Oct 7 with 3056 views | unbelievablue |
Has anyone undertaken one? I am 10 years into my career and seriously considering looking into it. Any general advice would be lovely. |  |
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| Career change on 14:40 - Oct 7 with 2366 views | vilanovablue |
I've had multiple career changes, insurance to emergency planning to teaching English a foreign language and finally recruitment and consultancy which I have been doing for nearly 20 years.
A lot of it is about thinking about the skills you currently have and how they might be transferable to a new role. This is the critical thing to consider in my opinion. It's achievable so long as you approach it with a realistic frame of mind.
Is more education an option? |  | | |
| Career change on 14:45 - Oct 7 with 2331 views | unbelievablue |
| Career change on 14:40 - Oct 7 by vilanovablue |
I've had multiple career changes, insurance to emergency planning to teaching English a foreign language and finally recruitment and consultancy which I have been doing for nearly 20 years.
A lot of it is about thinking about the skills you currently have and how they might be transferable to a new role. This is the critical thing to consider in my opinion. It's achievable so long as you approach it with a realistic frame of mind.
Is more education an option? |
All of that makes a lot of sense. I've got a week off later this month and was planning to document my transferable skills, strengths etc. as a starting off point.
Re: education I'm currently doing an MA part time but it's not particularly work related as it's in History, and just for my own enjoyment/interest. | |
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| Career change on 14:55 - Oct 7 with 2298 views | unbelievablue |
Nice one.
I have very little passion in my work, and I think it is beginning to take a toll. The more senior I get, the more stress, the more politics, the more nonsense - that is true of most jobs, but I think if c.90% of the role is unenjoyable/unfulfilling, it's time to consider a change. | |
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| Career change on 15:00 - Oct 7 with 2270 views | mrfixit426 |
I was 13 years into a Civil Service career before I decided I couldn't do a job I hated for the rest of my life, resigned, then booked myself onto a training course, and got an entry level job in visual effects in the film industry. I was 32.
It was a massive risk, but it helped having a supportive partner at the time. Now I do a job which could quite easily be a hobby, engaging myself in something I actually enjoy.
It's the old cliché, "I'd rather regret the things I've done than regret the things I haven't done" which worked for me in this instance. |  | | |
| Career change on 15:02 - Oct 7 with 2262 views | leitrimblue |
About 25 years ago I stopped being a sheet metal worker and went to college and studied archaeology. Was a serios change in culture and environment but easily the wisest thing I have ever done. |  | | |
| Career change on 15:03 - Oct 7 with 2244 views | leitrimblue |
| Career change on 14:45 - Oct 7 by unbelievablue |
All of that makes a lot of sense. I've got a week off later this month and was planning to document my transferable skills, strengths etc. as a starting off point.
Re: education I'm currently doing an MA part time but it's not particularly work related as it's in History, and just for my own enjoyment/interest. |
Turning yer hobbies into yer paid employment is never a bad move... | | | |
| Career change on 15:04 - Oct 7 with 2237 views | unbelievablue |
| Career change on 15:03 - Oct 7 by leitrimblue |
Turning yer hobbies into yer paid employment is never a bad move... |
Aye, I'd rather do that with writing than History though. | |
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| Career change on 15:04 - Oct 7 with 2231 views | Ewan_Oozami |
| Career change on 15:02 - Oct 7 by leitrimblue |
About 25 years ago I stopped being a sheet metal worker and went to college and studied archaeology. Was a serios change in culture and environment but easily the wisest thing I have ever done. |
Don't be so hard on yourself, I'm sure you were a very good metal worker...... |  |
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| Career change on 15:05 - Oct 7 with 2231 views | leitrimblue |
| Career change on 15:04 - Oct 7 by unbelievablue |
Aye, I'd rather do that with writing than History though. |
I have no idea how you would manage that but it must be something we'll worth looking further into the possibilities | | | |
| Career change on 15:06 - Oct 7 with 2223 views | leitrimblue |
| Career change on 15:04 - Oct 7 by Ewan_Oozami |
Don't be so hard on yourself, I'm sure you were a very good metal worker...... |
You've clearly never seen my welding... | | | |
| Career change on 15:08 - Oct 7 with 2211 views | Kropotkin123 |
Yeah. I found progress easier to come by. I was a manager in 2 years and paid at the 90th percentile after 4. Though I did switch countries too. The reason I say this is if you identify something you like, you will probably be surrounded by people who are doing the same thing just to get by, and your motivation will quickly put you in a position where you can do better than those around you.
What are you looking to change to? |  |
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| Career change on 15:10 - Oct 7 with 2195 views | clive_baker |
If I had to answer in 2 words it would simply be to "do it". Appreciate the practicalities aren't always easy, but I firmly believe that life is far too short to be unhappy in work. We spend a lot of our life working, it's important to get some enjoyment from it. Might not necessarily be your biggest passion, I think few are that lucky, but there has to be some enjoyment.
By and large I do enjoy what I do but there have been periods where I haven't. I work for myself now, consulting / contracting and much prefer it. I've never been one to be all over work social things and needing to feel part of a team etc, maybe I'm an unsociable beggar but I've got enough friends and family that I barely get time to see as it is. My definition of happiness work wise is doing a good job, broadly enjoying it and getting paid enough to facilitate the things I want to do outside of work. The switch to consulting where I'm on short term projects etc and a little more anonymous has been great for me. A career change in that respect, albeit doing the same stuff.
I would say the first thing you should do is talk to people in jobs you might fancy. Get a feel from them, maybe see if you can shadow a bit, research what the pathway into it is and go for it.
Good luck. |  |
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| Career change on 15:21 - Oct 7 with 2129 views | thebooks |
I've done it twice. Once to become an English teacher and then a website developer/manager (which was also my hobby).
It was worth it, but it gets harder as you get older. For me now there's a lot to be said for having something stable with a decent pension. Having said that, I would have felt different a couple of months ago when I wasn't enjoying this job.
General advice: have a plan about how you'll do it and how you'll manage financially. Also bear in mind the crap in a lot of jobs is the same whatever you're doing. |  | | |
| Career change on 15:41 - Oct 7 with 2013 views | Rozz |
I've taken a small side step in the last year from developing interiors products for retail to now working in modern art creation / installation. I use a lot of the same skills, but now have to engage with creative technologists, architects, clients, computational designers, visualisers and contractors. We have concrete deadlines and a tangible sense of accomplishment / reward at every successful delivery.
It's not a hugely different process to manage, and lots of my prior knowledge has set me up to fit in quite nicely. I'm probably more stressed, but infinitely more engaged than where I was.
It might not have the best progression opportunities, but I'm glad to have diversified and am enjoying it right now while I figure out my path to doing something for life. |  | | |
| Career change on 15:42 - Oct 7 with 2009 views | Churchman |
I changed careers a few times. I had boring jobs, fascinating ones, periods of boredom, times of the complete opposite. I never earned a kings ransom, but enough. I was lucky in that when I wasn’t working, Mrs C was, being a teacher so for me there was no real risk. Points I’d make are:
1. It gets harder as you get older to make a change. Ageism? It’s how it is. But it’s doable.
2. Be prepared to research, search and work for what you want and be patient.
3. Qualifications are good as a background (even my mediocre degree), but be prepared to study if whatever you do requires it.
4. Job search is a skill. Work at it and learn. CVs, job applications are an art form and interviews are a technique. However disappointing it is to be told to s0d off you only need one successful application.
5. Try and aim for something you are likely to enjoy. It sounds obvious, but it didn’t always pan out that way for me.
The most important thing is that you spend a lot of your life in work. If you are not happy, do something about it. You only get one crack at this life thing. Making a change can be scary, but also exciting. I didn’t always make the right decisions, but I’ve no regrets whatsoever. |  | | |
| Career change on 16:05 - Oct 7 with 1923 views | Illinoisblue |
Yes, quite recently in fact. Switched from marketing - which was initially fun and interesting but due to company takeovers, re-orgs, and terrible leadership, not to mention the role changing to be more about sales and targets, i grew to despise it and everything about it. The Sunday blues and dread pretty much every night of the week.
Now working for local govt and, in a very small way, doing something (transportation planning in rural areas) that actually helps people.
So, if you’re unhappy, go for it. Make the change. |  |
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| Career change on 16:07 - Oct 7 with 1907 views | unbelievablue |
| Career change on 16:05 - Oct 7 by Illinoisblue |
Yes, quite recently in fact. Switched from marketing - which was initially fun and interesting but due to company takeovers, re-orgs, and terrible leadership, not to mention the role changing to be more about sales and targets, i grew to despise it and everything about it. The Sunday blues and dread pretty much every night of the week.
Now working for local govt and, in a very small way, doing something (transportation planning in rural areas) that actually helps people.
So, if you’re unhappy, go for it. Make the change. |
Nice.
Thanks all for your advice, and keep it coming. | |
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| Career change on 16:21 - Oct 7 with 1866 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Career change on 14:45 - Oct 7 by unbelievablue |
All of that makes a lot of sense. I've got a week off later this month and was planning to document my transferable skills, strengths etc. as a starting off point.
Re: education I'm currently doing an MA part time but it's not particularly work related as it's in History, and just for my own enjoyment/interest. |
Even the MA is a selling point at interview.
‘I’m curious and a keen learner, as shown by undertaking a MA in my own time…, etc’. |  |
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| Career change on 16:25 - Oct 7 with 1832 views | blueasfook |
Do it while young. Nobody wants to be a "trainee" in their 40s or 50s.
I started out as a marine electrician in a shipyard. Served my apprenticeship. Worked as a tradesman for about another 3 years after serving my time. Then got bored of it, and decided I wanted a career in IT so had to go back to college and start at the beginning again, get a BTEC diploma, then 3 years at uni. Was almost 30 by the time I graduated. But worth it. Sitting in a nice warm office sure beats crawling around in cramped submarine compartments. Even better now office workers mostly work from home. |  |
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| Career change on 16:28 - Oct 7 with 1822 views | Bury_St_Edmundson |
If Liz Truss and Boris can be Prime Ministers, there's ALWAYS hope for anyone to do anything |  | | |
| Career change on 17:19 - Oct 7 with 1741 views | fabian_illness |
I went and done work experience in 1988 at an engineering firm in Martlesham. I worked there every Saturday morning and school holiday until I left school. 12 mile bike ride each way from Trimley.
I loved the job, totally loved it.
I was offered a job there at school leaving age, but because there was no formal training offered, just specialist in house training, my parents wouldn't let me do it.
I cried for ages.
I really don't enjoy work at the moment and have been toying with the idea of sending in a CV to the old firm i worked for all those years ago.
My hobbies revolve around the skills I learned there.
But I keep telling myself I'm being ridiculous. |  | | |
| Career change on 22:26 - Oct 7 with 1510 views | Lord_Lucan |
| Career change on 15:04 - Oct 7 by unbelievablue |
Aye, I'd rather do that with writing than History though. |
I think you would make a good teacher - especially as you are a left wing activist.
What about journalism? I think I would have liked to be a journalist.
.......Or stay with what you are doing and write a book in your spare time? You might create a masterpiece.
That's another thing I would like to have done but I haven't got time to have a sh1t at the moment so that will never get done - another for the didn't do list. |  |
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| Career change on 00:00 - Oct 8 with 1392 views | XYZ |
| Career change on 22:26 - Oct 7 by Lord_Lucan |
I think you would make a good teacher - especially as you are a left wing activist.
What about journalism? I think I would have liked to be a journalist.
.......Or stay with what you are doing and write a book in your spare time? You might create a masterpiece.
That's another thing I would like to have done but I haven't got time to have a sh1t at the moment so that will never get done - another for the didn't do list. |
I wish your digestive tract the best of luck.
It's going to be painful by the sound of it. |  | | |
| Career change on 00:05 - Oct 8 with 1389 views | The_Flashing_Smile |
Yep. Decided there's more to life than working at Tescos so went to uni at 32, then did a couple of post grad courses in advertising, the second of which I remain the oldest person ever at age of starting it (37). I'm now a Senior Creative, coming up with ad ideas, and then when it gets down to the nitty gritty, doing the words... everything from poster headlines to TV scripts. And occasionally getting flown to far flung countries on shoots, a world I wouldn't have dreamt of when I was working at Tescos.
I'd agree with those saying making that change while younger is better, but I think I'm proof that age doesn't have to be a barrier either.
Find something you like doing, and are fairly good at because of that, then find out how you can earn a living from that thing, then work bloody hard to make it happen (including reading all the books you can find on it, and talking to people already doing it).
And take lots of notes. [Post edited 8 Oct 2022 0:07]
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| Trust the process. Trust Phil. |
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