To ask if you have changed careers?

[Jobhell]

I'm 4 years into working at the job I trained for (uni degree) and I don't think it's for me.

Im just looking for people's experiences of changing careers, how did you do it, was it okay, did you retrain, how old were you, how did you manage to do it and still pay the bills etc.

Obviously it's a big thing to do and I am terrified but it must be better than staying in a job you don't like forever?

I changed careers, from a profession that required a lot of travel (construction industry) into teaching. The idea was to be able to work more locally, and not miss so much of my children's lives. Although i took a pay cut, the actual transition was easy as my degree qualified me for tax-free funding for the PGCE that was actually better than the starting salary once qualified.

I then changed careers again, two years later, as it turned out teaching wasn't for me. It's bloody hard and if you don't live being in the classroom there's not much else to recommend it! I now do a very specific role in the civil service, and live it. 🙂

For "live" read "love". Twice. FFS!

I worked in IT for 11 years. My last role was as an IT Security Analyst for the head office of a large retailer. I'd been in that specific job for 4.5 years when I decided I wanted to move into a more creative role and was keen on Marketing.

I networked the hell out of the department, then approached the Marketing Director to ask how I could best improve my chances of getting a role in his department.

I pointed out all the transferrable skills I had, from stakeholder / project / budget management, to working with all levels of staff seniority, excellent communication skills etc.

It took some convincing, but after an interview and presentation. I got the job.

That was 11 years ago. My job's now moved sideways into PR & Communications, which I much prefer. I've also got side gigs as a radio presenter and columnist outside of work.

Find out what you need experience and qualifications wise. Network as much as possible, do some free work experience, look at synergies in the job you do, compared to the job you want. Good luck.

I did. I taught in secondary schools for over a decade. Decided I was no longer prepared for it to suck away my energy, enthusiasm for life, or my family time. Changed to a completely different job in the civil service. Now life is amazing again.

I didn't retrain and for about 8 miserable years I had convinced myself all I could do was teach, but a friend who also left teaching for this role, convinced me I was qualified and to apply. So after a particularly horrible exam period I did. Didn't believe I would be successful, but was. Mid 30s, and there's no going back ever. Slight paycut in take home pay but we adjusted outgoings, my hourly rate significantly increased.

Thanks for your replies.

I have cried the entire drive home from work and I genuinely don't think I can gk back there tomorrow.

*go

Oh OP, it's awful feeling that way re your work, I was the same, but it can get better. I left teaching as I found it too repetitive & the pushy parents a nightmare. Did some PA work in Banking but couldn't hack the egos & politics. I'm now retraining in Counselling. There are Advanced Learner Loans avail from the Govt that you don't pay back til you're earning at least £25K. My local college had the Level 2 course required first, free, one evening a week. It's been a relief & a joy to find my niche. Best of luck.