Career switching is hard!

[digimumworld]

AIBU for thinking that switching careers is very very difficult! I don’t think it’s impossible but it’s easy to coast, wake up and realise that you are still in the same place.

Me and my partner (mid 30s) have been trying to find better paying work. We are working at the moment but we know this is not where we want to be - and we need more income. He teaches and wants to do something in modern sciences. I’ve always worked in events but have had my hours cut and want to go into urban planning.

Over the past 3 years or so we’ve had a few interviews but that’s it. There is always someone better who has the experience. And all of the roles that get to the interview stage have been for jobs that are similar to what we are doing, as opposed to where we want to be.

We’ve looked at qualifications. We can’t afford to study over work - we would need about a year out each. We have 2 kids - amazing family support. We don’t make enough to save for this (which is what we were doing originally).

We go to networking events where we can but maybe we are just not bubbly enough to be “hired on the spot”.

How do people actually do it? Completely change direction.

Unreasonable - anyone can switch careers (tips would be nice)
reasonable - it’s bloody hard. Easier to stick with what you know

It's hard. I career changed to be an AHP from teaching but tbh wish id gone for somethig higher paying like law.
The NHS did partially fubd me through a bursary and my pay has gone up almost £9,000 in 3 years which is great but thats because I started on a low wage in the first place!
Dont give up though...try to broaden your options

The issue is you don’t have the qualifications to do the roles you fancy. you can change career but to one that needs a similar skills set.

Both are true, anyone can change career and it’s difficult to do so. In terms of qualifications could either of you do the required qualification part time while working. Yes it’s hard to study and work and have kids but the areas you want to move into need qualifications. Getting a new job in a new area isn’t about being bubbly, it’s about being able to actually do the job and in science and planning that means knowing what you’re talking about, which means having at least basic entry level qualifications.

On the plus side, studying as an adult learner while working shows employers you’re both committed and hard working.

Open University ? Study once the kiddies are in bed or early in the morning? Sounds really challenging to try and squeeze everything in but I know people who have. Take turns doing the bedtime routine so that you’re free to study?

Good luck!

Have you got much equity in your property? Can you remortgage, lending against your equity to give one of you the money to take a year out to upskill. Do the sums to work out how long it would take to pay that money back when you're in a higher pad job. If you're on a low ish wage now, would it really take that long?

Somewhere in the middle. It's possible but it takes time and requires a degree of luck. It may not be a direct route. I've done it, but i had to volunteer for couple of years to demonstrate interest in the area, while pursuing professional qualifications at first workplace that were more transferable, and saving up for an educational qualification. Then I transferred to an organisation in the right field but at the same level, to build professional experience. Then I did the educational qualification. And now I'm in the field I wanted at a higher level.

So basically volunteering plus professional qualification plus professional experience plus educational qualification did it. But it wasn't a case of making a diagonal move across and up

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge. I also thought it was impossible to give up my full time salary to become a full time student but it turned out just fine. I had a full maintenance grant as a mature student which covered roof over my head and bills. And I worked a couple of evening a week and during uni holidays as a carer. By the end of my degree I actually managed to save 7k because it was suddenly very straightforward to live frugally. After I qualified,bmy partner left his teaching job to do PhD because we realised that we could manage on one salary for a few years with changes to lifestyle.
Obviously if you have nursery-aged kids it won't be possible but with kids at school, you have options.

My approach was to take a side step into a tangentially related field that I had enough experience that I didn't need to go in entry level, a field that had a higher ceiling with more earning potential, but a level where they'd pay for my qualification. It was the same pay essentially, but by getting the qual done and some experience under my belt I was able to progress really quickly. I entered the role on £35k, and made 2 jumps (at different organisations for quicker progress) to £75k within 4 years.

So I basically didn't start from scratch, I couldn't afford to do that, I looked at what had a better earning potential utilising the experience and quals I already had.

I've done it twice now, neither times with qualifications or further official training.

First time - Found a subset of roles that I could spin previous experience to meet the requirements. Applied to over 100 roles, spending a minimum of 1h on each application, tailoring CV to role, really personalised cover letter explaining why I wanted to change industries and how good a fit I felt the role was. It was a bit soul destroying getting all the rejections 😂 But I kept going. I learnt a lot about what worked/didn't in my applications and kept changing my style until I had a higher percentage of screening calls/interviews. Did the same with the actual interviews. Ended up interviewing with 9 companies and got 2 offers. It took about 3 months but that was spending all my weekends and lots of evenings working on applications.

Second time - I was in the first role/industry for 2 years working on learning soft skills I knew I'd need for the next 'change' I wanted to make. I joined networking groups (London, and virtual) and focused on making connections in the industry I wanted to move to. I absolutely spun my experience/role to highlight the transferable skills, and talked about my hopes to move industry without targeting anyone at companies I wanted to work for (so I wouldn't go 'oh, you have roles! Hire me! 😂 But more, 'oh, you work in Tech, that's definitely where I see my career going next! Can you give me some advice?' Was also very active on LinkedIn. Eventually got recommended for my dream role by someone I'd met at an event, which is a great 'in' as I find most referrals go through.

Don't want to give too much away, but broadly:

Manager in logistics, to Workplace Benefits in a corporate office, to Operations in Tech.

@greensmithing good post! Agree with that, I volunteered, studied one evening a week at College for two years and then managed to study one whole day for two years, whilst working 30 hours per week/placement hours/homework/feeding the family, etc, etc

It’s a juggling act but anything is possible if you want it enough

Just to add I'm in the public sector, I appreciate £35k to £75k in 4 years might not be seen as quick progression in some areas of private industry, but def is in my part of the professional world!

Opening university might be a good shout @CyclingAddict - I did apply for a masters but wasn’t able to justify taking the year out. I’ll have a look at their courses.

I was hoping I could have more luck networking and the good thing about my current industry is that I can move around industries and learn the ropes. Perhaps that angle could work. @FosteringNewbie I would love to take your approach.

What transferable skills do you have? And what part of urban planning are you interested in? It can be a difficult sector to get into if you don't clearly identify these.

Local authorities or consultancy isn't the only option - many government agencies and interest groups have planning staff who aren't planners but have the experience in the agency or interest and get involved in planning through that avenue.

It s very hard if you re not prepared to study or if you cant study whether part time, night school or full time.

i was lucky because I retrained before children and I saved a lot so was able to do a post grad then a master in architectural interior design and now 20yrs on I am fulfilled.

i really hope you ll be able to find a way, k believe that there is always a way. You ve got to be creative sometimes to find it. Because working can feel really boring or stressful at times so you better love what you do!