I want to change my career and I need advice, please help me!

[helpmeplease25]

To expand on the title of my post... I am a total crossroads with my career (and my whole life to be honest).

I am in my early 30s, and I currently work in HR. I have spent the majority of my working life so far in this industry and to be honest, I have never really enjoyed it. I kind of just fell into it, and have stayed because it's been the easy route.

I have considered changing careers numerous times throughout the years, but 2 things have always held me back: I don't know what I really want to do, and I know I would have to take a salary cut. I don't earn a huge amount of money but I would say I am comfortable for my current lifestyle (although I am single and have no dependents).

Working in HR just doesn't make me happy, or give me any fulfilment. I don't like being at the tail end of people's frustration and unhappiness. I don't like having awkward conversations. The thought of line managing someone fills me with dread (although I am aware that in order to progress in most career paths and roles, you have to eventually do this). It also doesn't help that I find my current role pretty dire; I am unmotivated and have absolutely no desire to get up in the morning and do my job.

Some potential other careers / interests that I have considered are: project management, data analyst, PR. But honestly the thought of having to start again fills me with dread.

If anyone has any advice or words of wisdom they could kindly share, I would be most grateful. You can probably tell from my post I am feeling so totally lost and overwhelmed which I think is preventing me from actually taking any positive action to make some change.

I don't know what I really want to do

This is probably something that needs to be tackled first. To narrow things down a bit, I would recommend starting with trying to answer the question whether you enjoy working with:

• people
• machines/technology
• paperwork (this in this day and age usually refers to process driven jobs which have little ambiguity in them)

Once you determine the answer to the above, you could start thinking what types of jobs exist in within those categories and narrow them down further from there.

Wishing you all the best.

Are you in your forties/children getting older? Im 46 and a lot of my friends and I are going through exactly the same crossroads.

For me it feels like the second half of my working life and I want to make sure I am happy.

I quit my well-paid clinical job in the NHS and am now teaching at a HE college on their health care courses. I am also doing some private gardening on the side, so have had a real change.

I absolutely LOVE it. I've regained my work-life balance and I look forward to going to work.

The key for me was really researching and investigating what I enjoy and not being afraid to change if it wasn't right. I initially started at a charity but didn't enjoy it - gave it a year then moved on.

People change jobs much more frequently now - you can have a couple of goes to find what you like. Don't be afraid!

No I am in my early 30s and single

OP, if you like the people side of hr would you become a career coach or similar? Or go into a training consultancy? Get away from the hiring/firing and into career development?

I'm in the charity sector and there are lots of pretty well paid 'people and culture' type roles too.

You're very young and have no dependents, it's a great time to change.

Are you in your forties/children getting older? Im 46 and a lot of my friends and I are going through exactly the same crossroads.

Do people even bother to read OPs anymore? It literally says right there that OP is early 30s with no children

Have you looked at HR Software companies as a potential option? You mention project management and data analysis, both of which are possible roles, and there would also be customer-facing roles that might interest you. I don't know how the salary would compare, but should theoretically be better than a completely new direction, as you'll be bringing transferrable expertise. It's a fairly specific avenue to explore, but might be worth a look.

I would try a move to a big tech company, software, moving careers I think is easier once you are in and yes PP talking about HR Software is a good example. I’ve been in Tech for 30 years it’s a well paid, flexible industry.

Look up the govt careers service - has a quiz to help you narrow down your interests plus tons of info

Have you thought about taking some free online courses around the subjects your interested in these could be done around your current job will also help with what you will enjoy and allow you to gain some training, knowledge and a qualification in those areas? Pop me a message if you would like to discuss further?

Yes I think you need to narrow down what area or what type of work you might be interested in. One you know that then you could start to look pragmatically about what roles exist in this areas and what would be most realistic for you to move into.

Creative (art, design, theater, TV, music)
Medical (nursing, radiologist, doctor)
Science (research, lab assistant,)
Sales/retail
Tech (programming, AI, software, IT)
Admin (accountancy, executive assistant)
Legal
Charity
Teaching/academia.

Even things like a creative job can be turned into a pragmatic job. Gallery worker, event planner etc, you don't need to be the one physically doing the art/music whatever.

It does sound like an amino related role would suit your previous experience. Exec assistant or bookkeeper/accountant would be a logical step perhaps.

Have you considered just going up the latter and becoming a manager? It would suit your set of skills and you must understand disciplinary processes, dealing with employees etc well already.