If you've changed career, can I ask what from and to?

[whereiscaroline]

Sat here wasting the last half of the weekend fretting about work tomorrow. I really, really hate my job and know that I want to leave as soon as I can. Trouble is, I have no idea what else I would like to do.

Currently working in company law. It's dull, soulless, and doesn't help that I don't have anywhere near enough work to do.

Please can I ask for some inspiration (and reassurance that career changes are possible) from those of you have successfully changed career? What did you do before, and what did you change to?

Bumping hopefully...

I'd be really interested in hearing from people who have changed careers too, as in a similar position to you OP, though I am feeling burnt out through overwork rather than having too little work.

Hopefully someone will be along to share their story soon :-)

My neighbour was a lawyer and has become a social worker (in his 40s).

A friend of mine was a senior marketing exec and became a coach.

Another friend was a civil servant, became a film maker and academic (again mid-career, in his 40s).

It is really really awful to not have enough work to do. Much worse than being stressed with too much, in my experience. You feel so useless, un-needed.

What would you like to do?

Sales to civil service. Best move I ever did.

I did. I moved from a creative area of product to a technical area of a similar type of product. It wasn't a massive change but I did need to retrain and take a bit of a cut in salary.

Best thing I ever did, I was in a complete rut and couldn't imagine doing the same thing for the rest of my life. I took a ninety degree turn rather than complete U turn, but I'm so glad I did. I'm using my brain again, I can see a future for my career and it's better long term for my family.

Teaching to civil service, don’t regret it for a second

I managed a chain of chocolate shops, now I work in finance. I actually stopped retail work so I could dedicate more time to attempting to become a writer.

I'm on mat leave now. But ordinarily write, manage care home accounts, and run a small business selling and manufacturing confetti.

I worked in a few roles related to academia - still run my own business in a related area. Am going to be retraining as a speech and language therapist.

Town planner o massage therapist

I know people who have moved from being a lawyer to working in a library. And from being a lawyer to working in a quasi-legal role for a trade association, but at a lower less pressurised level.

Do you want something high powered and well paid or can you afford a lower salary? Certainly gives you more options if the latter.

Have you considered PSL work? Both PLC and Lexis Nexis offer home working roles so don't think you need to live in or near London if you don't. They also have roles where you visit law firms to sell the product so a sort of sales role but as a qualified lawyer. It wouldn't suit me but could be your thing? Or product adoption where you train lawyers on how to use the products. Have a look at their websites.

I have gone from property administration (essentially overseeing the sales/marketing of repossession properties for the banks, devising sale strategies etc) to working in personal tax.

First job didn't need qualifications so went straight in. My current job has sponsored my two qualifications in tax.

I love tax as it is always changing. There is always something new to learn and my duties can range from compliance to advice.

Primary school teacher to Occupational Therapist - brilliant move for me!

Teacher to charity project worker and self employed counsellor. Various roles - currently coordinator of the education training and employment provision in the country's second largest drug and alcohol service.