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How many times in your working life have you changed ' type ' of work ?

60 replies

worldwidetravel2017 · 27/03/2025 11:20

Just curious
Thanks

OP posts:
SerenityNowSerenityNow · 28/03/2025 14:25

Loads!
Always in the same sector but my job roles have been very varied.
However, the skills used have been similar.

I started off working as a careers adviser so I very much practice what I preach!

SingtotheCat · 28/03/2025 14:33

I went from science/clinical trials research into part time health adviser role for NHS Direct as it was then (kids were little, lost interest in big Pharma) then onto police investigations as a civilian.
I’ve been with police for 10 years now. They’ve given me lots of training and education. They are a great employer and it’s fascinating and a privilege to do it, but it’s hard work and the job has swallowed me whole. I don’t know how I’d ever transfer that to any other job. I know others who have gone on to financial investigations outside of the force, but that isn’t interesting to me.

RaraRachael · 28/03/2025 15:12

@WheresYourSnickers My mother controlled virtually everything in my life. I played the violin and she was always pestering the music teacher to find out why I wasn't leader of the orchestra - always being very pushy. I never said a word because that would have bee "bold" or "forward" and the worst thing in her book.
She chose my school subjects for me and every career choice was vetoed. I eventually did teacher training but was warned not to bail out of the course or she wouldn't have been able to hold her head up in public.
When I couldn't get a job, I was offered an au pair job in London. She took a phone call offering me a teaching job so told them I'd take it and told me to phone the woman in London and say I wouldn't be coming.
Then I moved to England and was offered an interview for BA. She made me cancel it as "I didn't spend all that money putting you through teacher training to have it all thrown back in my face"
I left an unhappy marriage so was virtually cut out of her will because "I'd' brought shame on her"

@Busymindfull the control happened on the happy day that she died. I was able to stand up to her in later life but she still tried to be horrible to me and spread false information about me.

WheresYourSnickers · 28/03/2025 15:18

RaraRachael · 28/03/2025 15:12

@WheresYourSnickers My mother controlled virtually everything in my life. I played the violin and she was always pestering the music teacher to find out why I wasn't leader of the orchestra - always being very pushy. I never said a word because that would have bee "bold" or "forward" and the worst thing in her book.
She chose my school subjects for me and every career choice was vetoed. I eventually did teacher training but was warned not to bail out of the course or she wouldn't have been able to hold her head up in public.
When I couldn't get a job, I was offered an au pair job in London. She took a phone call offering me a teaching job so told them I'd take it and told me to phone the woman in London and say I wouldn't be coming.
Then I moved to England and was offered an interview for BA. She made me cancel it as "I didn't spend all that money putting you through teacher training to have it all thrown back in my face"
I left an unhappy marriage so was virtually cut out of her will because "I'd' brought shame on her"

@Busymindfull the control happened on the happy day that she died. I was able to stand up to her in later life but she still tried to be horrible to me and spread false information about me.

That's desperately sad, sending you much love ❤️

Goandygo · 28/03/2025 15:25

From aged 16, I always worked in catering - pot washer, kitchen assistant, waitress.
After university, I was a teacher for just under 30 years.
At university, I tended bars.
Now, I'm a cleaner and this job is the best !

ThisUniqueDreamer · 28/03/2025 15:26

Never. Professional career.

Gettingbysomehow · 28/03/2025 15:28

At 63 I've had 5 completely different careers. Once I'm done with something I have to move on.
Shoe fitter
Airline stewardess
Registered Nurse
Insurance broker
NHS Podiatrist

Joystir59 · 28/03/2025 15:37

8 times.
Retail
Office
Legal/compliance team manager
Guest house manager
Cleaner
Festival organiser
Creative workshop tutor
Freelance artist

RaraRachael · 28/03/2025 15:45

Thank you @WheresYourSnickers

Sorry ithe second part should say the control ended, not happened. I seem to have lost the ability to edit.

Idratherbepaddleboarding · 28/03/2025 15:53

Once in my proper career; education to the Probation Service but I did bar work and care work while at uni.

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 28/03/2025 15:54

Never. I've been a teacher for 30 years.

Coffeeforayear · 28/03/2025 15:56

RaraRachael · 27/03/2025 11:23

Never - did the same job for 40 years.

I tried to change job twice but my mother put a stop to it.

😲

TokyoSushi · 28/03/2025 15:57

Once, but very much at entry level from hospitality to an office admin job. Then I did more & more 'admin' at the same company and finally became Operations Director, which is just mega senior admin (here at least) really!

jhftc · 28/03/2025 16:16

worldwidetravel2017 · 28/03/2025 09:19

Hey

Id be interested to hear re some of the different things you tried

Probably really outing if any of my friends are on here but:

Shop work (indoor market stall)
General office assistant
In a scrapyard, running their main eBay account
Stable hand
Stock controller
Electronic panel assembler
Customer services in banking

I've just started a new job as a trainee pensions administrator, our youngest is about to start senior school so I'll have a bit more time to focus on career progression now hopefully. I've had to work around childcare etc with a lot of the previous jobs.

RaininSummer · 28/03/2025 18:20

Quite a few. Civil service, local government, programming, teaching assistant, primary teacher, post 16 teacher, personal tutor, civil servant.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 28/03/2025 18:24

Pre uni - shop cleaner and then waitress.
During uni - shelf stacker then worked in staff canteen.
After uni - supply teacher for 2 terms, then I've taught (in the same school) for 28 years.

Trovindia · 28/03/2025 18:26

I've had three distinct careers, one creative, one practical, and one more corporate.

Not counting the ones as a teen, supermarket, petrol station, and barmaid.

Marble10 · 28/03/2025 19:52

I’ve mostly flittered between finance and property… sometimes both come hand in hand. All different industries for finance, and property private and public sector

Gwenhwyfar · 28/03/2025 20:03

Just one type really. Admin work from 23 onwards. Before that did student jobs, but only for a short time e.g. shop, restaurant.

Gwenhwyfar · 28/03/2025 20:05

TokyoSushi · 28/03/2025 15:57

Once, but very much at entry level from hospitality to an office admin job. Then I did more & more 'admin' at the same company and finally became Operations Director, which is just mega senior admin (here at least) really!

Still very impressive! Done admin all my life and will always be at the bottom of the pile.

Titasaducksarse · 28/03/2025 20:06

Been working 30 years. 2 industries, hospitality and social care.
Social care for 22 years and I've had 11 roles.

Fedupandstressed · 28/03/2025 22:49

Sooo many jobs.
started as waitress when I was at school and then a Saturday job in Littlewoods before I started nursing (SRN as it used to be)
Then moved to London and loads of bar work and casinos before going into pub management.
Then blagged my way into accounts as a temp with Manpower for a few years that got me into Accounts manager for Arcade hotels ( now Ibis) and from there into HR for the local city council.
A bit of working in a clean room for IBM when they made things.
Kids happened so I went to Uni and then teacher training and spent 10 years (my longest stint so far) in an FE college until I got too stressed out.
So far I’ve been with the police for the last 6 years; on the 9’s and then dispatch and for the last 2.5 years as PA for the Chief Supt/SLT.
5 more years and I’m retiring a couple of years early at 65.

2chocolateoranges · 28/03/2025 22:55

3 times

retail 9years
hospitality 18years(when I had my children)
early years 5 years so far.

wordywitch · 28/03/2025 22:58

Oh gosh, too many to count really. Waitress, a registered medical professional, writer, project manager, consultant, community support worker, and charity fundraiser are among my job titles. I love learning new things and get bored or burnt out easily so changing careers every few years suits me.

autisticbookworm · 29/03/2025 05:43

I started off in hospitality, stayed in that for 5 years but when I had kids the unsociable hours didn’t suit so I worked in childcare for 16 years. I was then a sahp for a few years and now I work in a library.

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