Successful career changers - please come and inspire me/give me a kick up the bum

[artifarti]

I have been in the same sector for about 12 years and although it looks like a job many people would love, I've never really loved it or felt that it was right for me. I've progressed well and accidentally ended up in senior management (which I never really aspired to and don't really enjoy).

I work p/t and it's quite well-paid and part of me thinks 'oh stop whinging, it's not that bad, just suck it up until your children are at school and then think about something else' but I'm starting to really hate it - tears on a Sunday because it's nearly Monday hate it.

The trouble is I just don't know what else to do. I know what my skills and strengths are but although people talk about 'transferable skills' is it that easy? I don't feel that I can apply for jobs outside of my sector because I don't have any experience. I just feel like I don't know where to start. I've done a couple of evening classes to try other things out but realised that they weren't for me either!

Please come and inspire me with your career change! How did you know what you wanted to do instead? How did you go about it?

Sorry, I realise this message is a bit rambling - but that's the problem, I'm going round in circles and just getting more stressed rather than achieving anything!

The first part of your message could have been me!

I am just about to go to uni to study for a totally different job. It will take two years and be hard financially, but I am hoping it will mean I am more fulfilled and happier.

Personal experience led me to be interested in this area and there are alot of transferable skills from my previous life.

I suppose I am not much use as I have not actually changed career yet, but to help you having made the decision it feels like a weight has been lifted! I am so happy to think I won't be going back to my old job and look forward to the studying.

I had thought of seeing a careers advisor (think some job centres have them?) who can help you focus on what may suit you. I also organised some shadowing in the area I was interested in to give me some more exposure.

Do you have the time to do any voluntary work? This may also help you focus? I did some and realised I liked making an actual difference rather than working in a back office function.

I'm in the middle of a career change. Best thing I ever did. I am studying for it, though, and it is hard harder than I ever imagined. And I am sacrificing money and security on a huge scale to do it (even if I can find a job in my new sector, I won't be earning anything like what I did previously).

Weigh it up. Are you prepared to brave it right now? On one hand, the jobs market is shite, studying is costly and time consuming and when you start a new career you'll probably ave to work quite hard to establish/prove yourself. On the other hand, how soul destroyign is your current position? I ended up in senior management in a supposedly glamorous and high-status industry and fucking hated it.

excuse poor grammar

I'm just about to embark on a career change. Before DS I was in entertainment which, while outwardly quite 'glam' was long long hours and unsuitable for life with a baby at nursery.

I did a proper review of my transferrable skills by taking a wide look at what was on the market and seeing what roles I could potentially fulfil the criteria for. I found that if you actually look past the bullshit jargon in job ads, a lot of the skills are really quite broad. Lots of things I'd done in the past could be interpreted as 'sales' or 'PR' for example.

I'm about to start as office / facilities manager in a totally unrelated business. 9-5 mon-fri with sensible people for a change - can't wait!

So I'd advise you to have a really good search on Monster / guardian jobs etc, don't discount roles way outside what you think your experience and skills are and take in what they're asking for. You might find it quite inspiring.

Thanks everyone, some useful stuff.

ibangthedrums - I had thought about a careers advisor but also wonder if it's money for old rope?! Voluntary work is out though as I know that that's not the sector for me!

ReasonableDoubt - I think the right now thing is a big issue for me. DS is young and we will hopefully have another DC soon so it's probably not the best time to start changing career. But a good time to start thinking and planning maybe?

Ruthie - that is very encouraging re the transferable skills. I have always seen this as a real sticking point but maybe I need to think a bit harder.

I am feeling a bit more positive today and am going to enquire about another taster course as well as work on a project that will probably come to nothing but if I don't do it, I'll never know!

Thanks for your words of encouragement - good luck to you all!

I resigned from being a police officer about a month ago and now work for a homeless charity part time. A massive pay drop but I love it- I really feel like I am making a difference and helping people build their lives.

I actually look forward to going to work!

I went against the grain of what most people were doing at the time and decided to take jobs I fancied the look of - I've had a 'portfolio career', done a number of different jobs but with common themes, ie using and developing what I'm good at. Doing new stuff is scary but worth the risk - I've gone from media to the charity sector, to university marketing - what the heck!
Get an instant picture of your 'transferable' skills (only takes 10 mins and is free) at www.venturenavigator.co.uk/skills

Thanks Emma! That's really interesting. I work in the charity sector at the moment and sometimes feel that I can never get out.

Hi, a good way to find out what you really want to do or what you would be really happy doing is to imagine you had no money issues (won the lottery or something)

After all the holidays and spending sprees, what would get you up in the morning?

What do you talk about with friends that gets you excited or animated?

Have a look on your bookshelves, what do you like reading about?

Ask friends and family 'if I could be anything what do you think I should be?' Often loved ones have a better insight of what 'your thing' is.

If you do what you love it wont feel like work, just think about Tiger Woods (personal life aside) or Bill Gates , they don't keep going because they need the money, it's because they love what they do.

Just have a brainstorming session with no self imposed limitations (I couldn't do that, That's impossible etc) and write down everything that comes into your head.
When you've got loads of ideas read them through and see which one jumps out at you.

Then make a list of all the things you would need to acheive or do to make it possible, chunk it down.

Alternatively find someone in that area and ask to have a chat to see if it is really for you.

Then go for it!:)

Be brave and Good Luck

i successfully changed from hands on horticulture to engineering a couple of years ago when i realised i was thoroughly sick of the horticulture.
i chose engineering because a colleague oncementioned in an offhand way he thought id be good at it, and the more i looked into it the more i thought i would enjoy it. and i do.
id ask friends and trustworthy colleagues what they could see you doing if you werent in your current role, the answers might give you a starting point to ponder.
also go see a careers advisor and or lifecoach.
Another free resource besides friends is to contact recruitment agencies, and ask where they could place someone like you.
good luck!

The opening part to this thread could have been describing me too. Lovely to read that some people have navigated a change and found what they were looking for. I work part time in a senior role in Science and although I feel lucky (or know I should feel lucky) I just feel trapped. I would never be able to get a different role with part time hours and still be able to pay the mortgage. Am genuinely so sad not to have a job I love but thank you for this thread as has made me realise I'm not the only one!

Just seen that there are some new posts on this thread - thanks everyone! I was only thinking yesterday about seeing a careers advisor or life coach but didn't know where to start or if they are worth it.

magbags - perhaps we can change career together, haha! (Although have a feeling mine is going to take years rather than weeks by the time I factor children etc. into the mix...)

Artifarti that would be nice, might be good to have some support in those moments where it feels nothing will ever change... Similar to yourself my biggest obstacle is that I don't know what to change to! I seem to go from one idea to the next but am never sure enough to commit to one path . I have never pursued a life coach - that's not a bad idea. Am giving some thought to how to find a reputable one...

After birth of dd1 my dh decided he wanted to be around more so he gave up his job as a partner in a firm of solicitors to become a teacher so he could spend the hols with us (I am a teacher too). Great decision. Financially a bit of a shock at first but now things great and he wouldnt look back for a minute.

Hello, I changed career and how I decided what to do was thinking back to what I used to do for fun when I had spare time, and luckily one of these successfully translated into a career.

It was one of the best things I've ever done.

Good luck!

PS I have two young children too so am reluctant to walk away from part time hours. Yes that's hard if you are planning another pregnancy. There must be a way to re-train whilst juggling everything else but how and as what lol?!!

Loads of courses are part time - if you need to study to change, that is. Not sure about subsequently getting part time work though - could be harder... depends what you want to do!

It's quite an inspiring thread.
I only found out what I really wanted to do after having my kids, despite having 2 degrees in something unrelated.
DS is 1 and I'm still a SAHM, and I do often get the feeling that life has passed me by and that I've missed the boat.
I'm 29 and feel too old but I'm going to try my best to do well at this new thing. It really is my dream job

oh my god, Sakura you're only 29! We are all going to be working till we're - I don't know, 70 or more probably ? so you have another FORTY years in the workplace. So pleased you found your dream job.

Sakura - I know what you mean, I am 29 also, and have only just worked out that i need this career change (my youngest DD is 1)! I also have a degree in something totally unrelated, and am kicking myself for not realising what i should be doing and having that 'would-a, could-a, should-a regretful feelings!

But now i know i have to go for it, because life is too short to dread going to work and count the hours/ days until i'm not at work.

I have been feeling like i missed the boat, and should have done this before i had children, because its going to be so much more difficult with kids to consider/support aswell.

artifarti i am also planning another pregnancy, and feel i need to finish 'baby rearing stage' and make the most of my sahm time, before embarking on my new career!After reading this thread i am feeling much more positive and even though i know its going to take BIG amounts of time / effort / money, like sunfunandmum said, we have another 40 years to work yet! So i can't spend all that time doing something i don't enjoy and loose the will to live that 40 years!

I am glad this thread is making people feel a bit more positive. It's hard to remember that we'll all be working until about 70 sometimes isn't it?!

Not sure what my next move is but definitely thinking about a career coach or somesuch. Then I can spend the next three or four small-child-filled years working out how to get there!

Let's all keep checking back in for a mutual kick up the bum!