Changing Careers

Not everyone finds satisfaction in their chosen career. In fact, a poll conducted globally found that of the world’s one billion full-time workers, only 15% enjoy their jobs. Changing your career might seem daunting, and it certainly isn’t a decision that you should take lightly, but if you feel that your current job role just isn’t the right one for you then a career change could give you the invigoration, the new perspective, and the satisfaction you need. Here’s everything you need to know about changing careers:

Why Change Your Career?

There are many reasons why you might choose to change your career. If you feel that you have reached the limits of what you can achieve in your current job role and can’t progress any further then this may leave you feeling stagnant, bored and frustrated. Taking a sideways step into a complimentary career may provide the opportunity you need to stretch yourself, and to use your existing skills in a new way. Other common reasons for changing careers include:

• To achieve a better work-life balance or to fit with your family commitments. It is incredibly common for individuals to change careers when they start a family, because they want a job role that will allow them to spend more time at home. For this reason, many will choose to transition into a career that allows self-employment, so they can set their own schedule and be responsible for their own flexibility.
• To follow dreams that they never had the confidence to follow before. Some people choose to enter the world of work because they are keen to earn money or to start their adult lives, but never really find a job that fulfils them. It is common for those people to retrain and change their careers in later life when they have the financial stability and the time to take a step back and try something new. To think about what they really want from life and then achieve those goals.
• Because their profession naturally lends itself to a career change. Often people working in teaching, medicine or the law work in high-pressure environments that are unsustainable in the long term, but which give them a wealth of desirable and transferable skills. If you feel that you would be happier in another career then considering the skills you have, and how they could be used in a valuable way, is important.

Things to Consider When You Change Careers

If you’re tempted to change careers, then it’s important to think before you leap. Changing your career is likely to involve a sacrifice of some kind: this could be a sacrifice of your time, a financial sacrifice or some kind of significant change for your family. For example, if you would need to relocate in order to pursue your chosen career then you may need to leave your home, and your friends and family behind, and if you have children they would have to enrol in a new school. Considering the changes and sacrifices you are prepared to make, and those you aren’t is something that’s important to do before you take the leap and change your career.

Before you change career, you should consider:

• If you’re ready for the new routine that often accompanies a career change. This could include but is not limited to, new working hours, a new location and new colleagues. You may find that you need to spend more time in the office, particularly in the early days as you establish yourself in your chosen profession
• Are you ready to study again? Many career changes will require that you study for a relevant qualification, either before you pursue your new career or alongside work. You’ll need to factor in time to study and ensure that you are committed to completing these studies and gaining the qualifications you need. Many courses can be taken online, meaning that you can fit them around your existing schedule, but they will still require commitment and dedication
• Can you start again? When you enter a new career and a new work environment, you’ll have to build new relationships with your co-workers and colleagues. You’ll also have to work on building your professional relationship from scratch. This can be both time-consuming and hard work, meaning that you’ll have to be committed to making this change and to making it work for you
• Are your family on board? If you have a family or partner, then changing careers is a decision that will affect all of you. You should discuss your options with your family as you will need their support to make any significant career change. Career changes are much easier when you have a strong support network that can motivate and inspire you

Most Common Changes

With hundreds of thousands of different job titles and job roles available, there is no one common job that everyone wants to have. But if you’re keen to change careers quickly, and are looking for a job role that will require minimal retraining time or qualifications then some popular job roles for those looking to change their career include:

• Dog Walker. This is a popular career choice for animal lovers and is a role that can work around other commitments too. Dog walkers get to spend time with dogs, spend time outside, and get fit at the same time. You don’t need any formal qualifications to be a dog walker, though you will need a certain fitness level and some dog owners may ask that you have a canine first aid qualification. Most people take up professional dog walking on a self-employed basis and it’s likely that you will start off with just one or two dogs before building up your portfolio
• Small business owner. If you’ve spent years working for someone else and thinking that you could do it better, then a career as a small business owner could be the right move for you. Setting up your own business and becoming an entrepreneur is hard work, but it does mean that you can set your own working hours and schedule. It also means that you are responsible for making all of the decisions about your business, which can be both a blessing and a curse. The key to happiness as a small business owner is to build your business around something you enjoy: Think about your hobbies, passions and skills, and see if there is a gap in the market that could utilise these. The good news is that Britain is known as a ‘nation of shopkeepers’ and therefore there is a lot of support available for those who wish to start their own businesses, giving you all of the information and motivation you need
• Carer. The UK has a significant carer shortage, with many more people in need of care than able to fulfil the role thanks, in part, to our increasingly ageing population. This makes caring a great career move for anyone looking for job stability, and a people-focused role that will give back to society. To work as a carer, you will need to be a compassionate person with a desire to help others: you can often enter the profession without qualifications, and then increase your relevant qualifications and skillset on the job. Employers often look favourably upon candidates with a lot of life experience when interviewing for caring roles, meaning this is also a career change that you can make at any stage of life
• Estate Agent. Do you enjoy looking around other people’s properties, and do you often find yourself wondering what they’re worth? Perhaps you enjoy architecture, working with people from all walks of life, and helping them turn their dreams into reality. Then you have what it takes to be an estate agent! Estate Agents rely on strong organisational skills and good communication, which are skills that are often honed in other career paths, so it’s likely that you will already possess the transferable skills that you need to become an estate agent. If you can help potential home sellers and buyers, keep them informed of the progress of their sale every step of the way, and work well as part of a team then a career as an estate agent could really work for you
• Travel Agent. Finally, for many people the passion of their life isn’t their chosen career, but what they do when they’re away from work: travelling. Why not consider turning your passion for travel into a career by retraining to become a travel agent? There are no formal qualifications required to become a travel agent but you’re more likely to be successful if you’ve got some travel experience behind you, as you’ll be able to give people more detailed knowledge of places they are interested in travelling to. Harness your passion and your interests, and turn this into a career that you’ll actually want to do every day

Most Common Jobs People Want to Change From

The average person will hold 12 jobs during their lifetime. But which of these jobs are they most keen to leave? What are the most common jobs that people want to change from? The careers that people are most likely to quit include:

• Working within the funeral industry. Funeral technicians, embalmers and funeral attendants are all niche roles that require a certain reverence for the deceased, and a high level of emotional stability. It therefore should come as no surprise that this isn’t the career path for everyone and that those working within the funeral industry are most likely to want to change careers
• Teaching. Teaching is a vocation: most teachers go into the role because of a genuine desire to educate, engage and enhance the lives of children. However, they are also bogged down by paperwork, are overworked, and are often under-respected. When a teacher loses their passion for the time they spend in the classroom, or simply can’t put in the long hours anymore (often due to family commitments or burnout) it’s time for them to find another career path
• Sportsmen, dancers and choreographers. If your current career path requires a certain level of physical fitness and is hard on your body, then it would be naive to think you could do it forever. The global average retirement age for a football player is just 35 years old. Many professional athletes find it hard to choose a new career that they have as much passion for, and many find a way to remain in their chosen industry, but in another professional capacity
• Service staff. Whether you’re a waiter, bartender, or working on the front desk of a hotel, the employee retention rates for service staff are very low. This is often a combination of poor management, and negative interactions with the general public: not everyone is able to handle an unhappy or angry customer, and that means that these job roles simply aren’t the right ones for them

Retraining for a Career Change

If you’re ready to make a career change then there’s no wrong time to take the plunge and retrain for a career you love. Younger people aged 18-24 and 24-34 are most likely to want a career change (68% and 65% respectively) and this is a great age to try a new career, but it really isn’t ever too late. Retraining for a career change doesn’t have to be expensive: you can often study around your existing job role, or even train on the job as you start working within your new career.

There are some careers you can move into that won’t require any additional qualifications, but for many, you will need to retrain for a career change. You may need to consider further study or professional training, or if you already have the right level of qualification but in the wrong subject then you may also be eligible to take a conversion course to enable you to work in a new section. Certain industries, such as engineering, healthcare, IT and teaching, do require industry-specific qualifications.

Many potential career changers worry that it’s too late to seek a new career path and retrain, but it’s important to remember that it’s never too late. In fact, many colleges and universities value the life experience that their mature students bring. Having life experience behind you when heading back to university or back to college can often work to your advantage, and your existing skillset will help you with the confidence you need to succeed.

The average person will spend more than 84,365 hours at work in their lifetime. If you’re going to be spending that many hours doing something, it should be something that you enjoy! Finding a career that you find interesting and fulfilling will have a positive impact on every other aspect of your life. People who enjoy their work tend to have better physical and mental health, higher levels of self-esteem, and healthier and more fulfilling relationships with their friends and family. For that reason, it’s important to find a job that you enjoy, and if you need to change careers to make that happen then maybe now is the perfect time for you to make that move.