Could you imagine changing careers?

[Relahni]

I might have to if the Tories get in.

 

[blossie33]

I wasn't sure whether to go for the 'not fit for anything else' which is definitely the case now or the 'have changed loads of times' which I have over the years.

I don't really think of them as careers though, they were just different types of employment. I never wanted a 'career'.

 

[Cid]

In the last 7 years I've gone from courier, through architectural modelling (and dropping out of an architecture degree), into cabinet making and beyond to constructing robotic hands. So that would be a resounding yes! Change is brilliant, even if you have a core subject/profession that you go back to (for me furniture design, interiors etc, hope to go back to architecture too) doing other work can help inform your take on that. It also helps to have a job (robots) that keeps cash flowing that I can then channel into my own furniture work rather than taking on commissions (which is risky in the current climate, and not nearly as enjoyable). One thing I can't really imagine doing is taking a job that I don't find interesting.

I realise of course that I'm in a very lucky position; I was able to take a year retraining as a cabinet maker which, combined with previous experience in fiddly stuff, opened up a pretty large niche market for me in high end production/prototyping. Also been lucky enough to meet the right people at the right time. Obviously being single, no dependants and without a mortgage helps a lot too.

Still, I'd say that if you can retrain, it's worth it... Not least because you can keep your options open in times like this.

 

[FiFi]

Does moving from Practice Nursing to Health Visiting count as retraining?
If so, I'm in the process of of changing careers at the moment.

Thinging about it, I've picked up some experience in aspects other than clinical nursing along the way, including data entry, reception work, research, project management, cleaning/sterilization of equiptment, childcare, education (of adults) and counselling.

Despite enjoying some of these roles more than others, I could possibly survive a change of direction if I had to take one.

 

[Cloo]

I'm thinking of a change in career, but when you mention City boys and PR girls I just assume there are different rules for posh people. Doors open for certain people, thats certainly the case and also the fundamental flaw of living in the UK

Or anywhere - though I was talking specifically about going into the luxury product market rather than any career change. I mean, if I want to, say, sell fabulous jewellery for zillions of pounds, it's easier to go into if I'm Tamara Tarararara than if I'm Susan Averagebird

People seem to talk as though it's easier than it used to be to change careers, and transferable skills and all that, but it seems to be it's harder. People expect really specific experience and qualifications and I'm not sure how many employers really value transferable generic skills over job-specific ones. I sometimes get a sense that, in the past, employers were more likely to give someone a chance if they got on with them and felt they had a sensible head on their shoulders, whereas now that's not enough.

 

[gentlegreen]

Relatively brainy, but left school at 16 - so have done fairly well, considering ... though I consider myself a jack of all trades, but master of none.

Hoping to quasi-retire some time between 6 and 11 years from now. If I lose my present job it will probably be 16 years

Though I now have 27 years' experience, it's a degree-only occupation these days.

I could do almost any kind of menial job - except admin. Though there would be a very big difference between doing it in my retirement destination for a few years and doing it in the UK for 16.

 

[stupid dogbot]

I've thought that I'd like to a couple of times in the last few years. But I don't really know how to do anything else, can't see me getting much in the way of opportunities to retrain/reskill, and not sure what I'd be able to do that would keep me as my current job does anyway.

As it goes, thankfully I quite like what I do and the times I want a change are fairly rare.

 

[jusali]

Never thought of my work as a "career" it is more a means to an end. I'm bright enough to earn enough but investing all my time in one job and climbing the ladder strikes me as dullesville USA.
I like the idea of saying fuck it every once in a while and retrying something completely different.
The only thing that's close as a career to me (and I take it very seriously) is my wife and children..........
Life's too short to be investing all my time in a career/work

 

[onenameshelley]

I would love to re-train, but just dont know where to start. I thought about dental nursing but that seems to be hard to get into due to the new rules about being on a course and working at the same time. Working in a vets is a no i would spend too much time crying when animals got put down, social work is out as i am too soft hearted and i would bring it home all the time. I havent given up on the idea of dental nursing but it defo needs more thought and planning.

So now i dont know, i have been told a few times, i would be good in HR, I am not sure if i should be insulted or take it seriously and do something about it with the hope that i would be happy doing that side of things.

I just know being a PA doesnt make me happy, it makes me quite cross in fact i am a glorified nanny but without the cuteness or the free biscuits and lately i have hated it so much that it has made me want to kill my boss with my holepunch

 

[shakespearegirl]

Its something I've been seriously considering for a couple of years. But, I really don't know what else I'd like to do.

I used to really enjoy being a Video Producer, but the long hours, the shitty lazy people, the bullying clients, the stress is all getting a bit too much.

The money is pretty good, but not amazing.

But, I've no qualifications and left school at 16.

And no idea of what else I could do.

 

[Guineveretoo]

I tried a change of career a few years ago. Spent several months applying for lots of jobs, none of which had anything to do with trade unions. No-one would have me. I reckon they thought I would be trouble. I reckon they were right.

So, no career change for me, then!

 

[wanizame]

Been there. Done it. Working on the T-shirt. This isn't too sound smug, but I've worked with so many people who hate their jobs and it seems to infect their life and makes them miserable, so I'm an advocate of Just Do It. I started in a completely different career and switched 6 yrs ago. No fibbing, it was hard for the first two years, I had to learn a completely new set of skills, retrain (via Open learning while working from the bottom up) and get a qualification to gain any serious recognition because I was making such a career switch (from the military to information sciences), but I went with doing something I was good at and enjoyed as opposed to a money earner. I went down 12K in the first year..which was scary but the thought of another 20 years in my old job was scarier. Weigh the factors and ask yourself if you're prepared to do this, if you can afford it (you will probably take a salary cut) and whether you just need a different challenge in a similar sector or organisation or if you need to do something to enjoy rather than wage slaving.. A friend also recommends 'What Colour is Your Parachute? , a job selection handbook which sounds a bit self helpy, but Hey, everything is worth a try & you're open to new, right? Feel free to email if I can advise/help..

 

[mentalchik]

Don't have a career......just a job !

 

[wanizame]

If you have a job, you have career skills..Not to be tedious, but what does your job involve, what points of your life long tedium do you enjoy? Is it problem solving, customer handling & relations, cashing & complex accounting etc. Most 'common' post these these days will involve some mixture of these...Work out the bit you like. I discovered I was always a geek at heart...I think this is what my friend was blathering about 'What Colour is Your Parachute' for, it's a handbook that opts choices of what you're good & aims to signpost things you might enjoy using those skills as opposed to things you do for work...

 

[the button]

I tried a change of career a few years ago. Spent several months applying for lots of jobs, none of which had anything to do with trade unions. No-one would have me. I reckon they thought I would be trouble. I reckon they were right.

So, no career change for me, then!

I've recently been looking for a new job (not made redundant or owt, just fancied a change) and I've found that I'm pretty much stuck in the sector I'm in, in terms of interest from potential employers. I did 20-odd applications (through Reed online cos I can't be arsed filling in application forms), had six or seven 'callbacks,' and all of those were for other charities.

I did get another job, so I can't complain like (through a mate rather than through an agency or an advert), but I think it's shown me something about not getting too comfortable in one sector if there's a chance I'd want to move on. Especially as, on the face of it, what I do quite tranferable (one page of figures and pretty graphs is very like another ).

 

[HobgoblinMan]

Been there. Done it. Working on the T-shirt. This isn't too sound smug, but I've worked with so many people who hate their jobs and it seems to infect their life and makes them miserable, so I'm an advocate of Just Do It.

So it's gonna be a Nike t-shirt then???

 

[pinkmonkey]

i'd love to change career. re-train to do something actually useful, rather than spend all of my time working just to help rich cunts by overpriced clothes at ridiculous prices.

Can I forward all the wannabee Jimmy Choos to you then? I've been contacted by another five since I last posted on this thread.

 

[pinkmonkey]

Or anywhere - though I was talking specifically about going into the luxury product market rather than any career change. I mean, if I want to, say, sell fabulous jewellery for zillions of pounds, it's easier to go into if I'm Tamara Tarararara than if I'm Susan Averagebird

This is so true - you need Tamara Tarararara's money as well, 99% of the enquiries I get there are two reasons they'll fail - absolutely no idea about business - no business plan, no vision and the number one reason - no investment. It's that old chicken and egg situation, you need money in order to make money. I wouldn't have been able to set up as a freelancer if my boss hadn't paid me off. Just would not have been able to afford it.

 

[wanizame]

Actually, you just need to convince people you have money. * Makes exasperated noise* And No, Hobgoblin Man, we'll be having no T-shirts from Nike or corporate soul suckers of any ilk...the button...if you are located in the non profit sector what part of that first attracted you? Do you know enough about it to tackle another aspect of it? In my spare time, when I'm not being a geek for work, I do the event management side of performance art in the non profit sector

 

[the button]

Actually, you just need to convince people you have money. * Makes exasperated noise* And No, Hobgoblin Man, we'll be having no T-shirts from Nike or corporate soul suckers of any ilk...the button...if you are located in the non profit sector what part of that first attracted you? Do you know enough about it to tackle another aspect of it? In my spare time, when I'm not being a geek for work, I do the event management side of performance art in the non profit sector

What attracted me to the non-profit sector is that they were the first to offer me a job when I was homeless and jobless in London a few years back. I applied for all sorts -- charities, NHS, private sector. I'd already worked in the civil service and didn't want to go back to it.

I started off doing data input cos it was a job, then got progressively swankier and swankier jobs within the same organisation cos shit floats to the top. I currently do performance management for one of the larger charities in the UK, and will soon be a business analyst at one of the smaller ones.

I didn't want to get stuck in performance management cos an organisation needs to be over a certain size in order to have it as a seperate function, and I didn't fancy being stuck in the more 'corporate' bit of the third sector (or indeed anywhere) for ever.

 

[rioted]

Had several jobs/careers and am just on the point of being made redundant. Considering shelf stacking at ASDA. Part time is all anybody needs unless you're disfunctionally protestant, wedded to an individualistic lifestyle and/or otherwise needy. Earning money just diverts you from what life is truly about.

 

[mentalchik]

If you have a job, you have career skills..Not to be tedious, but what does your job involve, what points of your life long tedium do you enjoy? Is it problem solving, customer handling & relations, cashing & complex accounting etc. Most 'common' post these these days will involve some mixture of these...Work out the bit you like. I discovered I was always a geek at heart...I think this is what my friend was blathering about 'What Colour is Your Parachute' for, it's a handbook that opts choices of what you're good & aims to signpost things you might enjoy using those skills as opposed to things you do for work...

I understand exactly what you are saying but i'm also the only breadwinner suporting the household..........

No way can i afford a wage cut (am on a low income anyhoo) and i live in a town with rapidly rising unemployment.......this means my main worry is holding onto the job i have.

Ended up in this job as i was made redundant (was working with my family in their business) and was desperate for work at the time..........the redundancy had the knock on effect of me and kids being homeless for six months, sleeping on my mum's sofa and losing the majority of my stuff (could only afford to store so much)......


Am terrified of that happening again so am kinda stuck, iyswim !

 

[mentalchik]

Had several jobs/careers and am just on the point of being made redundant. Considering shelf stacking at ASDA. Part time is all anybody needs unless you're disfunctionally protestant, wedded to an individualistic lifestyle and/or otherwise needy. Earning money just diverts you from what life is truly about.

All well and good if you only have yourself to worry about !

 

[electrogirl]

I'm going to sepnd a few more years trying to be a tv presenter/writer and then be a nurse.

 

[the button]

I'm going to sepnd a few more years trying to be a tv presenter/writer and then be a nurse.

Holby City. Two birds, one stone.

 

[electrogirl]

Holby City. Two birds, one stone.

Fucking yeah, I'm in the right city at the moment too. LIKE IT.

 

[rocketman]

To an extent I really loved what I've been doing for the last ten years, but I developed RSI which just won't go away, so now I'm not earning enough to pay my way and need to find something else to do. Thing is for a bunch of other reasons I don't want to enter into anything that is too demanding mentally/emotionally/stress, and I don't want to work in an office environment because I hate that. That is why I went freelance in what I did (writing). So now I'm a little fucked, and am not sure what direction to go in. It's most annoying.

Edit add: Also was reasonably successful in what i have been doing - not rich, but doing alright - so now my expectations are different and I find it hard to imagine myself starting at the bottom in something again.

But I think I'm going to have to.
**sighs**

 

[dylanredefined]

Quit nursing as I realised I really hated it.Occasional work with the ta as well as weekends gives me a bit of money .Would love another career ,but,What I have no idea .

 

[Blagsta]

Had several jobs/careers and am just on the point of being made redundant. Considering shelf stacking at ASDA. Part time is all anybody needs unless you're disfunctionally protestant, wedded to an individualistic lifestyle and/or otherwise needy. Earning money just diverts you from what life is truly about.

Working part time wouldn't cover rent and bills, let alone food.

 

[wanizame]

Expectations are a fucked up crucifix we all seem keen to hang ourselves on..It doesn't work the way you want it, it may simply work the way it needs to..When did we ever get the idea that work was meant to be about fulfilment? Sometimes, yep, you got to slave. & I'm not advocating chucking it all in and trying for another career ad hoc. I had to juggle two jobs in my first 2 years, often working 80 hrs a week, one that paid the bills & one that would get me off the hamster wheel..Use what you have to keep you afloat is what I'm saying, but don't see it as your only life raft..Remember that if you don't bail, you're just gonna sink..If I eventually get enough experience in events, I might move to that, but all my experience thus far is unpaid because I'm in the non profit sector. You gotta expend some time/energy/personality in order to get seen. In this case you can get something for nothing..