Hey listeners!
First Things First: Why the Hell Would Anyone Want to Change Careers?
Alright, let’s address the elephant in the room: why would anyone want to ditch their cushy job and start all over again? Well, as it turns out, there are plenty of reasons. As Molly so eloquently put it:
“When we are told to think about careers, what, we're, like, 16, 18? When you're, like, oh, you gotta go to university, and then you gotta pick whatever career you want. Definitely, when I was 16, 18, I didn’t know that three-quarters of the jobs in the world existed.”
Preach, Molly! I mean, hands up if you knew what a "creative director" or "social media manager" was when you were 16. Yeah, I thought so.
But it’s not just about realising there are cooler jobs out there. Sometimes, it’s about growth, finding your strengths, or realising you’ve been climbing the wrong damn ladder for years. As Lauren chimed in:
“I’m 40 and I still don’t know what I wanna do, let alone when I was 16.”
Ain’t that the truth, sister!
The Usual Suspects: Common Reasons for Career Changes
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s break down some of the most common reasons why people decide to jump ship:
- Realising your current job sucks: You picked a career path at 18, and surprise, surprise, it's not all it’s cracked up to be.
- Personal growth: You’ve figured out your strengths and weaknesses, and your current job just isn’t cutting it anymore.
- Work-life balance: You’ve been climbing that corporate ladder for years, only to realise you’ve been neglecting everything else in your life.
- Passion projects: Sometimes, you just want to ditch the 9-to-5 and open that cat café you’ve been dreaming about.
The Great Career Pivot: Our Personal Tales of Job-Hopping
Now, let’s get personal. Both of us have had our fair share of career changes, and trust us, it’s been one hell of a ride.
Molly’s Squiggly Career Path:
“My career was pretty squiggly. Like, I started in investment banking and equity research, then moved into market research, leading a data research team, speaking on BBC News about supermarkets, and then into FMCG Consulting, and eventually Fintech Consulting.”
Talk about a rollercoaster! And let’s not forget the infamous yellow jacket incident on BBC Breakfast. (If you don’t know what we’re talking about, go back and listen to our previous episodes. It’s a doozy!)
Lauren’s Journey from PA to Marketing Maven:
“My very first job out of uni was as a PA and receptionist for the National Blood Service. Lovely people, but I was such a terrible PA. I was just not organised, and I was also really shy and struggled in that role. But I split my career into two parts to date—the first half in sales and advertising sales, and the second half in marketing.”
The Struggle is Real: Challenges of Changing Careers
Let’s not sugarcoat it—changing careers isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. There are some real challenges you’ll face along the way:
- The Experience Gap: Competing against people who've been in the job forever.
- The Pay Cut: Sometimes, you gotta step back to move forward. But damn, those ramen noodles get old real fast.
- The Identity Crisis: Who am I if I’m not [insert your current job title here]?
- The Learning Curve: Prepare to feel like an idiot for a while.
How to Not Suck at Changing Careers
- Do Your Homework: Research the hell out of your new career. As Lauren says, “Look at the jobs you want and then bring that into your CV and cover letters.”
- Network Like Your Life Depends On It: Reach out to people in your desired field. Lauren shared a great story about how she landed a job by sliding into someone’s DMs (professionally, of course).
- Show, Don’t Tell: As Molly points out, “Words don’t mean very much in those scenarios… so build a portfolio, start a side project, or volunteer in your new field.”
- Be Realistic: You might not land your dream job right away. Be prepared to start at the bottom and work up.
- Embrace the Suck: It’s going to be hard. You’re going to feel like an imposter. But remember, everyone starts somewhere.
The Financial Realities of Career Changes
Let’s talk about money, honey. Changing careers often means taking a pay cut, and that can be scary as hell. Lauren shared her experience:
“The biggest change for me when I switched from sales to marketing was taking a pay cut. And that, I’m sure, we’ll get into more later.”
Here are some tips to handle the financial hit:
- Build a Safety Net: Save up before making the switch.
- Side Hustle: Keep your day job while you build skills in your new field.
- Be Patient: Remember, you’re playing the long game.
The Power of the Pivot: Success Stories
Finally, let’s end on a high note. We’ve got a great story from a listener, Sarah, who made the leap from teaching to tech:
“I was a high school teacher for 10 years, but I’ve always had a passion for web design. Last year, I decided to take the plunge and transition into tech. I spent six months learning coding through online courses while still teaching. It was challenging, but I managed to land an entry-level web developer position at a startup. The pay cut was significant, but I’m so much happier now.”
Hell yeah, Sarah! That’s what we’re talking about!
Final Thoughts: Just Do It (But Maybe Plan a Little First)
Changing careers is scary, like jumping out of a plane and hoping your parachute works. But sometimes, you’ve just gotta take that leap. As Molly says:
“It will never feel like the right time… whether you’re changing careers or starting a business. You’re never going to go, ‘Right, now is the time to take that leap.’”
So, if you’re sitting there, dreaming about a different career, maybe it’s time to stop dreaming and start doing. Do your research, make a plan, and then go for it. Life’s too short to spend in a job you hate.
And remember, as Lauren wisely quotes: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realise we have one.”
Got a career change story of your own? Slide into our DMs on Instagram at @workingonit.pod or drop us an email. Who knows, you might even hear your story in a future episode!
Until next time, keep working on it, and remember: the only thing scarier than changing careers is staying in a job you hate for the rest of your life.
