Change of Career?

A

Angie24

Active Member
Have any of you done this?

Just looking to hear of anyone who has taken the steps to pick up training and get a new job/career.

I have currently been in this job for almost 4 years and to be honest have been up and down in happiness for the past 3 and a half. There have been other things to take my mind off it, mainly buying a flat with my boyf, but now I am at a stage where I am completely disinterested in it, have no inclination to do the work and could quite honestly sometimes just walk out. The personalities of people in the office is non existent and I am very much a fun loving people person. The worst of it is that those close to me find it hard to understand as it is a 'good job' and I have a decent salary. Money isn't everything to me, but happiness is.

I have taken a notion to look into IT training e.g. Word, Powerpoint etc. I have been advised of some courses to look into, but as expected the first is around £1000. I am in a bit of a quandry as to whether this is something which is worthwhile getting in to debt to pursue. Finding it especially hard as my boyf seems like he has no interest in what I am doing and given that he is one of the ones close to me that has this perception of my job being fab and also that I earn more than him, I think he is a bit of the attitude, 'What you moaning for'. Given that we now have joint finances it feels a bit more like I can't throw caution to the wind.

So have you ever taken the leap? Is it a time for productive selfishness? How did you go about it?

Sorry for rant!

angela x
 
Definitely go for it Angie, life is too short to spend in a job you don't like. We spend so long at work that you shouldn't have to put up with something that makes you unhappy.

I was in same position a couple of years ago, I had a good job working for one of top companies in UK so there was lots of job security, career progression, benefits etc but after 5 years it was making me unhappy so one day I just walked in and handed my notice in and it was best decision I've ever made :D Yes there were some ups and downs and a few setbacks but I wouldn't change my decision for the world. It did help tho having a really supportive boyfriend tho who was completely behind all my decisions and ultiamtely just wanted me to be happy in whatever I did. Now I freelance and altho I've lost the job security I did have, the benefits are much greater for me - flexibility, more money, been able to choose what I want to do and what makes me happy etc.

Give it a go, if you don't like it/it's not for you, what have you lost, absolutely nothing but you have a hell of a lot to gain and imo it's better to have tried something and failed than never have tried something.

Good luck :D
 
Thanks Barbie, I think that's exactly what I need to hear. Sounds daft, but even a stranger behind you makes you feel so much better!

I am possibly too independent most of the time which can make people forget that I need support too ;)
 
Angie24 said:
Thanks Barbie, I think that's exactly what I need to hear. Sounds daft, but even a stranger behind you makes you feel so much better!

I am possibly too independent most of the time which can make people forget that I need support too ;)
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Even tho it feels really scary and daunting just think of the absolute worse that can happen - you try something new, you don't like it so you go back to what you did before/try something new, better to have tried it than to spend all your life thinking 'what if??'

And make sure your b/friend is behind you, you will go thru lots of ups and downs making such a change but they're much more bearable if you've got the support of other people ;)
 
Everyone will tell you to leap. They don't know you, and this is the internet.

I disagree in principle. You sound pretty smart, so this message goes a bit above the "it's called work - you will do it for the rest of your life - deal with it ffs" message that I'd proffer to the more adolescent/dreaming worker.

Before taking the plunge, I'm not sure your way of dealing with your issues are that effective. It certainly seems you haven't spoke to your friends or your fella about how you feel, would I be correct in assuming the situation would be similar at work? I only say, because in my life I've had 1,000's of times (myself, and heard of others) where I've thought there's no way back to happiness in my current role**, only to have a conversation with my manager (or if not what about your director) which have had the results which were simply unfathomable 24 hours previous, and have, quite frankly shocked me, only to have a renewed vigour in my role, and to remember that there are people watching/noticing, and there are people who understand.

Can you honestly say teaching IT-illiterate (let's face it, think of the sort of person that want's to do a course on MS Word? "So then, this is called a mouse, eh?") people will cure your career ills?

Oh, and remember, (and I assume you've come up with the idea having seen the ad somewhere) that teaching people (higher level - i.e. for qualification) IT is big business, and they are very persuasive in advising you of what you "will" earn when you finish the course (in fact it may often be the sole selling point) . Which will often be stretching the truth at least, and in principle leads to a lack of enthusiasm on their part once you have paid your moneys.

Is it a problem a situation one (i.e. don;t get on with staff) or an industry one (i.e., don;t like sales or whatever it is?)

**I'd like to add the caveat, that, especially in employment, the grass is ALWAYS seemingly greener on the other side. Always.

Don't believe everything people tell you abot their job (money/perks) both positive and negative. eg, we all know people who say they have fantastic roles and earn loadsamoney. It's an idle brag that can rarely be checked by a peer.

But then conversely, I know people who love to moan about their job (i.e. every day). But then some people love to moan in general, and are usually fishing for sympathy. They all walk in there tomorrow, and never seem to do anything about it (although yes, we can factor apathy into the reason).
 
angie, u need to do whats right for you. but also, you need to think about it long and hard too.

my ideal world would involve living on a little farm, and growing and selling my own veg.

reality says, it aint gonna happen (unless i win the lotto and are setup for life).
 
Do it do it!!!
I need inspiring because I'm planning to do the same when I'm finally settled in my new flat.






(I wonder if there are any Moderator positions going spare? :lol: )
 
In a strange confluence of time and space, I'm with the X-man. Is there a way you can fix you current job/career before you toss it out with the garbage?

Life's too short to be unhappy, but it's also too short to keep starting at the bottom in new careers.

I've often thought of changing careers (rock star, anyone?). But then I realize that I do what I do because I'm good at it. If you're good at what you do, and it has some level of prospects for the future, it might be better to figure out how to make that career more enjoyable than to abandon it.
 
I literally HATED my job this time last year and now I absolutely love it. I'm with the X and Morbyd on this one - make sure you've thought through the options before you jump ship, have a conversation with either your boss or the HR people.
 
Mark Sun said:
I literally HATED my job this time last year and now I absolutely love it. I'm with the X and Morbyd on this one - make sure you've thought through the options before you jump ship, have a conversation with either your boss or the HR people.
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I spose it depends on whether the things you don't like about your job are insurmountable, one of the main things I didn't like about my old job was the travelling to and from work and it was unlikely that Tesco were going to move their Head Offices for me :lol:
 
Barbie said:
I spose it depends on whether the things you don't like about your job are insurmountable, one of the main things I didn't like about my old job was the travelling to and from work and it was unlikely that Tesco were going to move their Head Offices for me :lol:
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You could have moved apartments :lol:
 
Scoobie said:
Wasn't their office at Welwyn Garden City or somewhere?

I bet you'd have loved living there :lol: :lol: :lol:
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I'd best not say anything cos I wouldn't want to offend the residents of Welwyn Garden City :lol:
 
Barbie said:
I'd best not say anything cos I wouldn't want to offend the residents of Welwyn Garden City :lol:
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Oooh yes, they might have won an award for best plant pot display in 1975 so therefore your opinion would be WRONG :spank: :spank: :lol:
 
Another way to look into things is to see if there's another branch or office of the company you work for. A sideways move can often give you fresh impetus, a change in surroundings and colleagues may be what you need. It seems to me, looking at what you have said, that it is more of the environmental factors that are dragging you down. Have a word with your personnel department and see if they can look into anything for you.

Also, try to remember why you decided to do that kind of work in the first place, because that same thing should be why you want to try something different- not because of boredom, crap colleagues etc. Someone once told me you should only ever leave a post/job/career on a high note because otherwise you run a far greater risk of making a bad decision and for the wrong reasons. Hope this helps and good luck!
 
Thank you all so much, your responses are very much appreciated and helpful. I know I don't know any of you and that is really the reason that I have written this here. I wanted an unbiased view and opinions. I realise that obviously my personality comes into it a lot, but this is my first stage ;)

To be honest it is the company and role itself that has really got me down - worldwide american owned - feel like I am working for nothing aside from lining a fat cats pockets doing tasks that I don't get a personal boost from. The industry is also notoriously boring!! After providing friends/family/colleagues with bits of package training I have realised that it is something I enjoy doing and it is something which gives me a sense of achievement, hence the reason I wondered if it would be possible to make a career from it.

X-amount - on issues I think that you are right. I guess that maybe that is something that I need to deal with first. To put it bluntly I am a sh*tebag when it comes to deep discussions with my nearest and dearest :lol: . Have you been sent to make me face my demons ;)

Paddy - it is always something that I have considered as I could probably get a transfer somewhere, somehow. You have inspired me to get on the intranet and see what else is available!
 
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