Total change of career

[darcyvuqua]

Has anyone ever had a total change of career

I mean from doing something day in day out for 13 years to stopping doing that and wanting to get into something totally different not Even knowing what the different was?

[Feral007]

No, but I'd really like something different. I'm over the stuff I know now.

[veggiechicken]

I felt like that for most of my working life. Fortunately, I worked for a Government department where it was quite normal to move to a different area of work every 3 years. I found that was about right for my attention span. One year learning, one year being proficient and the final year wondering where I could move to next. It kept me going until I wriggled my way out at 48

[darcyvuqua]

I'm 31 and facing this decision I'm so confused as to what to do

[lottie dolly]

yep i did,started out beghind sewing machines,then did a while in the bulb factory,as in lights,flash cubes,and specialist ones,then went back to sewing,not all clothes,some was specialists bags,
Have you got something in mind Darcy,or have you got an itch,or just mulling over since mixing up on here,and got other aspirations now,

[veggiechicken]

You have your family to consider - I didn't and thats a big difference. I dreamt up all sorts of schemes to get me out of work early - with hindsight none of them would have worked! Sometimes work is a necessary evil. It pays the mortgage and keeps food on your plate - so I put up with 8 hours of boredom for 16 hours of doing what I/we wanted - and 6 weeks of holidays abroad a year!
If you don't know what you want to do with your life, nobody else can resolve that - sorry

EDIT, This is my 10,000th post. I should have got a job in nattering

[Bigmallly]

When the kids were bairns I got offered a job in South Africa but didn't have the bal ball bottle to go through with it......I often wonder what could have been.

[PyreneesPlot]

Read archaeology at uni and did that for a few years.
Trained as a chef and did that until I realised I never saw Mr PP, working 7am-3pm and then 6pm-till 11ish.
Started work in a bookshop, worked up to manager and then managed a number over the years.
Retired and no plans to change again...

I have no regrets about chopping and changing and have really enjoyed most of the things I've done. You (probably) only get one go at life so make the most of it.

In most jobs it seems to be the people you work with and for who make the difference.

[darcyvuqua]

Been in the army since I was 18 am now 31 and being made redundant I am paid till the 12th of December and have no idea what to do!

I always knew this day would come but expected it in 11 years time not now!

The only thing is I can't seem to think of an industry that I want to go into

[Feral007]

Yes! And don't those people make the difference!

I'd love to have something new and different. And I am considering options all the time. But in the meantime yes, the mortgage, the bills, the food on the table stuff - but I'm looking to make a change at work either before or after Christmas - depending how much cr@p I can put up with. But I'll have my eyes open for other options as well.

[veggiechicken]

Been in the army since I was 18 am now 31 and being made redundant I am paid till the 12th of December and have no idea what to do!

I always knew this day would come but expected it in 11 years time not now!

The only thing is I can't seem to think of an industry that I want to go into

Now that puts a totally different slant on your question! Are they offering you any retraining?

[darcyvuqua]

Yes a little but I have to do it in the next two months not sure if I will be fit enough with the operations that I have just had

[lottie dolly]

could you not have a word with the welfare officer,thats if they still have and use one,

[Alison]

A lot depends on your priorities / time of life etc. If career and job satisfaction is very important then you can end up spending considerable amounts of time away from home, possibily in a job you enjoy for good rewards but also possibly at the expense of the rest of your life. On the whole I like my job (I'm lucky but also never really do what ifs so don't regret choices - nothing I can do about them anyway) but I wish there was less of it so I could spend more time doing the things I love out of work ie it's challenging but at the end of the day, it's a means to an end. Mostly I'm able to work locally and sometimes from home. These things are more important to me that a more perfect job. I have a friend who retrained as a teacher to get summer holidays off and another who works in a job she doesn't really like because it's very flexible so the balance of her life is good if she puts up with the pain elsewhere. Not really much help but you need to weigh up your criteria which is not just what you like doing Good luck.

[Farmer_Gyles]

yep .... i was a train driver for 13 years .... i hated the shiftwork, the solitude, the endless "management vs unions" drivel, the abuse from passengers etc ....
i started a degree thinking about getting a job in computing ....
spent 3 years doing the degree while going through a messy divorce etc and working endless hours to pay for solicitors ....
then when the degree and divorce were all over, i became a single parent, couldn't get childcare, family turned their backs on me and i lost my job ....
so i went self-employed as a web designer ....
best move i ever made
it's been tough at times, i've learnt from mistakes .... i got a full time job as a web developer a couple of years ago, packed it in last year to go back to self employment .... loving it .... i take on short term contracts, which is great .... gives me the freedom to do the garden etc ....