Changing careers

messy tessy · 19-03-2018 8:49am #1

I am working in a bank for almost a decade now, the money is good but the job is pretty stressful and I don't have a love for it. In fact a lot of the time I don't even like the work. I can't picture myself in the job for the next 30 something years and looking to change into something else. I don't have dependants or a mortgage or anything, have a good level of savings and am still young (ish!) so if ever there was a time to jump ship it's now.

Has anyone ever changed careers entirely (different industries)? What did you move into and any regrets?

Rave.ef · 19-03-2018 8:59am

Yes. Best thing I've ever done.

Neames · 19-03-2018 12:53pm

What other areas of work interest You?

Also, I wouldn't rule out a lateral move with the same company. I did it years ago ...moved from an administration role (which I liked) into an IT role (which I really liked). It required a leap of faith on my part but I have to say having worked in IT for the last 16 plus years I really enjoy getting up for work in the morning. I wouldn't rule out another move either.

I suppose I was close to 30 when I moved into IT.

Contrails · 19-03-2018 1:14pm

Neames wrote: »

What other areas of work interest You?

Also, I wouldn't rule out a lateral move with the same company. I did it years ago ...moved from an administration role (which I liked) into an IT role (which I really liked). It required a leap of faith on my part but I have to say having worked in IT for the last 16 plus years I really enjoy getting up for work in the morning. I wouldn't rule out another move either.

I suppose I was close to 30 when I moved into IT.

Interesting. I actually work in a bank as well and feel the same as the OP. Understaffed, over worked, and yet what is expected of us is rising each year. Yet my friend (same bank) is in IT and is happy out. I'd personally be afraid I wouldn't have the aptitude for IT though..but perhaps worth thinking about for the Op

messy tessy · 19-03-2018 1:17pm

Neames wrote: »

What other areas of work interest You?

Also, I wouldn't rule out a lateral move with the same company

I have moved around a bit, this is my third role within the company. I have found them all a bit meaningless if I'm honest. I kind of fell into banking and now feel a bit stuck there. I'm not unhappy in that job, the money is good, the people I work with are nice but the actual work I find pointless.

I guess I am just looking for anyone's experiences of leaving a 'nice pensionable job' to do something else.

messy tessy · 19-03-2018 1:25pm

Contrails wrote: »

Interesting. I actually work in a bank as well and feel the same as the OP. Understaffed, over worked, and yet what is expected of us is rising each year. Yet my friend (same bank) is in IT and is happy out. I'd personally be afraid I wouldn't have the aptitude for IT though..but perhaps worth thinking about for the Op

This is it exactly. A lot of the time I wonder why am I getting stressed out in a job I don't particularly care about. There is a high turnover in my department and everyone seems stressed. All nice people so that is something.

I don't mean to come across as negative as the job has allowed me to save a good bit over the years.

No great IT skills to talk about.

AndrewJRenko · 19-03-2018 2:05pm

messy tessy wrote: »

No great IT skills to talk about.

What skills do you have? What stuff do you enjoy doing?

Pawwed Rig · 19-03-2018 2:08pm

I moved from an Engineering role into finance in my 30s. Was a long slog tbh so you would want to be committed from the start. Do you know what you want to do?

messy tessy · 19-03-2018 2:11pm

I am thinking something in the food industry. I have a ridiculously romantic notion of having a coffee shop or bakery one day. It is something I have good skills and a genuine interest in. Was thinking of going for work experience in a bakery in my local village during my annual leave this year.

I just don't want to look back at 40 and think I've spent two decades in a career I am not passionate about.

AndrewJRenko · 19-03-2018 2:29pm

messy tessy wrote: »

I am thinking something in the food industry. I have a ridiculously romantic notion of having a coffee shop or bakery one day. It is something I have good skills and a genuine interest in. Was thinking of going for work experience in a bakery in my local village during my annual leave this year.

Can you expand on what skills you have that would be relevant to the food industry? Doing work experience is a great idea - could you take a career break to try this out for a year or two?

Pawwed Rig · 19-03-2018 2:53pm

Bakery might be a plan if you train for a few years and get an offering together. Please do not gamble on a coffee shop though. The country is full of them

messy tessy · 19-03-2018 5:26pm

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Bakery might be a plan if you train for a few years and get an offering together. Please do not gamble on a coffee shop though. The country is full of them

More interested in the bakery side than the coffee shop.

It's just an idea for the moment, I'm not under any illusions about how difficult the industry is. I have a friend that set up a food company only for it close a year later.

NobleBlack · 25-05-2018 11:49am

I would suggest you keep working in the bank and save more money and then change into what you have passion for.....

I suggest being a business woman or an entrepreneur....these two areas will give you time and more money than a salary job.

TIPS: look around you and identify a problem you can solve, that's the best kind of business that will keep flourishing because people will always patronize you,coz they want to solve their problem that you offer the solution.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Changing careers

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