Nowadays, people rarely stay in one role for their entire lives, as their parents did. So if you’ve done just that and you’re now considering a shift in focus in your mid-30s – but are unsure of your next step – then it’s absolutely the right thing to do.
Here’s why:
To gain knowledge and challenge yourself
If you’ve been in the same career all your life, it’s likely you’ll have gained lots of brilliant skills through the course of your employment. But those skills are all in one area – so you might be an expert in your field (which is already commendable!) but how do you know there aren’t other areas you could apply your knowledge and expertise successfully? You may excel at something that you would have previously considered a completely different profession to your own – so be adventurous and see what other skills you can acquire. There are a wide variety of adult training courses that will facilitate your career transition.
After all, it is good for the brain to be taxed and challenged every so often. Even if you are good at what you do, it is likely those little grey cells aren’t being exercised enough. To find out what you’re truly capable of, you have to take the plunge.
To change your life
This sounds dramatic, but changing your career undoubtedly changes your life. For the better, of course! Your current role might be unsuitable for a number of reasons – perhaps the hours are too long, you don’t feel you’re paid enough, or your employer isn’t flexible when it comes to holidays and family. Whatever the issue, the power to change is in your hands. There will be a perfect career out there for you which fits around your life, but also gives you the opportunity to be successful – isn’t that life-changing?
To realise your potential
Lots of people, despite being in a stable, successful career, feel unfulfilled in some way. If you feel like you’ve got more to give, then a career change can facilitate that. It could offer up opportunities that you would never have had if you’d stayed in your old position. Often we don’t realise what we are capable of until we are thrown out of our comfort zone – so take a leap of faith and embark on a new career. It’s a sure-fire way to discover incredible things you couldn’t have achieved if you had stayed put.
To experience new things
Do you sometimes forget what day it is because each working day is so similar? If so, it looks like your daily and weekly experiences are the same. How often does something out of the ordinary happen in your current career? It’s time to break free and experience things you never thought you would, and never could have if you’d stayed with your current role. If you’re flexible, versatile and have lots of experience (plus a proven willingness to learn shown by your participation in new ventures) your CV will be irresistible to potential employers.
Because life’s too short
There’s nothing worse than ‘what if’. When you were younger, you probably had a few wild ideas about what you wanted to do when you ‘grew up’. Maybe there’s a dream in the back of your mind you’ve never felt able to fulfil, or you feel stuck and uninspired in your current role. Whatever it is, there’s no time like the present to change things around. Follow your dreams, embrace your passions and do what it is you truly love.
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