Graduated but changed your mind? What to do next

Many people have been in the position after graduation where they have wondered if they’ve made the right choice with their study options. When it comes to leaving study and starting work, many people have a bit of a period of worry, especially in the first few days of settling into a job. But what if these “first-week nerves” are more than that? What if you really don’t enjoy the job you originally dreamed of doing. Was all that hard work and study for nothing? And where do you go from there?

Changing direction after graduation

If you have decided you really can’t stand the industry you had your heart set on from the outset, the likelihood is that you’ll need to retrain. This means you should be ready and willing to get involved with studying and developing new skills for the future in a different field. Being stuck in a job you no longer want to do for life is not an option. We spend so much of our lives working, our careers should be enjoyable and fulfilling, so it’s imperative to think carefully about what to do next.

After having studied for some time, you may be wary of choosing a new career path in case it is as unfulfilling as your original choice. However, as long as you consider all your options carefully, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to make the right choice second time around. Perhaps with the experience you’ve had in your original field, you could pick out the things you liked, write them down and then see how those skills or enjoyable activities could fit into a new career.

One thing that is important to take into account is whether your current qualifications can be adapted with a little training for a brand new career. This would mean that you hadn’t wasted all that time studying previously, and the skills and knowledge built over time can be useful in your new career choice.

If you need to earn while you study

It may be the case that your parents have supported you up until now, but they may not be able to do so while you complete another period of study. This may lead to you having to stick it out in a job you don’t necessarily want to do, and you may be worried about how you’ll be able to get out of the situation. However, there is a variety of training courses you can complete while you work. Online training has never been so popular, and many people looking to change their career path choose to do so while they work. There are a whole host of options out there for you if you choose to go this way. If you love mathematics why not retrain as a professional accountant. You could complete a Diploma in accounting online. Studying professional qualifications second time around can be very fulfilling and may open up a new career path that you can keep for life.

There are increasing numbers of people who are looking to retrain and gain additional skills in order to move up the career ladder or change direction entirely. Gaining new qualifications as well as investing time and energy in acquiring new skills and knowledge, will make a person more competitive in the job market. As well as this, you never know when your previous study will come in handy later on in life.

If you really don’t think your original career choice will work for you, you should definitely look at retraining. Whatever you choose, there are always options out there for you to change direction – don’t force yourself into a job you don’t enjoy – there are plenty of pathways you could be walking.  

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