Graduates who want to leave their profession a few years after qualifying - don't stay there just because you think you should!

Simon from Position Ignition recently wrote an article for us about graduates who go straight into professional careers with a lot of specific training (such as accountants, lawyers, doctors) and find after a few years that they really don't enjoy their line of work. I have some friends who are currently going through this, and alongside finding it hard to figure out what it is they would rather do instead, they also have difficulty 'letting go' of a career that they have been so specifically trained for for a number of years purely because of the weight that can come from being trained in an area to a certain level..

I had this feeling myself quite soon after graduation, and when I mentioned to my family that I wanted to do something more creative or hands-on rather than use my degrees in an 'obvious' way, one response was 'but you're a bright girl and I don't want you to throw all you've learnt away'. Another was 'so do you think you should have studied X at uni instead of Y? Did you waste your time at uni?' Helpful comments I'm sure you'll agree!

I'm sure there are those of us who want to make a huge leap from a profession such as law or the City to anything from owning your own cake shop or being an expedition leader, who have had understanding and supportive family members and peers (who perhaps have made their own big changes in life).

But for some of us, it might be best to not pay too much credence to the remarks made by some of those close to us. I think my family members were literally voicing some of their 'limiting beliefs' and doubts when I was trying to break away from my old career area.

Perhaps you enjoyed studying law/medicine/teaching etc at uni but when you entered the workplace found it wasn't for you. Or perhaps you studied a particular subject leading to a qualified profession without really enjoying any of the studying or course. Either way, forcing yourself to continue down a career path that is making you unhappy is just plain dumb.

When my family said 'but you're a bright girl', inside I thought 'yep, that's why I'm not going to make myself numb and soulless doing a job I don't like just because it uses my degree'. When they said 'I don't want you to throw all you've learnt away' I realised this could be applied to my experience of working in the sector I wanted to leave. I'd learnt about myself, about who I like to work with and who I don't, and I'd learnt that a lot of people cultivate a social belief that says 'get into a safe profession and you're sorted for life', a belief I've seen lead a lot of people up the garden path and brought unhappiness rather than a feeling of safety or completion.

Some people who want to move away from their current profession might find that moving to a different area of their industry makes all the difference - from corporate to not for profit, or maybe to set up their own practice rather than be part of an organisation.
But for some, their passions may lie in an area seemingly completely alien to their current profession. Do not fear, or feel bad, or worry that your knowledge will not come into use again in your life. If you've been working in an industry that demands diligence, analytical thinking, negotiation for example, these will all help you in life, whether it's running your own business, being a freelance musician or playing football as a passionate hobby! Any worries beyond that about 'not using your degree'? I'll bet it's coming from your parents and/or peer group who are scared to leave jobs they don't like too! Play it smart - don't stay stuck in work you don't enjoy on account of other people's beliefs and doubts.