My first blog for Careershifters. I think it would good if I told you more about my journey!

As a graduate I originally wanted to work in the charity sector because, quite literally, and you may laugh, I wanted to ‘save the world’. I had studied Sociology, international politics and human rights and was pumped + primed to make the world a better place. I worked on short term contracts in the not-for-profit sector, finally securing my first ‘proper’ job in a media organisation’s Corporate Social Responsibility department. It should have been my dream job, but I was bored to tears and started to dread going to work.

Lesson learnt no.1: you have to enjoy what you’re actually doing at work.

When you start to think about other possible work, keep an open mind. Look into different ways of working - portfolio careers, own businesses, being freelance, combining self-employment with part-time work… This has really helped me psychologically to break from the idea that ‘you have to pick one perfect job that has it all’

To cheer myself up (or at least give myself a creative outlet) I wrote a novel, made some short films with friends, and decided to leave my soul-numbing day job. I began my ‘career shift’ project.

I attended a lot of seminars, went to quite a few networking events which were amazing. If you get one thing out of this blog, it should be this: go to networking events organised by people like Careershifters (I went to one by There’s More To Life Than Shoes, a women’s group). You will meet inspiring people who can give you tips and insights into all sorts of work. It’ll really open your eyes.

Money was starting to run out, so I half-heartedly posted out my CV to galleries, thinking it might be nice to work in their education departments. I had put my amateur film projects on my CV and a curator at one gallery picked up on them. The next thing I knew I was being commissioned to make a series of short documentary education films for them. Exciting, non?! It was a learning experience. I had been harbouring romantic ideas of being a film director (“this is my step on the road to Hollywood!”) yet found the reality of filmmaking (by myself as the producer, cameraperson, editor, director) not as fun as I imagined. I don’t have the patience for editing! And I found it a lonely process. But at least I learnt through doing, and was set up as self-employed. All good experience.

Lesson learnt no.2: don’t try to be something you’re not

So. Now I’m enjoying acting classes (I enjoy acting but hate auditions, not the career for me!), art college (starting to see my niche - visual communication possibly) and am working on identifying my ‘paid work’. I’m lucky to have a supportive family there for me through this mid-twenties crisis, that’s another thing:

Lesson learnt no.3: talk to people about what you’re going through

Not everyone will totally understand but chances are you’ll start to meet people feeling the same things or have been through career changes. It’ll really help you to know you’re not alone (and not going crazy!). I remember just after I’d left my horrid office job I went to a Bollywood dance class (to get back in touch with things that ignite my fire I.e dance) and in the waiting area I saw a man in his late thirties reading ‘What Colour is Your Parachute?’ That alone made me feel better

I’m going to stop here because this is getting pretty long, but throughout this blog I hope to share with you some of the lessons I’ve learnt, useful websites and inspirations. If you want to know about anything I’ve mentioned (art college, being freelance, networking etc etc) I’ll be happy to help.

Sab