Natasha Stone

Age at time of shift

25

Gender

Female

Education level

Graduate

Universities attended

Newcastle University and currently City University, London

Shifted from

Senior Account Executive

Location

London

Salary

£20,000-£30,000

Years in old career

2.5

Shifted to

Student Adult Nurse

Location

London

Salary

£0-£20,000

Years in new career

1

Year of shift

2005

What was your role in your old job?

Managing international PR accounts, and launching and rebranding new product ranges.

What is/are your new role(s)?

I'm studying to be a Registered Adult Nurse and have one year more before I qualify.

Are you happy with the change?

Yes.

What do you miss and what don't you miss?

I miss the social side of PR and the creativity, but don't miss the superficiality and pretentiousness of the consumer world.

How did you go about making the change?

I looked into post-graduate schemes and found that nursing students were also given a financial incentive which helped the transition. In addition to this, the post-graduate scheme allows scope for a really diverse and broad career path.

What was the most difficult thing about changing?

Going back to being a student with no money was difficult so I had to change my priorities. This was difficult as I'm now at a different stage of life to my friends.

Going back to lectures was also an adjustment.

What help did you get?

I got a financial bursary to help with living costs, but i looked into the course prior to starting and found all the information on the internet.

What have you learnt in the process?

It is possible to make a dramatic change without it becoming detrimental to your work career. I already have a previous degree and I am knowledgeable about an industry, so this gives me the option of going back if nursing does not work out.

What do you wish you'd done differently?

Nothing.

What would you advise others to do in the same situation?

If you really feel you want to change your job look at all the options, speak to someone about it and don't be afraid to make a dramatic decision.