Career shifting – it’s surprisingly different to getting a new job!

It’s been quite a while since my last shiftlog.  So, I should have lots of great stuff to report back on and to a certain extent I feel like I have.  But I’ll let you be the judge of that.
 
First of all, I would like to reinforce what Sab has found.  Career shifting for me is a long-term project.  I’ve reluctantly accepted that it’s not going to happen for me over night and I’ve finally put my burning ambition to write ahead of my naturally impatient nature. 
 
When I first decided I wanted to do something different and pursue a new career, I approached it as I would approach finding a new job - with bags of enthusiasm and with the mis-guided expectation that success was months rather than years away.
 
But changing careers is not always as simple as changing jobs.  Even if, like me, you are very clear of what you want the outcome to be.  The last few months for me have been about finding a balance.  I’m putting loads of time and energy into my career change but not putting myself under the impossible pressure of becoming a successful, in demand freelance writer overnight.

So, what have I actually done?  

Most importantly for me I have created time for my career change.  I was finding juggling full time working commitments and a career change difficult to manage and frustrating.  So, I approached my employer about flexible working options.  As a result, I have been able to reduce my working week to four days, giving me a full day in the week to pursuing my writing ambition.  Obviously the flipside is I earn less but this is a compromise I am willing to make.

I’ve invested in getting the right skills for the job.  I've signed up on a distance learning Freelance and Feature Writing course with the London School of Journalism to hone my writing skills and learn a few tricks of the trade from an experienced tutor (a successful freelance journalist).  I feel I’m benefiting from taking the time to learn how to do things properly rather than jumping in blindly (and risking making a bad first impression on editors). I’ve also signed myself up on a residential course with the Arvon Foundation.  I’d recommend any aspiring writers to take a look at their courses. 

I’m getting the business and marketing tools I need to work effectively as a writer ready and prepared.  I’ve built myself a website (http://www.laurajanewrites.co.uk/) and set up a personal blog site (http://www.laurajanewrites.wordpress.com/).

Like Sab, for me career shifting is about realising my vocation in life.  This takes lots of time and effort. I’m hoping one day I’ll reap the rewards.

Laura