Career Shifting = A long term process of discovery

By Sab

Hello all,

It's been a while since I last posted, + a lot (non-career related) has happened - family illnesses. But they are almost fully recovered, so i'm back on the career change train. 

I read a lot of books over easter and one of the best books was 'What Should I Do With My Life' by Po Bronson (it's in the book reccommendation list on the Careershifters site),  which arrived at just the right time.

Over Easter i had convinced myself that working in a theatre would be a good idea. Figured i'd meet directors, actors, potential contacts - perks of a part time job to get me by for a while. I was offered work at a good London theatre and went to be talked through my potential job. To cut a long story short it wasn't for me, and while I was there, I realised i'd been conning myself. What the heck was i doing - i've seen about six plays in all my life, two of which were school trips, and one of which i actually enjoyed. I enjoy reading plays more than watching them. There must be a clue there.

I had a bit of a silly crisis on the bus ride home. The next day nothing but a gut compulsion led me to charge down to my local charity shop to look at books. Po's book was the first I found. I whizzed through it in a weekend.

The book helped me get perspective. For some people, career changing and finding their vocation or 'place' in the world can happen relatively quickly, maybe in less than a year. But for others it can take years. And it's not through a lack of courage or willpower. It's to do with clarity and exploration, learning from hard experience, trial and error. I feel i'm going to be one of those people. And the only way to get 'there' is to move forward, make mistakes, learn from them and enjoy the ride.

This may be no help to you. I'm sure some of you know what you want to do, or are looking for a good job rather than this vocation melarky. But for those who aren't sure what they want, or want to discover some kind of 'vocation', i really recommend the book. And to not give up. And keep looking and learning.

The art website i set up (thewolfgang.etsy.com) has a record zero sales, but quite a few compliments. I don't mind so much, if i'm honest i haven't pushed it as much as i could. It was exciting to set up but then... just PR and selling.  another lesson here. perhaps i'm not passionate enough about the product to push it further? books, maybe...

Goodness fellow career shifters, what's left to say? Do i sound any closer to making a clear career change? My destination can't be summed up in a job title just yet. But i know who i am, what i'm not, and when i'm faking it (theatre?!) 

It some ways it feels like being at the beginning again. But this time, not bogged down with how things 'should' be, or muddled about who i am. Not clouded by what's come before, not in the shadow of what may come in the future. It has taken me a good while to get to this point of... well, psychological purity? hmmm, ok maybe not, more like that saying 'let the field lie bare before the first seeds are sown'

Bizarrely, i'm getting interested in literacy teaching for adults and young people. I can't imagine life without words and books, a lot of people are missing out. first seed to plant?

Being a long-term shifter, i'll write again later in the year with an update. I'll try and keep it shorter next time!

Best of luck to everyone, keep messaging and blogging on the site, i love reading how people are making their own shifts.

Sab x

 

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By RubyTuesday

Hmmm Olivia, you sound very similar to me in your interests and skills etc...only just joined this site so am about to work out my true goal in life!X

By Selina Barker

Hi RubyTuesday! Welcome to Careershifters - plenty of expert advice articles to help you as you figure out what it is you want from your career, but give us a shout if you need any help

x Selina
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By Olivia

Hi, I have been in my current job for 20 months and have known for more than a year that I should get out. However, due to lack of clarity about what I want to do and confidence issues, I have dithered and taken no action at all (aside from constantly talking and reading others accounts and feeling like I am stuck). Suddenly, all my colleagues have found new jobs (some were relocating anyway) but generally, they all wanted out and got on with it. I am left feeling like a bit of a twit and have just started to take action. I have had one interview but honestly, I don't feel too bothered about whether I get it as it’s a similar role to the one I am in now. I have found that trawling through the guardian online does not bring up anything I particularly want to do and yes, I am anxious not to land myself into another unfulfilling career. I feel like I have tired of what I do (working in a charity) and I suspect it's because I am in the wrong job. I have felt extremely unmotivated for a long time and it's really affected my confidence and made me feel unemployable. I am generally a lively person, love travelling, animals, walking and interacting with people and I am sure that I haven't really been able to be myself in this job or use my 'natural' talents. I have slowly become a bit of a grump and don’t like myself too much. Three areas that I have thought of focusing on: - Running my own cafe (Love food, lively atmospheres, diff people, and I have youth on my side and no kids so can work long hours) - Training to do massage ( er? , I like interaction with people, it would be a new skill..) - Working in the travel industry organising travel (again, I get pleasure from offering people what they want .... love the outdoors, researching and organising.......vague I know... Right now my main priority is to get out of this horrible job but I am scared. I don't know what to do next. Do I just jump or wait patiently for job interviews? Would it be foolish to hand in my notice, before I find another professional job and get a bar / cafe job and go from there? What I want to do is hand in my notice and then look for cafe jobs or even a few different things where I can rekindle some connection with the world. However, my husband and my sensible side says I should wait until I find something on a similar pay scale. .... Any ideas?

By Sab


Olivia,

I was in a similar position about two years ago (when i truly began my career shift) - I worked at the community outreach department for a large media organisation because my first priority back then was to not work for profit - to contribute and help people. But i found the actual day to day tasks, and being tied to a desk & PC, completely at odds with my personality, which i'm getting the impression is the same case for you.

Now i'm not going to reccomend you do what i did but you might learn something from this: I left my job at the end of it's contract with nothing else lined up except the vague notion that i wanted to finish my novel and maybe work in film. I achieved both these goals, and neither brought me the joy i thought they would - because i hadn't properly gone through the process of analysing my values, skills etc and had just followed somewhat misguided dreams rather than researched the realities. I had fantasies about what it would be like to be a creative powerhouse, and the reality didn't quite measure up. But i wouldn't have known if i hadn't tried.

So things that might help you at this stage would be to read something like the Careershifters guide which has plenty of exercises on how to identify your core values and skills. Also if you're feeling lacking in inspiration is there anything you could do right now to get it flowing again - try a new sport or activity? take a day trip somewhere you haven't been before? And finally, a fairly easy way to get a better idea of working as a cafe owner or travel planner would be to have informal interviews with people doing these jobs.

At least you're listening to yourself (you said you don't feel you're truly being yourself or using your natural talents), don't stop listening to that voice, it'll help you figure out where you ought to be!

Good luck
Sab x

By Olivia

Thank you. I've done some thinking and I have decided to take a few steps. I have made a little plan in my head and the first thing I want to do is find a management / setting up your own small business course. Do you know of any such course? As I am going to have to fund it myself it will have to be part-time. Thanks for your help x

By Sab

Sorry Olivia i don't know of any courses, though maybe try any local colleges near you that might do evening classes in it.

Alternatively you can learn a lot from going to networking events (women entrepreneur events can be fun) and pick the brains of people who are doing it, there's also a lot of resources online that teach you the practicalities of setting up a small biz (try 'business link', and the Princes Trust have a lot of resources relevant to any kind of start up venture)

xx


By ClaireM

Hi Sab, I read this and laughed so much that I had to share. Last weekend I was trying to think through what I really want my life to have as an achievement and I totally convinced myself that I wanted to start a theatre school for kids and grownups. I abandoned the idea though, when like you, I realised I can count the number of plays I know on one hand! As well as making me giggle, it's not a bad exercise for me to look back now, and really look at what parts of it would make my heart sing, like being creative and working with people and encouraging people, particularly children. I'm at a stage where I know I will find something that I will absolutely love, but can't Quite see it yet!

By Sab

Ha ha, yes, it sometimes seems like the only way to see if something really is 'for' you is to get to the stage where you're ready (or should be able) to pull the trigger and see what happens!! I've abandoned a few start up ideas because when it came to crunch time i couldn't fully commit. it's exasperating but there's always something to learn. and your 'wants' for a career are exactly like mine (erm, except for the kiddie bit!) and I do know that whatever it is we've been put on earth to do, we'll find it and be brilliant!! best of luck, let me know how you get on xx

By Selene

Thank you so much for this blog Sab, this is exactly what I've needed to hear (or should that be read?!) I'm a deputy head in a school, but no longer get any joy out of teaching. In fact, I've stayed in the profession now five years too long. I want out, but not sure into what. Your words about this being a long process ring true, because for me, it's not about getting just any old job to get me out of teaching. It's about finding a career that inspires me and fits with my personality type. I'm not sure what that is yet, but I'm going to keep looking and stay optimistic, as it's that optimism and determination that's going to drive forward this process. First step; I'm going to check out the book you've recommended! Sx

By Sab

Thanks Selene, that's really sweet of you. You're completely right, not giving up and firmly believeing that the right career is out there for you to find will get us there in the end! and even if the process takes longer than anticipated, you're sure to meet some wonderful people along the way which really make the journey enjoyable. i'm still not 100% decided on my career but i've learnt so much and you will too. we'll get there in the end! Enjoy Po's book!!! xxxx

By laurajanewrites

Hi Sab, I really believe you just have to follow your instincts and passions. And I'm sure yours will lead you to the right place for you. In the meantime all of the things you try out and experience are likely to be of value in the future in some form or other. Lots of luck with everything. Lx

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