The final leap - into my dream job!

By Selina Barker

A lot of people thought I was taking a huge risk when I left a secure job and healthy salary for a position in a fledgling start up company, the future of which was still uncertain and all at the expense of a huge pay cut.

Most people assumed I was either incredibly brave or incredibly bonkers.

I didn't think I was either.

The head of the recruitment agency that I was leaving - a highly successful female entrepreneur - described me as a big risk-taker. I remember being rather alarmed when she said that - I didn't think it was such a big risk - I thought, for once I was being sensible. At least this time round I was leaving one job with another one to go to.

But everyone's perception of what is risky when it comes to career moves (or any kind of change for that matter) is different - it depends on circumstances and character. I have a ridiculous confidence and inexplicable sense of freedom around my career in comparison to most people - if this move didn't work out then I'd find another new and exciting project to sink my teeth into. Plus I currently have no mortgage or family to pay for and have an infamous ability to live off peanuts, so I don't have a strong need for financial security.

So the risk I was taking was that it might not work out and I'd be looking for another way to earn a living which, considering the amount of fun I've had in the past doing that, didn't phase me at all - I quite liked the idea. So there really wasn't anything that I felt I needed to fear. This was my dream job - I'd be bonkers not to take it.

So you see, I'm not courageous at all. For me, taking my career into the unknown is all part of the fun.  But not everyone is like that and I want to make it clear that if you're wanting to start up your own business or change career then you certainly don't have to be like that either.

And this is a really important part of career change: how you make your career change very much depends on your circumstances and what you're comfortable with. There are many different ways to make a career change and so the final stage of careershifting is to figure out what route you are going to take. There is never a need to take big risks, unless it's something you want to do.

I took that risk and took a huge pay cut and I've not for a second regretted it.

 

 

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"The Careershifters workshop helped me realise that it’s never too late to change your career, that these advances take time and, I am confident that if I stick with my ‘plan’ I won’t make another wrong career move."

Claire Coveney

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Nikki

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Diane Cassidy

"For 17 years I worked in the travel industry. In the period of unemployment and after attending the Careershifters workshop I retrained and am now employed as a trainer and coach. I'd recommend the workshop to anyone who may not know what they want to do."

Paul Kensett

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