Ask any child what they want to be when they grow up and most will have an immediate answer, with professions such as teacher or vet being extremely popular.
In reality, only a small proportion of people grow up to fulfil these career ambitions. For the rest, our choice of career becomes increasingly uncertain as we progress towards leaving school or university. In fact, it is very easy to fall into a job that has little or nothing to do with our genuine interests, and once there it can seem hard to leave.
Recent research showed that a quarter of British adults feel bored and unappreciated at work, while 15 per cent actually feel trapped in their current role. When asked what is holding them back from getting a better job, 32 per cent felt that not having appropriate qualifications was the main problem, while 35 per cent mentioned lack of confidence as their biggest issue.
When you?re doing your best to hold down a job and manage a family, it can sometimes feel like there?s no time left for anything else. However, if you?re feeling uninspired at work then this is going to have a negative effect on other areas of your life. That?s why it is important to have personal goals that will help you retain your sense of identity outside of being a ?mother? and an ?employee?.
The ?job for life? is dead
Nowadays, not many people expect to have a job for life; a fact which can actually be very liberating if you?re dissatisfied with your current role. A study conducted by market research company Mintel in May 2003 showed that a third of workers only stay in a job for two years before moving elsewhere, usually in search of better pay or more flexible working conditions.
Similarly, it is now accepted that not only will people regularly change employer, but that they may also have multiple careers throughout their lifetime, which may or may not be related.
How to make your next career move
If you are keen to secure a more fulfilling job then it?s vital to understand what kind of role would suit you best. It can be extremely helpful to write down a list of criteria relating to your ideal career, as well as those you wish to avoid. For example, do you prefer to work as part of a team or on your own? Are you better with numbers or words?
Do you feel comfortable in an office or would you prefer a job that involves you travelling to various locations? Is there a way to make a living from something you enjoy as a hobby? Be honest with yourself and avoid opportunities that don?t reflect your ?wish list?.
Get the right qualifications
You may not currently have the qualifications or experience necessary to do something more fulfilling, but that doesn?t mean you can?t get to that position with a little effort. In fact, two fifths of the population are likely to study for a new qualification in 2010.
Recent advances in further education mean that more options are available to anyone looking to learn new skills or take the first step on a different career path. New distance learning techniques mean that you don?t even have to leave the comfort of your own home to gain a professionally accredited qualification.
One of the key benefits to learning in later life is the ability to focus on topics that relate directly to your personal interests. In fact, 40 per cent of people say they are more motivated to learn as an adult thanks to choosing subjects in which they have a genuine curiosity.
If you?ve been in the same line of work for some time then it can be daunting to think about changing, but it really is worth the time and effort to gain a job that enhances your life, rather than simply being something you do to earn money. Take the first step and the rest will fall into place. Good luck!!
Contributed by Dave Snow of the? Home Learning College
