Did you always know what you wanted to do for a job?

BookWorm

I'm feeling pretty demoralised and demotivated about my current job.

I pretty much fell into the role (which is office work) and now feel that I am stuck as financially I can't afford to take a drop in salary. I don't know what else I want to do (or could do) instead. In fact I have never really had a dream career in mind which I think has contributed to the drifting along.

I was happy enough in my 20's to just settle for being paid but now I am well into my 30's - I would like something more satisfying. Am I deluding myself?

Did you always know what you wanted to do? If not, how did you go about finding out?

Any thoughts or comments would be appreciated.

soupdragon10

I have had, at the last count, 5 different careers in my life (hopefully no more as I am nearing retirement). I certainly didn't start out in my current career. If you really hate what you are doing, look at any areas that you do enjoy and see if there are roles where you can do more of this kind of work. Alternatively, if you want to make a radical change you will have to look at taking alternative qualifications, once you have explored what you would like to do.
As a qualified and experienced careers adviser I often see people who have drifted into work without any conscious decision being made, and then find that they actually don't like what they do. You say you can't afford a drop in salary, but this is often the only way to change career path, at least initially. Is there any way you could save to give yourself a buffer once you make a firm decision?

fufu_banterwaite

I'm taking a massive drop in salary to start a new job (and a complete career change) in the next couple of months, which I think I will enjoy much more than my current well paid, but thoroughly demoralising job.

I'm lucky in that I am in my mid 30's and can afford to do it though as I don't really have any commitments.

BookWorm

soupdragon10 wrote: »

You say you can't afford a drop in salary, but this is often the only way to change career path, at least initially. Is there any way you could save to give yourself a buffer once you make a firm decision?

There is little spare money each month so while I am not averse to saving what I can - it may take some time. I also still have the problem of not knowing what else I could do or what else is out there.

I would prefer not to study again unless I found something I loved. I did a computer course a few years ago and it was really tough as my heart wasn't in it and it was hard going keeping motivated to finish it

Definitely more thinking required

BookWorm

fufu_banterwaite wrote: »

I'm taking a massive drop in salary to start a new job (and a complete career change) in the next couple of months, which I think I will enjoy much more than my current well paid, but thoroughly demoralising job.

I'm lucky in that I am in my mid 30's and can afford to do it though as I don't really have any commitments.

Well done on your new position :T

How did you decide what to go for in the new job/field? That is part I think I am struggling with

Tigsteroonie

I'm still drifting along in office work and I'm in my 40s

BookWorm

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

I'm still drifting along in office work and I'm in my 40s

You seem happy with your work though?

It's not office work per se that I dislike but rather the indsutry it's for. While many of the skills are probably transferrable, I'm finding it hard to think how I can sell myself to a new employer

Tigsteroonie

BookWorm wrote: »

You seem happy with your work though?

Yes. It's a good office and, in the current employment climate, I'm lucky to have a full-time job. Ten years ago I may have wanted a career and even started studying OU, now I have a son and I put all my effort into improving his life.

The way I see it, the world needs 'workers'. Technology may mean that we need less of them, but there will always be a need for people to plod along and do the daily grind while others put their efforts into climbing the corporate ladder.

fufu_banterwaite

BookWorm wrote: »

Well done on your new position :T

How did you decide what to go for in the new job/field? That is part I think I am struggling with

Luck really I guess. I've been looking for years to change my profession and purely by chance saw something advertised a couple of months ago. I will be working for the Police in their Force Control Room, I also think there will be good opportunities to move around and try different things.

I haven't started yet, so don't want to say too much just in case, but I have a really good feeling about it.

SailorSam

Years ago people often did go into jobs for life, but i don't think that exists now. So training and switching as you get more experienced in life and have a better idea of what you'd like. Of course at the end of the day you do need to earn enough to pay the bills, so that might limit you.

DKLS

I never knew what I wanted to do so stumbled into a number of jobs and careers untilI realised I had hit a ceiling on what I could earn with my current skill set.
This coincided with the end of a long term relationship and a change of location, I re-discovered my mojo and came up with a plan to improve my skill set and be able to earn more and do more interesting work and only take strategic career decisions.