Career Change & The Jungle Gym

As, Kanye West said, in his song “All Falls Down” Ft. Syleena Johnson, “She has no idea what she’s doing in College, that major that she majored in don’t make no money, but she won’t drop out coz her parents will look at her funny.Tell me ain’t that insecure.” I’ve been there. I’ve applied for a Masters in Local Government Studies at Birmingham University. At the time it was something that I thought I wanted to do. However, after starting the course, I realised that my heart wasn’t it in and I wanted to drop out of the course. I was afraid of what my parents would say and I weighed this up the short while I was on the course. I am very grateful for the support and the sacrifices that my parents made to enable me to do that course. However at the end of the day, I faced my fears and told them that I wasn’t happy and didn’t want to finish the course. Naturally they asked me if I was sure, and I knew that my heart wasn’t in it and so I dropped the course.

I agree with Sheryl Sandberg when she says, “Do not try to draw a straight line with your career” and “Find a Rocket Ship means something to you and [get on it for the ride!]” It used to be quite prevalent in British Career advice, that you needed to “climb the ladder”, “join a profession” and that “being a job hopper” was a negative career path. I.e. Not having a linear career was frowned upon and seen in some quarters as failure. However, I believe this has to do the British disposition for negativity and low risk tolerance. What I mean by this is that as Theresa May famously said, being “Strong and Stable” in your career was meant to be the “right way” to have a “good career”. 

Attitudes have definitely changed over time and with up-rising of the Millennials who have brought different values and beliefs into the workplace. By no means were there significant step changes in career attitudes such as the Women’s Rights Movement and the rise of Feminism. What I mean to say is that is very stark that attitudes have changed, don’t get me wrong there are still stalwarts that believe in traditional career paths. 

So today, I am listing 3 ways that career change can progress your career.

1 Changing Career can help you live your style 

Changing career can enable you to gain the opportunity that allows you to work more flexibly and that fits around your lifestyle. Whether it’s being a portfolio worker and having more than 1 job, caring for elderly parents, caring for children or letting you have time to engage in passion projects or to volunteer and give back

2 Learning new skills & personal growth 

Changing careers gives you the opportunity to learn new skills and to grow and develop your niche. It also allows you to have the opportunity to find out where your strengths lie and can create a career that is in line with your passions and beliefs. 

3 You have the opportunity to help others and accede to senior positions 

Sheryl Sandberg says, basically understand what you are good at. Furthermore she confirms that to get ahead kindness and empathy are key. She recommends and I agree with her, that you should help other people accomplish their goals and invest in your teams. As it is the team that makes any great leader successful in my humble opinion. 

So go out there and embrace your “Jungle Gym of Career”, you never know what great opportunities that you will find if you don’t fear through the undergrowth!