I’m in this fortunate/unfortunate situation at the moment having lost both my parents and inherited some money and I’m struggling for ideas. I despise my current job (recruitment) and desperately want to reset and pursue something else, but at the age of 30 that obviously comes with a lot of anxiety and I would really appreciate the perspective of people working in other industries. Does anyone really love their job and think more people should move into it? or hate their job and have a concrete idea of what they would switch to given the chance?
Apologies if this is a bit of a self-serving post but any suggestions would be massively appreciated and hopefully others might benefit from some ideas being shared as well.
9 comments
I wish you all the best. I’m a social work manager and I’m a similar age to you. I’d love to drive HGV’S as a job. Less stress, listening to tonnes of podcasts and audio books on the job.
I would suggest you go for it, mate. Alot of people will always say “I’m too old to change career” or “I’m too old to study again it will take four years and I’ll be 34” if you’re not happy in your career then this is the best thing otherwise you’ll soon be 40 and really regretting not doing it when you had the chance
I am in Environmental health housing and I absolutely love it. I came into some money and didn’t need to work for a couple of years and trained into it. I loved it but probably could have got to the same place by getting a junior job in a council and working up tbh.
Absolutely love my job now and I f I wasn’t doing this i would be in trading standards, planning enforcement or building control or maybe at the inland revenue or environment agency. I move around so have lots of variety and gain loads of interesting experience. Could move sideways to a range of agencies with my skills and I find the work utterly fascinating albeit challenging most of the time.
My condolences for the loss of your parents.
I have been through similar and I took the time out (nearly two years) to reflect, recover and decide where next in life.
In the two years I was never bored, never alone (lots of support), and never listless – I went and helped at shelters, friends’ cafes and local businesses. I got a wider perspective on life and really enjoyed not having a high-pressure role. it also was essential at the time to help me grieve and come to terms with the unexpected loss.
I used the money to help downsize and significantly reduce my cost of living – no debt, inc. no mortgage, is immensely liberating and put me back in control of my life. I had a big house with fast cars and a wealthy lifestyle. Lost who was close to me and realized I was better without all the cost and excess. Downsized and now am free to do whatever I want (and still support my kids). Just sad that it took a great loss to make me realize.
When I was ready to go back into a full-time career, I did and it has gone great ever since.
I did not retrain, but if I did I would have chosen whatever I was interested in. Life is too short to waste time doing something you don’t actually enjoy.
Sorry for your loss.
I’m 33 and quit my job a couple years ago, to both take a job with less responsibility / stress and to finally do a degree in computer science.
I’m much happier, even on less money, I’ve got more time for doing things I enjoy and feel like I’m pursuing something worthwhile.
I say go for it.
Condolences on the loss of your parents.
It’s definitely not too late to change career course at 30, you’re only just beginning in a lot of ways.
I decided on a change of career in my mid-30s, then we had that pandemic wotsit. I’m now working on a professional masters and working in the new sector. It’s all mildly terrifying, but keep in mind your previous experience is incredibly valuable whatever you end up doing. Take a bit of time to think about what you’d like to do and research a lot, speak to people if you can.
You can open up so many different opportunities you don’t even know exist yet, so crack on and give it a bloody good go, whatever it is.
Paleo-artist. I’d retrain in palaeontology while working on my art practice so I could illustrate Dino books.
Driving heavy machinery can be a fun job
What do you enjoy?
Being outside? Sitting at a desk?
Talking to people? Being on your own?
Mental? Physical? Creative?
Personally, I’d find something low stress and low responsibility that I liked doing; and spend the money on a property I can rent out and get a passive income. That way I wouldn’t need to personally be pulling in a large wage and can do something I actually enjoy instead.
If you’d prefer to work seriously, a trade is never a bad choice, especially ones that need certification like electricians or gas engineers.