Ever felt like leaving your job for something completely different and have done?

[rossyl]

I know many people will have thought they'd like to quit their jobs for something different?

But who has?

By that i don't mean, being trained as a mechanic, then starting your own business. Or going from one specialism of engineering to another. I mean a wholesale change.

Or are we all stuck in a situation where we value our skills/experience, and the money that brings, to the extent that it wouldn't be sensible to change career and therefore no-one does.

 

[Jukie]

Yes. After making a career in IT straight from obtaining my degree, I opted in 2007 for a complete change at the age of 41.

 

[C240Sport97]

Yes. After making a career in IT straight from obtaining my degree, I opted in 2007 for a complete change at the age of 41.

change to what career? and are you having fun in the new career?

 

[moonloops]

Go ask Gordon Brown - he's about to become a burger flipper at McDonalds..

 

[tonysurf]

Changed from installing car/vehicle washes as a qualified leccy to being a school facilities manager aged 42 in 2000. Less money, but a lot less hours a lot less stress, more time at home, I actually spent some time with the family. Still working in a school, but now manage 2 schools and 3 staff, hours have progressively got longer and sometimes the stress caused by the dreaded H&S peeps is high, but the rewards ( not financial) make it worthwhile. Would I go back, not a chance

 

[Darrell]

I am a qualified plumber and ran a building firm in the UK.

3 years ago we sold up to run 25 studios in Skiathos and I got a job as a holiday rep, this was at the age of 40.

I have slowly drifted back into plumbing again but only because the local plumbers are shockingly bad and we were sort of pushed into starting up a small property management company.

It was the best move we could have made. I could see the way things were going in the UK, my daughter was 2 and our house had peaked pricewise.

Now Sophia (my daughter) speaks fluent Greek, swims everyday, goes to ballet lessons and has a carefree life.

We have just moved into a lovely new house, have a couple of ropey old Mercs, an old scooter and a Grady-White sports boat.

Everyone should try a career change, you never know

PS Just got back from a lovely day on the beach!!

 

[wemorgan]

We have just moved into a lovely new house, have a couple of ropey old Mercs, an old scooter and a Grady-White sports boat.

PS Just got back from a lovely day on the beach!!

None of that inspirational talk please. Some of us have office jobs to contend with!

 

[jaymanek]

left investment banking and now sell cars I just felt my work was too mundane for my liking, and any office based job in london only offered more of the same...
more importantly London living was just getting too much...

 

[wemorgan]

left investment banking and now sell cars I just felt my work was too mundane for my liking, and any office based job in london only offered more of the same...
more importantly London living was just getting too much...

You clearly made a poor choice Jay. You've only got 7 cars now, if you stayed being an investment banker you could have afforded 8!

 

[jaymanek]

You clearly made a poor choice Jay. You've only got 7 cars now, if you stayed being an investment banker you could have afforded 8!

and would have had to park them in a multi story somewhere in zone 18 at a cost of £50 per day each...

 

[Mr E]

Started life as a surveyor with a background in electrical engineering - moved into IT (programming and then project management) when the construction industry imploded in the mid '80s, and am now an consultant with IT and automotive specialisms.

 

[PhiliusM]

Looking to get out of IT having been shafted big time by the big multinational that I did work for. Can't decide what I want to get into though. There's not a lot of call to fly model helicopters for a living.

 

[rossyl]

left investment banking and now sell cars I just felt my work was too mundane for my liking, and any office based job in london only offered more of the same...
more importantly London living was just getting too much...

If you don't mind me asking, what age did you leave the City?

On many of my little jaunts to the countryside/the cotswolds I've met a few people who worked in the City and packed it all in to go and run a pub/restaurant. But the uprooting and moving to a life in the country always seemed to coincide with them recently having a child...which makes sense.

 

[wemorgan]

Looking to get out of IT having been shafted big time by the big multinational that I did work for. Can't decide what I want to get into though. There's not a lot of call to fly model helicopters for a living.

Flying RAF drones over war zones?

My talents are wasted as an engineer, I should be a career advisor!

 

[jaymanek]

I was only 24 when i left... did almost 4 years for a bank and called it a day... It was around the time when I was thinking about marriage and my future etc... the type of person id like to meet etc etc... most city girls want to stay in the city.. and my plans werent to stay there long term...

 

[Iain]

Go ask Gordon Brown - he's about to become a burger flipper at McDonalds..

Not without a fight he ain't.
The arrogant bar steward!

 

[Iain]

I am a qualified plumber and ran a building firm in the UK.

3 years ago we sold up to run 25 studios in Skiathos and I got a job as a holiday rep, this was at the age of 40.

I have slowly drifted back into plumbing again but only because the local plumbers are shockingly bad and we were sort of pushed into starting up a small property management company.

It was the best move we could have made. I could see the way things were going in the UK, my daughter was 2 and our house had peaked pricewise.

Now Sophia (my daughter) speaks fluent Greek, swims everyday, goes to ballet lessons and has a carefree life.

We have just moved into a lovely new house, have a couple of ropey old Mercs, an old scooter and a Grady-White sports boat.

Everyone should try a career change, you never know

PS Just got back from a lovely day on the beach!!

I'll get my coat

 

[corned]

IT from 1990 to 2003, some employed but later on freelance. Good money, bad projects and always working away from home.

Jacked it all in and set up my own energy conservation business. I work mostly from home and can come and go as I please.

I miss being able to pretty much buy whatever I wanted without having to think about it, and the great social life working away - all pubs and restaurants - and the company was good. Company was all male, I might add...

Now I can see the kids to school, and back again, and life is completely different. I can make appointments to avoid the traffic, and I now have two business partners to help share the load.

No going back!!!

Does that count as enough of a shift in career?

 

[Darrell]

I was only 24 when i left... did almost 4 years for a bank and called it a day... It was around the time when I was thinking about marriage and my future etc... the type of person id like to meet etc etc... most city girls want to stay in the city.. and my plans werent to stay there long term...

You were thinking all that at the age of 24

 

[jaymanek]

You were thinking all that at the age of 24

im indian... parents start drilling that into you from the age you say your first words..