PhilipWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
Library Officer for five years. What prompted you to make a career change? A desire to work in the education field. Although a change, working in a library fit well with my desire to work in a community setting in spaces that can provide support. I could see that my passion particular lay with working with young people to help set them up for success. What do you do now? After completing a secondary teaching degree, I made another slight change of direction and moved into recruitment and careers development space in the tertiary sector. Currently I am working in Industry Mentoring at La Trobe University in Melbourne. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Communication. Understanding how to communicate using different platforms and adjusting to circumstances and demographic. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Breaking out of comfort zones, and actively putting yourself in challenging circumstances. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Challenging yourself allows you to grow. Whether it's in a role taking on new projects or looking to make a big change, keep positive and push through the parts where you feel like it would be easier to go back to what you were doing. ShayWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I was a Registered Nurse, working for approximately 6 years in the field of Anaesthetics & Recovery. What prompted you to make a career change? I had become comfortable within my profession and was looking to be clinically pushed outside my comfort zone. I enjoyed my job, however in the back of my mind, I knew I wanted to do something a bit different, but still within the realms of Health. I felt that in my nursing career, I was unable to make clinical decisions without a doctors permission and lacked autonomy. What do you do now? I am now working as a Paramedic with SA Ambulance Service. I have been working as a Paramedic since 2015. What skill/s fromyour prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Having advanced life support skills was one practical skillset that was of benefit moving into Paramedicine. Managing an airway and being able to recognise a deteriorating patient is paramount in Paramedicine, which made transition easier. Having a basic understanding of disease processes and the pharmacology of the common medications was helpful. Good communication skills would have to be one of the biggest things I have noticed moving into Paramedics. In nursing, I would communicate with multiple patients on a daily basis, from all demographics. I notice now that a lot of people coming straight from University, find communication the hardest, and being 90% of our work is based around communication. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? There is a big change when going from hospital care, to prehospital care. I was comfortable in nursing and could handle most situations with very little stress, even in emergency situations because there was ALOT of help all around me. In the prehospital setting every job has it's challenges, whether it's escalating a mental health patient who aggressive, to managing a trauma patient with no help available for some time. As I worked in Theatre, all patients were fasted and most issues were foreseen within a procedure and I had little exposure to trauma. I found mentally, having to think laterally and apply critical thinking skills quite stressful when first starting as a Paramedic because things can change within a second. I also found it hard being a Nurse coming into Paramedicine due to there being an "expectation of prior knowledge / skills" from my peers. However, once they were made aware of what I actually did in my role as a nurse, they were understanding. I had never put a cervical collar on a person before starting Paramedics. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? It's a refreshing change and also very daunting. Any new job is scary at first, just think back to when you transitioned from primary school to high school. Going from comfort, to something much different. Eventually you got the hang of it. Being forced into a new career change is a bit different, however I recommend taking on new jobs enthusiastically and communicate your thoughts with peers. More than likely they will nurture and help you through it. KarenWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I had worked in technical fields the whole of my working life. I had worked in private industry and government industrial (not medical) analytical labs as well as Laboratory Manager for a Secondary school. What prompted you to make a career change? The government laboratory that I was working in was closed as part of a restructure. I was lucky enough to be transferred to another testing area, but I could see that this was not a permanent solution as this area would also be outsourced eventually. The testing area which I was working was also quite physical and not getting any younger (and being female) I was finding it very difficult and taxing on my health. What do you do now? I am currently Business Support Officer doing administrative case support for a government office, the same agency that I was in the technical position. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Time management, team work, communication, adaptability, attention to detail. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Totally changing your way of thinking. I also found the sedentary aspect of admin compared to the physical side of working in a laboratory also a challenge. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Be open and give things a try. You don't know what it will be like unless you give it a go. It's a big step, but adds a challenge to life. PeterWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I've had a dozen career changes. At 17 I worked for Codan Electronics making circuit boards (1yr). I then took an Industrial printing apprenticeship at Cutler brands (4 yrs) I then began a time of doing 2 jobs per day. By day I tried (unsuccessfully) to sell home loans and at night worked as a waiter. I then quit the sales job and started a new full-time job as a boat builder assistant in Port Adelaide while still working nights at Hogs breath in Glenelg. Average 15hr work days. I continued to work labour hire jobs by day and hospitality by night for 4yrs. I have worked in over 30 different warehouses, factories, retail furniture store, food manufacturers. At 26yo I started a job as a Roster consultant for NannySA, rostering childcare workers in 24/7 care for government custody children. What prompted you to make a career change? Advance my career, make more money, and stop having an after hours work phone to deal with. What do you do now? I run an IT recruitment agency in Adelaide. That is part of a global chain of agencies. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (I.e Transferable Skills) Persistence to get a job done. It doesn't matter whether it's white collar or blue, time = money and hard work is noticed and builds resilience. Also people skills to relate to people at any level. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Not having a clear task, recruitment is hard work, I expected the jobs would come to me, I didn't realise that it was in fact a sales role. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Be clear with what you want to change in your life, your change might not be the right one but will get you closer to what it is. After 9 years I simply wanted an office job for work life balance. carolynWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I was a Registered Nurse for 6 years. What prompted you to make a career change? I was forced to as I had a back injury at work which meant I couldn't do hands on nursing duties anymore. What do you do now? I am a Quality Manager for two day hospitals, supporting them to implement and maintain best practice standards, accreditation and licensing. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) My nursing knowledge has been an essential requirement for my role as it helps me to understand how to apply standards and best practice requirements in the real world setting. Also, the ability to clearly and concisely articulate my point when communicating helps, as well as having compassion when communicating - whether in explaining the requirements of compliance, in communicating with management and owners or when dealing with staff who may be resistant to change. Nurses need to be skilled communicators so this skill has been beneficial. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? I found it difficult to change my mindset from being just a 'worker ' to being a manager, and having the confidence in myself to lead. However, realising that everyone else is also figuring it out as they go helped! What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Take every opportunity that comes your way, even if it seems on a tangent to your end goal... you never know in what way that opportunity might benefit you in the future or where it may lead! neilWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I've actually had 3 career changes in my life so far, but probably the last one has been the biggest step out. I previously worked as Strategic Projects Manager for the Vice-Chancellors Unit at the University of Wollongong. I was in this role for 15 years, working under a stable team of Deputy Vice-Chancellors and senior management for that period. It was a great role as it involved taking on new projects/roles every 18-24months, but still working for the same 'company'. Lots of variety, flexibility and new challenges to keep me engaged. What prompted you to make a career change? The senior management I worked for and reported too, all retired or moved on within a short period of time. Their replacements were from external roles and I found myself having to prove my capabilities all over again - and after 15years it felt like this was a good opportunity to move on. I initially was offered a similar role with a Sydney based university, but having a young son at the time the prospect of long periods of commuting and travel wasn't so appealing. What do you do now? For the past 3 years, I've worked as Real Estate Sales agent within the Illawarra. I've been fortunate to work with a couple of different real estate brands and great principals/directors during this time from whom I have received great advice and lessons. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) I don't see myself as a 'salesman' - and still don't. Using my project management mindset, communication skills and the constant need to review/improve, I've been able to establish myself as a trusted real estate professional who is not your 'typical' agent. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Probably working weekends with a young family - Saturdays are a must in real estate - and the constant accessibility that potential purchasers and vendors have for communication. I get calls, emails, texts at all hours of the day or night. I've had people call me at midnight to look at a home and others text me at 4am to make offers. It's hard working Saturdays when both my wife and son are free, but to alleviate this we have mini-family holidays together every 3 months and I always work from home Wed's so that my wife and I can have a 'date day' and do lunch together. The bonus is that I can do the school drop-off with my son almost every day of the week and I have the flexibility to attend all his schools awards and sports events when required. Everything thing in life has plus or minuses, so there are always benefits to any situation. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? If you believe in yourself and stick to your goals, there is nothing that you can't achieve. I used my strategic background to set out realistic 1, 3 and 5 year objectives for where my new career should be at those times. I'm pleased to say that those objectives have been met and even passed so far. Anything else you want to share or any additional comments / questions? People change jobs all the time, but their skills and experience always go with them. Many of today's workforce have transferable skills and don't even realise it. Communication, customer service, project management/multi-tasking, plus others, are often things we do on a daily basis that are all required of any role, at any level. naliniWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I worked for a state government environment department managing a tourism site for seven years. What prompted you to make a career change? A range of reasons. Long hours, frustration, and not a lot of obvious progression opportunities. What do you do now? Work in university supporting students to secure placements as part of their study. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Communication and negotiation. Organisation of people, events and resources. A business approach to program management. A customer first approach. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Learning a whole new sector and organisation structure. It took a long time to really understand it, but in a way that added a lot to the success in the role as I could bring a completely new and fresh approach. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? It is energising and motivating to start fresh and head up that steep learning curve again. And ultimately you can always change again. So many skills are transferable you just need to understand the skills you have and how to connect them with new opportunities. ChristinaWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I have had several career changes. My history goes like this: Started in law - didn't like it so I crossed over into my artistic loves of music and drama. After graduating, I landed a job through persistence with a production company and eventually ran it. I worked as director on the news (live television gets your adrenaline pumping) and director of television commercials and then for agencies. Freelancing was a lot of fun as well. At the same time I played in bands and appeared in plays. I studied herbal medicine and practised as a herbalist part-time for some time. When my children were babies I was asked to work in the music business school at TAFE. Eventually I ended up running the school and with colleagues produced a week long music festival, Newcastle Music Week. I was then asked to run the Film and Television School and started a production company there. These projects were set up as experiential learning opportunities for students. I was asked to set up an innovation section at TAFE which I of course said yes to, even though this was when innovation was a reasonably unknown and frightening concept. We wrote one of the first Diploma and Advanced Diplomas in Creativity Innovation and Entrepreneurship but it was rejected because the title had creativity in it and that meant Fine Arts and Ceramics. I had recently returned from Berkley University where Creativity was plastered over the walls in the schools of Science, Engineering, Medicine etc. I left eventually and started my own business - Ideation At Work. 18 months ago this morphed into UtopiaX and included Speaking, Facilitation, writing customised Innovation programs for organisations and working with Simons Sinek's Start With Why team to create a series of Purpose Workshops. The business also included mentoring and business advisory for Small Businesses and Startups. I travel to conferences nationally and internationally, facilitating, running workshops or writing for them. This has led to meeting the most incredible people and becoming involved in with amazing organisations like SingularityU. What prompted you to make a career change? Career changes for me have always been natural progressions, growth and discoveries. I constantly seek ways to contribute to making the world a better place in any way I can. I have a strong desire to help people believe their aspirations can become realities. Then we form actions plans to make sure that happens. I have always been an optimist and a believer in the power of positive thinking and in the power of many. What do you do now? I am Co-CEO of SingularityU Australia. SU is on a mission to educate, empower and inspire the worlds leaders to embrace exponential technologies to solve humanity's grand challenges. These include water, energy, food, learning, health. We work together with our colleagues all over the globe to create change for good. In Australia we have recently completed our first Global Impact Challenge. The winner is off to Denmark then SingularityU Headquarters in Silicon Valley to activate and accelerate their Start up. We are in the midst of producing the SingularityU Australia Summit in October. I am Founder of UtopiaX and run innovation and purpose programs for organisations, and facilitate retreats that involve personal and professional development. I am a keynote speaker and I also lecture in entrepreneurship occasionally. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Performing. When you are speaking or facilitating there is always an element of performing involved. Believing in a cause that is bigger than you is a driving force. It grows your confidence and keeps you motivated. Most importantly, continuous learning and embracing change. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Going from a secure income to having to create every opportunity. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Embrace it as an adventure. Don't resist. Find what it is that lights your heart and your eyes up and leap into it. Unlearn and relearn - it keeps you excited and active. JessicaWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
Full-time stay-at-home mum after quitting full-time employment when my firstborn turned 1 year old. I did this for 10 years but after 1 year I decided I wanted to do more. What prompted you to make a career change? I realised that I didn't want to go back to my mundane job after my first child was born, I discovered there was more to life and I wanted to make the most of every day. What do you do now? Now I am a qualified Registered Nurse working in a busy cardiac surgical ward. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Communicating with people from varying backgrounds. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? It was something I had never done before, something I had only dreamed of doing, it was a lot harder than I expected it to be. Clinical reasoning is a lot harder in practice than in theory. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Go in with an open mind and a positive can-do attitude. Don't quit when it gets hard, find out what areas you fall short and do more research or focus on improving that area. JenniferWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
Studied Economics and then worked in economic development via an international charity. What prompted you to make a career change? The desire for self-autonomy and the ability to work freely and to my ability. Corporate work always felt quite limiting to me. What do you do now? I am a naturopath and run my own successful clinic in Sydney. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) The ability to rationally make decisions and to problem solve What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Financial difficulties while going back to study and then starting a new business. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? If you are changing career focus on the positives. Ask yourself, what aspects of the change are you enjoying and you can always find something. If you choose to make the change always remember your 'why' it will help to get you through any challenge. GaryWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
Career Development, HR and recruitment. 15 Years. What prompted you to make a career change? I wanted my own business with my partner. What do you do now? Manage Holiday Parks around Australia. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Customer Service. People Management. Staff recruitment, training and development. Time Management. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Learning new skills in Park planning, Operational planning. Being a handyman! What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Planning, planning, planning. Be prepared to learn new skills. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Be open minded. Learn from your mistakes. ToddWhat did you do before your career change? And how long had you done this for?
I was in hands on IT roles or Management positions in large and SMB IT businesses. I had done this for just over 20 years. What prompted you to make a career change? I was given the opportunity by my current employer for a career change. The owner had been trying to convince me for years to become a recruiter so I thought I would give it a go. What do you do now? I am an IT recruiter. What skill/s from your prior career did you find most useful in your new career? (Ie Transferable Skills) Time management, client service, handling stress, building relationships, people management, networking. What was the most difficult aspect of the career change? Telling people that I had become a recruiter. I had always been pretty vocal about the industry and some of the practices in them. What advice would you give others considering (or forced into) a career change? Do some homework first. I would not have been a success in this unless I had a large network of people who were willing to give me a shot at helping them find staff. People have been very loyal and due to that I am very humble at the support I have gotten. |
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