With most of us spending around one third of our lives at work, we all know it’s important to love what you do. However, if you’re a little unhappy with your current career direction, you’re not alone. According to an article published by CBS News, it’s believed that around two-thirds of American workers feel disengaged or worse at work—a clear sign that many of us could do with some change.
But where do you start? If you’re yearning for something a little different from your working life, a change in career direction could be just what you need. Here are a few options that could provide some food for thought.
Embrace your creative flair
If you’re creatively-inclined, there are plenty of career options that could allow you to put your unique talents to good use.
Retraining as a hairdresser, music teacher or stage sound and lighting technician could be the change you need, or there are also plenty of creative-based roles in marketing and advertising, whether it’s working in social media, campaign and content development, graphic design or brand management.
The food and hospitality industry also offers a myriad of opportunity to put your creativity to good use, whether you can see yourself creating enticing culinary creations as a chef, designing delicious sweet treats as a baker, or perfecting your favourite latte art as a barista.
Lend a helping hand
If you’re looking for more ‘purpose’ in your job, seeking a career where you can make a difference in peoples’ lives could give you the satisfaction you’ve been looking for.
Pursuing a career in nursing, aged care or disability services could be a good option. While there are plenty of challenges that go hand-in-hand with this type of work, it can also can be extremely rewarding when you see how much you’re helping people who are genuinely in need.
If you have a naturally nurturing personality combined with truckloads of patience, education or child care are great industries to consider, or investigating a career in counselling, social work or community services could be worth-while if you get a kick from helping people facing significant challenges, dealing with what are often highly-sensitive issues.
Get active
If you’re sick of your desk job and are craving a more active lifestyle, there are plenty of careers that can help get you moving more. Learning a trade is an obvious choice, with so many active career opportunities including everything from carpentry, plumbing and electrical trades, through to landscape gardening, cleaning services or even pest control.
A career in fitness is another great option. Get qualified as a personal trainer or yoga instructor, or take the next step and further specialise your skills with a diploma of fitness to refine your skills in areas like nutrition, coaching, or even sports business.
Gain a new level of independence
If you’ve had enough of working for the man, going out on your own by starting your own business could give you the satisfaction you’re after.
If you’re highly skilled in your field and have a decent amount of experience under your belt, consider if working as an independent consultant could be a good move. However, if you don’t think you have the necessary skills or know-how to go out on your own, buying a franchise could be a great option. While you’ll need some start-up capital to get started, you’ll be provided with all the systems and support you need to get up and running quickly.
As the saying goes, ‘if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life’, so don’t continue going through the motions in a job or industry that doesn’t make you happy. There’s a world of opportunities out there and deciding which one is for you is the first step!
