Decisions, Decisions

Wednesday, 8th of June 2011

Do you ever wonder if you have made the right career choice? And think to yourself at what point is too far in your career to make a change?

I find it very reassuring to hear that more and more individuals are changing their career at fairly advanced times in their life. The ability to go back to university or college as a Mature Student (I hate the way it makes you sound so old; I'm not old I'm just slightly older than I was when I first went to University). I guess in my head I have an age where I would be so far down one path it would perhaps be difficult to change…how do you explain to a potential employer that you once worked on the checkout but have suddenly realised you want to be a plastic surgeon..?

Another barrier, I find being a woman, is the additional 'gap' in the career if you were to have children. (Any employers or potential employers reading this fear not it is far down the line for me!) But seriously, you do have to consider this. I guess I have been fortunate in that I worked numerous jobs throughout university and had a varied degree. This has given me a great insight into the big wide world of work - which may I add, is extremely big. I therefore graduated already with a few ideas milling around in my head and so therefore I knew which path to pursue, which areas of personal development I required and so forth.

There is also so many times to can flit between jobs before you hear the dreaded words of the recruiter 'ooooo you move around a lot' while alarm bells are ringing in their head that you are going to take the position, get some experience and run with it. I guess this is my biggest panic; setting limits in my head as to how many career moves I can make, how many role changes I can pursue.

Sometimes I wish I had picked a degree that led me in a straight direction; if I had done teaching I would become a teacher, had I studied medicine I would become a Doctor. Unfortunately I chose Business with Entrepreneurship, which whilst a fantastic degree, it also leaves the world of work as my oyster without a clear path. I have to build that path myself, something exciting with many ups and downs along the way.

Which path will you take? Will you make the right choice?

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