- 42 per cent of workers wish they had followed childhood ambitions
- Workers set their sights on glamorous careers in media, music and film
- Monster.co.uk advises that it’s never too late for a career change
A poll of workers, conducted by Monster.co.uk, recently found that many have unfulfilled career dreams, with almost half (42 per cent) of respondents over the age of 30 saying they wish they had followed their childhood ambitions.
In the survey of over 1,000 workers (all over the age of 30), results point to childhood career dreams that were fairly traditional but also ambitious, with medical professions, including doctor, surgeon and vet, coming top (nine per cent), followed by sports (six per cent), nursing (six per cent) and acting (six per cent).
However, when asked what jobs they actually do, the answers were contrasted sharply, with IT (10 per cent), education (10 per cent) and administration (9.5 per cent) the most frequent professions named.
Across the different age groups, those in their 40s are most likely to wish they had followed their dreams, with 47 per cent saying they feel this way, compared to only a third (31 per cent) of those over 60. Men also seem to be more dissatisfied than women (44 per cent vs. 40 per cent).
“It isn’t unusual to look back at your childhood dreams and think about what could have been,” commented Michael Gentle, Monster UK & Ireland spokesperson. “While this is perfectly normal, it’s important to decide whether this is simply nostalgia, or whether you are genuinely unhappy in your current role. If it is the latter then it could be time to think about taking stock and moving into a career that is better suited to your interests, skills and ambitions.”
But while they may regret not fulfilling their childhood dreams, it seems that today’s workers have also set their sights on more glamorous, but perhaps more achievable, careers. When asked what other jobs they would now like to pursue, the top answers were the arts and entertainment industries (14 per cent), followed by broadcasting, music and film (12 per cent).
“While it may be too late to become a professional footballer or a doctor, it’s never too late to try a new role or industry,” continues Michael Gentle. “The idea of a job for life no longer exists and plenty of people spend time in a number of different fields throughout their career. If you do decide to take the plunge it is crucial to do your research and plan carefully, rather than handing in your notice on a whim. But if you are committed and driven then it is possible to have the career of your dreams.”
The survey also questioned 370 recent graduates and it seems many of them have also veered away from their childhood dreams with over a third (35 per cent) saying they wish they had followed those ambitions. When asked whether their career ambitions had changed, more than two-fifths (43 per cent) of respondents said their goals had become more realistic as they got older, while 16 per cent said they had become more focused on happiness than money or fame. One in ten said they had become more focused on money.
Top tips from Monster.co.uk on making a career change:
- First of all you need to decide what career you want to pursue. Think about what you do and don’t enjoy about your present job and what you feel is missing. Think carefully about your strengths and weaknesses and even do a personality assessment if possible. You may find out something surprising about yourself or a career path you hadn’t previously considered.
- Once you’ve completed some serious soul searching and got clear answers to those tough questions, be realistic about the options open to you. Going to university full-time or retraining simply might not be possible if for example you are a single mother or have large mortgage payments.
- Consider whether your ideal role is in the same industry you already have experience in. It is far easier to change jobs within the same sector and you may just need to find a more exciting company to work for, or you may be able to move to a different role in the same company.
- Another important factor to consider is the amount of progression that a certain job or career path allows. Aiming for a job that will satisfy your needs now may be good for the short-term, but what about in five years’ time when you need to earn more money?
- Once you’ve identified where you want to go, get on with it. Research the latest developments in your chosen industry, network as widely as you can at industry events and talk to people who do the job you want to do.
- It is very important to tailor your CV for the new career you’re after. Look at the different skills you have acquired over the years - many of them may be useful in another industry. Transferable skills, such as presentation skills, foreign languages and leadership are often overlooked by career changers but are desired by almost every employer.
- Make the most of your contacts. If you are lacking experience in your chosen sector then asking friends, family or ex-colleagues for advice, work experience or a foot in the door can be invaluable. Also make the most of your social networks online, which can be invaluable in expanding your contact base. Monster has just launched BeKnown, a professional networking app for Facebook, which allows you to create professional networks on the most popular social platform while also keeping your personal and work contacts separate - http://apps.facebook.com/beknown/welcome?WT.mc_n=pr_bk_uk – this could open up a whole new world of opportunities that you didn’t know existed.
- Finally, don’t give up! It won’t necessarily be easy to change career but persevere. Unless time-travel is invented, you won’t get a second chance, so make sure you act now to create the life you want for yourself.
