As the saying goes, “A change is as good as a rest” and the same applies to our professional lives. What may have sparked joy in us 20 years ago has perhaps become tiresome and mundane. But the good news is that you can change careers if you no longer find joy in what you do. In fact, one in five employees plan to do just that this year. Join us as we explore some popular jobs for career changers to give you an idea of what else you could be doing in life.
Whether it’s due to boredom, looking for better pay, or wanting a better work-life balance, a career change can make a world of difference. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most popular jobs for career changers who are looking to make the leap to a new industry.
Benefits of Making a Career Change
We’ll begin by looking at some of the many benefits that making a career change can offer:
- Find more fulfilling work – If your current job doesn’t engage or motivate you, switching careers can help you find work you’re genuinely passionate about. This often leads to higher job satisfaction.
- Access better pay and benefits – Some industries and roles simply offer higher salaries and better benefits like healthcare, retirement plans, and paid time off. A career change could open up these improved financial incentives.
- Learn new skills – Changing careers often requires developing new hard and soft skills. This keeps your skillset fresh and makes you a more valuable candidate.
- Greater work-life balance – Seeking out a new career provides the impetus to find a job that better suits your lifestyle. This could mean better hours, more flexibility, or the ability to work remotely.
- Break out of a rut – If you’ve been in the same job or industry for years, it’s easy to feel stuck in a rut. A career change can reignite passion and refresh your outlook.
- New challenges and growth – With a career change often comes new obstacles to overcome and responsibilities to take on. This stimulates personal and professional development.
- Expand your network – Venturing into a new industry allows you to make new connections and grow your professional network. This is invaluable for advancing your career.
Popular Jobs for Career Changers
So now that we’ve seen the range of benefits involved, let’s take a look at a few of the most popular career change jobs to give you some inspiration.
Marketing Manager
National average salary: £38,458 per year
As a marketing manager, you’ll be calling the shots for your company’s marketing initiatives. Sitting at the helm of the marketing department, you’ll steer a talented team of social media gurus, branding experts, and data analysts toward success.
This popular career change role puts you in charge of overseeing innovative marketing campaigns from conception to execution. You’ll review proposed ideas, analyse performance data to inform strategy, and ensure all messaging aligns with brand guidelines. Yes, this role will put your leadership skills to the test.
The great news is you don’t necessarily need prior marketing experience to land this senior position. Knowing how to emphasise your transferable skills in business, communications or related fields can set you up for a lucrative marketing manager role.
Health Services and Residential Care
National average salary: £24,214
Health service job roles are in increasingly high demand. In particular, there are huge shortages in nursing and healthcare manager roles. A role as a healthcare professional could be perfect for you if you are considering a career change and want to make a difference. However, this role will likely require some retraining.
There are different ways to retrain for a career in health services. For instance, you could undertake a degree in nursing, health care, or public health. Another route is to study for a degree in occupational therapy or a career in mental health.
While around 50% of NHS workers have degrees, the other 50% don’t. So, if you don’t fancy going back to study again, there are other career options that don’t require lengthy courses of study. For example, retraining for entry-level roles like healthcare assistant, home aide, or day support worker. You can also consider changing your career to become a paramedic.
People and Culture Manager
National average salary: £41,271 per year
As a People and Culture Manager, you will play an integral role in developing and implementing employment strategies to attract and retain top talent. Together with the HR and business development teams, you will help build a positive work culture that keeps employees engaged.
Core responsibilities include leading recruitment efforts, overseeing employee relations and performance programmes, and upholding health and safety standards. You will also be tasked with creating or improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the organisation.
While extensive HR experience is not required, successful candidates will demonstrate strategic planning skills and change management capabilities. An understanding of compliance frameworks and conflict resolution best practices is preferred.
Artisans
National average salary: £30,424
The UK has huge skills shortages in the arts industry. From artisans to writers to arts officers, there are plenty of career opportunities if you want to explore your creative side. Plus, most artisans are self-employed, offering a chance to take on an exciting new challenge as a business owner.
Another huge advantage is that you may not even need to do any retraining. Many artists and small business owners are self-taught, meaning you can learn by doing. Alternatively, you’ll find a variety of training courses across the UK to pick up artistic skills such as pottery, furniture design, art, and jewellery making.
Thinking of setting up your own creative business? Browse our complete guide on how to become self-employed UK.
Programmers and Software Developers
National average salary: £33,277
The world is currently experiencing substantial digital skills gaps, putting tech-savvy professionals in high demand. Working in the tech world comes with plenty of perks, including a future-proofed career and a competitive salary.
Extensive prior IT experience is not required for entry-level roles, as long as you possess working knowledge of content management systems, coding languages, and web development best practices. If you’re new to the field, these skills can be acquired through online courses, certifications, and independent learning. Developing a portfolio of web development projects is advisable even without professional experience, using coursework and training exercises. Once you have built a strong portfolio, you can start applying for entry-level jobs.
Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list of the possible career change jobs that exist. For further inspiration, check out our marketing-leading career change job board for the latest career change opportunities near you.
Conclusion
If you feel like it’s time to switch things up professionally, plenty of options out there that could provide you with your dream role. At Refreshing a Career, we firmly believe that it’s never too late for a fresh start. To support you through the process, we have compiled a wealth of valuable resources and retraining tips on our website. You’ll find career change guides, information on how to retrain, and much more.
For further advice, check out our resources on changing careers or browse our live job board for career change opportunities near you.
Have a question? Feel free to contact our team. And finally, stay up-to-date on all the latest news and career change opportunities by signing up for the Refreshing a Career newsletter below.
