Career changes - tough decisions

[Legend83]

Does anyone have experiences of complete career changes that worked for them?

I am only 26 and have worked and qualified as a chartered accountant, in both audit and tax roles. My family were very proud etc when I gained my 'prestigious' qualification and it was my stepping stone to the lucrative world of finance.

I am also in a bit of a salary trap, having settled with my wife in our new home etc. The pay is very good, as are the benefits.

But I hate it.

It's that deep down feeling that you know it is not for you, that you don't have enough passion to make it big, and that as much as you try, you will never be brilliant at it.

So what could I do? Would not need to be finance based. In fact, it might be better that it was not finance-based at all!

What have others done?

Ideas I have:

- Air traffic control (serious work/life balance and enforced relocation considerations though)

- Tube driver (Don't care if you hate me, the pay is good and you don't bring your work home with you)

- Some sort of role at an airport (no idea what)

I like communicating with people and think that is probably my best asset. Would be willing to take a 20% pay cut I reckon.

It is hard not knowing what to do in life!

[Puggit]

Do you want a nice house and a crap job, or a run of the mill house and a fun job...?

Welcome to the real world

[james_tigerwoods]

I'll swap you my IT job - It pays well, but my speciality is niche (sortof) and expanding outside of that specialism isn't easy...

[Legend83]

euroboy said:

Legend83 said:

Ideas I have:

- Air traffic control (serious work/life balance and enforced relocation considerations though)

How old are you?

This one is 2-4yrs training at a relatively low salary with zero job security and a high failure rate. Bloody great fun if you make it though. Once qualified the work/life balance is very very good (well thats my opinion anyway). Have you asked about ATC before on here? I know a couple have, if you want anymore specific info feel free to PM.

Hi Euroboy, yeah we have discussed this before.

I was put off at the time by the fact that once you get over the hurdle of getting through one of the toughest application processes around, you have little to no say about where you are based.

The wife would NOT want to move to Prestwick! However if I could guarantee a spot in the Luton airport tower I would probably apply.

I am 26 by the way.

[TomM]

Puggit said:

Do you want a nice house and a crap job, or a run of the mill house and a fun job...?

Welcome to the real world

Mmmm, this sounds about right. I keep telling myself that I am going to quit IT and learn something creative, something I can feel good about - but then I get in my car, drive to my house and realise both would have to go if I did this - however, what price happiness? Better to realise it now then at 50.....

[Moose.]

Life is too short to be stuck doing something you don't enjoy. You need to have a really big think about what you want from your life and then work out how you can achieve that. Anything is possible if you want it to be

[Engineer1]

Just a suggestion but look at getting into a small company either of accountants or who require an accountant as in a small company you may get the opportunity to do a wider role than just accountant.

[sebo]

Congratulations on being Chartered.

I'd say before you bin your career, move firms. I presume you work in practice at the moment. What about moving to industry (guess you are London based) and trying that?

If it's still not what you want to do, at least you tried but I'd say to make a big change now that requires yet more training, without fully seeing what the world is like outside your current firm.

The City is starting to hire now and love practice qualified people.


I'm 26 and had the same feeling about 18 months ago and looked at leaving the city and becoming a train driver (sniff_diesel - love the thread) but thought I'd move firms first. I found that as my previous firm was where I started after graduation, I never really lost the graddy mentality and neither did those around me (I took on jobs that I shouldn't have and people always saw graduates as the lowest common denominator.

Anyhow, glad I moved on as really enjoying the current place.

(Typing on phone so apologies for spelling / formatting)

[Twit]

This is a tough one, in the end only you know if you can shift career and be happy, and also to some extent it depends on whether you can do without some of the luxuries if you do shift. But without being patronising you are only 26...

I have chopped and changed a bit. At 26 I hadnt even left uni, I was there until I was 30-31 getting all my qualifications. I left uni got a proper job and all the normal stuff, house etc. Then about 3 years in I decided it was crap and just chucked it in, I then sold everything I owned and travelled round the world for a bit.

I got back in 2006, worked in a call centre for 6 months trying to decide what to do. Following that I set my company up and in 3 years it has gone from nothing to now turning over a solid 7 figure sum; and I have gone from earning literally nothing to now earning will into 6 figures.

The point of the above is not to boast, but rather to show that it can be done if you want it to happen. But, you cannot underestimate the upheaval to life and the general view of everyone around you. In the end you have to make the decision and go with it and then live with the consequences. I knew it could all go really wrong (and it still could) but I had total belief that it would all go right! I think that is the key.

But the main thing is that if you think it is crap now it is going to eat you and you still have a alot of living and working life to go. You are only here once, make the most of it and do what you want to do!

[BigAlinEmbra]

You could always just trying getting out of audit because it's gash.
Real accounting is marginally more interesting. (As accounting goes).

[Legend83]

sebo said:

Congratulations on being Chartered.

I'd say before you bin your career, move firms. I presume you work in practice at the moment. What about moving to industry (guess you are London based) and trying that?

If it's still not what you want to do, at least you tried but I'd say to make a big change now that requires yet more training, without fully seeing what the world is like outside your current firm.

The City is starting to hire now and love practice qualified people.


I'm 26 and had the same feeling about 18 months ago and looked at leaving the city and becoming a train driver (sniff_diesel - love the thread) but thought I'd move firms first. I found that as my previous firm was where I started after graduation, I never really lost the graddy mentality and neither did those around me (I took on jobs that I shouldn't have and people always saw graduates as the lowest common denominator.

Anyhow, glad I moved on as really enjoying the current place.

(Typing on phone so apologies for spelling / formatting)

Thanks for the input, and yes you are right, I currently work for a Big 4 firm and have never worked for anyone else.

I think you are right. I want to try industry to see if the grass is greener. I have always thought it could get better if I could find a position in a company who make things I am interested in e.g. automotive or aviation.

I am regions based and have a nice 10 minute journey to work at the moment. Would rather stick to home counties but London is not out of the question if the right job came up.

I might die of boredom but I am considering widening my search by looking at internal audit. With the right role, you get a really good overview of a business, despite being a pain in the ass of everyone else.

Just have to see what my RC can come up with!

Cheers all for the advice.

[neenaw]

Depending on how much of a salary cut it'd be, how about this?

http://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/working_for_us/c...

Plenty of Paramedics about who've made big steps in changing careers to this after becoming bored of other jobs.

[wezo]

As your in Audit in a big 4 firm, before giving it up have you looked at maybe moving into Insolvency / Restructuring / Advisory areas of the business. The work is usually a lot more varied, the downside is it tends to be project based and quite intenses when your busy.

There are a lot of guys (myself included) who stay in it for the long term even of they aren't going to make partnership as the money is reasonable and the variety of work does keep you stimulated.

Otherwise I always thought being the stop / go man at roadworks seems like it could be fun for a while....

[Legend83]

wezo said:

As your in Audit in a big 4 firm, before giving it up have you looked at maybe moving into Insolvency / Restructuring / Advisory areas of the business. The work is usually a lot more varied, the downside is it tends to be project based and quite intenses when your busy.

There are a lot of guys (myself included) who stay in it for the long term even of they aren't going to make partnership as the money is reasonable and the variety of work does keep you stimulated.

Otherwise I always thought being the stop / go man at roadworks seems like it could be fun for a while....

Hi Wezo, yeah I was in audit for 4 years but am now working in business tax services and do a range of compliance and advisory services.

I can't put my finger on it really. I am just not passionate about it. This does not fit well with the Big 4 firm attitude that all it's staff should be "go-getters".

Does not help that I work with one or two utter c*nts who make life demoralising.

[TEKNOPUG]

Forensic Accountancy? Busting all the MP's and other so-called ruling elite! What a buzz, it's just like CSI!! (probably...)

[wezo]

I can understand your feelings if you have already tried a move within the firm. You might want to try a smaller firm before giving up completely; and I would have suggested a secondment abroad, but you appear to be settled so that isn't an easy option.

It won't help any, but you are always going to have to deal with idiots no matter where you work, I just try and avoid them whenever possible.

Unfortunatley I think you know that unless you use your CA as leverage you are going to have to take a hit on salary, maybe a move to a small business where you can also assist with day to day general management could be the way forward if you can find a suitable role in the current market.

Best of luck.

[Kermit power]

euroboy said:

Legend83 said:

Ideas I have:

- Air traffic control (serious work/life balance and enforced relocation considerations though)

How old are you?

This one is 2-4yrs training at a relatively low salary with zero job security and a high failure rate. Bloody great fun if you make it though. Once qualified the work/life balance is very very good (well thats my opinion anyway). Have you asked about ATC before on here? I know a couple have, if you want anymore specific info feel free to PM.

At the risk of totally taking this OT, what is fun about working in ATC? Personally, I would've thought it was pretty dull, but with the added stress of potentially killing hundreds of people if you let the dullness of the job distract you!

Then again, I know absolutely nothing about what actually goes on inside ATC.

[DJFish]

What about keeping the boring 9-5 going to pay the bills then volunteer one night a week or at the weekend doing something fun and rewarding, sounds like you like big boys toys, contact your nearest flying school and see if they need casual staff or your nearest motor circuit and become a marshall?

[DangerousMike]

oh god, why have i decided i want to be an academic.

[Legend83]

DJFish said:

What about keeping the boring 9-5 going to pay the bills then volunteer one night a week or at the weekend doing something fun and rewarding, sounds like you like big boys toys, contact your nearest flying school and see if they need casual staff or your nearest motor circuit and become a marshall?

Nice thinking, but unfortunately it's more like 8-6.30. By the time I get to the weekend I just want to chill!

Man, ATC in Europe sounds like the life!