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female
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*oppy1
writes: I am 30 years old and I have been a secretary in various establishments (education, accountants, architects, technology to name a few) since leaving university 7 years ago. I have always hated working in an office and have stuck with it because it pays the bills and is secure, but it is soul destroying and as a result I am really unhappy. Basically, I'm looking for a complete career change but I don't know what I want to do. My interests include music and photography and I enjoy working with people. I love animals and being outdoors. I have a 2:2 drama degree but have no real interest in the subject anymore. I have GCSEs and A-Levels and my degree, I have also done a short course in web design. Other than that, I have no professional training other than the secretarial skills I have taught myself. I am happy to retrain as long as it is something I really want to do, and I would like a decent salary. I just don't know where to start given that I have no idea what I want to do as a career. Please help! Reply to this Question
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Fancy yourself as an career advisor?
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (14 August 2006): Taking a step back is inevitable if you want to change from a career in which you are highly skilled and experienced. If the right role/industry etc is a higher priority for you than salary then you shouldn't have a problem. Look online and find any evening courses that might interest you and that might give you a little head start. Getting your foot in the door of a new area when you have worked in one field for some time isn't easy but a qualification or course will of course be of benefit.
Once you have decided on a course (or a few courses) of choice research all of the professions in which you could go into from these, really understand what the role of each of the titles will involve on a daily basis, even if it means looking up advertisements on the net for job specs or calling up a few companys and asking them what the role would involve.
I am in the recruitment industry and come across people like you all the time. Now is the time to make the move, the longer you leave it the harder it will get! Do all the research you can and when you find the one for you, you will know!
FIND A JOB YOU LOVE AND YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORK A DAY IN YOUR LIFE!!!
Feel free to ask any more questions! Good luck and keep me posted.
A
female
reader, anonymous, writes (7 August 2006): Wow, I couldn't believe it when I read your post - it exactly describes me!!! I, too, am 30 yrs old with a good education under my belt but I have been doing secretarial work (education, architects too!) for the past 6 years since leaving Uni so that I can pay the bills. I, too, do not know what to do next!! So, please be assured I know exactly how frustrating it can be to be in a job that makes you deeply unhappy, me because it is so boring due to the lack of challenges and I have no interest in the jobs I have done!!!!
I agree with the previous post - see if you can develop your interests into a career.
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A
female
reader, Jadzia1127  +, writes (3 August 2006):
 Your skills whether you like or not give you an easy in, into the industries your interested in.
Apply at photography, or music studios, animal rescue or hospital for office work. Then on the job you get all the training you can to advance your career out of the office.
The hard part is getting your toe in the door and you have the skills to get your toe in the door anywhere. Then changing your view is just some night classes away.
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