Knowing what you want to do can be really hard. Especially when we have been drilled into us since school days that you have to decide, and decide quickly. The reality of it is, is that most people do not have their sights set on one particular career that they want to do for their whole entire life. Things change, you discover new things, meet new people, and this then influences your dreams and aspirations. 

From wanting to be a vet during school, to then brashly applying to study accounting and finance after realising I hated chemistry, to then starting my grad role in a management consulting firm – I have most definitely switched up my career goals a fair few times. The most drastic switcheroo came when I decided I wanted to transition into the tech industry last year, and started my part-time masters in Computer Science. This then led to a whole host of new opportunities and challenges, including landing my current business internship at Google. Navigating career changes can be hard, but it can also be so exciting. I want to share 3 thoughts on the subject, if you are in the midst of thinking about/pursuing a career change:

Most People Switch up their Careers

A lot of the people I have spoken to during my working life have not had a linear progression up their respective career ladder. They have taken twists and turns and even moved ladders completely. It’s normal and it’s sometimes seen as an advantage to have gotten experience and skills from different areas – so don’t be afraid to boast about your career switch ups!

Being a Beginner is a Beneficial Experience

Ever had the feeling of not knowing what you’re doing? Great! That means you have pushed yourself out of your comfort zone. When I started learning about coding, software engineering etc, I felt completely lost and out of my depth. But I can honestly say the skill of having to learn something from scratch – and getting through it unscathed – will be so beneficial in your life and keeps your mind healthy and fresh!

It is EXCITING!

Life is too short to think about what ifs. If there is something that you are passionate about and are really interested in pursuing, the journey of doing just that is a great and fulfilling experience. Of course there will be bumps along the way – things will never always go to plan – but the fact that you tried and pushed yourself out of your comfort zone will be the greatest reward of all. Learning and working in a technology company has been one of the most exciting and mind-blowing experiences in my career so far… so begin the journey, accept it won’t always be a smooth ride, and enjoy!