Timing, upskilling and 7 other things to know if you're thinking about changing careers.

Pre-kids, my friends and I had a mantra: “nothing good happens after 2am”.

It was a way to avoid missing the last train home, texting an ex or starting another episode of Grey's Anatomy and sleeping through our alarms.

But when you become a parent, you get friendly with a whole new side of the clock. 

And that’s why my career change started at 4am.

I was a new mum, up feeding my 6-month-old, weeks away from finishing maternity leave and returning to my corporate job, doom-scrolling Instagram when I saw THE Instagram Story.

That story was Leigh Campbell’s, an Executive Editor at Mamamia and one of the OG Aussie influencers. And it was a job advertisement for a role at Mamamia. 

As a massive fan of podcasts, I’d spent most of my maternity leave binging Mamamia’s pods. Leigh, the other hosts and their all-powerful producers were the friends in my ears while I fed, changed, burped and pram-napped my baby through her first year. To say I was podcast-obsessed would be putting it lightly. I wanted to know everything about how they were made, funded, and ideated in the first place. 

Seeing this ad sparked something in me. As crazy as it seems now, this was the first time it dawned on me that I could work in an industry I loved so much. 

I can’t even recall the exact title of the job posted, there was probably a lot of media industry jargon and I was definitely completely unqualified for it, but buoyed by uber-fandom (and maybe sleep deprivation) I applied.

Skip ahead a few chapters and I now work at Mamamia and have done for the last four years.

It’s not the career I set out to have, or originally trained for – it’s so much better. I work with all those hosts and producers I looked up to, and I’ve been part of designing podcasts and I’ve even featured in a few. 

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My story isn’t rare. According to Victoria University, on average Australian workers change jobs three times every ten years. This translates to roughly 17 different employers and five different careers in a lifetime. And Victoria University Polytechnic students like Lindy are one of many who have found success embarking on a new career.

A career change can be a big leap or a small shift. Changing industries or moving roles within one industry. Making the jump from full-time to freelancing or running your own show. 

There are a few things you need to consider if you're thinking about changing careers. Here are my top nine.

1. Identify the skills you’ll need and how to get them.

We all know that being passionate about an industry or thinking a job sounds cool doesn’t exactly translate into capability to do it. This was a huge mental barrier for me, but it shouldn’t have been. 

There are so many options to upskill these days to make sure you overcome imposter syndrome. For me, a combination of short courses, subscribing to media industry publications and on-the-job training had me feeling capable and confident quickly. 

If you’re contemplating a change, research the qualifications required or skills needed for your new career, and then work on a plan to get them. 

A great place to start is Victoria University Polytechnic which offers a range of TAFE courses that align with industry needs from trades to Cyber Security and Business. 

These programs ensure career changers have the skills they need for jobs that are in-demand by Victorian employers and for eligible students, several of these courses are free, with applications are now open to start in 2023.

2. Research the salary ranges, but equally, don’t be put off by low-starting salaries. 

If your dream career change involves a few years of apprentice or entry level roles, don’t dismiss it before looking at your finances from a few angles. Consider this time an investment in your potential future earnings.

Do you have savings you could use? If you’re in a dual income household could your partner cover a bigger portion of the bills for a while? Or could you rework your budget to reduce your spending? 

Also consider where you can reduce the cost of your career change. For eligible students, Victoria University Polytechnic offers free TAFE courses aligned with skills and jobs that are actually in demand from Victorian employers, helping to ensure you find a role after graduation. The program covers eligible students’ tuition fees for the full course duration.

Remember that a starting salary is called that for a reason, and in nearly all roles, your remunerations goes up with experience. 

3. Unpack your break-up.

Most of us spend a third of our time at work, making it a pretty serious relationship. So, why do you want to leave your current career? It could be as general as feeling bored, overstretched, undervalued. Or just straight up being underpaid. Or it might be something more specific like the management structure and the types of clients you have to deal with. Or maybe the work/life balance on offer doesn’t work for you anymore? 

For me, the hours and travel that my old corporate career demanded just didn’t suit the timing of my growing family responsibilities. Recognising this helped me to ask the right questions when considering my jump into my new career.

Image: Supplied.

4. Analyse your attraction.

Yes, we are still on the relationship metaphor. Next up you need to be honest about what’s giving you the hots for this new career. 

Is it money, status, passion, the lifestyle benefits (working from home, fewer hours), or something else? All of these are legitimate reasons to pursue any given career, but identifying your personal drivers means you can check if your assumptions about that new career are actually correct.

5. Know that the only opinion that matters is your own.

Like any life choice, there will be some people around you who don’t agree with your decision. You absolutely don’t need to spend your precious time defending yourself but be prepared that you might get a few well meaning (or otherwise) comments. 

But if you work your arse off to be amazing at the new career, they will all eat their words and then some. 

7. Remember that you can always change your mind again (and again).

Remember what I said about five careers? Our working life doesn’t (and shouldn’t) need to be a one-way path. If you start something new and find out it’s not for you (even after all this carefully consideration), that’s okay. 

“Undoing” your career change and going back to what you know is also totally fine. Giving it a go and knowing for sure is better than never having done it at all, plus you’ll have new skills and experiences to take into your next experience. 

8. Get over the mindset that you’ll “fall behind”.

If you’re used to a linear progression path, the odds are your peers will keep moving on that conveyor belt while you get your new career started – and it’s normal to feel left behind. 

But know that this is mostly (if not totally) in your own head. Also know that they are probably unhappy inside and/or wishing they had the same courage to take the same risks you did.

9. Know that timing is not everything.

… otherwise this would have been a much shorter list. 

But timing is important. If you’re about to get a mortgage and buy a property, this might not be the time to make a complete jump, as lenders want to see a solid employment history. Ditto if you’re about to have your first child or you’re going through a major crisis. You’ve got enough on your plate. 

However, a complete leap isn’t your only option, and starting a short course in your chosen career field part-time or less is a great way to test the waters. 

Make sure you don’t make the mistake of waiting for the “perfect time” though. This will never arrive. Life is always going to be a juggle, but when you finally transition into your perfect career, it will all be worth it. 

It's never too late to embark on a new career. Explore Victoria University Polytechnic's extensive range of TAFE courses today. Applications for 2023 are now open. Find out more information here.

Free TAFE is available to eligible students only. Free TAFE courses are tuition fee-free.

Feature Image: Supplied