I'm 25 years old and I graduated from university in 2008 with a degree in French and Management (I'm in the UK). I kind of fell into a corporate retail job and I've been doing that kind of thing for the last 3 years. I've changed job a few times since then, but always in retail planning (along the lines of merchandising, but not quite).

I'm coming to a point where I can't bear to sit at a desk all day. I honestly struggle to get through a day sat at a desk and while I guess I kind of enjoy my job most of the time, by the end of the week, I feel like my brain is caving in with the boredom of being cooped up all day. Before you ask, I always try to get out of the office at lunchtimes even if it's just for 15 minutes or so and I HAVE to do some sort of exercise after work. I start to feel all compressed if I don't, if that makes sense - bu I still regularly have days where I almost can't bear to go and sit in that chair again all day.

I've never really known what I actually want to do. I've mostly just fallen into everything I've ever done. I've been thinking for the last few months that I might be interested in sports massage therapy. I want to do something a bit more dynamic that doesn't involve sitting down all day, I'm interested in sports, and the idea of it just generally interests me. I like the idea of sitting down and studying anatomy.

I just don't know about starting all over again though. I have looked ito it briefly, and I can do a weekend course which will teach me some of the basics (enough to be able to advise friends and family, but nothing professional), maybe it would be worth looking into doing that next year, to just try it and see.

Has anyone else changed direction completely? I'm only 25 and I've only been in my career for 3 years, but it already feels like it's too late to change my mind!

**I should point out that this is all still an idea in my head. I know I don't sound very sure, and that's because I'm not. I haven't mentioned this to anyone in my real life yet, so I'm still trying out the idea. Be gentle

^ I am in the exact same boat as you. Worked in media, and currently considering going to uni to study sports science, or sports management, or even becoming a PE Teacher...

I feel so confsed right now! No advice, but I'm 26....so you're not alone. Quarter life crisis, as I put it! Haha

I never changed employers and my agency was so big that there were many career paths, but I changed the basic nature of my job at least four times. Originally I was an Arabic linguist. Then when the agency realized that my background in radio was of value I became at first, the operational liaison to engineering departments and even the co-program manager for a US$100 million plus technical development and implementation. The engineers appreciated that I was a facile and rapid writer (which most of them are not), particularly for presentations to higher-ups to justify and obtain funding for those projects. I'm also a fairly glib public speaker and can do it without getting visibly nervous. I got to travel a great deal doing everything from actually installing equipment to briefing generals, cabinet officers and politicians on these programs. When that was done I moved into providing support for US Counter-narcotics agents (e.g. the DEA) and even worked in an overseas embassy for a while doing this.

Since I had worked in so many and varied places in my agency, my last job was the development and presentation of an operational orientation course for new employees. I knew where all the skeletons lie. I actually unretired for two years for this last job.

At first you can get a bit disoriented in learning the new aspects of a job. On one such change, I was asked to develop a FINPLAN (financial plan) for a large project. I had no clue what a FINPLAN was. It had to be written in a very precise format in accordance with a particular regulation. I stumbled at first but eventually learned how to do this to the point that I ultimately became my agency's expert in developing these plans.

The secret was never let on just how confused you actually are. Ask a lot of questions and engage a lot of experts.

The more radical the departure from my previous job was, the more I enjoyed the challenge of the change. Eventually I acquired the reputation of someone who was a "quick study" who could pick up an assignment rapidly. Once I had that reputation, I never had to look for a job...they always came to me.

Jon

I graduated with a medical science degree in 2009. I worked full time for a year (2010) and hated every second. I'm now at uni doing a paramedic degree and loving it (I recently turned 25).

It was a tough decision because I kept thinking that maybe I just hadn't given it enough time (I had been working in a lab for 3 years when I applied for uni again), that maybe I just needed to work in a different lab, etc. In the end it was someone at work that convinced me to go for it. She made me realise that if I hated my job so much after such little time, that it wasn't going to get better and would only get worse. Also, if I was going to have a career change it was the perfect time because I could afford to be selfish because I didn't have kids or anyone else to think about.

I'm lucky enough to be surrounded by people that have supported my decision. My parents are willing to have me live at home completely free, my boyfriend is understanding of the time that I need to devote to uni (although he sometimes forgets just how much work it can be) and I'm working at a job that understands that uni comes first and that I'm not always available to them.

Anyway, I'm so glad that I made the decision to change. I am so much happier now.

glitterfairy is in the middle of a huge career change right now. I hope she sees this thread so she can tell you about it.

I changed careers as well, but I stayed in the same kind of area. I went from performing arts teaching to performing (and I still teach, but only privately, not classroom like I used to). I'm much happier now. I earn a lot less, but I'm much happier.

Helen

Yep, I did it.

When I was in my 3rd year of university, I started looking in to what job I wanted when I graduated. I loved my course work, but didn't know how that would translate in to a career. That is when I discovered that there is very little you can do with an undergrad degree in Biology! I loved lab work, and could try to get a job as a research assistant, but with just a BSc, I wouldn't make much more than minimum wage. I looked in to medical labs, which I was very interested in, and that was when I found out that you need to be in a specialized program to work in a medical lab. I thought of changing career paths then, but I was so close to being done, I decided to just finish my degree and see how it went.

Before graduation, I applied to a few jobs in the pharmaceutical industry and with a temp agency that specialized in lab work. I got a job in a food plant in quality assurance before I graduated. I worked there for 4 months, then got a permanent job in another food plant. It was an ok job, good money, I liked most of the people I worked with. Most were younger new grads too. it wasn't until a middle aged woman came to work with us that I started thinking "This job is fine now, but do I still want to be doing it in 20 years?" and the answer was a huge "No!" I didn't even want to be doing my boss's job.

I decided I wanted to go back to school. I applied to Med Lab school and got in! I had no idea it was so competitive. I already had a degree and still was wait listed. Luckily I must have been near the top, since I was only on the wait list for a couple weeks. It was a very hard decision. I was 27, recently married, and wanted to "get on with my life" and buy a house, start a family, etc. I decided to go for it though. I was afraid that if I stayed in my current job and started a family, I would just end up miserable and didn't want to resent my family for "trapping" me in a job I didn't like.

I am so glad I did! It was hard going back to being a poor student again after having a lot of disposable income. DH supported me, I couldn't have done it without him. I was stressed out, tired, poor, but I was really liking my program. By my clinical year, I could picture myself doing this for a long time. It was interesting, I had to use my brain, there was always something new to learn, and I was helping people. I was lucky to get a clinical placement in my home town, even though it was technically affiliated with a different school (I begged my way in ) It really paid off for me because I had 2 job offers there before I even graduated. I really like my job now. While I don't think I will stay in my current position forever, I want to stay in my field and in this hospital. I don't regret going back to school for a minute.

I was working as a Montessori teacher and I while I loved my job at first and will always love Montessori, the owner of the school was so very disorganized and kept changing everything from schedules to policies that it was very stressful. I started to think I should be doing something else and at around the same time my best friend and her husband decided to start their own business selling computers. I quit my teaching job to help them with their start-up. I worked my way up from receptionist to sales to sales manager. I moved on from computers when I started my family and my next career was homeschooling. Taught as a homeschool teacher for thirteen years. Started preparing for my next career while son was in high school by getting my dance teaching certifications. Then I started teaching dance and now I own my own studio. Who knows, I may even have another career in the future! You don't have to have just one.

I totally feel you. I've been in finance for almost 4 years with a brief hiatus in retail. I knew I didn't like finance or working at a desk. I got my CNA (certified nursing assistant) certification and on the same day was offered a job in finance with a HUGE salary. I definitely couldn't afford my lifestyle on a CNA's pay and my plan had been to go to nursing school and eventually become either an NP or PA. I love interacting with people and helping people. I was more than willing to go into to debt for something like that because it's something I think I would be a lot happier doing, even if I was working 5a-5p and going to school.

Writing is another passion I have. I'm determined to send a novel off to a publisher in 2012 if it kills me. I haven't really looked into freelance work because I've never written professionally, but it's also something I'm considering.

Bottom line, I hate working in an office on the 9-5 (or 830-530 in my case) in finance. I would much rather create and interact than stare at spreadsheets all day. I'm just not quite sure how to make that leap and still support the lifestyle I have with my current salary. (Yes, I admit, money is important to me).

If its any help you are not the only one I am currently applying to go back to university to study Occupational Therapy or Social Work after studying a history degree previously. I have also considered operating department practitioner as I can't stand the office environment either.it took me a while to make this decision I suggest finding the local sports therapist and talking to them to get a clearer picture of the career.

If you like studying anatomy there are a few options to consider by sports therapy do you mean physiotherapy? I think physiotherapy might be a better route to go if you want to go professional and you have more opportunities for employment at the end. Seach for physio assistant on the nhs jobs website. One thing I looked at was a hospital play specialist which is technically inside but it is not in an office nor are you sitting down all day.

The National Trust are a good place to look if you want to work outside. Could you set up your own fitness class in a park? This might be a bit drastic but there were ads in the merseymart for a funded career at sea. careersatsea.org of course you might be inside on the ship for a long time. There is also environmental jobs and a few other conservation websites.

I hope you can understand this rambling mail and if you want any more info on anything mentioned pm me

I am in the exact same boat. My husband and I had children young (22 when I had my first baby) and fell into a job I never liked. Now at 29 years old, my children are 7 & 4 and I feel now is the time that I want to do something for myself. I've always wanted to open up my own dance school part time and do something that I really love aswell as study at uni, but started feeling too old

Maybe when you get into your twenties you realise exactly how your life should be, this is how Im seeing things anyway lol xx

Yep.

I spent 3 years working towards a degree in criminology straight out of high school. I had a job at the department of forensic medicine working for the state coroner , and after about a year in that job I burnt out, big time.

I freaked out. I was still pretty young, but I knew that I was about to enter a world i really didn't want to be a part of. I've always been sensitive and artistically inclined. I chose criminology as a career because I got good marks when I graduated school and felt like I needed to go into something like that. It was expected of me. I did not fit in in that career, let me tell you.

I quit my job, and lingered for a while. I considered doing a combined degree in arts and science because I couldn't let go of that notion that I was meant to do something highly specialized and intellectual , but also really wanted to do something in the arts. Decided I really want interested in any science based careers.

In the end, I chose arts on its own. I spent a few job less months working on my costume design portfolios and I applied to a selective performing arts college on the other side of the country to study production, and I go it. I moved my entire life 4000 km across the country, away from high paying crim jobs, my family and everything I'd ever really known to study arts full time.

I haven't looked back. Crim was easy because jobs were plentiful. I've had to work a lot harder to make a career out of theatre and performing arts, but I am doing it. I am getting paid jobs and best of all I am not bored. I am really passionate about what I do, which keeps me eager and makes me work really hard without it feeling like work. I am so much happier for having made such a dramatic switch.

Thanks for everyone's responses, I have been reading them, but haven't had a chance to respond.

One thing (well, two, I guess) that makes this a bit more difficult is 1) that my boyfriend is already definitely going back to uni in September 2012 for a year to do a masters and 2) we live in London, which is extremely expensive (rent is, anyway). He's saving for that right now, and the thought of giving up my lifestyle to do the same thing makes me very nervous. I don't think we could afford to stay here if we were both in school and not working full-time. It's taken me a long time to get to a point in this city where I feel comfortable and like I have friends, so I'm prety averse to the idea of moving.

PinUp - money is important to me too. It just is. I don't know if I could give up my full-time salary, you know?

Natz - physiotherapy is what I was thinking about, but I know that's a full-on 3-year degree so it felt a bit scary to say "I want to be a physiotherapist".

I don't know if I might just want to do something a bit more... worthwhile? My job feels so hollow sometimes and I sometimes think "it's just clothes, who cares?!"

I've messaged you with some more info about this course in the uk. Hope it helps.

Couldn't your friends come and visit you in a different part of London at weekends?

I wouldn't feel bad about your job at least you have a job at the moment in this economy.

I think Jon's reply is the most useful. He shows in detail how he developed valuable skills and then took opportunities to leverage them. That's what "changing careers" is truly about.

PS: If you need money, you can facilitate an easier job search by crossing off any jobs that help people of meagre means or produce commodity services (eg low-level retail).