This story is from the ABC. We already have two enquiries about making a career change in 2025. The first port of call is the career adviser, John Hogan at Revolution Careers and then come to us. It’s a winning combination!
Kirsten Brumby, who has spent 15 years working as a career coach, said the New Year period is a common time for job searching.
“Over Christmas people decide if they are ready to leave their current role or make the move to change careers,” she said.
COVID, working from home, flexibility and finding meaning in work has changed people’s views of what they expect from a job.
“For people interested in changing careers it’s about scanning lots of jobs, finding what piques your interest and matches your skill set and making taking steps to creating the change.”
Ms Brumby said the vast majority of people she has worked with who changed occupations have ended up happier with their work.
The performance review question that changed everything
Growing up in the Philippines, Joselle Reyes studied accounting.
“There was a lot of pressure from both society and my parents to choose a reliable career path and accounting was a job that could be a stepping stone to migrating to Australia,” she said.
For 14 years, Ms Reyes worked as an accountant and climbed the corporate ladder after moving to Sydney almost a decade ago.
Now she has gone down a completely different career path — she is a live wedding painter at ceremonies across NSW.
It wasn’t until COVID times that Ms Reyes picked up her childhood love for art again.
“I had a performance review at work and they asked where I saw myself in five years’ time. I wondered if I really saw myself as an accountant by that point.”
For the next two years Ms Reyes gradually made logistical and financial plans. At the end of 2023, with the support her husband and workplace, she resigned and hasn’t looked back.
“My favourite part is seeing the couple’s reactions to the paintings I create of them on their big day.”
Now a live wedding painter, Ms Reyes acknowledged there has been a pay cut compared to her former career, though she hopes that is “temporary”.
“I make about half of what I used to, but I’m happy with that considering it’s my first year of my business. My husband and I planned and budgeted for this, and I do see the potential to earn more in this role.”
A good person to talk to is career adviser, John Hogan at Revolution Careers. Then come to us at Republic Resumes.