Change career
Decide what you want your working day to feel like, then test whether practical routes exist to get there. Start by listing tasks you enjoy, strengths you use, and the parts of your current role you would keep; compare these with job profiles and employer expectations rather than relying on job titles alone. Map the gap: identify the skills, qualifications or experience the new role requires and make a staged plan to close them. Combine low-risk tests (short online courses, volunteering, project work, freelance trial jobs) with realistic timelines for any formal training or credentialing the occupation needs. Try before you commit: arrange short shadowing sessions, informational interviews, or small paid/volunteer projects in the target area to learn the day-to-day reality and collect references. Use impartial career-advice services or professional mentors to check assumptions and help refine applications and CVs tailored to transferable skills. Plan the practical transition: budget for lost income, training costs and notice periods; set milestones (research complete, qualification started, first placement) and a fallback plan. Reassess regularly and use reputable careers services and professional bodies for guidance on qualifications and sector-specific expectations.