Great Career Changes for Women
Now is a better time than ever for women to grab their dream career path by the horns and go for it. It is a common feeling amongst adults to wonder if the career that someone has chosen is actually living up to the expectations of life, and whether it makes someone truly happy.
The problem (or the beauty) of life, whichever you look at it, is that all humans only get one shot at it. There is no preparation, no rehearsal, and life continually throws curveballs and changes at everyone, expecting us to deal with them as and when they come.
It could be that the job that someone has chosen, or the career path that has been followed was already laid out by a parent. It may be that there was external pressure from outside sources to go into a particular field, even though the heart was somewhere else. It could also simply be that as people get older their minds, desires, and outlooks change, prompting a new wave of self-discovery and determination to find a fulfilling role.
There is a common misconception that it is too late to follow one's dreams once the mid-twenties hit, and that it is best to just keep on a path that is comfortable and safe. But the truth is, there is no time like the present, and no one is ever too old to change their career path in pursuit of happiness and a rewarding role.
With this in mind, this piece will discuss some brilliant options for career changes for women.
Why Opt for a Career Change?
When someone has been in particular a career for a long period of time, the appeal of change might only extend to fantasies, as the outcome can be far too scary, time-consuming, and would mean taking multiple steps into the unknown, all of which can be highly exhausting. With this in mind, are there actually any good reasons to change career? Absolutely!
The career that someone finds themselves in now might have been one that was once a dream; but life changes, and with that, passions and preferences also change. Careers are not exempt from that. They may be thinking about starting a family, or their priorities have changed, but whatever it is, the current career might not fit well into someone's life anymore.
Other reasons could include a person's current career being too stressful, too boring, it does not offer the same dazzling prospects that were once promised, or that it has ignited a dreadful burnout. Whatever the reason, being unhappy in your career is also a good enough reason to change paths.
A Career Change to Pharmacy
Pharmacists are vital to the health and happiness of everyone. The job role requires pharmacists to dispense medications that are prescribed by healthcare professionals and instruct users on how to safely take the medication in terms of dosage, timing, and potential interactions with other substances. Pharmacists also help patients manage illnesses, offer over-the-counter advice to patients, and are also a source of knowledge for doctors and nurses when choosing the correct medication and dosage for a patient.
Becoming a pharmacist requires two years of undergraduate work, and then progression to a PharmD program, which can take around four years to complete. The average salary begins at around $34,000.
This career choice might not be the right call if a higher income is the goal, but the emotional reward is high, as pharmacy is a career contributes to the health and happiness of a community.
A Career Change into Nursing
For women who want to offer care and kindness to the world, nursing is a brilliant place to begin. Nurses have the ability to have a positive effect on people's lives, especially those who are going through difficult periods. Nurses often provide life-saving care and want to help those in need, which in itself can be extremely rewarding.
Within the nursing profession there are many specialist areas, including, palliative care, critical care, geriatric care, midwifery, or registered general nursing; the list goes on. It is important to research each sector and establish which fits best into your lifestyle.
One of the best parts of choosing nursing as a career path is that because of the demand for nurses in society, accessible and high-quality training is available for those with little to no experience; only a sheer willingness to learn and help is required.
The average salary for a registered nurse is $44,000, which is a happy medium when it comes to a good income and helping others.
Aside from the previously mentioned specialist nursing areas, the option to train even further into a niche is available, such as studying at neonatal nursing college, nursing specifically for newborn babies, or forensic nursing, which involves treating offenders in psychiatric hospitals.
A Career Change into Computer Science
The computer science sector is crying out for diversity when it comes to gender, and marketing and recruitment for this industry are heavily based around inclusion.
Primarily a male-dominated industry, computer science has become a career path that encourages women to complete introductory courses and gain the skills necessary for a lucrative career in this area.
Computer science as a field contains many niches, which means there should be something that will suit any tech lover! Some of these niches include artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, database systems, and computer systems and networks.
This industry is booming and will only continue to grow as more and more daily activities are moved over to the online world, which means now is a brilliant time to make a career change toward this path.
Due to the growing demand, there are many computer science apprenticeships that offer a base living wage alongside training and progression, which means there is no need to go back to college to go in this direction.
A beginner's salary for computer science roles can start at around $30,000 during training, with the potential to achieve salaries of $240,000 upon completion of training and progression through different roles.
For those who are looking for an in-demand career with job security, a better work–life balance, and a pay packet to incite envy, computer science is a great career path to follow.