Is it too late to dream?
This one’s for the girlies who took the safe route and are now wondering if they detoured too far from the dream.
Dear Nell,
I went straight out of uni into working in a field that I don’t really have a passion for. I kept at it because, during covid and then in the recent job market, I didn’t feel like I had many options.
At the time, I thought I could take a side step at a later stage, but that later stage is now here and I’m losing confidence. I’m wondering if I should give up on my dreams and stick it out? Work isn’t everything after all! Or if I should take the plunge into applying for jobs in my desired field? Because, well, I have to do this for the rest of my working life!
Thanks,
Dreamer
Dear Dreamer,
It sounds to me that you are feeling behind on your career journey, or that you may have wasted time investing in your current field of work. So, let’s start by remembering that you made the best choices you could, during some of the hardest years to start a career. Please don’t underestimate what it took to keep going through a pandemic and a shaky job market. That resilience is something and you get to bring it with you wherever you go next. You will have also learn heaps of skills that you can transfer into your next job.
Now you’re here, looking around, wondering if it’s too late to want more. It’s not. But I hear the hesitation, and I want to offer you a few tips as you start figuring out your next move.
1. Reframe the narrative
You’re not starting from scratch, you’re starting with years of real-world experience. Even if it’s not in your “dream field,” you’ve built skills and knowledge. That counts. You’re bringing way more to the table now than you would’ve fresh out of uni. It’s not a detour, you have added depth.
2. Get specific about the dream
Let’s zoom in. What exactly does your dream field look like? What kinds of roles, environments, or problems light you up? The more clearly you can name what you want, the easier it gets to take steps toward it.
3. Take a pressure-free first step
Start small. Update your CV. Talk to someone in the field. Apply for one role. You don’t need to leap, you can just take a baby step. Start building momentum. Confidence follows action, not the other way around.
4. Create a runway for yourself
If the dream field feels risky, make a plan. Could you freelance on the side? Upskill on evenings or weekends? Start networking now while you’re still employed? Map out your runway before you try to take off.
5. Watch out for dream shame
Be careful not to turn your dream into a weapon against yourself. If the voice in your head is saying “you should’ve done this years ago” or “you’re not good enough to switch now”, that’s not truth, that’s just the fear talking. Be kind to yourself. Dreaming isn’t naive, it’s brave.
It’s okay to want more. It’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to look up one day and realise the life you built isn’t quite what you want, and to decide to build again.
You’re not too late, and your dream isn’t too big. You’re just at the part of the story where the main character decides to choose a different path.
Take the plunge or take one small, quiet step in that direction. Whichever it is, you’re allowed to want a job that fits better.
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