Choosing a career when faced with an unstable economic climate can seem almost impossible. With less ability to experiment with various career options, how do you secure your economic prospects?
Gaining additional academic qualifications and experience not only provides you with renewed purpose, but also increases your employability in the future.
Although these career-orientated decisions may seem overwhelming, deciding on your future path does not have to be intimidating when you take the following simple steps:
1. What motivates you?
People thrive at work when they're able to do something they're truly passionate about.
According to Daniel Pink in his book Drive, intrinsic motivation is more powerful than any external reward. Intrinsic motivation is based on three factors:
- Autonomy: the need to control what you do, when you do it and who you do it with, so you're free to think creatively.
- Mastery: the desire to improve your skills through continuous learning and practice in order to one day realise your full potential.
- Purpose: wanting to work towards something that's more important than yourself - seeing 'the bigger picture' and wanting to change something for the better.
If you're sat at your desk feeling like you're stuck in another day where nothing ever changes, perhaps it's time to start thinking of what you could do to change how you feel at work?
2. What's the focus of your day?
What comes to mind when you think about 'work'?
Is it putting on smart clothes, attending meetings, completing your day’s work, and then beginning your evening?
Or do you never really switch off because you're always thinking about something new to try, reading to learn more or seeking out new opportunities to delve deeper?
Is work about money? Or is it about a desire to be the best you can be?
If you’re only thinking about work during the hours of 9 to 5, with your main focus on what you'll spend that month's pay cheque on, it's a sure sign you’re on the wrong career path.
3. What does success look like?
Imagine your life in five years’ time. You've continued to climb that corporate ladder, or maybe you've taken a side-ways step into a related field or had a little pay rise. Are you happy? Are you excited about what the next five years then looks like?
Unless you can confidently say "Yes!", it's a good indication that you might not be on the right career path.
It's never too late to change careers
World-renowned fashion designer, Vera Wang, was a journalist until the age of 40.
Jonah Peretti was a teacher until his mid-30s when he co-founded The Huffington Post and subsequently launched BuzzFeed.
Academic Taikichiro Mori started investing in property aged 51 - at one point he was named the richest man in the world.
While odd jobs man, Harland Sanders, went on to create KFC aged 62.
Re-energise your career with online study at the University of Bath
With the University of Bath, taking the leap of faith into a new career doesn't have to involve handing your notice in tomorrow - you don't even need to decide what you're going to do next.
You will be expected to commit 12-15 hours of study per week, a practical portion of time when you are fitting study in around working, caring and familial responsibilities. Our online courses are structured to fit around your current work, life and personal commitments. Whether you have current employment circumstances or caring responsibilities, the ability to flexibly study online from home enables you to continue to accommodate your existing lifestyle.
Our courses are also designed to be broad enough to give you the skills required for a wide range of new careers:
Applied Economics (Banking and Financial Markets) online MSc
Get to grips with the latest thinking in economic theory, econometrics and finance. In order to study this course, you must have an undergraduate degree in a social science or business-related discipline.
Artificial Intelligence online MSc
Specialise in AI and meet the increasing demand for experts in this exciting, challenging and rapidly growing field. In order to study this course, you will need to have A-Level Maths or equivalent.
Business Analytics online MSc
Focus on both data and decision analysis, giving you an advantage in a world where data is key to resolving issues in almost every industry and sector. You will need to have programming knowledge in order to study this course.
Computer Science online MSc
Gain exposure to emerging ideas in AI, human computer interaction, cryptography and cybersecurity. To study this course you may have an undergraduate degree in any subject, but you must demonstrate evidence of relevant quantitative skills (especially algebra and calculus).
Entrepreneurship Management and Innovation online MSc
Draw inspiration from the world of business, feel motivated by our guest speakers and learn from entrepreneurial case studies presented by real-world business connections. You will need an undergraduate degree, preferably in a business-related subject to study this course.
Taught by leading lecturers, researchers and academics, each course focuses on the real-life application of the subject, rather than theoretical learning, so you can start putting your new knowledge into practice straight away.
Access to our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) also provides you with a rich student experience, exposing you to a wider global community full of like-minded people and potential new business opportunities.
Go further with the University of Bath. It starts by taking a look at our online courses in more detail, and requesting information using the form below.