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What is the average amount people change careers
#career #career-choice #career-path
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Karen’s Answer
Hi Jabari,
In my experience, a career path is not a straight line. It can often be a winding road with twists and turns. While many people that I know and work with have been in the same industry for many years (for example, restaurant or healthcare or engineering), most have had several jobs or worked at several different businesses throughout the course of their career. This is particularly true if you choose an industry/career that is broad (such as business or healthcare), rather than very specialized. Also, as you build your knowledge and experience, you may move up within a company, for example, from analyst to manager to director. Good luck!
In my experience, a career path is not a straight line. It can often be a winding road with twists and turns. While many people that I know and work with have been in the same industry for many years (for example, restaurant or healthcare or engineering), most have had several jobs or worked at several different businesses throughout the course of their career. This is particularly true if you choose an industry/career that is broad (such as business or healthcare), rather than very specialized. Also, as you build your knowledge and experience, you may move up within a company, for example, from analyst to manager to director. Good luck!
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Doc’s Answer
I believe Jabari with the changing nature of work it means that a career change may be more feasible for you than for previous generations. People are increasingly working in new ways, be it flexibly, remotely or part-time. While in the past skills and professions were learned for life, education and training is now becoming an ongoing part of a more dynamic working style. This is made possible with the help of new learning opportunities, such as online courses. While working might once have been viewed as little more than a means to pay the bills, it’s now widely accepted that finding a fulfilling career is one of the keys to a happy life. With this in mind, perhaps it’s time for ALL of us to take a step back and look at some of the main reasons people take the leap and decide to make a career change.
NEW CHALLENGE – Even if you’re content with your job, company and work colleagues, it’s possible that after several years have passed, it has all become too routine. If you’re the kind of person that needs to push themselves and try new things, a career change might be just the ticket. Venturing a little out of our depth can sometimes be exactly what we need to feel satisfied and accomplished in our working life. If you’re feeling just a little too comfortable, starting a new career path that encourages you to gain new knowledge and skills may help to spice things up Jabari.
VALUES CHANGE – A job is like a relationship; sometimes you just grow in different directions. While you might once have been passionate about your company’s mission, this may no longer be the case. The idea that people can change drastically over the course of a lifetime isn’t a radical one anymore Jabari, while something you'd be happy doing at 20 might no longer float your boat at 30. You may have had an awakening and be craving to get out of the office and into a more relaxed working environment. Or, while financial security might not have been a priority for you when you were young, you now seek more stability than your current job as a freelancer affords. These changing values, concerns and priorities might mean a career change will be in your future.
FAMILY – Sometimes our job does don't allow us to spend enough time on other aspects of our lives. Perhaps we wished we had more time to dedicate to our families, or to a hobby we’re passionate about. Maybe in your future you'll desire more time out to travel and see the world. If this is the case, consider a career that allows you to work flexibly hours or for yourself. Research also shows that more and more Gen Z's are now opting for part-time work as their primary job, so depending on your situation, working fewer hours may be an option. There’s more to life than work and sometimes we need a career that allows us to acknowledge that Jabari.
The key is to staying relevant in an ever-changing job market Jabari
NEW CHALLENGE – Even if you’re content with your job, company and work colleagues, it’s possible that after several years have passed, it has all become too routine. If you’re the kind of person that needs to push themselves and try new things, a career change might be just the ticket. Venturing a little out of our depth can sometimes be exactly what we need to feel satisfied and accomplished in our working life. If you’re feeling just a little too comfortable, starting a new career path that encourages you to gain new knowledge and skills may help to spice things up Jabari.
VALUES CHANGE – A job is like a relationship; sometimes you just grow in different directions. While you might once have been passionate about your company’s mission, this may no longer be the case. The idea that people can change drastically over the course of a lifetime isn’t a radical one anymore Jabari, while something you'd be happy doing at 20 might no longer float your boat at 30. You may have had an awakening and be craving to get out of the office and into a more relaxed working environment. Or, while financial security might not have been a priority for you when you were young, you now seek more stability than your current job as a freelancer affords. These changing values, concerns and priorities might mean a career change will be in your future.
FAMILY – Sometimes our job does don't allow us to spend enough time on other aspects of our lives. Perhaps we wished we had more time to dedicate to our families, or to a hobby we’re passionate about. Maybe in your future you'll desire more time out to travel and see the world. If this is the case, consider a career that allows you to work flexibly hours or for yourself. Research also shows that more and more Gen Z's are now opting for part-time work as their primary job, so depending on your situation, working fewer hours may be an option. There’s more to life than work and sometimes we need a career that allows us to acknowledge that Jabari.
The key is to staying relevant in an ever-changing job market Jabari
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Melanie’s Answer
I think the key here is find a place you are happy, adding value and making a difference. As you hit a stride, this will be satisfying, but times will change, companies change and you will change. When you get to that point, start to look seriously, but always, even in the great times, have feelers out and be aware of what is happening in the world around you. I have had 3 major jobs in my adult career and I just started the 3rd after 15 years at one place. I tend to see 1 to 3 as a norm.
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Reid’s Answer
This is becoming more and more common. In my opinion this is due to the ease of access to information and the increasing number of roles that are remote (work from home) which allows people to gain even more access to more jobs. With the increase in available opportunities, it allows people to find them and therefore will be less likely to stay in a job they are not enjoying.
As I have gotten further in my own career, I pivoted multiple times. I put a lot of value and prioritize transferable skills. These are skills that I learn and develop in a job that I can then apply to another job or industry.
As I have gotten further in my own career, I pivoted multiple times. I put a lot of value and prioritize transferable skills. These are skills that I learn and develop in a job that I can then apply to another job or industry.
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Rebecca’s Answer
I do not have the statistics on people changing their career. However, from my observation on my friends, colleagues, ex-classmates, etc., this is very often. Comparatively speaking, it is rare to have people to be in the same career for their life time. Most people may change their career 1 -2 time in their life time.
There are a lot of factors that people would change their career. For example,
Change Interest - People may have different interest from time to time. At the beginning, they may interest career. They may feel bore after doing it for a long time and switch to another one.
Career becomes obsolete - For example, there was a career called typist very long time ago before computer becomes popular. They use type writer to prepare documents. Nowadays, everyone use wording processor to prepare their own documents.
Financial consideration - Perhaps one career can make more monies than another
So, career change is not a rare. If it really needs to make a change, go for it as long as after prudent consideration.
Hope this can address your questoin!
There are a lot of factors that people would change their career. For example,
Change Interest - People may have different interest from time to time. At the beginning, they may interest career. They may feel bore after doing it for a long time and switch to another one.
Career becomes obsolete - For example, there was a career called typist very long time ago before computer becomes popular. They use type writer to prepare documents. Nowadays, everyone use wording processor to prepare their own documents.
Financial consideration - Perhaps one career can make more monies than another
So, career change is not a rare. If it really needs to make a change, go for it as long as after prudent consideration.
Hope this can address your questoin!
Updated
Zahid’s Answer
First let's ask, what is a career change exactly?
There are a couple of different ways people commonly define a career change. To some, a career change is a change from working for one employer to working for another. This may be especially true if you have been working for a particular company for several years. Switching to a different company, even within the same type of business, can be thought of as a career change.
Another definition of career change is to move to a different or more advanced position within the same line of work. For example, if you are promoted from your business analyst role to a managerial position in the same company, you might consider that a career change.
Others define a career change as a move from one type of work to another. For example, you may have worked as an accountant for a few years, but now you're in med school training to be a doctor. This definition of career change is possibly more common since it involves moving from one career path to a totally different, distinct career path.
So how many times do people change careers in their lifetime?
Due to the difference of opinion in what a career change means, it's difficult to come up with precise numbers indicating how often people change careers. However, it is possible to suggest typical averages for each age group.
A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey of people born between 1957 and 1964 that traced their work history through to age 52 shows that people tend to change jobs fewer times as they grow older. From ages 18 to 24, they change jobs an average of 5.7 times. Between 25 and 34 years old, they change jobs an average of 2.4 times. The average goes down again to 2.9 jobs between ages 35 and 44, and then to 1.9 jobs between ages 45 and 52.
Again, these are job changes that may not correspond exactly to career changes. However, it appears true to say that you are less likely to change careers the older you are.
Speaking from personal experience, I've changed careers several times over the years, ranging from Retail to IT Support to Data Analyst to teaching to programming.
There are a couple of different ways people commonly define a career change. To some, a career change is a change from working for one employer to working for another. This may be especially true if you have been working for a particular company for several years. Switching to a different company, even within the same type of business, can be thought of as a career change.
Another definition of career change is to move to a different or more advanced position within the same line of work. For example, if you are promoted from your business analyst role to a managerial position in the same company, you might consider that a career change.
Others define a career change as a move from one type of work to another. For example, you may have worked as an accountant for a few years, but now you're in med school training to be a doctor. This definition of career change is possibly more common since it involves moving from one career path to a totally different, distinct career path.
So how many times do people change careers in their lifetime?
Due to the difference of opinion in what a career change means, it's difficult to come up with precise numbers indicating how often people change careers. However, it is possible to suggest typical averages for each age group.
A Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) survey of people born between 1957 and 1964 that traced their work history through to age 52 shows that people tend to change jobs fewer times as they grow older. From ages 18 to 24, they change jobs an average of 5.7 times. Between 25 and 34 years old, they change jobs an average of 2.4 times. The average goes down again to 2.9 jobs between ages 35 and 44, and then to 1.9 jobs between ages 45 and 52.
Again, these are job changes that may not correspond exactly to career changes. However, it appears true to say that you are less likely to change careers the older you are.
Speaking from personal experience, I've changed careers several times over the years, ranging from Retail to IT Support to Data Analyst to teaching to programming.
Updated
Naomi’s Answer
When I was in college, a professor said that typically will switch careers 3-5 times. This sounded pretty unreasonable at the time. But my career path was not straight forward. I graduated with an accounting degree. Then moved to into Application Support (IT) as both an individual contributor and manager. Now I'm in a Leadership Program at my company that has me working in three different areas to help prepare me for an officer role. Be open to opportunities as they arise. If it doesn't work out, it was a learning experience. If it does, then you might find a new career!