4 Top Reasons People Reskill

Get inspiration from those who have changed careers!

Reskilling appears to be a key buzzword for the learning and development industry in 2021. This is driven by two major developments. 

The first is the COVID-19 pandemic which has had a devastating impact on the UK job market. Few sectors have been spared. The sectors that have suffered the most job losses include the retail, hospitality and aviation industries.

The second is the growing realisation that automation and technology are likely to displace certain tasks and jobs within some sectors in the next 10 years.

Nevertheless, when we asked people who have reskilled recently, we were surprised to find that worsening job outlook in their fields was not the only - nor the primary -  reason that drove people to change occupations. People decide to change careers for a variety of reasons, often very personal reasons.

If you’re thinking of changing careers, read on to learn four of the most common reasons to reskill, and get tips from those who have taken the leap and changed careers!

Reason #1. Worsening job outlook

Many jobs and businesses have been badly affected by COVID-19. Here are the stories of two people who lost their livelihoods due to the pandemic. They took on steep learning curves and reskilled in order to pursue more rewarding roles.

Reskilling Case Study:

I worked for 10 years at my dream job in events as a talent agent. I owned a company where I helped young artists find work at corporate events like marketing expo, company picnic, and banquets. 

Obviously, with COVID-19 we've been shut down completely for almost a year. In June 2020, I began to panic that we wouldn't be able to open up again for years, and that if we did the market wouldn't be the same. 

One of my hobbies for years has been language learning, so I started looking into what I would need to do in order to move myself into online education. Since last summer, I've been working towards becoming an online language coach and language teacher.

I've started blogging at RelearnALanguage.com, which I hope to transform into a full business this summer. My goal isn't to have a nice resume, but to be the most well-informed expert on the subject for new students or clients to find.

- Marissa Blaszko, Relearn a Language

Reskilling Case Study:

I have been a teacher and working musician for the last 10 years of my life. I have recently moved to a country where English is not the first language so that took teaching out of the equation for me, at least until I learn the language. I can't play music either due to COVID-19.

I started to learn internet marketing and web design. These are jobs that you can do from anywhere in the world. The learning curve has been steep, but the challenge can be rewarding if you don't get in your own way.

- Chris Daniel, Incite Music

Reason #2. People want to follow their passions

While looking into why people change careers, we heard numerous stories of people who did it for the life-affirming reason of following their passions. 

Some people fell into a career while leaving their passions behind. Others continued to nurture their passions as hobbies or sidelines before making the jump to turn their passions into their livelihoods. Yet others began to develop interest in another field after working in their field for a number of years.

A startup adviser tells us why she decided to open a cheese shop in the below case study.

Reskilling Case Study:

Although I was good at advising startups and that was what I was trained to do with my schooling, I wasn't feeling completely motivated and fulfilled. I was advising entrepreneurs every day to follow their passion - yet, I was not following mine. 

A few years back, I started getting very interested in cheese, cheesemaking, and sustainable farming practices. I spent all my free time at local creameries, dairies, at The Cheese School and then competed in The Cheesemonger Invitational. About 9 months ago, I decided to fully commit to cheese and jump ship to open my own cheese shop. 

My tip would be to find something you truly care about (even if you don't see a career in it just yet), learn everything you can, fully immerse yourself in that world, and then make the jump.

-  Courtney Khoshafian, The La Canada Cheese Shop

Reason #3. People want better work-life balance 

An unsustainable working lifestyle and stress are common push factors that make many people re-evaluate their working life.

In the following case studies, two career changers tell us how their desire for a better work-life balance prompted them to reskill.

Reskilling Case Study:

I'm a senior software engineer with 10+ years of experience. Over the past year, I have been transitioning from a software engineer into a content writer and SEO. This may come as a shock since software engineering is one of the best paying jobs around. 

However, after 10+ years in this field, it has taken its toll on me mentally. Amidst the global pandemic, I wanted to find another career path that I can be passionate about. Since I have my own dog and am very passionate about dogs, having my own website and writing about dogs seemed perfect.

Being a software engineer, my skills actually helped a lot. I had coded a very nice-looking and easy to maintain a website that I could write on.

My tip for people re-skilling into a new career path is to not do it cold-turkey. First, learn as much as you can about it. When you are ready, try to go part-time in your old job while taking a part-time job in another profession, if possible. This will help you minimize the risk and revert back if you have the need to.

-  Aviram K., Woof & Beyond

Reskilling Case Study:

Prior to getting into life insurance I was in the luxury hospitality industry. I chose to re-skill and become a life insurance agent for several reasons. While my job in events was very glamorous and fun, I ultimately did not have any time freedom. 

I began thinking what life would look like when my husband and I decide to start a family. Would I still be tied to my demanding schedule? Ultimately I decided that it would be best to pivot career paths now rather than later. I still work a lot but have the flexibility to adjust my schedule according to how and when I want to work. 

Tip: Think a few moves ahead. If you are either unhappy or your current position/ workload is unsustainable, learn a new skill and move along.

-  Stacie Irving, Willamette Life Insurance

Reason #4. People experience a major change in perspective

Major life-changing events such as marriage, divorce and birth of a child can cause us to reevaluate our career choices. However, even more common experiences such as a holiday abroad can alter our perspective.

In our final two case studies below, learn why an astronomer was persuaded to reskill to become a portrait photographer, and what prompted a pharmacist to learn web design.

Reskilling Case Study:

I re-skilled from being an academic astronomer to a portrait photographer. I have a PhD in astrophysics and did research & teaching at various UK Universities and for NASA in the USA. I travelled to telescopes in exotic locations like Hawaii, the Canary Islands & Chile.

Why change? I was always on 3 or 5 year job contracts, and looking for the next grant or job. In the end I decided to put down some roots, we started a family, & I turned my photography hobby into a business.  I went from a dry academic environment to a much more creative, people-based business.

This was a huge leap because I had almost zero business experience, and it took a few years to really get the business going. Tips? Get expert advice from someone successful in your sector who you trust and who has been there.  Get this advice early on, even if you have to spend good money, so that you move forward a lot quicker & avoid some of the mistakes that would otherwise cost a lot of your time & energy.

-  Laurence Jones, KidsNaturally Photography

Reskilling Case Study:

I’ve made quite a big change in my career. I’ve worked as a pharmacist for several years. However, after working in a pharmacy for some time, I realised that it was time for something new. 

After some amazing months of travelling, I discovered web design and search engine optimization. I have been on this reskilling journey for a year. I decided to learn something totally new to challenge myself and learn new skills.

-  Melissa Sörgel, OTC Beratung