Most office workers are looking for a career that can offer them freedom and greater fulfilment; says a new survey by vocational awards body City & Guilds.
Over 1000 workers were surveyed with half working in traditional professions and 535 employed in vocational occupations. The majority of respondents said they are looking to swap their current jobs for more practical careers.
One in three plan to change careers. Professionals also showed a desire to get their hands dirty, with 13 per cent of lawyers hoping to swap the courtroom for a farm or greenhouse while the same number of architects wanted to become artists or cartoonists.
Other findings show that 13 per cent of pharmacists hankered after teaching posts, 15 per cent of accountants fancied themselves as lawyers and 13 per cent of media professionals cited ‘author’ as their dream job.
City & Guilds describe the findings as marking a ‘radical change’ in the workplace with employees chasing their dreams.
Age was found to be a key catalyst for triggering discontent with a quarter of respondents admitting that reaching key age milestones was the reason for their dissatisfaction. While talking to friends (21 per cent) and watching inspirational TV programmes (19 per cent) followed closely behind.
Age was not the only factor though in stirring these ‘career swappers’. Tenure of job was found to be a key reason for change. The survey found that the longer professionals have been in their careers, the more likely they are to want to move onto pastures new. Just under half of respondents with 10 or more years service in their profession said they wished to swap careers.
Starting up in business was also given as a key motivator by 17 per cent of respondents who wished to run the show as boss.
Chris Humphries, Director General at City & Guilds said: “Our research findings indicate that self-employment is a popular choice as workers push job satisfaction up the agenda. Britain has always had a strong enterprise culture, but anyone considering the self-employment route needs a certain set of skills to succeed, such as financial management and marketing.”
