Changing careers: tips from women who made the switch

"When people ask me 'what do you do for a living' and I reply, 'I own a Hot Sauce Shop', they usually check if they heard me correctly. And then follow up with the question, 'How did you get into that?' laughs Elle Bowles.

Bowles wasn't always a spice-based entrepreneur. For the first 15 years of her career, she worked in media and public relations, putting together campaigns for big corporations like Lego and Universal Music Australia. 

But eventually Bowles decided she wanted to leave behind her conventional career in favour of something that excited her more. So she and her partner walked away from their nine-to-fives and opened a business – launching both an online store and Sydney's first fully dedicated specialty hot sauce destination, called THAT Hot Sauce Shop, with a shopfront and tasting bar in Manly.

"It was a bold decision to leave behind our established professions and embrace this passion project that had long been a shared dream," Bowles says. "But when you challenge yourself, you give yourself the opportunity to enrich your career experience."

Switching careers: We're all doing it

Bowles isn't the only Australian woman to chuck in her old career in pursuit of something more aligned with her passions. 

In fact, research shows that today's Australians may work up to 17 jobs across five different careers in their lifetime. Gone are the days of picking one career path when you finish school and sticking with it for life.

Some, like Bowles, know exactly what they want to do next. But other Australians need a bit more help finding their true path. That's where Open Universities Australia comes in.

Open Universities Australia brings together online courses from universities across Australia, all in one place. They make it easy to compare your options and get expert advice on undertaking that big career pivot, as well as what qualifications you'll need to get there. That might be a degree undertaken either part or full time, or perhaps a short course.

If you want to make a change – but are unsure of what to do next – an easy first step is to give their local student advisors a call on 13 OPEN or visit open.edu.au to chat through what your study path could look like. Not only are they free to speak to, but all advice is impartial and based off your unique goals.

Tips from women who've done it

Amelia, aged 37, also made the career switch – walking away from what some might consider a dream job in pursuit of a job that suited her better. She started out working in breakfast radio, but eventually realised she wanted to do something different (and be able to sleep in past 4am). Amelia now works as a content designer at a tech company and loves it.

She says it's worth remembering that when you're pivoting your career, rarely does that mean starting again at the very bottom of the ladder.

"Remember that sunk costs are a logical fallacy. You aren't starting from scratch, because you'll be taking skills from your previous career path to the next one," Amelia says.

"I didn't know what I wanted to do when I changed careers; I just knew that I needed a change. So, I looked to join a start-up where I could try different things, and that was a great decision that allowed me to find a role that suited me."

If you're thinking of shaking up your career, Amelia recommends staying on top of your personal finances and building up your savings.

"You may be earning less for a while, taking a break to retrain or you may take a while to get a client base," she says. "It's much easier to face these things if you have a safety net." 

And while it can be scary at first to embark on a new career, Bowles says it's worth remembering that you don't have to fully close the door on your old job – it'll can be there as a fallback option. 

"You can always go back to your comforts, but by stepping outside of the norm, you have the chance to evolve as a professional with the added self-satisfaction," she says.

"My advice is to listen to that inner voice urging you to pursue what truly ignites your spirit. The path may be daunting, but it is also filled with incredible potential for growth and fulfilment. It has given me the ability to approach future projects in my field of work with a fresh perspective and a renewed sense of passion.

"Embrace that challenge, and you may just find the flavour of life you've been searching for."

If you're thinking about taking the leap to upskill, reskill or even change careers, get started with Open Universities Australia at open.edu.au.