Career Energy, a specialist career management and outplacement consultancy, has today launched a free Career Guide highlighting the top ten career opportunities for people seeking to change their working lives in 2010 on 26th January 2010.  The guide is based on research into current and projected business, social and economic trends, related labour supply and demand facts and interviews with lead bodies and employers from selected professions.   It covers key facts on demand, entry requirements, finances and pros and cons.

The guide focuses on careers that are appropriate for consideration by older people looking to change their careers as well as people considering training and career options ahead of entering the workforce.  It is available on Career Energy’s website at www.careerenergy.co.uk

The top ten careers 2010 in no particular order are:

      Maths or Science teacher
      Counsellor
      Commercial Diver
      Welder
      Risk Manager
      Chef
      Network Architect
      Environmental Consultant
      Entrepreneur
      Social Worker 
 

According to Giles Field from the Training and Development Agency for schools:  “Now is a very good time to enter teaching and this is reflected by a huge increase in enquiries from ‘career changers’ who are currently in another kind of job or profession.  Science and maths teaching applicants come from a wide range of careers such as law and banking, as well as those with maths and science degrees.”

 Harry Freedman, Chief Executive of Career Energy, says:  “We think this guide is timely given this is our busiest time of year.  Enquiries peak towards the end of January as people who are unhappy at work find themselves back in the same place at the start of a New Year and feeling just as negative as they did at the end of the old one.  However, with unemployment still over 2.4 million people, people are more aware than ever of the benefits of being employed in areas that are relatively recession proof and with long term prospects, so their priorities are more likely to include being in a growth area than used to be the case.

 “It is no longer unusual for someone to have two or three very different careers in the course of their working life and this will become even more the case as we enter an age where people are also working longer.  Most of the careers we have selected are suitable for career changers well into mid-life, with the exception of two or three where physical fitness or lengthy qualification processes are required.  What we would stress, however, is that you spend a substantial part of your life working and, even if none of the careers we have highlighted appeal, the guide will help you in terms of  the kinds of things you should think about when considering whether a new career choice will really fit in you’re your personality and priorities.”

 Career Energy research indicates that more than one in four people working in established professions are unhappy with their career and feel they would be better suited to another.  Only 42% can say that they are happy with their career choice, with 30% unhappy some of the time.  The main reason for unhappiness is being bored or unfulfilled, followed by work/life balance.  Relatively small numbers are unhappy because of pay and benefits.

 “The most popular destinations for career changers include some of these areas where we see many opportunities, such as environmental work.” says Freedman.  “But I would stress that if your choices lie in areas where finding work is tough, don’t  be deterred.  Even though we can tell you where it is going to be easier to succeed, you should follow your heart as well as your head; our experience shows that if people persevere and plan they get into their chosen field eventually.”

 For further information or an interview with Harry Freedman please contact:  Siobhan Griffiths/Jack Miall at Kinross + Render PR on Tel:  020 7592 3100 or email:  sg@kinrossrender.com