Member Article

A quarter of women suffering depression due to wrong career choice

• 73% of women aged 22-36 want to change careers, but over a third lack the confidence and have the fear to do so
• A quarter of women feel depressed or suffer from anxiety due to current jobs
• Only 3% want to move into the male dominated tech industry

Research by the UK’s first career change platform and expert-led event series, The Ambition Plan, has revealed that 73% of women aged 22-36 want to change careers. This desire is felt nationwide, however work-related anxiety was found to be higher in Liverpool, and over a third of respondents in Sheffield reported feelings of depression due to their jobs - higher than anywhere in the UK. The Ambition Plan has launched to give support and hope for women who are stuck in unfulfilling jobs and want to change career. Fans of the platform include columnist, writer and broadcaster Grace Dent and Cosmopolitan editor Farrah Storr.

The survey revealed that women are more scared than men when it comes to taking the leap, with 35% of women reporting the fear of ‘starting from the bottom’ as their biggest obstacle, alongside other issues such as financial security. It can be hard for women to know where to start when wanting to change careers, and there are limited resources available to aid them with the tools needed to highlight their relevant transferable skills.

With millennials finding themselves changing jobs on average four times in their first decade out of higher education, or finding themselves stuck in an unfulfilling job that is affecting their mental health, there is a need for more career support to be available.

The first in a series of Industry Insider events takes place in October, led by Grace Dent and Farrah Storr. The two women have forged out successful careers in the media and want to impart their tips and advice to empower women to make the move into the industry.

Grace Dent, columnist, writer and broadcaster, added: “For me, becoming a restaurant critic was the culmination of dozens of different sidesteps over 20 years in media. Eating for a living was my side-hustle… but it went on to become a full time focus and I have never been happier. Breaking into media and making an impact has always been tough. I love that The Ambition Plan is taking a step to change that.”

Farrah Storr, editor of Cosmopolitan, said: “Ambition is the fuel in your engine…but it only works if you know exactly where you’re heading” 

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This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Kirsty .