How many career changes will you have in a lifetime?

The days of having one career for a lifetime are in the past. In 2025, most people will have several career changes in their lifetime. In fact, the average person goes through three to seven career changes in their lifetime, while changing jobs 16 times or more. 62% of people have even left a job within the first year. People change careers for a variety of reasons - sometimes to earn more money, sometimes for more job satisfaction. In this article we will explain what a career is, how many career changes people have, why changes of career happen and how to change your career.

What is a career vs a job?

A career is a professional occupation that is intentionally pursued and often requires tertiary education. Careers are usually long term and goal oriented, opening up to future promotions and advancement.

A job, on the other hand, is work with the goal of earning money and not necessarily role advancement. Often jobs do not need any specific qualifications or training.

A job can turn into a long term career with further training, study, and mentorship in many industries.

How many jobs in a lifetime?

People can have as many jobs as they want  in a lifetime because jobs are often thought of as simply a way to make money. On average, people will have about 16 jobs during their work life, with younger people more likely to change jobs than older workers. Baby boomers typically worked for about six different employers over the course of their careers. Millennials and younger generations tend to change jobs on a much more regular basis with job hopping no longer frowned upon. Millennials change jobs every 2.75 years on average which is more than three times that of older generations, prioritising job satisfaction and work life balance. In a similar way, Gen Zers are likely to have 18 jobs across six careers. Professional growth, job fulfillment and work life balance is important to younger workers who are more likely to focus on upskilling or reskilling to change jobs. Going back to study is a great way to reskill or upskill to advance job prospects.

How many careers in a lifetime?

Career changes are less common than job changes because a career usually relates  to an industry you have chosen to progress in. People tend to change careers about three to seven times during their working life. A change of career might come about after working as a real estate agent for many years and then deciding to return to study and become a nurse.

Reasons for changing careers

People choose to change careers for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it might be due to boredom or lack of being challenged. Other times it may be motivated by salary potential. Whatever the reason, the desire to change careers often brings conflicting emotions. These are the most common reasons for changing careers.

• Earn more money: The most common reason to change careers is dissatisfaction with the current career’s salary. Many people realise the earning potential is less than they desire after being in a specific career.  Feeling underpaid interferes with career satisfaction and quality of life. Often people find other careers to pursue with higher income.
• Career advancement: When an employee reaches their potential in a career at their current organisation, it is not uncommon to look for a different career where advancement is possible. If an employer is not offering further career advancement opportunities  or options for study and mentorship, the career can become unfulfilling.
• Following a passion: Sometimes career change may be inspired because of following a passion. The current career may not be fulfilling and the person realised they need to work in a role they feel passionate about. This could mean leaving a career in finance to pursue a career as a photographer, for example.
• Make a difference: As working takes up a lot of our daily hours, some people decide to change careers as they want to make a difference in the world. The current role may not be personally satisfying so a different, more meaningful career is pursued. Someone who has worked as an accountant for many years may decide to change careers to humanitarian pursuits like social work or international aid work.
• Improve work life balance: Work life balance can be a significant factor in inspiring career change, particularly when an employee feels their home and personal life are being compromised. Many people change careers after realising their chosen role is too demanding of their time and attention. A person who works 80 hours a week as a lawyer may decide to sacrifice salary for work life balance and pursue another career with less responsibilities.
• Change of management: When a company has a change of management, it can change the whole dynamic of the organisation. Some people question their career choice when the management changes and they feel dissatisfied with the new employer.
• Challenge themselves: Once a career has been mastered, there can be limited challenges left. Sometimes people decide to change careers to something completely different to challenge themselves and step outside their comfort zone.

Steps to a career change

When you want to change careers there are some steps you can take to ensure you make the right decision. Follow these guidelines for a smooth transition to your next career.

1. Assess your current situation: Look at your current career in a realistic manner. Consider what the benefits are and the disadvantages of your current role. If you feel stressed and have no work life balance or the salary is not acceptable for the amount of work expected, these are signs the current situation is not working for you.
2. Think about your interests and skills: If you are going to make a career change, it is important to consider your interests and skills. Write down the skills you have learnt during your career and your outside interests. When trying to decipher skills and interests, think about your passions, hobbies and strengths.
3. Do research: Narrow down fields that interest you and align with your skills and strengths. Do some research on the types of careers that appeal and if they are aligned with your interests. Do some research on the types of professions that are in demand and growth industries that will offer the most opportunities. You can do this by searching online, talking to other professionals in the field and attending industry events and meetings.
4. Make a plan: If you have decided to leave and know the type of career you want to pursue, it is important to have a clear plan. This means outlining the next steps towards the transition. You will need to decide when to give notice to your current employer, and whether to leave before you have another role or wait until you have the next role. To make this decision, you will need to consider the financial consequences.
5. Seek support and advice from other professionals: Changing careers can be a challenging venture, so seek support and advice from other people who have gone through it. Ask advice from career counsellors or recruitment specialists on how to transition to a new career.
6. Go back to study if needed: Quite often with a career change, further study will be required to gain the necessary qualifications for the role. Undertaking study is one of the best ways to guarantee a successful career change, learning new skills and helping with professional development. You can study part time while staying in the same career  or leave your current role and concentrate on studying full time. TAFE is an excellent education option for upskilling, reskilling or kickstarting a new career. When returning to study, TAFE offers a diverse range of pathways and courses, including those for mature age students. There are a number of online courses available if time is limited and some courses that can be taken on campus after hours for those still working. Free TAFE courses offer the chance to study without the tuition fees, with over 40 free courses on offer. Apprenticeships and traineeships are a great way to access real hands-on training and provide a gateway to a new career. Studying for a certificate or diploma at TAFE offers over 200 options that provide specialised skills in a variety of industries.

Signs it is time for a career change

If you are not sure if you want a career change, there are signs to look out for that may identify it is time to consider it.

• You feel apathetic and complacent: When you go to work and feel apathetic and complacent, it is a sign of dissatisfaction and disinterest in the role. You may have mentally checked out and feel burnt out. If this feeling is short lived and due to other issues, it may not mean you need to change careers. However, if it is intrinsically how you feel every day, it is time to start considering a new vocation.
• You dread going to work: If you have started dreading going to work every day, and not just the odd day, it is time for a change. It is normal to not be excited about work on the odd day, but more than that is a sign your job is unsatisfying, and time to think about another career aligns with your passions.
• You don't feel like you are making an impact: If you are doing the same thing day in day out without making any impact, it may be time for a change. Sometimes this can be a sign you are feeling undervalued and your skills are not being put to good use. You may feel like you are just working on autopilot and there is no real impact on the people around you or the role.
• Your job is affecting your personal life: When someone is stressed, suffering from headaches and mentally exhausted at home, it is a sign the job may be impacting personal lifestyle and happiness. Mental fatigue and dissatisfaction can be expressed through physical health. It may  display itself in anger or depression as well. Although difficulties will occur with anything challenging, a career should not affect your personal life in a way that causes mental or physical harm, so it is important to recognise the potential need for a change.
• Even salary doesn't compensate for dissatisfaction: Sometimes a good salary is not enough to compensate for the dissatisfaction of the career. Financial compensation is not always a reason to stay in a role and often people will pursue other careers that pay less but offer more fulfilment.

If you feel like a career change, statistics show you are not alone. Changing careers is a big move but one that many people do because they have become dissatisfied with their current role. In this article we have explained why people change careers, signs you might be ready to pursue something different, and how to go about a career change to ensure a smooth transition. For further information, contact the experts in careers and courses at TAFE Gippsland.