I studied history at university. However, during my studies, I became interested in climate change and the environment. My motivation changed a lot during that time. Suddenly, I no longer wanted to be a renowned scientist, but rather to do something that made sense to me. In addition to changing my mindset, I also realized that I would have broader employment opportunities if I became interested in sustainability. Today, I am a manager for regional innovation strategy.
My retraining process was largely through practical experience. For example, I got a part-time job at a zero-waste café, which then sparked my interest in the company that ran it, and so on. At the same time, this experience introduced me to a new community of inspiring people from whom I gained further knowledge and skills. I took advantage of many courses and free online seminars that were subsidized by the state. This gave me much greater flexibility in the job market and opened many new doors.
I think people fixate on the idea that they need to earn a lot of money to make a living. Therefore, they do not consider that they could have a new job in a completely different field, which they might enjoy more and find more meaningful. It is difficult to get off the train once it is moving, but when you realize what you want to do, there are many ways to achieve your goal. Many people perceive this as having to leave their job, shutting themselves away somewhere and retraining, but that’s not the case. It can also be a gradual change, as it was in my case.