#130 Is a dream job possible, even when you close the door on a dream job?

Another Door Stories

"I just started to ask myself, as many people do ‘Do I want to do this for another 20 years? Is there something else?’. I got curious, maybe there are some other doors I want to look through and maybe it's time to shut this door and find out."

Does a dream job really exist? We’re joined by the seasoned journalist and career coach Rachel Schofield to talk about ‘dream jobs’. We explore the themes of unearthing core passions, overcoming imposter syndrome, and finding stability amidst the chaos of change. And what if you have, on paper, a dream job, but have a feeling there might be something else you want to do?

Rachel shares her own story from a 20-year career at the BBC to creating a new career in coaching and training, offering insights and practical advice for anyone starting a new career chapter. Listen to rediscover joy in your work and the permission to experiment and try new things.

“Maybe I'll go up to that tree house and see what's behind that door. Just go and take tiny little steps of experimentation. In career terms that might mean, I've often thought I'd like to do X. So let me go and talk to someone who does it. I've often thought it would be fun to be a graphic designer. So between now and Christmas, I'm going to do a weekly evening class at my local further education college. I don't have to be ready to upend my whole world. I'm just going to go and play.”

Here are the highlights:

04:15 Doubts arose about a lifelong TV news presenting career.

07:23 Career transitions evoke mixed emotions and considerations.

12:00 Transitioned from news to coaching; misses presenting.

18:56 Repurpose experience; embrace new directions confidently.

20:54 Juggling journalism, coaching and presentation training.

25:32 Embrace challenges; expertise grows through experience.

31:38 Coffee chat led to a book opportunity.

34:07 Social media fosters envy; practice graciousness instead.

36:45 Being last doesn't necessarily mean you failed.

Rachel Schofield’s Another Door go-tos

The things that helped Rachel navigate change.

Book: ‘Big Magic’ by Elizabeth Gilbert.

Music: ‘Closer to Fine’ by the Indigo Girls.

The one piece of advice:

"When you're thinking about particularly a career shift...really lean into experimentation. So rather than thinking you need to sit there and figure it all out...just think maybe I'll just knock on that blue door over there. Maybe I'll just look in that little tiny door that looks like a fairy door at the bottom of the tree."

About Rachel Schofield

Rachel Schofield is a career coach, author, facilitator and speaker. Before making her very own career pivot, Rachel reported and presented for the BBC for over twenty years. Her book "The Career Change Guide: Five Steps to Finding Your Dream Job" was published by Penguin in 2023. She works with private clients and also corporate workshops and coaching groups within women's leadership programmes for the brilliant DEI consultancy, Shape Talent.

Find out more: https://rachelschofield.co.uk/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reworkyourlife/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelschofield/

About your host Eleanor Tweddell

Eleanor supports individuals, teams and organisations through change. Whether it’s 121 coaching or large scale organisational change through communications and training. Eleanor’s work centres around how we, as humans, work through change, embracing the messy bits, the role of playing, with the aim to see opportunity. “Too often we get stuck in the change happening to us, when just through that next door is an exciting next chapter.”

Eleanor is the founder of Another Door, and Get-Recommended.com and the author of Why losing your job could be the best thing that ever happened to you.

Instagram:instagram/anotherdooruk

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleanor-tweddell/

Website: eleanortweddell.com

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