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The Right Way to Make a Big Career Transition

• Utkarsh Amitabh

First think about the why, the what, and the when.

Career transitions are like onions. They’re complex and there is usually a lot more to them than we see on the surface. Whether you are pursuing a passion or side hustle, confused about quitting your job for a new one, or just looking for a change, know that it’s not a straightforward decision. It requires careful planning and thinking through the why, the what, and the when.

• Why do you want to change? Is it the culture of the organization, the people you work with, or is something else bogging you down? It is critical to be radically honest with yourself and think things through.
• What do you want to do? Conduct a self-assessment. It is impossible to know where you are going if you don’t know where you are. Then write down the steps you will need to take that will get you closer to your goals and the problems that you might encounter in doing that.
• When will the change happen? Be realistic about the time it can take. Some transitions are unlikely in the short-term. Don’t set yourself up for failure by setting unrealistic goals in unrealistic timeframes.

When Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was deciding when to quit his well-paying hedge fund job, he went to his boss and told him that he was thinking of selling books online. He had already been talking to him about the power of the internet, but for the first time, he was seriously considering quitting to become an entrepreneur. His boss was startled to hear that someone would actually leave a coveted investing job to work on something with so many unknowns. After all, aren’t good investors experts in evaluating risk?

• Utkarsh Amitabh  is the founder of  Network Capital,  one of the world’s largest career intelligence communities that serves as a partner to Government of India’s Atal Innovation Mission. Utkarsh graduated with an MBA from INSEAD Business School. He is a TED speaker, Chevening Fellow at University of Oxford and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper who represented the community at the Annual Meeting in Davos. He previously worked at  Microsoft and helped build India’s first smart village which was recognized in the Prime Minister’s Book of Pioneering Innovations. His new book  The Seductive Illusion of Hard Work   has gone on to become a global best-seller. He also writes for  Mint ,  Economic Times , and  World Economic Forum .

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How To Change Career When You've No Idea What To Do Next

Newly Updated

Image by Israel Sundseth

Stuck in a job that isn't you? Ready for a career change, but have no idea what else you could do – or where to start? Drawing on his own story, Richard explains how by ditching the conventional career rules, you'll radically increase your chances of finding something you love.

It was one of the most difficult periods of my life.

On the surface, I had a good job in a well-known company. I'd been promoted several times. I had a mortgage, I was travelling with work and had great prospects ahead of me.

Inside though, I was deeply unfulfilled. I wasn't enjoying my work, I felt like I wasn't using my full potential, and I longed to wake up feeling like my work was making a difference – to someone or something.

Yet, I didn't have a clue what else I could do.

Indeed I'd struggled on and off for years to figure out a way to change, but without making progress.

Eventually, as you'll read below, I came out the other side. But it wasn't an easy journey.

These are the lessons I learnt along the way.

What you need to know

If you're stuck in your career change, there are three main challenges – or paradoxes – that you're going to come up against.

1. It's you that wants to make a change, but it's also you that's your biggest obstacle

In the depths of my despair about my job, there were signals from all around me that I wasn't in the right place: I was embarrassed to talk about my work with others at parties; I couldn't imagine doing my boss's job (nor the one her boss had); and I was petrified that I'd reach 60 or 70 and not feel proud of the work I'd done in my life.

On a day-to-day basis, I just felt numb – uninspired by the meaningless work I was doing, and seemingly stuck in a Groundhog-Day reality of waking up to the same story every morning.

Yet, at the same time, I had no idea what else I wanted to do (or if I did, no sense of whether those ideas were feasible) – and no idea where to start.

Looking back, I now realise something I didn't at the time – that I was blinkered in my view of the world of work. All I knew was the industry I was in. I had surface-level visibility of some other careers, but there were so many fields and roles that were completely off my radar screen.

I was also scared of taking a cut in salary, scared of what my family and friends would think, and scared of losing the status I'd worked so hard to achieve.

These weren't obstacles in the outside world; they were obstacles in me. It was me – my lack of knowledge and my fears – that was most holding me back.

Does this also hold true for you?

2. You can't figure it out by figuring it out

I was a knowledge worker: paid to think, to solve problems, and to interact with others.

Why then, couldn't I figure what else I wanted to do?

My initial approach was to come home from work, wrap myself in my bedding, and go round and round in circles in my head analysing what else could I do.

I didn't come up with answers.

I also read every single career change book I could get my hands on, scoured the internet for guidance and did numerous profiling tests.

But still no clarity.

The simple reality is that if the solution to your career change lay in more analysis – in making more lists, reading more books, taking more psychometric tests, or simply figuring it all out in your head – you'd have found it by now.

3. You won't find a job by looking for one

When I started to look for something different, recruitment consultants were my natural first port of call.

They talked excitedly to me about roles with competitors or other positions in smaller organisations.

But it all just left me cold.

It was more of the same. I wanted to do something radically different and they couldn't help.

You may have spent hours trawling through job sites or job alerts, and just made yourself more miserable by seeing again and again that you don't have the experience or skills that are being asked for. Or you may have had similar experiences to mine with recruitment consultants. Or you may have sent off your CV / résumé for jobs in different fields, thinking you might at least get an initial interview. But nothing. 

These are all functions of a traditional job market that isn't designed for career changers.

Through no fault of your own, you're simply not going to stack up against other people with experience and skills in the different field you're interested in.

What you need to do

There are solutions to each paradox, but they're likely not what you think they are (they weren't initially for me).

1. Do it with others, not alone

"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." – Helen Keller .

The biggest challenge I faced in my career change was inertia. I wanted to change, but I didn't want to risk the security of the job I had.

I was comfortably uncomfortable.

I would have bursts of energy to do something about my career, followed by periods where I'd get swept back into 'life', surfacing weeks or months later and realising nothing had changed.

I only really started to make progress when I deliberately put others around me.

I started seeking out others in my company who also wanted to escape; I enrolled not one, but two career coaches; and I started to meet and hang out with different types of people (one of whom was to end up leading me to a job I loved – see more below).

The net effect was different ideas, different connections, and accountability – all of which, finally, led to forward movement.

Think of your career change as an expedition, not a day-trip.

If you were climbing to the base camp of Mount Everest, it's possible you could do it by yourself, but it's highly likely you'd want to go with others – peers, a guide, a support team. It makes the journey safer, faster and, heck, a lot more fun.

2. Act it out, don't figure it out

"Ideas occur when dissimilar universes collide." – Seth Godin.

In my career-change journey, it took me four and a half years to get out of a career that wasn't right for me.

For most of that time, I was trapped in analysis paralysis.

As the coach I worked with at the time said, "Richard, it's like you're standing in a forest and you have a number of tracks in front of you. But you're paralysed because you don't want to make a mistake. And the challenge is: if you don't take any of the paths, you're never going to get out of the forest. If you take one of them, it may not be the right track initially, but you can course-correct."

When I started to act rather than analyse, things started to change.

The following are some of the things that I did.

I enrolled in a part-time journalism course. I loved it, but it quickly became clear that it wasn't for me as a career.

I shadowed my friend who worked in PR for half a day. I did the same with a friend who worked as a Japanese yen bond trader in an investment bank. Both fascinating worlds, but neither appealed.

Notice what I was doing, though.

As Seth Godin talks about, I was stepping into different worlds – sparking ideas and, at the same time, crossing off possibilities, rather than leaving them as open questions in my mind.

I was also testing ideas in a way that meant that I didn't need to leave my day job before I'd figured out what I really wanted to do ( see more in our lean career change approach  on how to do this).

Finally, thanks to an introduction made by my future sister-in-law, Sarah, I walked into the offices of a social start-up – and I knew in a matter of minutes I'd found something that was totally me.

Had I just seen the organisation's website or a job ad in a newspaper, I might never have discovered the connection I had with them. But it was made real by meeting the team, seeing the environment and getting a feel for the energy of the place.

In short, action precedes clarity, not the other way round.

3. Look for people, not for jobs

"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're really looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.

Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.

Focus instead on connecting with people.

The power of being in front of people is that you can present the whole you – something a CV or résumé simply can't do.

I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one, or having phone calls.

So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.

It took time, there were many 'dead ends', but ultimately it led me to a role in a field I didn't previously even know existed.

More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.

I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But what I did have was a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.

I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organisation. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work, which led to an interview for a full-time job.

Oh, and if you're curious to know, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze, I stumbled my way through the questions, and I left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might had been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't and, because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built, I still got the job.

Remember: people first, jobs second.

What your next steps should be

"To know and not to do is not yet to know." – Buddhist proverb.

Making a career change isn't easy – otherwise everyone would be doing it.

But it is possible.

There are hundreds of stories here in our success stories section and elsewhere that show it is.

And remember, this isn't just about your career; it's about your life.

It's about how you feel every morning; it's about how that rubs off on your health and your relationships; and, ultimately, it's about the impact that you can make on the world through being alive in what you do.

The stakes are high.

But they're higher still if you don't do anything about it.

So, for goodness sake, don't just read this article. Do something because of it. Please.

And let me know how you get on.

What have you learned? What actions are you going to take? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Richard Alderson is the founder of Careershifters. Disillusioned with corporate life, Richard quit his job in search of something more meaningful. He's since gone on to found / co-found multiple social businesses in India and the UK.

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Interview Questions

Comprehensive Interview Guide: 60+ Professions Explored in Detail

Why Career Change? Interview Question and Answers

By Biron Clark

Published: November 15, 2023

Any time you look to make a career change, you’ll face the interview question “Why are you changing careers?” And if you aren’t prepared to answer, it can result in job rejections and potential failure in your job search.

As a former recruiter , I’m going to share:

• How to answer the “Why career change?” interview question (and why employers ask this)
• 9 good reasons for a career change
• 4 word-for-word sample interview answers to why you want a new career
• Mistakes to avoid when answering career change interview questions

Why Employers Ask This Interview Question

Employers ask interview questions about why you’re making a career change because they want to understand your career goals. In a job interview, they aren’t just looking to see if you can perform their job well; they want to know if you’re likely to stay long-term and enjoy the job. And the more you can show them that you have solid, well-thought-out reasons for changing careers, the more comfortable they’ll be in hiring you. If you seem unsure, they’re less likely to hire you into their organization. They also want to make sure you’ve researched and taken time to understand this new career/industry you’re looking to join. They aren’t going to hire you if you don’t seem like you understand the work and challenges that you’ll face.

Finally, they’re hoping to get a sense of whether you performed well in your past career or not. If you tell an employer, “I’m looking to switch into a different career because I’ve been getting poor performance reviews in my current job,” they’ll worry that you may struggle to perform well in their job, too.

So as you answer this question, it’s best to focus on the favorable aspects you hope to gain in your next role, and don’t talk too much about the negatives of your past industry. The only exception is if your industry is struggling as a whole and facing layoffs, reduced opportunities, etc. You’ll see this in the example answers coming up.

Let’s look at how to answer this question now…

How to Answer “Why Career Change?” in a Job Interview

When you face interview questions like, “Why are you looking to change careers?” you should address the question head-on with one or two clear reasons. Avoid badmouthing your current job, employer, or industry, and instead, focus on what you hope to gain in your next career path. You can talk about how it’s more in-line with what you’re passionate about or interested in, how you feel it’s a better industry for future growth and job security, or how you’ve always wanted to be a part of this industry and finally feel it’s the right time to change careers now. Also, highlight any ways in which your skills and experience from previous jobs will be relevant to the new career you’re pursuing.

If you can point out how your past work will help you succeed in this new job, it’ll make the interviewer feel better about offering you the position. And it’ll also explain why you want to change to this new career or job.

Also, it’s best if you point out one specific career you’re pursuing now in your job search. If you tell the interviewer that you’re looking at five different new careers, it’s going to cast doubt about whether you know what you want.

I’ll discuss this more in the “mistakes” section later in this article.

To recap, there isn’t one “right” answer here but you need to be direct and head-on. Avoid badmouthing, and stay positive in your answer.

Don’t worry if you’re still not sure what to say for why you’re changing careers. Coming up, I’ll give you sample reasons for why you want to change career, and word-for-word interview answer examples.

Why Make a Career Change? 9 Good Reasons

• More opportunities for long-term career growth and higher pay.
• Personal interest/passion in an area.
• Make a bigger social or community impact.
• Uncertainty about the long-term prospects of your current industry. (This isn’t considered badmouthing if you simply share your unemotional observations about the industry in general.)
• Seeking new challenges and personal growth.
• Taking a job that is better suited to your skills, experience, and/or personality.
• Following colleagues from a previous company who have made a successful career change and have recommended this new job/career to you.
• Higher salary potential. (It’s best to combine this with another reason above.)
• Starting a new career that’s more aligned with your idea of your “dream job.”

4 Example Answers to “Why Are You Changing Careers?”

Example answer 1:.

I want to change my career path for future growth potential and new challenges. I feel my skills and experience will transfer well into this new career. For example, I saw your job description mentions communication with clients and the ability to lead projects, which were key parts of my last job. And overall, I’ve received career advice from a few colleagues who have successfully made this same career change and recommended it as a way to grow, earn more in their career, and find new challenges.

This is a great answer to “Why make a career change?” for a few reasons. You’re pointing out your relevant skills and experience. You’re mentioning a few colleagues who have successfully made this change, which will put the hiring manager’s mind at ease about whether you’ll “work out” in this new career. And you’re explaining your personal reasons for wanting this new career path… such as higher potential for career growth and earnings.

This is a solid interview answer to why you are looking to change careers. Let’s look at more examples.

Example Answer 2:

My current industry is struggling and I feel this industry has many overlaps with my current industry and role, so I’ll be able to use my skills quickly to contribute, rather than having to start over and learn from scratch. For example, in my current role, I manage projects for four to five large clients at a time and use many of the skills listed on your job posting, like leading teams, leading meetings, and interacting with clients to provide progress reports and updates. So I see this as a way to shift into a healthier, more stable industry while also keeping my relevant skills and being able to hit the ground running in my next position.

Notice how this answer is positive and direct.  It also shows how you’ll be able to perform well for this employer based on your previous work experience. All of these factors make this a good answer that will impress the typical company.

Example Answer 3:

I’m looking to change careers to join a company that’s more aligned with my personal interest and passion for community service. I want to make a positive impact, not just help a company generate profits, and I love that your company has a focus on social impact and responsibility to the community. I read about this in detail on your website and a few of your latest press releases and it’s one of the main reasons I wanted to apply for the position .

Example Answer 4:

Two colleagues from my previous company changed from the finance industry to the tech industry and have said they’ve found the work to be more exciting and fulfilling. They’ve convinced me that it’s a worthwhile career move, and since I have similar interests and motivation to those two colleagues, I’m confident I’ll enjoy working for a company in tech. That’s the entire focus of my job search now, and I’m not applying to any finance companies. I’m not unhappy in finance; I just feel tech would be more exciting and more aligned with my passions.

Mistakes to Avoid in Your Answer

All of the above answers will impress an interviewer and successfully answer those tough questions about why you’re looking to change careers. There are a couple of mistakes to always avoid, though, so let’s go over each mistake now. First, always address the question head-on. The interviewer will feel uncomfortable offering you the position if you seem to be dodging this question, unprepared to answer, or uncomfortable answering. Practice and prepare a direct answer ahead of time. Don’t ever go into the interview unprepared or unsure how you’ll answer this question because you’re not likely to come up with a great answer on the spot.

Next, don’t sound unsure of your decision to leave your previous industry and job. You need to sell yourself by sounding confident in your choice. You can re-read the end of the fourth example answer above to see how to do this. In the second half of that answer, you’re showing the interviewer that your entire focus is on joining this new industry, and you have no hesitations about your decision.

Employers don’t want to hire someone who may change their mind after three months and decide to search for another position. So you need to sound less risky, and you do this by showing that you’re sure about your decision to search for a new career.

Finally, as mentioned earlier, never badmouth in your job interview. Always sound positive and focus on what you’ll gain in this next job and career.

Even if an interviewer asks you, “Why do you want to leave your current job?” it’s not an invitation to badmouth.

Conclusion: Answering Why You’re Changing Careers

Answering questions about why you’re changing careers doesn’t need to be stressful. Practice ahead of time, stay positive, and address the question directly. Show employers that you have strong reasons for making a career change and you’ll get more job offers .

And don’t apologize for wanting to make a change! It’s not bad to be targeting a new direction in your job search. You simply need to be ready to confidently answer the interview questions that you’ll face on this topic, because employers will ask. Your interviewer may have even changed careers in the past (you can research them on LinkedIn to see if this is the case).

They’re not asking to trick you or trap you; they just want to know your motivations and reasons.

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

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Essays About Change: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

If you are writing essays about change, see below our best essay examples and writing prompts to help expand your horizon on this topic.

The only thing constant is change. It could be good or bad. It could be short-term or have a lasting impact. The best we can do is to ride on this inevitable and never-ending cycle of change and try coming out of it still standing, thriving, and smiling. This ability to cope with change is called resilience. 

However, some changes – such as the loss of a loved one or a livelihood — are too overwhelming to deal with that some fall into trauma and depression, in which case psychological support is highly encouraged. Read on to see our round-up of rich, well-written essays about change, and a list of helpful prompts follows to help you start your essay. 

1. “The Psychology Of Dealing With Change: How To Become Resilient” by Kathleen Smith

2. how prison changes people by christian jarrett, 3. six ways the workplace will change in the next 10 years by jordan turner, 4. “social movements for good: what they are and how to lead them” by derrick feldman, 5. “the right way to make a big career transition” by utkarsh amitabh, 1. changing your lifestyle for the better, 2. be the change the world needs, 3. adapting to life-changing events, 4. addressing climate change, 5. how did technology change our daily lives, 6. people who changed the world, 7. if you could change the world, 8. dealing with resistance to change, 9. coming-of-age novels, 10. changing your eating habits.

“If you can learn to cope with change, you’ll lower your risk for anxiety and depression. Your relationships will flourish, and your body will feel healthier. But if you can’t cope with change, only a minor amount of stress can make you feel overwhelmed by life. You might also struggle to set and meet the goals you have for yourself.”

Instead of fixating on events and people over which we do not have the power to control, we should focus on ourselves and how we can embrace change without fear. Some tips in this essay include practicing self-care, being in the present, and focusing on your priorities, such as health and well-being. 

Check out these essays about being grateful and essays about heroes .

“Ultimately, society may be confronted with a choice. We can punish offenders more severely and risk changing them for the worse, or we can design sentencing rules and prisons in a way that helps offenders rehabilitate and change for the better.”

In an environment where you are forced to follow the rules to the letter and worry about your safety and privacy daily, prisoners could develop a kind of “perpetual paranoia” or “emotional numbing” and deteriorate cognitive abilities. The essay suggests a rethink in how we deal with law-breakers to encourage reform rather than punish and risk repeat offenses.

Check out these essays about police brutality and essays about assessment .

“As technology closes the divide between geographically separate people, it introduces cracks in relationships and cultures. The remote distribution of work means that many employees will not build the same social relationships in the workplace, leading to issues of disengagement and loneliness.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has already disrupted our way of work in our new normal, but more changes are yet to unfold. This essay looks into the future of work where responsibilities and demands will see a sea change; machines will be co-workers; and the best employee is defined by digital skills, not years of experience.

You might also like these essays about cinema and essays about jealousy .

“Social movements for good establish a mass platform of action for a population, which helps inform and cultivate the awareness necessary to help prevent an issue from affecting more people. True social movements for good have the power to generate awareness that produces tangible results, helping the general population live longer, more productive, happier lives.”

A social movement for good aims to bring social justice to an aggrieved community by calling for tangible support and resources. To accelerate a movement’s momentum, an effective leader must possess certain qualities in this essay.

“There were so many questions running through my head during this time. Why should I quit to make this my full-time job? Is this what I really want? When should I quit? Poet Mary Oliver’s words kept ringing in my head: ‘What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?’”

Deciding on a career change is more complex than deciding whether you want to do something different. A career shift entails lifestyle, mindset, and motivation changes, each of which has to be carefully reassessed and prepared for. This essay guides you in deciding when or why it is right to leave your job.

10 Interesting Writing Prompts on Essays About Change

Below are thought-stimulating prompts to help with your essay: 

Committing to regular exercise or getting to bed earlier may be easier said than done. Moreover, the determination that was burning at the start of your lifestyle change journey may wane in the latter part when things get tough. So, for your essay, provide practical tips from wellness experts and your own experience on how to sustain a routine toward a better lifestyle. You can split your essay into sections for each health and wellness tip you recommend.

This is the gist of the famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi: “be the change you wish to see in the world.” Unfortunately, many of us get frustrated over people refusing to change but fail to see how this change should start with our perception and action. In this essay, write about what an individual can do to focus more on self-improvement and development. 

Have you ever faced a situation where you had to adapt to a drastic change? It could be moving to a different city or school or dealing with losing a loved one. Share your experience and list the traits and practices that helped you through this challenging phase. You may also research what psychologists recommend people to do to keep from falling into depression or developing anxiety. 

To offer a unique highlight in your essay, tackle what your school or community is doing to fight global warming. Interview city councilors and mayors and learn about ongoing initiatives to keep the city clean and green. So this essay could help entice others in your community to work together and volunteer in initiatives to slow climate change.

List down the advantages and disadvantages technology has presented in your life. For example, seeking clarification from teachers about an assignment has been made easier with the many communication channels available. However, technology has also enabled a work-at-home or distance learning arrangement that is causing burnout in many households. 

Feature a person who has revolutionized the world. It could be a scientist, artist, activist, writer, economist, athlete, etc. Preferably, it is someone you idolize, so you do not have to start from scratch in your research. So first, provide a short profile of this person to show his life and career background. Then, write about their ultimate contribution to society and how this continues to benefit or inspire many. 

If there’s one thing you could change in this world, what would it be? This sounds like a question you’d hear in pageants, but it could be a creative way to lay down your life advocacy. So, explain why this is where you want to see change and how this change can improve others’ lives.

Resistance to change is most common when companies modernize, and the dinosaurs in the office refuse to learn new digital platforms or systems. Write about what you think leaders and human resource units should do to help employees cope with changes in the new normal.

A coming-of-age novel tells stories of protagonists who grow up and undergo character transformation. From being eaten up by their fears, the main heroes become braver and better at confronting a world that once intimidated them. For this prompt, share your favorite coming-of-age novel and narrate the changes in the hero’s qualities and beliefs. 

Delivering fast food has become so easy that, for many, it has become a way of life, making it an enormous challenge to replace this practice with healthy eating habits. So, research and write about nutritionists’ tips on creating a lifestyle and environment conducive to healthy eating habits.

If you’re still stuck picking an essay topic, check out our guide on how to write essays about depression . For more ideas, you can check out our general resource of essay writing topics .

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113 Career Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Choosing a career path is a significant decision that can shape our lives. Whether you are a high school student exploring your options or a working professional considering a career change, writing a career essay can be a valuable exercise in self-reflection and goal-setting. To help you get started, here are 113 career essay topic ideas and examples that can inspire your writing:

Why I chose my current career path.

The influence of my family on my career choices.

Exploring unconventional career options.

The impact of technology on the job market.

The role of internships in career development.

How to navigate a successful career in a competitive industry.

Strategies for finding work-life balance in a demanding career.

The importance of professional networking for career growth.

Challenges faced by women in male-dominated industries.

The role of education in career success.

The pros and cons of freelance work.

How to turn a hobby into a career.

The future of remote work and its implications for careers.

The impact of automation on job opportunities.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the nonprofit sector.

The role of mentors in career development.

The importance of continuous learning in a rapidly changing world.

Exploring careers in the healthcare industry.

The challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.

The impact of globalization on career opportunities.

The role of personal branding in career advancement.

The benefits of cross-cultural work experience.

The role of emotional intelligence in career success.

Exploring careers in the creative arts.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the military.

The impact of social media on career opportunities.

The importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

The benefits of pursuing a career in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM).

The challenges and rewards of a career in education.

The role of leadership skills in career advancement.

The impact of climate change on future career opportunities.

Exploring careers in the hospitality industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the environmental sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in law enforcement.

The role of communication skills in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job displacement.

The importance of financial literacy in career planning.

Exploring careers in the fashion industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in public service.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the entertainment industry.

The role of resilience in overcoming career setbacks.

The impact of social entrepreneurship on career options.

The importance of work culture in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the sports industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the technology sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in the aviation industry.

The role of adaptability in navigating a changing career landscape.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job creation.

The importance of work-life integration in career fulfillment.

Exploring careers in the tourism industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in the financial sector.

The challenges and rewards of a career in healthcare administration.

The role of organizational skills in career success.

The impact of online learning on career development.

The importance of workplace diversity for innovation.

Exploring careers in the film industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in engineering.

The challenges and rewards of a career in social work.

The role of negotiation skills in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on employee well-being.

The importance of emotional well-being in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the gaming industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in marketing.

The challenges and rewards of a career in nonprofit management.

The role of time management in career success.

The impact of social media on personal branding.

The importance of cultural intelligence in global careers.

Exploring careers in the culinary industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in journalism.

The challenges and rewards of a career in architecture.

The role of problem-solving skills in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on team collaboration.

The importance of work-life harmony in career fulfillment.

Exploring careers in the music industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in psychology.

The challenges and rewards of a career in event planning.

The role of decision-making skills in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job satisfaction.

The importance of mentorship in career development.

Exploring careers in the automotive industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in entrepreneurship.

The challenges and rewards of a career in graphic design.

The role of creativity in career advancement.

The impact of remote work on organizational culture.

The importance of work-life boundaries in career satisfaction.

Exploring careers in the publishing industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in human resources.

The challenges and rewards of a career in interior design.

The role of teamwork in career success.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job security.

The importance of self-reflection in career planning.

Exploring careers in the education technology industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in healthcare research.

The challenges and rewards of a career in social media management.

The role of adaptability in overcoming career obstacles.

The impact of remote work on employee engagement.

The importance of work-life integration in career success.

Exploring careers in the renewable energy sector.

The benefits of pursuing a career in data analytics.

The challenges and rewards of a career in public relations.

The role of critical thinking skills in career advancement.

The impact of artificial intelligence on job recruitment.

The importance of lifelong learning in career growth.

Exploring careers in the e-commerce industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in healthcare policy.

The challenges and rewards of a career in software development.

The role of adaptability in navigating a changing job market.

The impact of remote work on work-life balance.

The importance of personal development in career success.

Exploring careers in the renewable energy industry.

The benefits of pursuing a career in user experience design.

The challenges and rewards of a career in cybersecurity.

The role of emotional intelligence in career advancement.

These 113 career essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of industries, skills, and challenges. Whether you are passionate about a particular field or looking for inspiration, these topics can help you explore various aspects of careers and find your own unique path. Remember, writing a career essay is not only about showcasing your knowledge and skills but also about understanding yourself and the world of work. Good luck on your writing journey!

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• MBA>Application Tips

MBA Essay Writing Tip #11: Explaining Career Transitions

April 16, 2021 :: Admissionado Team

Ever wonder how to write about a career transition?

LOADS of people do. It’s a tricky situation in real life, and that makes it even harder to write about. You’ll want to come off as confident and determined, not apologetic or insecure.

Take this example: “Contemplating my GameSoft experience, I realized that my role dealt principally with management. I wanted to shift towards the business side to work for a gaming company with more room for product development. As a result, I now work for General Electric’s corporate aid and strategy division, which acts as an in-house consulting and financial advisory for the company. Although it is not in the gaming industry, I am learning about the complex decisions that a Fortune 500 company, including MBA admissions consulting companies , has to make, a crucial skill to possess when I formulate corporate strategies for the gaming company I work for in the future.”

Why doesn’t this work? First, the link between Gamesoft and General Electric is a weak one at best. We fail to see a clear reason for her career switch, right? Because of this, the writer uses too many words, diluting the impact of her essay while also choosing an overly apologetic tone, which makes her seem lacking in confidence.

Instead, the writer needs to convince us that this career move was a well-thought step in her overall plan. The best way to achieve this is to be punchier, not mention the downside (it’s not in the gaming industry), and to showcase continuity between what she learned at her previous job and the skills she’s now acquiring.

This is what she came up with: “While I learned management at Gamesoft, I wanted to focus on product development. Considering strategy-focused roles so I could get a taste for the complexity and intricacy of improving a company, I now work in General Electric’s corporate strategy division, an in-house consulting and financial advisory team. I am learning about capital allocation, operating expense reduction, and expansion strategies, all crucial decisions I’ll make when I lead the gaming company of the future.”

Why is this better? First, she shows a clear and compelling reason for her career switch: she learned management at her first job but needed to learn new skills for her long-term goal. Then she highlighted those skills without ever mentioning the downside (she left the gaming industry). Finally, she used 25% fewer words, delivering punchier phrasing and a direct message that’s confident and compelling.

That’s a winning career-change essay if we’ve ever seen one!

Like this post? Check out more of our MBA Essay Writing Guide Tips!

• Tip #12: Researching Your Dream School
• Tip #13: Writing On A Deadline
• Tip #14: Avoiding Application Fatigue

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Building Your Brand During a Career Transition

By  Adriana Bankston

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What do you want people to know you for? Surprisingly, this is not an easy question to answer. It depends on your personal goals and motivations -- and it may not be your actual job. And while I am not an expert in this topic, I would like to share my personal perspective and advice from my own experiences.

If you are an academic scientist in training and want to become a principal investigator, your main goals are, of course, for people in your particular research field to know you for your scientific work -- typically through publications and presentations at conferences. Therefore, it makes sense that you would highlight those particular accomplishments as your brand.

But if you are currently a graduate student or postdoc and want to pursue a nonacademic career, you are likely to invest a great deal of time on building the skills and experiences you will need to transition out of academe. This may include volunteering with relevant organizations, writing blog posts or other statements about issues of importance to you, and giving talks or participating in workshops or panels in your field of interest.

Over time, those experiences, which you may at first only do on the side, may become the body of work that you can use to transition out of academe. I volunteered with several organizations over the years, mainly because I wanted to help contribute to their mission and goals. Through these experiences, I also learned a lot of skills that are useful for me today.

As expected, my goals eventually aligned best with one particular organization, so I became more deeply involved with it. That experience eventually developed into my career passion, which I hadn’t expected to happen. It also gave me a sense of belonging, which is an important thing to have when you are in the uncertain territory of career transitions.

While contemplating the idea of becoming a PI, I didn’t realize that the experiences I was building on the side could actually be a way for me to transition into another career path. I also learned that the things we do on a volunteer basis are likely things that we truly value and think are important, because we don’t do them for the money. If we are willing to invest a great deal of time and energy into something other than our own work, that particular activity is something that has been or will now become a part of who we are. And it is, in fact, at the core of what we actually truly are.

Labeling Yourself by Your Passions

Many people, especially in academe, may consider such “extra” activities as necessary for their CV in order to progress in their careers. But for others, those activities may be the way to pursue other directions. How do you know, however, which activities may lead to your desired career path? I advise you to look at whether all of your activities have a common thread, which they did in my case.

Most of my volunteering activities, especially during my postdoctoral years, revolved around helping trainees succeed. That was not something I had planned on using for my actual career transition, but it was important for me to get involved in this cause, and I found over time that I greatly enjoyed it. But I always performed such activities on the side of my job as a postdoc.

Over the years, I have also volunteered, and still continue to be involved with, several organizations with the same goal of helping trainees. For trainees who have similarly volunteered with multiple organizations, it’s important to ask yourself which one of these you want to be known for and put forth as your brand. And how do you decide what that brand should be?

Personally, as I thought more about my interests and likes, I realized after my postdoc that I was passionate about advocating for junior scientists and wanted to work on improving policies for them. That evolved into a broader interest of gathering data and studying the actual scientific enterprise, which became a fascinating area for me. That is largely my current role as a volunteer policy activist with the nonprofit organization Future of Research .

Once I realized that this was my career goal, I decided to label myself as a policy activist both on my business card and in my online profiles, even though this is only a volunteer position. I wanted people to know that I was passionate about this area, and I wanted them to know me for the policy work I was doing in this position. At the time, that work was largely related to postdoctoral salaries -- this continues to be a topic of great interest to me and something I never imagined I would do when I was working at the bench.

This experience brought up the idea that it’s OK to label yourself based on your volunteering activities if they relate directly to the field you want to move into and the area you want people to know you for. It may be a bit unconventional, especially since, as academics, we are used to labeling ourselves based on how many papers we have in our field of research. But to take myself as an example, since I want to be in science policy, I might list policy papers and blog posts on issues in science on my CV as most relevant to this career direction. And in that way, my volunteering activities, which are now focused on one particular area, have become the portfolio I can use to make the transition into science policy.

So if you are going to transition out of academe, finding your passion in one particular area and cultivating it more intensely is a useful strategy. I’ve found it has been a good way for me to discover what I enjoy doing, what I am good at, what field I might want to go into and even what area of science policy I want to pursue and build my career on.

People often focus on the day-to-day activities of their job and don’t take time to contemplate the bigger picture of where their careers are going. But once in a while, it is a good idea to step back and think about whether you are heading in the direction you want to go. If not, how can you change that and use your current experiences to help you determine what you want to do with your career?

And once you know what you want to do, it is important to keep your image consistent everywhere -- in your papers and talks as well as in your online presence. Particularly with social media, it is tempting these days to share everything that you like or think is interesting, and to some extent, that’s fine if you state that it’s your personal opinion. But it can also make you look like you don’t know what you stand for. So for your professional brand, you should focus on one or a few particular issues that you want people to know you for and try to become an expert in those areas -- which is, in fact, much like being in academe.

Finding your passion and cultivating that direction in particular can help you build your brand in an area where people view you as an expert and with which they associate your name. It is perfectly fine to explore several directions for a while, but once you determine what you want to pursue, you should start to build up your reputation in that field. You will have a higher chance of succeeding in your chosen career field and be able to pursue your area of interest.

If you have ideas of strategies that worked for you in terms of building your brand while transitioning your career, please comment below!

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Examples of Scholarship Essays for the “Career Goals” Question

Emily Wong is a writer at Scholarships360. She’s worked as a social media manager and a content writer at several different startups, where she covered various topics including business, tech, job recruitment, and education. Emily grew up and went to school in the Chicago suburbs, where she studied economics and journalism at Northwestern University.

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Maria Geiger is Director of Content at Scholarships360. She is a former online educational technology instructor and adjunct writing instructor. In addition to education reform, Maria’s interests include viewpoint diversity, blended/flipped learning, digital communication, and integrating media/web tools into the curriculum to better facilitate student engagement. Maria earned both a B.A. and an M.A. in English Literature from Monmouth University, an M. Ed. in Education from Monmouth University, and a Virtual Online Teaching Certificate (VOLT) from the University of Pennsylvania.

Writing an essay is often the trickiest part of the scholarship application, not to mention the most time-consuming. However, the essay section also allows room for creativity and individuality. If you can communicate effectively, you can use the essay portion to stand out from the crowd. Let’s go over some tips for writing, as well as a couple of scholarship essay examples about career goals.

How to write a scholarship essay 

At this point, you’ve probably gained plenty of experience writing papers for school. However, it may still take a couple of tries to nail the scholarship essay. Since scholarship teams often have to get through a lot of applications, it’s important to stand out while staying concise. Here are some simple guidelines for writing scholarship essays.

See also: How to write a winning scholarship essay (with examples!)

Take five minutes to brainstorm

Before you even start your essay, take some time to gather your thoughts. Think about what you’ll want the paper to focus on. Why did you choose to pursue your career path in the first place? Where do you want to be in five years? How would this scholarship help you further your studies and work toward your goals?

Once you’ve jotted down a few ideas, choose one or two to center your essay on. Identifying the focus of your paper, it’ll make it easier to keep your thoughts organized. In turn, it’ll make it easier for the reader to follow.

Related : How to start a scholarship essay (with examples!)

Stay within the word limit

Unlike the four-page essays that you may have written in English class, scholarship essays are often only a paragraph or two. In order to respect the selection committee’s time, be wary of going too far about the specified word count. A general rule of thumb is to stay within 20 words above or below the limit. That may entail a few rounds of edits to get the wording just right.

Stay positive!

Feel free to use part of your essay to talk about your life’s challenges. After all, the selection committee often wants to give the award to a candidate who needs it. However, make sure your anecdote doesn’t devolve into a sob story. If you’re going to bring up hardships you’ve endured, try to balance it by talking about how you’ve overcome them. By demonstrating resilience, you can show readers how you would use the scholarship to succeed in your current situation.

Leave time to proofread

Especially for a short scholarship essay, proofreading can take as little as 5-10 minutes. Still, it can be tempting to just hit “submit” after your first draft. However, being too impulsive can leave your essay riddled with typos and grammatical errors.

Try to avoid unnecessary mistakes by finishing your draft at least 24 hours before the scholarship deadline. That way, you can proofread it with fresh eyes before you submit it.

If you’re struggling to close out your essay, read how to end a scholarship essay in five steps .

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How to write a 100-word “career goals” essay.

When writing a 100-word essay, you’ll have to choose your content carefully. Since space is limited, you’ll want to identify the most important details to include beforehand.

First and foremost, make sure to clearly communicate your current pursuits. Talk about your academic and extracurricular activities related to your career goals. Additionally, it’s important to be specific about what you plan to do in the future. Then, if you have extra room, you can talk about how the scholarship will help you reach your goals.

My name is Alison MacBride, and I’m a sophomore at the University of Illinois. I’m currently pursuing a major in Journalism with a minor in Natural Resource Conservation. After completing my program, I plan to combine my areas of interest to become an environmental journalist.

During high school, I volunteered at an eco-conscious farm, where I learned about how our actions affect the earth. Since then, I’ve been set on raising awareness for the environment. This scholarship would go a long way in helping me finish my degree with the skills I need to investigate and report about critical issues.

Word count: 100

How to write a 250-word “career goals” essay

For the 250-word essay, you can go into more detail. Give the readers some context by talking about how you first got interested in your chosen career. Storytelling can be especially effective in engaging your audience. Try to capture their attention by choosing one or two concrete examples and relaying them vividly.

Additionally, you can spend more time talking about the scholarship and how it’ll make a difference in your studies. Go into more detail about how and why you need the award, but remember to keep it positive! For more help, check out how to write a 250 word essay . 

I first decided that I wanted to pursue a career in environmentalism in early high school. The summer after my freshman year, I joined a volunteer program at an eco-conscious farm in my community. In addition to helping out with the operations, I learned about current environmental issues related to farming and other consumer industries.

After learning about the agricultural industry’s impact on the planet, I was inspired to make a difference. The next year, I started a monthly earth magazine at my high school in which we broke down environmental issues and offered tips on how to be more eco-friendly. When I started college, I founded an on-campus publication with the same mission.

In recent years, I’ve been troubled to see how some media outlets downplay the gravity of issues like climate change and deforestation. I’ve admired reporters who publish trustworthy and comprehensible information about environmental issues, and I aim to follow in their footsteps.

When I entered college, I was initially concerned that I wouldn’t have enough money to finish my degree. Fortunately, I’ve been able to cover most of my tuition using merit scholarships and paychecks from my part-time job on campus. Receiving this scholarship would allow me more time to focus on acing my classes and pursuing environmental advocacy work on campus.

Word count: 261

Final thoughts

Planning is essential in making your “career goals” essay clear and concise. Hopefully, these scholarship essay examples about career goals can be your guide to writing a scholarship-winning essay. Good luck!

Additional resources

Maybe you need to write a longer scholarship essay? We can help with our writing a 500 word essay guide ! Be prepared and learn how to write essays about yourself and how to craft an impressive personal statement . Learn the differences between a personal statement and a statement of purpose as the terms might come up on college websites. If you haven’t decided on a college already, check out our guide on how to choose a college . No matter where you are in your educational journey, make sure that you apply for all the scholarships you qualify for!

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IELTS Essay: People Changing Their Careers

04/01/2021 04:31 PM

Two-Part Question

In this essay type, you need to answer two given questions. You can use Paragraph 1 to answer clearly the first question and Paragraph two to answer clearly the second question .  Try to support your answers with real-life examples (1 or 2) in each paragraph.

Ideas (Positive & Negative)

Before you begin writing, you should think about some creative ideas for the topic. You can use those ideas when d eveloping your paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of your essay. You can even search for articles or videos on the internet about these questions. Some questions to think about are: 

• What can be some benefits of changing careers?
• Why do people change their careers? What are the causes?
• Is it good to stay in one career for more than 20, 30, 40 years? What are the benefits?
• What impacts the development of careers?

Changing is Positive

People can Explore Different Horizons  

There are many who think that they should work what they have studied in university. However, reality is that universities offer very little, in order to prepare a learner for the work field . After leaving university a lot of young people realize that they don't want to do what they studied and decide to try different careers. There is nothing wrong with that, as long as someone finds a direction in their late twenties and early thirties.

Passions Change Over Time

When we are teenagers, we see the world in one way. When we become young adults , we look at it in a completely different way from before. Passions change over time , and so what a person believes is a great job or career when they are a teen, usually completely shifts when they are in their late twenties or early thirties. This causes people to change their view of a career path .

Changing is Negative

You can ask your grandma about this... Or at least my grandma always said that I should find a stable job in one big company and stay confidently in it for all my life. Working in one career creates stability because the more time you spend in that career, the move valuable you become for your company. In the end, for them it will be very counterproductive to fire you or remove you, because you will be a well-experienced asset for their company. Not to mention that, if you play a bit more competitively , you can rise up in the company after time. Just be patient .

Fear the Unknown

Plenty of people do not change their careers because they are afraid of starting something completely new. Changing careers can be challenging , you might need to learn a bunch of new skills , you will have to start from the bottom , and you will have to get a pay cut in many cases. It might be your passion , but reducing your income or entering a new industry can bring a lot of unknown in your life . What if you don't like it? What if you don't fit in ? What if you fail? These are reasonable questions to ask yourself.

Example Essay:

“An increasing number of people are changing their careers."

• What are the reasons?
• Do you think it is positive or negative?

Introduction

We are living in a time when job security and reliability has diminished . People all around the world are struggling to keep a certain career due to many reasons in and out of their hands like the economy , corporate shrinking and technological advancements that lead to a massive job loss. At the same time, it has never been easier to get a new job thanks to the internet, and so in my opinion changing careers can lead to many benefits for the individual, such as financial improvement and personal career development .

Vocabulary:

job security - to have a safe job without worrying that you will be fired

reliability - to be reliable, to count on a job, to be safe

diminish - reduce, drop, go down

something is out of your hand - you have no control over this

corporate shrinking - large companies reducing their workers mainly because technology

technological advancements - new technology

financial improvement - improving the person's income like salary and benefits

career development - improving in your job

Linking Phrases / Sentence Beginners:

We are living in a time when ...

People all around the world are struggling to ...

________due to ________

At the same time, it has never been easier to ...

Paragraph 1

Firstly, I would like to discuss the financial side of the matter . A person’s salary or wage is fundamental when he chooses his long-term occupation . However , information about salaries and salary development over time is scarce . This creates a situation where young people graduating college might have no idea about what a job can offer. For example a young person who aspires to be an artist, might not know the reality of the career he chooses. It might be extremely difficult to start earning a living as an artist, at least at the beginning of his or her career. This problem might convince this young artist to try something different in the short or even long term . In the end , the switch to a different job or career could lead to a better financial success in that person’s early 30ties. This example illustrates that in some cases, changing our career could be absolutely beneficial for our financial wellbeing .

______side of the matter - one part of the discussion

fundamental - very important, essential

long-term occupation - a job or career that someone can do for a long time, or even all life

______ is scarce - there are very few of this

the reality of ______ - the real information, the real story of something

to earn a living   - to make enough money for living comfortably

long term - for a long time

to switch to - to change to

financial success - being successful and having enough money to grown and develop yourself

absolutely beneficial - very important and useful for a person

financial wellbeing - having enough money to take care of ourselves and our family

Firstly, I would like to discuss the ...

However ...

This creates a situation where ...

For example, a young person who aspires to be a ...

It might be extremely  difficult to ...

In the end ...

This example illustrates that in ...

Paragraph 2

The second reason for people’s transition from one career to another could be the lack of clear path for advancement in that career. Often times people are being taught in school and college that working hard is the only criteria in order to advance up the ladder in a company or organization . However, this argument does not take into account many variables like for example technological development , high competition , low retirement rate in certain positions and many more. Let’s take the example of   college professors. Unfortunately, the reality in this academic environment is that a person has to work for many decades in order to qualify and begin a career. Not to mention the fact that professors tend to stay in their positions until late retirement , and this creates very few opportunities for a young person to replace those experienced academics . This example can show that multiple young adults would be stuck waiting for a chance to get into that career field . Changing to a different field of work related to their education like becoming a scientist , researcher or writer , could bring them more success than anticipating for ages to enter academia .

transition - change from one thing to another

clear path for advancement   - clear way to improve in a job

criteria - requirement for doing something

advance up the ladder - improve up in your job, get a promotion

organization - a big company

technological development - the improvement of technology like computers, robots and so on

competition - other people trying to get the same goal as you

retirement rate - how often do people retire or stop working in that job after getting old

late retirement - leaving the job very late ( 70 years old or even higher)

academic environment - work related to teaching and education

decade - 10 years  (decades - many 10 year periods)

to qualify - to be good for a position, to match the criteria

opportunity - chance to do something

academics - people who work in the field of academia (professors, lecturers, researchers etc.)

multiple - many types, many kinds

career field - type of work, industry, area of work

to anticipate - to wait for long for something to happen

for ages - very long period of time

academia - the work field of researchers, professors and so on

The second reason for people's ________ could be the ...

Often times people are being ...

However, this argument does not take into account many variables like for example ...

Lets take the example of ...

Unfortunately, the reality in this ...

Not to mention the fact that ...

This example can show that ...

In conclusion, my personal opinion is that every person has the right and choice to change his career path , and that can be a positive prospect in their life. A person should not sit and struggle with a low wage , or waste years and years in hope for a single odd in their favor , and should take life in his hands . I believe that thanks to technology, we can create our own career path , and if we meet a bump in the road , we can easily turn in another direction , in order to achieve success .

have the right to - have the ability to chose by yourself, independently

career path - a way to progress in your work

positive - good, beneficial

prospect - chance, happening

to struggle - to have difficulty with something

low wage - low paid for your work

waste years and years... - waste a long period of time, waste your life

an odd in your favor - lucky chance, luck

take life in your hands - to control your decisions, to make good decisions about life

create our own career path - make our own choice for work

meet a bump in the road - meet a problem, face a challenge

achieve success - become happy, wealthy and fortunate

In conclusion, my personal opinion is that ...

A person should not ...

I believe that thanks to ________, we can ...

How to Write an Awesome Essay About Your Career Goals

• Before you begin, ask yourself a few key questions like:
• What are my short-term and long-term career goals?
• Where do I see myself in ten years?
• What events in my life have led me to have these goals?
• What major will help me reach my goals?
• What skills do I need to reach my goals?
• What impact do I want to have on society?

Career Goals Essay Template

Need more inspiration.

After you brainstorm the responses to these questions, look for common themes, or pick out the most interesting stories. You can build your main essay “thesis” or idea around this.

Once you’ve got the main idea, create an outline to put your ideas into essay format. This will give you a general idea of structure.

You can use the career essays template below to give you some ideas. But remember that some rules are meant to be broken, so don’t be afraid to be innovative and think outside the box!

Also, when you’re done, head over to Going Merry to apply for the Career Goals scholarship essay bundle (one essay, one application, multiple scholarships!). You might as well make that essay count. Sign up for Going Merry to apply for scholarships more efficiently.

Here’s a paragraph-by-paragraph breakdown:

Paragraph 1 : Establish the main theme of what you’re going to talk about. It should also grab the reader’s attention. For example, instead of starting your essay with something generic (e.g. Ever since I was a little girl, I wanted to be a zoologist), get creative with it! Try something like My greatest memory as a young girl was going to the zoo for the first time or While most kids play house or school, I always wanted to play zookeeper.

Paragraph 2 : Elaborate on what inspired your career goals. Perhaps it was a relative, a TV show, or simply an experience that you had. Remember that old writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.” In other words, try to demonstrate your interest with story or description. 

Paragraph 3 : Discuss your short-term career goals and your intended major. How will your intended major help you reach these goals? What skills do you need to learn to reach them? At the end of the paragraph, try discussing how your short-term goals can help you achieve your long-term goals.

Paragraph 4 : Focus on your long-term goals and the impact that you hope to have on society. If you’re not sure what your long-term goals are, don’t sweat it; they’ll probably change anyways. You can instead focus on the difference you’d like to make overall. And don’t worry too much about the size of the impact…remember that just doing what you’re truly passionate about has a massive impact on those around you.

The last paragraph is your conclusion. You can use this paragraph to summarize what you discussed in the previous few paragraphs. If you want to be even more creative, try ending your essay with a question for your readers or a new insight. Good luck!

And now that you’re ready with that essay, put it to good use! You can recycle that same essay, when applying for the Career Goals Scholarship Bundle. We’ve joined together multiple scholarships (all requesting essays on career goals), into just ONE simple application! See more info here , or just sign up to get going.

Check out examples from other students just like you. Here are links to some great career goal essay examples:

• Example 1  
• Example 2  
• Example 3  

Or maybe you’re looking for help with an academic goals essay — we’ve got you covered there too.

Also, check out this helpful list of the 10 most common scholarship essay topics !

Sign up for Going Merry today, and upload your career goal essay right to your profile. It’s that easy!

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Career Goals Essay For Scholarships (With Examples)

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Find a Job You Really Want In

Scholarship programs often want you to write a career goals essay to see that you have a clear plan for how you’ll apply your education to a specific career path. This helps show a scholarship committee why you’re seeking funds for the next step on the path toward your success. Answering “what are your career goals” effectively can help increase your odds of impressing landing a scholarship opportunity. If you’re a prospective student applying for scholarships, this article will provide tips on how to write a career goals essay, along with essays on career goals examples to help you get an idea of what scholarship committees are looking for. Key Takeaways: When you’re writing a career goals essay, make sure to write about the goals that are relevant to the scholarship. Be honest and use your own voice to stand out in your scholarship essay. Go into detail about how the scholarship will help you achieve your goals. In This Article    Skip to section What is a career goals essay? Why scholarship essays ask about career goals Example career goals essay prompts Career goals essay examples Tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals What to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed Career goals essay for a scholarship FAQ References Sign Up For More Advice and Jobs Show More What is a career goals essay?

A career goals essay is a personal written explanation that discusses your background, why you’re interested in participating in the program, and what career you’d like this degree to lead into. A scholarship essay functions to explain why you want to achieve your professional goals and how you intend to get there.

In almost every application process, a portion asks the candidate to answer an essay question. When applying to an educational program, like an MBA, the essay prompt usually relates to your career goals .

Why scholarship essays ask about career goals

Scholarship essays ask about career goals to assess your enthusiasm for the program, learn more about how the scholarship will help you, and ensure that you’ve considered how the program will help you achieve your goals for the future:

Assess your enthusiasm. Passion is important for scholarship administrators, and if you’re able to articulate your enthusiasm for a specific career path , it will show that you’re determined to meet the requirements to reach that goal. The most specific and well-thought-out your essay is, the easier it will be for a reader to understand your devotion and commitment to the program and the field it will allow you to enter.

Learn how the scholarship will help you. Having a firm grasp of your career goals is great, but it’s equally important that you express exactly how the specific program relates to those goals. This shows that you’ve researched the merits of the program and understand exactly how it fits into your professional goals.

Show you’ve considered your future. This goes along with the first two points — show that you know how to set goals and consider the path toward achieving those goals, and you’ll have an easier time convincing the reader that you’ll know how to set goals while participating in the program. They’ll see that you know how to prioritize education because you have a clear vision for navigating your career path.

Example career goals essay prompts

While some scholarships might come right out and simply ask, “What are your career goals?” most will rework the question into something different that still accomplishes the same goal.

Below are some examples of career goals essay prompts that a scholarship program could pose to its applicants:

Discuss your career goals. Many scholarships prefer the most direct approach when giving an essay prompt to their applicants. This type of question gives the candidate a lot of wiggle room to discuss their passions, motivations, and career goals.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years ? This question is often used as a prompt for a career goals essay because it gives the applicant a timeline to describe their aspirations. It forces them to be realistic about where their career will be and how they will accomplish this within the next ten years.

How will this scholarship contribute to your professional success? A scholarship committee wants to be sure that the money they’re giving will contribute to a student’s overall professional success. This question asks about the applicant’s game plan in the long-term and evaluates how this program is going to assist in their future.

What is your dream job ? Since a dream job is often categorized as a person’s career goals, this is a common question phrasing in scholarship essays. Asking about a candidate’s dream job answers whether this program aligns with the student’s long-term career goals.

What matters most to you and why? Sometimes, a scholarship essay prompt won’t ask about your career or future at all. Instead, they’ll ask a question like this that assesses your motivations , values, and character.

Career goals essay examples

Use these examples of career goals essays for scholarships to help write your own. Pay special attention to how they’re organized, rather than the content, to inspire your own career goals essay:

Career goals essay example 1 – Discuss your career goals

When I was six years old, I was riding bikes with my older sister around our neighborhood. She had just taught me how to ride, and I was excited to have to freedom to explore with her. When she was rounding a particularly difficult bend to see around, a car happened to be coming along at the same time. It struck her. That bike ride changed our lives forever. Over the next year, I went with my sister every Tuesday and Thursday to her physical therapist ’s appointments to help her regain walking strength. Watching her physical therapist patiently assist my sister back to becoming herself awoken something in me. A passion for helping others in the same way eventually turned into a career goal of becoming a physical therapist myself. I decided to get my bachelor’s degree in exercise science. After graduating in 2019, I knew that the next step for me was to attend a graduate program in physical therapy. I was accepted to Lassell University Master of Science in Rehabilitation Services. This presented me with my latest goal along my career path, and I’m eagerly waiting to start. This scholarship would help me afford the wonderful opportunity to be a part of the Lassell University class of 2023, allowing me to continue working towards my ultimate career goal of becoming a physical therapist and helping others to become themselves again.

Career goals essay example 2 – Where do you see yourself in ten years?

In ten years, I will have been successfully running my own construction business for about five years. I’m currently a second-year student at the University of Texas, pursuing a master’s degree in business administration. I decided to get my MBA because I knew it would be a positive asset toward my long-term career goal of owning a construction business. In my high school years, I worked as a construction apprentice for a local business. I loved many aspects of the business, such as building something from nothing. I knew that I wanted to incorporate this work into my long-term career, but I didn’t want to work as an apprentice . This led me to pursue business. In ten years and with the help of this scholarship, I will have graduated with my MBA almost a decade prior . After graduation, I plan to take a business administration internship with a carpentry business to help myself get a footing in the field. After about two years of this, I will have started my own construction business.

Career goals essay example 3 – What matters most to you and why?

The people I surround myself with matter most to me. Whether it be my relatives, friends, or professional acquaintances, I always care the most about the happiness of the people around me. Making the people around me happy matters the most to me because I truly because we find our happiness through others. I believe that this drive to make a positive impression on the people around me is what drove me towards a career as a nurse . I always thought of hospitals as places where people need someone to support them and make their day a little happier. I wanted to be one of those who spend their careers positively impacting people in need. This scholarship will enable me to finally afford nursing school and go after my dream job full force.

Career goals essay example 4 – What are your short- and long-term career goals, and how will earning this degree contribute to achieving those goals? Please provide a minimum of 200 words.

My short-term career goals involve working directly with underprivileged young people to increase the literacy rate in my community. As a student of an underfunded and understaffed school, I’ve seen firsthand how much of an impact early literacy education makes on long-term achievement. It broke my heart to see my peers embarrassed at their struggle with reading at an advanced age, and this shame added another dimension to their lack of opportunity. Being a literacy educator for young people would allow me to serve this community directly to show them not only the necessity of strong written communication skills, but the joy of reading for pleasure. This program focuses specifically on early literacy, and would provide me a direct route to a career in serving the community I hope to serve. As for long-term career goals, I hope to one day create a program where socioeconomically parents can bring their children for literacy education, not only to increase their ability to navigate the world of language, but also to instill confidence and joy in the written word. What drew me to this program was that it also has administrative, legal, and business dimensions that would set me on the path toward achieving this goal.

Tips for writing a scholarship essay about career goals

Here are some tips to keep in mind for writing a career goals scholarship essay:

Write about goals relevant to the scholarship. Although you may have many different kinds of goals for your personal and professional future, a scholarship essay only discusses objectives that are relevant to the program you’re applying for.

Be honest. Applying for a scholarship is stressful because the applicant’s education is usually reliant on receiving these funds in one way or another. Even though it’s tempting to exaggerate your skills or pretend you’re more passionate about something than you are to make yourself a more competitive applicant, it’s a bad move.

Use your own, unique voice. The essay portion of a scholarship application is your chance to stand out by using your voice. Nobody else, regardless of their academic or professional achievements, is you. Make this clear in your career goals scholarship essay by keeping your unique written voice engrained in the words you produce.

Be specific. A big reason that scholarship committees ask applicants to write a career goals essay is to determine how prepared they are in planning their long-term professional goals. They aren’t interested in providing a scholarship to students who aren’t going to follow through with their career plans.

Explain long and short-term goals . Even if the essay prompt asks you to describe where you see yourself in ten years, you still need to tell them the steps leading towards this picture of success.

Include the short-term goals that add up to your larger career objectives in your essay response. Explain how accomplishing the smaller goals gives you an advantage when tackling long-term ones.

Explain how the program and scholarship will help you. Before writing your career goals essay, consider how this program and scholarship will help you in your career. The answer to this question is essential.

Follow the essay formatting guidelines. This may sound obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to forget this step when your essay is finally flowing and when you’re scrambling to get it submitted on time.

Check, double-check , and triple-check the essay guidelines for content, word count, and formatting requirements. If you miss any of these steps, your essay may be immediately disqualified no matter how good it or the rest of your application is.

What to write in a career goals essay if your goals have changed

Many times career goals essays are written by students who have already completed at least some college or are applying to a post-graduate program and need more money to continue.

There’s a good chance that your career goals have changed since you started or graduated college. For example, say you wanted to be an engineer , so you got your undergraduate degree in engineering but realized you didn’t like it after working in the industry for a few years.

You decided that nursing would be more up your alley, and now you’re applying for a scholarship for a nursing program. While this isn’t unusual, it can make it more difficult to write a career goals essay since your past work doesn’t necessarily match your future goals.

In this case, you’ll simply need to explain why you changed your career path and why this next one is the best choice for you. Share your decision-making process to show that you haven’t taken the switch lightly, and talk about what you’ve already done to try to pursue this path.

Career goals essay for a scholarship FAQ

How do you write a career goal for a scholarship essay?

You write a career goal for a scholarship essay by sharing your passion, explaining both your long- and short-term goals, and relating your goals to the scholarship.

Explain why you want to pursue the career you’re pursuing, where you hope to be in the future and how you plan to get there, and how the scholarship will help you do this.

How do you describe your career goals in an essay?

You describe your career goals in an essay by explaining what you want to do in your career, why you decided on this career path, and what you’ve done so far to make that a reality.

You can usually work these factors into any prompt you receive, so think through them before you start writing so that you can use them as an outline of sorts.

What are career goals examples?

Examples of career goals include:

Working as a grant writer for a nonprofit organization.

Becoming a department manager and eventually an executive in your field.

Owning your own plumbing company.

Caring for underserved communities as a nurse practitioner .

What are some goals for success?

Some goals for success include growing in your role, building your network, and finding joy in the job. Most careers don’t just happen overnight and require you to set the right milestones that work best for you. Not everyone will have the same goals for success.

How do you start a career goals essay for a scholarship?

You can start a career goals essay for a scholarship by directly answering the prompt. Most scholarship prompts include a word count of between 200 and 500 words, so it’s essential that you immediately respond to the prompt. Attention-grabbing sentences and narratives can be helpful for setting the scene, but an efficient and direct answer will show a clarity of mind that helps enhance the quality of your answer.

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Sky Ariella is a professional freelance writer, originally from New York. She has been featured on websites and online magazines covering topics in career, travel, and lifestyle. She received her BA in psychology from Hunter College.

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How to Talk About Your Career Change in Your Elevator Pitch

The thing about making a career change is that, eventually, you have to tell everyone. It might be something you want to put off for a while, but actually, you’re better off telling people sooner rather than later. After all, the sooner your contacts know, the more likely they’ll be able to help you with your transition.

So, incorporating your career change into your elevator pitch makes a lot of sense. The question is: How do you include your upcoming career change and still keep your previous experience in your pitch? Here’s a four-step guide for doing just that.

1. Describe Yourself in a Few Words

The first part of your elevator pitch should be used to introduce yourself and your personal brand. If you’re not sure what your personal brand is yet, try going through this workbook , or just use your current occupation and add a few things you’re interested in. So, the beginning of your elevator pitch might be:

I’m an English teacher obsessed with clean and precise language.

2. Talk About Your Experience and Skills

Next, move into your previous experience. Don’t sell yourself short in this bit, even if your previous experience isn’t directly relevant. This is the stuff that makes you special. We’ll tie it all together in the next part. For example:

I’ve been teaching for five years now, and every year I push students to read and think and discuss, but more than anything I push them to write. They start with sloppy five paragraph essays in September, but by the time summer rolls around, they leave my classroom with their own beautifully complex short stories.

3. Pick Your Favorite Parts

Here’s the part where you make the connection. Pick out the parts of your previous experience that you love and are hoping to bring with you to your new role . Highlight them as a way to point out the kind of work you hope to be seeking in the near future. It should be structured something like this:

I love working with my students. They’re so creative, especially after they realize there’s no ‘right’ answer in English. In the end though, my favorite part of my job is actually diving deep into the language. For me, polishing text and teasing out meaning are the highlights of my day.

4. Connect to Your Career Change

Finally, bring it all together and spell out that you’re seeking a career change. Don’t dance around the subject. Wrap up your pitch by making it abundantly clear what you want to move on to:

That’s why, after some serious self-reflection, I’ve started looking into becoming an editor. I know it’s a competitive field, but this is the kind of work that’s really exciting to me.

Of course, your elevator pitch is just the beginning of the conversation, but getting this right is an important step in steering the conversation in a direction that might help you learn more about the industry or connect with others.

Photo of train tracks courtesy of Shutterstock .

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April 15, 2019

MBA Admissions Advice for Career Changers

As an IT consultant, how do you know equity research is the right career for you? How do you know you can handle the hours, the more Darwinian industry and company culture, the stress of having a pivotal impact on huge investment decisions?

If you are an MBA applicant pursuing a career change , then you will have an extra challenge: you will need to demonstrate that you understand the new industry and/or function in practical terms. After all, you may genuinely be fascinated by equity research and even have much to contribute to the field but still not fit in with that industry’s culture. You must go beyond expressing sincere interest, and make a logical case for your career goals . You must show that you understand your chosen industry or function “from the inside.” Failure to do so will undermine the credibility of your goals.

The goals essay (or in some applications, a shorter goals statement in the online form) is the heart of that effort. You’ll need to explain how you plan to achieve your goals – the actual steps you will take.

Here are seven pointers for using your goals essay or statement to show that you know exactly what you are doing in making the decision to change career direction. Note that all applications differ, and may offer more or less opportunity to implement these tips.

1. Show the natural progression and evolution of your change in career.

To make the change seem as natural as the sunrise, tell the “story” of your motivation and evolving understanding of the field or function. For example, if you are an IT consultant seeking to become an investment research analyst, then you can talk about how interacting with people in different functions at client companies helped you discover how intrigued you were by the financial factors shaping not just IT decisions but overall strategy development. Describe your developing awareness and interest, detailing some of the more illuminating interactions.

2. Show that you understand the day-to-day reality of your desired industry or function.

Interactions with people such as those noted above are one way. You may also do informational interviews, audit courses, and read industry publications. Clarify in your essay your proactive efforts to understand the field and the insights you gain from these efforts.

3. Openly address challenges and obstacles you expect to face as a newcomer to the field, and how you plan to handle them.

This further demonstrates knowledge of the field or function and also your maturity and objectivity. It also enhances the adcom’s confidence that you can indeed make this change.

4. Demonstrate that you have the skills to make this change.

No doubt your current work has honed skills and provided knowledge that will be beneficial in your future career. For example, as an IT consultant, you may have developed communication skills in obtaining information from the client, which will help you draw information from company management as an equity analyst. In addition, your quantitative skills from engineering will apply. Presenting concrete examples of your skills and knowledge applicable to your chosen field underscores both your preparation for the role and understanding of its demands.

5. Highlight how your background is an asset.

You can likely argue that your “different” background will enable you to make a greater contribution in your new role. The IT consultant brings a deep understanding of real-world technology deployment that will facilitate analysis of a company’s true value and potential for continued success. Delineate such benefits, ideally supported by a concrete example or two.

6. Get the adcom “fired up” about your plans by articulating a vision for your goal.

This means clarifying something you want to accomplish or contribute during your career, and the impact you hope to have. For the IT consultant, it could be, “integrating deep technology know-how into the evaluation of all companies.”

7. Solidify your message by effectively using the “ why this school ” part of the essay question.

Ideally, your MBA studies will serve as a bridge to take you from where you are to where you want to be. Identify key learning needs for your new career, which will further strengthen the impression that you understand its realities and demands. Describe through specific details how the program under discussion will become that bridge.

As a career changer, you face certain obstacles in your MBA strategy and application. On the other hand, you likely have an interesting story to tell about your goals. Use that story to make your plans seem like the most inevitable, natural thing in the world.

View our MBA Admissions Services to learn how we can help you reflect on your experiences, select the anecdotes that best portray your singular self, and weave them into compelling essays that grab admissions committees’ attention, ultimately helping you gain admission to the best MBA program for you and making that career change.

Related Resources:

• From Example to Exemplary , a free guide to writing excellent admissions essays • From Wall St to Wharton, While Starting Wall Street Oasis , a podcast episode • 3 Tips for Highlighting Your Strengths in Your Application Essays

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Home — Essay Samples — Life — Professions & Career — Career

Career Essay Examples

Crafting an engaging and informative career research essay is a crucial step for students and professionals alike who are navigating the complex landscape of career planning and development. These essays serve as a bridge between one's academic pursuits and professional aspirations, offering insights into various fields, the skills required, and future job prospects. They provide a structured way to explore and articulate career goals, understand industry trends, and reflect on personal strengths and interests in relation to the job market. Whether you're a high school student contemplating your future, a college student selecting a major, or a professional considering a career change, delving into a career research essay can illuminate the path ahead.

For anyone looking to embark on this enlightening journey, exploring research essay examples can be an invaluable first step. It offers a glimpse into effective strategies for structuring your essay, choosing relevant content, and engaging your readers. Below, find a list of 10 popular career research essay topics that span a diverse range of industries and interests, reflecting the broad spectrum of career opportunities available today:

• The Evolution of the Software Developer Role in the Tech Industry : Exploring the dynamic landscape of software development, including emerging technologies and the skills needed to succeed.
• A Day in the Life of a Healthcare Professional : Investigating the roles, responsibilities, and challenges faced by healthcare workers, from nurses to surgeons.
• The Future of Renewable Energy Careers : Analyzing the growth of the renewable energy sector and the types of careers that are becoming available.
• Careers in Digital Marketing : Understanding the impact of digital marketing on business and the variety of roles within this fast-evolving field.
• The Role of Data Science in Business Decision Making : Examining how data scientists contribute to strategic decisions in business through data analysis and interpretation.
• Legal Careers in the 21st Century : A look at the changing landscape of the legal profession and the skills modern lawyers need to possess.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation : Exploring the journey of becoming an entrepreneur and the impact of innovation on creating new business opportunities.
• Careers in Education Beyond Teaching : Investigating the diverse roles within the education sector that contribute to shaping future generations, from administration to curriculum development.
• Engineering the Future: Careers in Civil Engineering : Understanding the role of civil engineers in developing infrastructure projects and the challenges of modern urban planning.
• The Psychology Profession: A Deep Dive into Mental Health Careers : Exploring the various specialties within psychology and the importance of mental health professionals in society.

Each of these topics not only presents a rich field of study but also reflects the vast array of career paths available to individuals with different interests, strengths, and passions. By exploring career research essay examples, you can gain insights into how to approach these topics effectively, making your career research essay both informative and engaging.

Career Essay Topics and Outline Examples

Essay title 1: navigating your career path: strategies for successful career planning and development.

Thesis Statement: This essay explores effective strategies for career planning and development, emphasizing self-assessment, goal setting, skill development, networking, and adaptability as key components.

• Introduction
• Self-Assessment: Identifying Interests, Strengths, and Values
• Goal Setting: Defining Short-Term and Long-Term Career Objectives
• Skill Development: Continuous Learning and Skill Enhancement
• Networking: Building Professional Relationships and Leveraging Connections
• Adaptability: Navigating Career Changes and Challenges
• Mentorship and Guidance: Seeking Career Advice and Support
• Conclusion: Empowering Individuals to Shape Their Career Paths

Essay Title 2: The Future of Work: Exploring Career Trends in the Digital Age and Preparing for Industry Disruptions

Thesis Statement: This essay examines emerging career trends in the digital age, including automation, remote work, and gig economy jobs, and discusses strategies for preparing for industry disruptions.

• Digital Transformation: Impact on Traditional Careers and Industries
• Automation and Artificial Intelligence: Job Displacement and Upskilling
• Remote Work: Advantages, Challenges, and Future Workforce Trends
• Gig Economy and Freelancing: The Rise of Independent Career Paths
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Essay Title 3: Balancing Work and Life: The Importance of Career Satisfaction, Well-Being, and Achieving a Fulfilling Life

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• Passion and Purpose: Aligning Career Goals with Personal Values
• Life Goals and Achievements: Pursuing a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
• Conclusion: Striving for Career Success while Embracing Life's Joys and Challenges

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Advertisement

Liz Cheney, a Top G.O.P. Trump Critic, Says She Will Vote for Harris

The Wyoming Republican, once a member of House leadership, lost her post and then her seat after she voted to impeach President Donald J. Trump following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

• Share full article

By Annie Karni

Reporting from Washington

• Sept. 4, 2024

Former Representative Liz Cheney, the once high-ranking Republican from Wyoming who torpedoed her political career by breaking forcefully with former President Donald J. Trump, said on Wednesday she would be voting for Vice President Kamala Harris in November.

During an event at Duke University, Ms. Cheney told students that it was not enough for her to simply oppose the former president, if she intended to do whatever was necessary to prevent Mr. Trump from winning the White House again, as she has long said she would.

“I don’t believe we have the luxury of writing in candidates’ names, particularly in swing states,” Ms. Cheney said, speaking to students in the hotly contested state of North Carolina. “As a conservative, as someone who believes in and cares about the Constitution, I have thought deeply about this and because of the danger that Donald Trump poses, not only am I not voting for Donald Trump, but I will be voting for Kamala Harris.”

The room erupted in cheers after she made her unexpected announcement.

The decision by Ms. Cheney, whose endorsement Ms. Harris’s campaign had been courting for weeks, to shift from condemning Mr. Trump to backing the Democratic presidential nominee was a striking one even from a leader who has established herself as one of the most vocally anti-Trump Republicans in the country.

In an interview with Fox News in August of 2020, after President Biden selected Ms. Harris as his running mate, Ms. Cheney described his pick as someone “whose voting record in the Senate is to the left of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.” She added: “It’s very clear, she is a radical liberal.”

Ms. Cheney, a daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, is a member of a private and deeply conservative political family. She is pro-gun and anti-abortion and favors a stronger national defense.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

‘So proud of you’: Coronation Street icon Sally Dynevor celebrates actress daughter’s career change

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Coronation Street icon Sally Dynevor beamed with pride as she celebrated her daughter’s major news.

20-year-old Hattie is the daughter of Corrie legend Sally who plays Sally Metcalfe in the  ITV  soap, and the sister of  Phoebe Dynevor , who stars as Daphne in hit Netflix series Bridgerton .

Hattie recently confirmed that she signed with modelling agency One Management.

Her mother Sally shared the professional shot on Instagram and captioned the post: ‘So proud of you @hattiedynevorr ❤️ Exciting times joining @onemnagaement.

Hattie previously joined the cast of BBC’s Waterloo Road as Libby Guthrie, and  followed in the footsteps of real life older sister Phoebe , who began her career in Waterloo Road.

Phoebe played the role of Siobhan Mailey between 2009 and 2010, before later joining the cast of Bridgerton.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-vQ07jMwOt/?hl=en&img_index=1

Hattie’s mum Sally has portrayed fan-favourite Sally Metcalfe on Coronation Street since the 1980s.

The cobbles icon was awarded an MBE last year for services to drama for her years on the ITV soap.

Speaking about her nomination when she was named in the New Year Honours list last year, Sally said: ‘I am humbled, grateful and very proud to have received this honour. I am still in shock.

‘I didn’t believe it was real when I first found out earlier this month that I was to be given an MBE. Keeping it a secret has been so difficult.’ 

Sally’s husband is Tim Dynevor, a scriptwriter known for his work on Emmerdale.

MORE : ‘Don’t give up’: Coronation Street star charts pain of negative pregnancy tests in moving video

MORE : ‘It hasn’t been amicable’: Emmerdale star ‘splits from girlfriend’ after buying house together

MORE : Real life soap couple soak up the sun in loved-up snap

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Sport | Football

How Chelsea could line up with Jadon Sancho as Enzo Maresca eyes attacking change

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will spend plenty of time during the international break working with Jadon Sancho and deciding how best to deploy his new signing.

Sancho joined initially on loan on transfer deadline day last week, and Chelsea have an obligation to buy him from Manchester United next summer.

A successful loan spell back at Borussia Dortmund during the second half of last season aside, his stint at Old Trafford was not a happy one. Across three seasons, the 24-year-old scored 12 goals and registered just six assists in 81 total appearances.

Here, Standard Sport assesses three ways in which Chelsea could use Sancho as they try to rediscover in him the quality he showed during his emerging years as a Dortmund star.

Option one - right wing

4-2-3-1: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Sancho, Palmer, Neto; Jackson

In the standard 4-2-3-1 system Chelsea have been using under Maresca, the most obvious place for Sancho would be on the right of the attack.

It is here that he did much of his damage for Dortmund, as well as where he played when a member of United’s starting lineup early on in his Red Devils career.

Picturing a chemistry developing between Sancho and Cole Palmer in the No10 role is not too difficult, and it is easy to imagine the winger sliding a few passes in behind defences for striker Nicolas Jackson to run on to.

Option two - left wing

4-2-3-1: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Madueke, Palmer, Sancho; Jackson

Another conceivable fit would be for Maresca to slot Sancho in on the left of the attack, with Pedro Neto dropping to the bench and newly-selected England winger Noni Madueke retaining his place on the right flank.

Sancho has shown that he is just as adept on both wings, and Dortmund fans will remember him at his devastating best when cutting in from the left and seeking to shoot with his favoured right foot.

Chelsea fans will hope to see plenty of that during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Option three - No10

4-2-3-1: Sanchez; Gusto, Fofana, Colwill, Cucurella; Caicedo, Fernandez; Palmer, Sancho, Neto; Jackson

This feels like the least likely way that Maresca will set his team up, but Sancho has made a number of appearances in his career as a No10.

Palmer, meanwhile, was used as a substitute out on England’s right flank during Euro 2024 and came through at Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in that position, so it’s not unfamiliar territory. Sancho’s close control, eye for an assist and ability off both feet make him an extremely creative player.

Indeed, 50 goals and 64 assists in 137 games for Dortmund explained why United signed him for £73million in July 2021. As a No10, he could be used to knit Chelsea’s attacks together, feeding the ball out wide as well as through the middle for Jackson to run on to. His signing certainly offers Maresca and Chelsea a number of options.

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