Researchers Find People Give Up on Their Dream Job by Thirty

DREAM JOB - Researchers polled the nation and discovered a staggering 57 percent of Brits have completely given up on doing a job that they love.

And it is by the tender age of thirty that most throw in the towel on a dream career, according to the findings.

More than a third (34 percent) of Brits believe they lack the confidence to pursue their dream job and the same number feel that they are now too old to chase their ambitions.

Sadly, almost half (47 percent) of workers feel completely trapped in a job they hate, with 34 percent claiming their current role is incredibly stressful, three in ten (31 percent) that it’s exhausting and a fifth (19 percent) saying it’s just plain boring.

In fact, more than one in ten (13 percent) feel their job doesn’t challenge them in the slightest.

The study, by the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT), also found that 46 percent of the nation’s workers would love to gain more qualifications to help them in their current job, and almost eight in 10 (77 percent) would like more training at work overall.

And an entrepreneurial 16 percent would like more qualifications so they can start their own business.

Yet 38 percent of Brits said that, while they would jump at the chance to develop their career, they felt completely unsupported by their bosses to do so.

Little wonder then, perhaps, that 64 percent of British workers say they feel very jealous of people who seem to adore their careers, according to the study.

27 percent say that family commitments mean they don’t feel they can take the risk of changing careers and 26 percent claim they lack the right qualifications to pursue their dream role.

The study also revealed that 27 percent of Brits haven’t taken any courses or earned any further qualifications since they left secondary school or university.

Of those, 30 percent said they couldn’t afford to take further qualifications while 16 percent insisted their employer simply doesn’t invest in courses and training for its staff.

The research, of almost 2,500 British workers and employers, also found that the average manager feels that 31 percent of their workforce has lost all motivation in the workplace and has essentially “resigned themselves” to their current job.

And more than half (54 percent) said they had staff members who were probably doing the wrong job and could be successfully redeployed if retrained.

While four in 10 admitted that some of their  employees would be much better in their current roles if they were given the right training.

Rob Alder, Head of Business Development for AAT, said: “ While so many British workers say they have given up hopes of landing their dream job, it’s interesting that the top reasons given – a lack of confidence or belief that they are now too old to act – are perceptions rather than actual barriers. In truth, there should be no barrier to furthering your career. Increasing numbers of employers and individuals recognise the benefits of keeping your skill-set up to date – not least because the digital disruption means roles are changing, representing both opportunities and threats.

“It’s especially telling that companies themselves have admitted they could do more to engage their employees, with the average manager feeling that 31 percent of their workforce has lost all motivation in the workplace. Things shouldn’t be like this, and can be reversed. One way to address this is through investment in effective training and qualifications which can help boost staff morale, productivity and effectiveness.”

The data also found that the average British worker would be prepared to shell out £518 of their own money to get a qualification that would lead to a better job.

There are gender differences revealed by the research, with the nation’s women more likely than men feel that their current job is stressful (40 percent compared to 23 percent), and women were also more likely than men to say that family commitments were holding them back from pursuing their dream career (31 percent compared to 21 percent).

Sponsors of the research AAT, is calling on employers to invest in their workers for the benefit of business productivity, employee engagement and staff retention.

Top ten reasons why Brits aren’t chasing their dream jobs:

• Lack of confidence (34%)
• Left it too late (34%)
• Family commitments (27%)
• The wrong qualifications (26%)
• The wrong connections (23%)
• It’s a competitive industry (20%)
• Not feeling bright enough (18%)The wrong background (13%)
• It’s a niche field (12%
• Living in the wrong part of the country (11%)

ABC Note: Is becoming an accountant your dream job? 

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