‘I hate my graduate role and want to quit’

Today I’m analysing the situation of Jack. Jack reached out to me via TikTok to join my Creative Career Level Up programme.

Jack is a recent graduate who’s been working as an accountant for two years, but it’s safe to say he hates it. He wishes he hadn’t gone down the accountancy route in the first place. 

What’s the challenge?

Jack’s main challenge is that he feels stuck in a career that doesn’t suit him. 

Despite having a secure job as an accountant, he’s working in an isolated environment, dealing with numbers rather than engaging with people or tapping into his creativity. 

Jack has always been drawn to more creative fields such as in Marketing. But right now, he’s feeling frustrated and unfulfilled.

How did he get here?

Jack became an accountant because his parents advised it. 

‘Accountants are well paid and well respected’ his father said. 

Unfortunately, Jack didn’t take the time to reflect on whether this was a career that genuinely aligned with his interests and passions. 

Now that he’s been working in the field for a couple of years, it’s clear to him that this isn’t the right fit.

How can he move forward?

The good news is that he’s early in his career, which means he has the flexibility to make a shift without too many long-term consequences. 

Here’s how Jack can start moving forward:

My Advice

1. Make the Move NOW

The best thing about Jack’s situation is that he’s still early in his career. He doesn’t have heavy financial obligations yet, which means it’s the perfect time for a career pivot. 

The longer he waits, the harder it will become. Taking action now will allow him to move forward without too much risk or regret.

2. Find the Transferable Skills

It may seem like Accountancy and Marketing have little in common, but Jack’s skills aren’t as isolated as they seem. There are transferable skills between the two fields, especially in data analysis. 

I’d recommend Jack speak to people working in the creative industry to see how his experience with numbers could be leveraged in roles like data-driven marketing or digital analytics. 

This would get him a foot in the door of the Creative industry and from there he could move to a more creative role. 

3. Prepare to Put the Work In

Let’s be real - this won’t be easy. Changing careers takes time, hustle, and grit. Jack will likely need to work harder than ever to land his first creative role. He may even need to take a pay cut initially, but that’s a small price to pay for long-term happiness. 

Make the move now

The sooner Jack makes the leap, the better. He doesn’t want to wake up at 40, wishing he had made the change earlier.

Jack’s career success is just around the corner if he commits to making this change. The sooner he starts, the sooner he’ll find himself in a career that aligns with what he loves and values.

If finding your Dream Job is your goal for 2025, the Creative Career Level Up might be the right solution for you.