Many people start a career in industry or big business but eventually realize it might not be for them. These are the type of individuals that aren’t driven by money, or promotions, and they feel like something is missing from their life.

Does this sound familiar to you? Perhaps you are looking for more purpose, or want to help people. If so, maybe you have been thinking about switching careers to work in the health and social care profession but don’t know where to start.

I’ve pulled together some ideas on how you can begin your switch, and start helping people almost straight away.

The possibilities

While switching to a healthcare work environment can be challenging on the finances, there are no limits to what you can achieve. For example, you can still go to medical school to become a doctor right up until the age 40. At the other end of the scale, there are good jobs available as a day services officer, home carer, or healthcare assistants – and much more besides.

You could work your way up to management, get into nursing, or even start running a care facility. If you are changing careers, you will have to start at the bottom and work your way up, getting plenty of qualifications along the way. The point is, everything is possible, but you will need to make the switch.

The funding

Of course, all these qualifications will cost money. The big question is, who is going to pay for it? Some people will be lucky to get training paid for by the organisation they work for – but you will have to prove your dedication for a while. If you want to become a doctor or dentist, then funding will have to come from your savings – and it can amount to a great deal over the 5-7 years it will take.

There is help available, of course, via the NHS or educational establishments. For example, the NHS have funding arrangements for mature student doctors, and according to traininghealthcare.com, it’s possible to seek funding for your health and social care qualifications if you are over 25 and have low incomes. Look around for anything that suits your needs, and you can reduce your learning fees by a significant amount.

The demand

The opportunities for healthcare workers are enormous, and realistically, you should never be out of work. With an aging population and a healthcare system screaming out for workers, employment will never be a problem. However, according to gov.uk, because of the high demand for healthcare workers, and the relatively ‘safe’ job prospects, there is a lot of demand for places on training courses.

To ensure you stand out from the competition, you will need to get some experience of working with people in a caring environment, even if you have to volunteer. I recommend you get this experience before applying – it will show course leaders that you are serious about making the switch.

Are you looking for a career in healthcare? If so, how are you going to manage it? Why not share your thoughts in the comments section below?

This post has been contributed by Ryan Gatt, it may contain affiliate links.