Recent graduate studies in the UK have shown that more and more young people are looking for a more meaningful occupation - something which gives back to society.
So if you have been caught up in the rat race , in an industry where profit is the main concern, and are tired of the pressure, choosing something very different could be the best solution.
If you are not completely convinced that this type of career change would be right for you, you can try it out before taking the plunge, by spending some time as a volunteer.
This will give you a great deal of insight into the career and you don't have to restrict yourself to one project.
If you are interested in several fields and unsure which would suit you best, spend a few months volunteering in each at weekends or for one or two evenings a week.
For example, if you are considering working with young people, you might volunteer at a youth club for a few months and then on a children's ward in a hospital.
You could also go on an summer camp for young people to give yourself a wide overview of the type of work available.
Not everyone is interested in jobs relating to the community and if you want a career which is really different, there are many unusual jobs out there.
Take a look at jobs related to your interests.
If you love playing the piano, you don't have to become a concert pianist, but you could become a music therapist or a piano tuner or you could make musical instruments.
If you wanted to become a doctor but didn't make the grade in science, think about a career in complementary medicine.
If you like sports, but haven't had the training to compete in the Olympics, you could think about becoming a mountain guide, or an instructor in an outward bound course.
Although you will require rigorous training for the careers mentioned in this article, you won't have missed the boat just because you didn't start at the age of three or because you didn't take the right subjects at school.
© Waller Jamison2008