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Overview
Thinking about a career pivot can be daunting. From being a newbie again to feeling like you've "wasted" your time up to that point, sometimes it seems more comfortable to just stay put. Now the owner of Hillbilly Content, a food and culture-focused agency specialising in storytelling, brand narrative, events, and communications, Bec Foley had managed restaurants for a decade before deciding she wanted a new challenge.
"I was nudging my mid-thirties, and it felt like a great time to freshen things up," says Bec. At the time, Bec had half a communications degree that she started straight out of high school in 1996. Despite enjoying the subjects, Bec had an itch to go and explore the big, wide world.
"I left mid-degree, moved to London, travelled for years, then started my career in hospitality," Bec shares. Then, she found herself thinking about what came next. The manager loved hospitality, but was increasingly drawn to the storytelling and marketing that helped venues connect with diners. Rather than starting from square one, she decided to return to the communications degree she'd abandoned, and gave herself the skills to pivot into a new role while staying connected to the world she'd immersed herself in for a decade.
"By the time I returned to study in my thirties, I was so hungry for knowledge. It was so enjoyable to be at uni. I knew I was making a fundamental change in my life, and I absolutely relished it. The version of me that went back was miles more focused and capable than the 18-year-old who started it."
It's Never Too Late
Looking back now, Bec realises just how young she was, but at the time, the thought of going to university as a mature-aged student was intimidating.
"I was 34 when I went back to study. I felt ancient," says Bec. "In reality, all of that life experience and worldly maturity only made me a better student. I won a position in the Golden Key International Honour Society in my first semester and I made new friends easily."
If you're considering a career pivot or shift yourself, Open Universities Australia is the best place to start. They are partnered with Australia's leading universities and offer access to thousands of degrees, single subjects and short courses, all in one place. The courses they offer are also made to be flexible and online so you can continue to work alongside your study (as the responsibilities you have now most likely differ from studying as an 18-year-old).
If you're not sure where to start, Open Universities Australia have a team of expert student advisors who offer free and unbiased advice. They'll chat to you about your study goals and career outcomes to make an informed decision on the right course that works for you.
"Stop waiting to feel "ready," because that feeling doesn't arrive," says Bec. "I put off finishing my degree for over a decade because there was always a reason not to: too busy, too old, in another country, too far gone from academic life. But whatever life experience you think disqualifies you is actually what'll make you a better student."
You don't need the whole plan mapped out, says Bec; you just need the first step.
It Can Turn Out Better Than You Ever Expected
Although Bec made the decision to return to study, it didn't come without doubts.
"I was worried that spending the last decade in hospitality would limit my journalism credentials," shares Bec. In reality, it was Bec's prior life and hospitality experience that only strengthened her skills, and she quickly scored an internship straight after graduation at Good Food in the Sydney Morning Herald, and later, got a job as a marketing coordinator at Good Food Month.
"If I hadn't gone back and finished my Bachelor of Communications in Journalism, there's no way I'd have been able to transition into marketing and media. It's been the best decision of my life."
So, what advice would Bec give to people who want to shift career gears?
"Don't assume you have to leave an industry to grow within it. Sometimes the shift you're craving is sideways, not out the door," she says. "I absolutely loved hospitality; I just didn't want to be doing service for the rest of my life. Study gave me a way to stay close to the thing I knew and loved: food, culture, people, but approach it from a completely different angle."
Bec's other advice includes getting curious about adjacent roles in your industry. Who's writing about your industry? Who's marketing it? Running events for it? Telling its stories?
"Chances are, your years on the floor or in the kitchen have given you insider knowledge that those people would kill for. Don't discount it – lead with it."
Your journey into uni starts with Open Universities Australia at open.edu.au.