Caroline switched careers in mid-life

The desire for a career with good prospects led Caroline Eriksson to return to university. Photo: Karin Persson.

As a young woman, Caroline studied the Bachelor's Programme in Personnel, Work and Organization and earned a master's degree in social psychology. After two decades of working, she decided to make a fresh start and has now completed the three-year Study and Career Guidance Programme at Stockholm University.

“I have a rather varied professional background. After my first university degree, I worked for a few years as a consultant and lecturer on health factors in working life. Then I was employed at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency's (Försäkringskassan) central HR department where I worked with strategic issues related to leadership and employeeship.”

Realising her writing dream

Although Caroline was enjoying herself, she wanted to realise her writing dream since childhood. So, she took a leave of absence and wrote a script that a major publisher accepted. 

"With that, I quit my job, wrote books, and freelanced in parallel to support myself. Eventually, two of my books were sold to other countries, which enabled me to become a full-time writer for several years.”

Looking for a new direction

Making a full-time living from a creative profession is not easy. The pandemic and other factors led Caroline to reassess her career choice and consider her future direction. 

I have been self-employed and employed, both as a civil servant and as a cultural worker. Hopefully a good background for a study and career counsellor.

"I came to the conclusion that I wanted basic security in the form of a profession with good prospects on the job market. I have always been interested in people and conversations, and when a friend who works as a study and career counsellor described her job, I immediately felt that it could be something for me. I have been self-employed and employed, both as a civil servant and as a cultural worker. Hopefully a good background for a career counsellor".

A clear goal with her studies 

According to Caroline, the big difference between studying now and before is that this time she has a clearer goal with her studies. 

"The first time I went to university, I was in a completely different place in my life than I am now. I had just left home, lived in a dormitory, and was focused on studying, getting to know new people, and having fun. This time things are different. I have children and a family and I have also been studying at a distance. I felt I needed to make the most of these years I'm spending on a new education. I expected most of the people on the programme to be very young. But many were my age and in my life situation, which was a positive surprise".

Internship a way of making valuable contacts

For Caroline, the most interesting parts of the programme were the counselling courses and the internship. The Study and Career Guidance Programme at Stockholm University includes a total of 15 internship weeks.

"The internship was an important, if not decisive, reason why I decided to invest in further academic training. Firstly, it was a way of confirming during my studies that I had chosen the right career path. It also allowed me to make valuable contacts for my future professional life".

Today, Caroline works as a counsellor and advisor at The Job Security Foundation (Trygghetsstiftelsen). 

"I did my second internship at Trygghetsstiftelsen, so the internship during my studies paid off. It was nice that I, as a middle-aged person, had the courage and the opportunity to study again. Now I'm looking forward to returning to the job market with new knowledge and a new focus.