When most of us first start a job with a promising organisation, we’re full of enthusiasm.

As well as filling a desirable role with a reasonable salary, we’ve probably been seduced by positive PR about democratic company culture and diverse development opportunities.

But it’s not easy to source an objective review of a workplace prior to starting — and too often, things turn sour when employees feel disillusioned that things don’t transpire as expected (or advertised).

And a few years of this scenario is enough to make anyone want to quit — according to a 2017 survey from UK recruitment firm Robert Half, 35 per cent of workers who move on cite boredom and frustration as the main motivators, while 30 per cent report stagnant career prospects.

But if you’re a little bit older or have family responsibilities, storming out dramatically with no new opportunities on the horizon is a move you might regret.

So if you’re bored with your career, here are five wonderful ways to change course.

1. Career counselling

If you’ve suffered form job dissatisfaction for some time but simply don’t know where to start in terms of making a switch, a therapeutic career MOT could be the best way to analyse what drives you, narrow down your options and formulate a tailor-made solution.

Career counselling from The School of Life in London is carried out by qualified psychotherapists with years of experience working in the corporate domain.

They’ll analyse your deep-set values, desires, traits and skills in order to help you develop coping strategies to survive in your current role as long as is necessary,then move on to a new and exciting vocation that’s superbly satisfying.

Psychotherapeutic counselling isn’t cheap — but it might provide you with an entirely new perspective on life and work in the space of an intense two-hour session.

2. Volunteering

Volunteering can be an excellent way to migrate to a much more satisfying career.

If you can’t decide between two or three different career paths, spending some time doing unpaid work in each sector can help hone your decision while you do something really worthwhile in your own community or further afield.

Volunteering with The Red Cross is one great option — activities range from interacting with lonely and vulnerable people to becoming a language interpreter or giving first aid at busy public events.

You might unearth skills you never knew you had — and if you perform particularly well, perhaps you’ll be asked to apply for a paid position with your favourite cause.

3. Distance learning

Upskilling with a new qualification might boost your resume enough for you to gain a foothold in an entirely new industry.

But if you’ve got bills to pay and a family to support, taking a year off to study full-time might be completely impractical.

Don’t despair, however — online degrees from reputable institutions allow you to earn a vocational graduate or postgraduate degree in your own time.

Distance learning degrees with Anglia Ruskin University are a fantastic flexible choice — subjects range from digital marketing to MBAs and specialist football coaching courses.

Some courses are based solely online, while others might require occasional in-person attendance. But either way, you’ll interact with classmates from around the world and learn career-enhancing skills — mainly from the comfort of your home.

4. Adult gap year

For those of us with the wherewithal, taking a year out to rest, refocus and reassess our priorities is the ideal preparation for changing careers.

Completing an an adult gap year like high street fashion guru Jane Shepherdson might be the motivational break you need.

The former Chief Executive of clothing brand Whistles first took a travel sabbatical around Australia and South America after resigning as Topshop brand director in 2006.

But her most recent break came in 2017, after she quit her job at Whistles and both her parents passed away.

She spent 12 months exploring the wide-open spaces and metropolitan delights of Vancouver, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Jane may return to her fashion career but hopes to continue to take lengthy, cathartic breaks — perhaps a similar plan can help you decide which career will be most nourishing?

5. Convert hobby to career

Modesty might prevent you from regarding your long-term hobby as a potential commercial enterprise.

But those poems, paintings or sculptures gathering dust in your workshop might have more artistic merit and monetary value than you realise.

Converting your hobby into a career likephotographer Peter Searight might make you jump out of bed every morning — rather than rolling back under your duvet.

When a friend convinced him to show his photography at an art fair in 2004, the positive feedback he received convinced him to pursue a creative career full-time — with steady work from weddings and events keeping him afloat until the landscapes and portraits he’s passionate about generated a profit.

With a mixture of dogged determination and self-belief, it’s possible to get paid for the hobby that nourishes your soul.

So there are five ways to banish job boredom and change course to a career you love — follow them to take your first step to freedom.

Have you changed career in middle-age? Share your advice in the comments section.