The Career He Never Planned For: Finding Success Through an Unexpected Change

Many people begin their careers believing they need to have a clear plan - a chosen industry, a defined pathway, and a long-term goal from day one. But the reality is that some of the most successful careers are not carefully planned. They are shaped by unexpected opportunities, conversations and challenges.

This was evidenced in our previous blog in our Contractor Series, where Andrew Winter stumbled into a Petrophysics career by chance, and still continues to this day after 35 years! 

For Michael Da Costa, Orion Group’s own Recruitment Manager in Energy, his career journey is proof that your first choice does not have to be your set in stone for life.

Starting out in accounting, Michael followed what many would consider a traditional career route. However, after experiencing the reality of the role, and after a few red flags began popping up, he quickly came to the conclusion that accounting was not where he saw his future.

“I quickly realised accountancy wasn’t for me. It felt boring and I wasn’t fulfilled by it.”

Making the decision to move away from something familiar is not always easy. Many people stay in careers they no longer enjoy due to a mix of reasons, including financial safety, convenience, and fear of change.

For Michael, recognising that something was missing became the motivation to explore a new path.

“Life is short. You’ve got to go and do something you enjoy. Being in a job that you hate is quite depressing. I’d always encourage someone to find something they’re passionate about and pursue it.”

This fresh mindset became a turning point. Choosing a career based not only on stability, but on finding something that matched his personality, strengths, and career ambitions.

Taking a Chance on Something New

Like many career changes, Michael’s move into recruitment was not something he had planned from the beginning. In fact, his introduction into the industry came from a completely unexpected conversation.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I sort of stumbled into recruitment through a conversation in a pub.”

What started as a simple conversation became an opportunity that changed the direction of his career.

His story challenges the idea that everyone needs to know exactly where they are heading. Everyone has a dream job in their mind at a young age, but very few get to chase after it and realise it, and this continues as we grow older and comfortable in our current roles.

 Sometimes, being open to opportunities and willing to step outside your original plan can lead you somewhere better suited to you. As Michael explains:

“The opportunities you don’t know about are often the ones that pass you by.”

For graduates, career changers, or anyone unsure about their future, this is an important reminder that career growth often comes from staying curious, being flexible and agile, and being open to exploring options you may not have originally considered.

Finding a Career That Resonates

After moving into recruitment, Michael discovered an environment that suited him down to the ground and doing what he enjoyed most: working with people, building relationships, and having variety in his work every day. Unlike his previous role, recruitment provided constant change and new challenges.

“What I enjoy about recruitment is that no two days are the same. Every role is different, every client is different, every candidate is unique, and every conversation is distinctive.”

Recruitment is ultimately a people focused industry. Success is not only about being knowledgeable about the role, client, and industry, but is more about communication, trust, and understanding the people you work with.

Michael sums this up by saying:

“Who you work with and how you interact with those people is incredibly important.”

For Michael, the skills that allowed him to succeed were not limited to a specific qualification or background. Instead, his skill in being able to connect with people and build relationships became one of his biggest strengths, and one that is of paramount importance in recruitment.

Building Resilience Through Challenges

Although Michael found a career that he could sink his teeth into, success did not happen overnight.

Recruitment is a fast-moving industry that comes with highs and lows. Some days bring success, while others require persistence, patience, and resilience. Being able to reset and start again is one of the key skills in being a successful recruiter.

Michael explains:

“You can have a really bad day where nothing works. Then you push yourself to make one more phone call, send one more email, and suddenly something happens.”

His experience highlights that often the biggest opportunities come from perseverance and continuing to put the effort in, even when results are not immediate.

“The moments when you push yourself after everyone else would call it a day are often the moments that make the difference.”

That determination has played a major role in allowing him to develop and progress within his career.

Learning, Growing and Finding the Right Environment

Another important part of Michael’s journey has been finding an environment where he could continue to develop. Working under Regional Director, Mark Donnison, provided Michael with strong leader and mentor to learn from, and gave him the freedom to learn from experiences, including the failures that are always going to happen, to help him grow professionally.

“Mark's mentorship has really helped me grow. He's not a micromanager. He gives people the freedom to make mistakes and learn from them.”

For Michael, having the support to make decisions, take ownership, and learn along the way has been an important part of building confidence and progressing. Career development is not just about finding the right role it is also about finding the right people and environment around you.

A Career Built from Taking the First Step into the Unknown

Looking back, Michael’s career path was not the one he originally expected but taking a chance led him to a role that better suited his skills, interests, and ambitions. His journey proves that changing direction is not about starting again, but using what you already possess and channelling it into something you’re focused on. Every experience helps build skills, confidence, and perspective that can shape your next opportunity.

For anyone unsure about their career path, his advice remains simple:

“Life is short. Go and find something you’re passionate about.”

Because sometimes the career you never planned for becomes the one that takes you exactly where you need to be.