David Beckham lives rent-free in men’s minds as poll uncovers true feelings

A third of British men believe that with the right support from their mums and dads they could have been a professional footballer, like Harry Kane or the newly-knighted Sir David Beckham. A study into jobs found a staggering 50 percent of UK men and women feel they were ‘forced’ down a career path that wasn’t their choice – while 24 percent glumly admit their current role makes them happy.

Instead, when it comes to dream jobs – if they had the right support – 17 percent of Britons say they would have loved to have been a pro soccer star, rising to 30 percent for men. When it comes to other roles we hankered for but never achieved, 14 percent of British men and women say they had what it took to be a professional singer or musician.

Actor (12 percent), artist (10 percent), doctor (9 percent) and pilot (9 percent) also made the list of top vocations Brits think they could have been great at.

While the research – by international schools group, ACS – one in twenty insist they could have been an F1 racing driver, a top chef or a zookeeper.

According to the study, as many as 43 percent insist they would have chosen a more creative occupation if they’d been given the opportunity.

One in five (20 percent) still feel resentful about being shoehorned into a certain career, while a quarter (26 percent) are frustrated at where they have found themselves.

But it isn’t just our parents we blame, two thirds (62 percent) claim they were given unhelpful career advice during their school days, according to the survey of 1,500 working Brits, 1,000 parents with children aged between 16-21 and at school, college, university and 1,000 16-21 year olds.

As a result, three quarters (72 percent) thought about changing their career in later life but couldn’t afford to.

After being shoehorned into a career they didn’t want themselves, 85 percent of parents say they will encourage their children to follow their dreams rather than take a job they’re not interested in.

Two thirds (66 percent) go a step further and think that the current UK exam system pushes kids to pick subject choices too early, limiting future study and career options, and 62% of their teenage children think the same.

Martin Hall, head of school at ACS Hillingdon, said: “The research shows that the nation’s workers feel like they have been short changed when it comes to their careers, and the next generation fear the current system will send them the same way.

“What’s concerning is that the same system that created these regrets is still in place. Our research shows 66 percent of parents believe the English exam system forces children to narrow their subject choices too early – at 14 and 16 – often before they understand what opportunities exist.

“Parents experiencing career regret shouldn’t assume the only path is the one they took. They should ask schools: Are you preparing my child to be ready for an unpredictable future, or forcing them to be ‘single subject specialists’? That’s the question that matters.”

1. Professional Footballer 17 percent

2. Singer/musician 14 percent

3. Actor 12 percent

4. Artist 10 percent

5. Doctor 9 percent

6. Pilot 9 percent

7. Author/Novelist 8 percent

8. Astronaut 7 percent

9. Veterinarian 6 percent

10. TV Presenter 6 percent

11. Explorer/Adventurer 5 percent

12. Chef/Restaurateur 5 percent

13. Fashion Designer 5 percent

14. Dancer/Ballerina 5 percent

15. Zookeeper 5 percent

16. Formula 1 Driver 5 percent

17. YouTuber/Influencer 4 percent

18. Film Director 4 percent

19. Professional Gamer 3 percent

20. Comedian 3 percent

* A free copy of the ACS report “Too soon to decide: How early subject specialisation makes career paths harder to chart” is available from https://www.acs-schools.com/early-decisions-report/