Learning English

Finding a career that's right for you

There are some jobs that require a long period of training. If you want to become a pilot or a doctor, you can't just leave your current job and walk into a whole new profession.

But that's not stopping people who want to make the change from one career to another.

In this activity we get some tips on changing careers from former tennis player Boris Becker. Then we answer questions to see how much you've understood, and help you practise the past perfect.

Read the text and complete the activity

To do

Read the article and answer the questions.

Article

One of Boris Becker's most important victories wasn't even on the tennis court. Although he had excelled at the sport from a young age, it wasn't until he won a few competitions that his parents were convinced he was doing the right thing. "In the mid-80s, professional sports weren't financially rewarding," he says.

But by the time he was 20 he had won two major titles, including being the youngest player to win Wimbledon in 1985 at the age of only 17. He was nicknamed "Boom Boom" thanks to his fast and aggressive style of play. He had won two more before the end of the decade, with a further two Grand Slam victories in the 1990s.

But of course at some point the tennis had to stop. And since then, Becker has become a successful businessman, with interests in real estate, finance, TV and coaching. How did he make the transition?

"It was not easy," says Becker.  "Fortunately I'd won a couple of tournaments so I didn't need to work the very next day. But I was still young and eager to get involved in areas I really cared for. I started a couple of companies and, 15 years later, I'd like to think I have a second career."

He had served as a tennis commentator with the BBC for over 10 years before taking up the role of coach to world number one Novak Djokovic in 2013. And in the summer of 2014, he guided the player to his second Wimbledon title.

But other career choices have had nothing to do with tennis. Becker is also a professional poker player. So what advice does he give people who are thinking about changing their working lives?

"Read a lot, speak a lot to people that know more than you." And most importantly: "Give yourself the time and think a lot about what you want to do with the rest of your life."

"Trust your instincts. Be surrounded by the right people. Be open-minded about it. Don't expect that every decision you make is going to be successful. Be gutsy about it."

Next

So that's Boris Becker's advice. But what about you? In the next activity, you get your chance to tell us about a career move you made.