This episode of the Become an IDOL podcast features Michael Shackleton, an instructional designer who transitioned into the field after 14 years of teaching. Michael shares his journey of discovering instructional design, enrolling in the IDOL Academy, and building his portfolio and skills. He discusses his application process, interviews he went through, and how he landed his first job as a learning content designer at a large company in Manchester. Michael offers advice to others looking to make a career change, emphasizing the importance of being yourself, accepting feedback, and pursuing your passions. Tune in to find out: How Michael discovered instructional design after leaving his teaching career and enrolled in the IDOL Academy to gain the skills needed for a career change How through applying to over 100 jobs, participating in interviews, and learning from each experience, Michael was able to land a fulfilling role as a learning content designer where he gets to be creative Michael's advice to others pursuing a career change - to pursue your passions, be yourself throughout the process, and view feedback as an opportunity for improvement rather than a criticism Connect with Michael on LinkedIn Are you looking for a no-nonsense formula for creating engaging courses and training? Check out my new book, The Do It Messy Approach: A Step-by-Step Guide for Instructional Designers and Online Learners (IDOLs) on Amazon.