The Birthday Party That Got Me Thinking About Work, Money and Priorities

I went to a 50th birthday party on Saturday night. The kind of event where most people don’t know each other that well, so the same two questions got rolled out like clockwork:

1. “Where do you live?”

2. “What do you do for a living?”

It struck me how universally these questions land. Not because they’re particularly imaginative, but because our job and our postcode are two of the most socially acceptable ways to anchor ourselves in a conversation. It’s where we live, and what we do. It’s how we’re defined before anyone even knows our name.

We spend a third of our lives at work! 35 to 50 hours a week, 47 weeks of the year, until we retire. It's no surprise our jobs and careers are one of the first things we talk about.

But it got me thinking.

This was a lovely party with good food, flowing drinks, party games, balloons, the works. But let’s do the maths – between travel, gifts, drinks, hotel rooms for the out-of-towners, new outfits, childcare, dog sitters and brunch the next morning, most couples easily spent a couple of hundred quid, if not more, for one night. No grumbles, no hesitation – just part of the social contract of being a good friend.

But here’s the thing.

Among the small talk and surface-level banter, I had a few deeper chats. A few people were out of work, a few knew their roles were at risk, and one or two admitted they hated their jobs and felt completely stuck. And in those moments, behind the smiles and prosecco, you could see it. The stress. The worry. The nights spent lying awake wondering what the hell to do next.

Their careers weren’t just small talk. They were front and centre in their minds.

But here’s what really stood out – while everyone was happy to splash out on the party, how many of them had invested anything in their career or job prospects?

Now, this isn’t about guilt-tripping anyone. We all need to let our hair down. But it does speak to something deeper.

Interestingly, the career services industry in the UK is worth around £130 million a year, and our research suggests about 23% of professionals have invested in career services such as CV writing, interview coaching and career planning. It’s far from rare – we’re talking a solid footfall of professionals and executives – but it’s still not mass market.

But should it be?

It’s not a niche thing anymore. It’s not just for executives or people in crisis. Career services have become the kind of support smart professionals use to get ahead, prepare for change, or simply stay sharp.

Because let’s be honest – your career isn’t just a thing you talk about at parties. It’s the engine behind your whole life.

▪️It pays your mortgage

▪️It keeps the heating on

▪️It pays for the summer holiday

▪️It covers the vet bills

▪️It buys the wine and the nights out

And did you know the average person in the UK spends over £500 a month on their car? That’s £6000 per annum or about £350,000 over their lifetime.

And it’s not just about the money either. When things are going well in your career, it boosts your confidence, your energy, your sense of direction. You walk a little taller. But when it’s not? When work becomes a source of stress or instability? It eats away at you. It bleeds into your health, your relationships, your sleep, your self-esteem. It clouds everything.

So maybe we need a reset. Maybe the next time you're about to drop £200 on a one-off event, it’s worth asking yourself a bigger question:

What have I done to support the one thing that underpins my entire financial security and mental wellbeing?

Because if your career is on shaky ground, everything else starts to wobble too.

It doesn’t have to be dramatic. It might just be booking a session with a coach. Getting a CV properly written. Investing in a LinkedIn revamp. Or finally having that conversation about what you want from your next role.

Whatever it is, it might be the best return on investment you make this year.

Funnily enough, Sue from the party is transitioning from her education sector career to something else yet to be defined. After a quick chat, she’s all in on career coaching and having her CV professionally written.

If you want to be like Sue, you know where we are.