Shropshire man swaps job hunting for a new career as a DJ
After facing repeated job rejections, 54-year-old Carl Mitchell has turned his passion for house music into a new career, with an ambitious goal to land a DJ gig in Ibiza and support Severn Hospice
A Shropshire man who struggled to find work despite having years of business experience and professional qualifications has embarked on a new challenge – becoming a DJ and house music producer, with his sights set on Ibiza.
Carl Mitchell has also pledged to donate 20 per cent of the revenue he receives from sales of all his tracks in 2026 to Severn Hospice.
The 54-year-old decided to take a different path after facing repeated rejections from job applications, despite holding a first-class honours degree and having more than 20 years’ experience running his own businesses.
His career achievements include winning Marketing of the Year at the British Hairdressing Business Awards, but he found himself struggling to secure his next opportunity.
Concerned that his age might be affecting his prospects, Carl decided to stop waiting for a job offer and pursue a long-standing passion for house music instead.
Drawing on his marketing experience, he built his own website and began learning how to DJ and produce music.
He has already released two tracks, Roll Up and Be My Lover, and has set himself a 12-month challenge to secure a DJ gig in Ibiza.
Carl is documenting his progress on his YouTube channel, sharing what he learns as he works towards his goal.
He hopes his story will encourage others, particularly those in midlife who feel they have been overlooked, to consider starting something new.
He said: "I want people in midlife who feel they've been pushed aside to know they can begin again and build something around what they care about. And I want younger people to know their goals are worth pursuing too.
"You don't have to follow just one path through life."