Am I approaching this the wrong way?

I work in digital transformation, primarily providing consultancy services to different sectors of the UK government. As a typical government contractor (previously self-employed, IR35 concerns, and all that), it’s a rather insular environment with the same recruitment agencies dominating the space.

I’m registered with several recruitment agencies in the UK, but as I near 50, I’m eager to explore new industries and pursue work that brings me joy. Unfortunately, my conversations with recruiters have mostly resulted in offers for similar roles in different departments or through various umbrella companies—essentially the same job, just with a new name. There’s no excitement in that.

I would love to have a discussion with a recruiter who could help me explore alternative career paths based on my skills and experiences, but they often seem disinterested or unable to help me identify other fields I could move into.

I should mention that I’m unclear about what specific job I want to pursue. I know the kinds of attributes I’d like in a role, but I have no idea what the job title would be or what options are available.

So, is it me, or am I just not connecting with the right people?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!