28 year old too late to start a new career?

[paris332]

Being furloughed has given me a reality check. I've been a makeup artist for 8 years now. My true passion is animal care and I regret not going to uni to do a vet nurse course. I've had time to research courses, it will take a few years, I have a chunk of money saved which was meant to be for a house as I'm still at home. However, am I too old now to start a serious career change? I want to have children too. DP encourages me to go for it and we'll worry about buying a house later, he just wants me to be happy. IDK what to do?

[Tableclothing]

Go for it. I retrained mid 30s, my neighbour retrained in his 50s. It's pretty normal to have a few different careers now (what with retirement age moving later and later...)

[SlothRunner]

You are 28, not 88. Go for it

[BlingLoving]

Gosh, you're definitely not too old. And it's excellent that you have a supportive DP.

Also, depending on your course, you could help finance your training by working part time or on a freelance basis? A friend went part time for a while so she could retrain (although not as hardcore as a vet nurse) but it helped a lot with the financial implications.

Good luck. I think it's brilliant you want to do this.

[FOJN]

You have 40 years of working life ahead of you and only 8 behind you, now would seem like a very good time to do it. Times have changed, you may have yet another career before your working life is over.
Go for it and good luck

[Embracelife]

28 is nothing. Go for it.
You can retrain again in your 40s if you want to

[covidco]

Do it.

I was 29 when I retrained. I don't regret a second of it. I'm now 36 and know it was absolutely the right move for me. I'm in management now and absolutely love it.

[grannycake]

I went to university when I was 40 and then trained as a teacher. You are definitely not too old

[Rhapsodyinpurple]

Another one saying go for it. You are definitely young enough to make the change.

[lemontreebird]

Go for it.

Check out how many weeks' animal experience you may need.

[StrawberryRaven]

I'm in my early 40s and retraining for a career that takes at least 5 years to get the qualifications needed. Go for it!

My aunt retrained as a doctor in her late fifties! She's now a successful consultant in a hospital!

[HollowTalk]

@strawberryraven - how old was she when she qualified? I thought it took at least a decade after qualifying before you'd be considered as a consultant.

[Annamaria14]

God 28 is so young

[StrawberryRaven]

I'm not sure tbh, she is 67 now and still working... she perhaps qualified as a junior doctor earlier than late 50s then. Either way, I still find it so inspiring! She completely lives for it!

[francienolan]

Go for it!

My mother retrained to be a teacher at 45. She's still at it 15 years later and loves it. It's never too late if it's something you want to do.

[MojoMoon]

You are not too old! Maybe in three decades you might consider being too old. You have another 40 years of working life ahead of you

You don't have to go to uni to become a vet nurse. You can be apprenticed (study part time alongside work) etc so do look into your full range of options before committing to a uni course.

[MiniMonkey72]

I had an epiphany whilst furloughed too. Same age as you, married with a ds. I've found a school to volunteer in come September (fingers crossed) so I can get experience for teacher training. My thinking was now or never and once the decision was made felt like a weight off my shoulders. We were/are also saving for a house and we decided that my happiness was more important, a house can wait. You can certainly do it. Good luck in whatever you decide 😊

[Crystaltree]

Age isn't an issue. I do think you should be more broad in your thinking though. Veterinary nursing is extremely competitive to get into, even to get an internship, and also poorly paid. There are other ways to work with animals. Look at the job market and wages before making a big investment of time and money.

[Pipandmum]

Too old? My sister decided to become a doctor at about that age after getting her degree in writing and working for a few years. I got a masters in counselling at 30. It's almost a given that people will have more than one career. Much easier to retrain before you have kids!

[Annamaria14]

The idea that we could only do one job for life is long gone.

Most people change careers now

[Wattagoose90]

28 isn't too old at all. You've got about 35-40 working years left, that's a lot of time to not feel truly fulfilled by a career. Don't spend any more time regretting the career choices you've made, make the change!

[amijustparanoidorjuststoned]

Hi OP,

It's NEVER too late. I retrained two years ago (aged then 27) to become a beautician having been in admin/PA jobs my whole life. Best thing I ever did. Good luck

[Khadernawazkhan]

Stop fishing for compliments!! You're young! I'm retraining for a completely new career right now, aged 46. Health permitting, I'd like need to work until I'm 76. :)

[MushroomTree]

I hope not because I'm 28 and retraining in HR. Good luck!

[Singlebutmarried]

43 here and studying for financial exams!!

Wish I’d have found my job at 28!

[TheChippendenSpook]

Definitely not! After 20+ years in childcare I gave it up to do something that was connected to my volunteering role. Best thing I ever did!