If you started your career in your forties

[Turefu]

Have you ever reached 100k mark? Inspired by other thread, I started this one.

Bump

Does that mean the answer is no? 😂

Very close to. Started at 39 a new career in technology. Background was marketing. Absolutely love it but had no right really to have been given the job I got. But luckily it suits me well and I’ve learned fast.

I know several people who have - though in almost all of the cases it was leaving a career in the public sector which accounted for being able to make the income leaps. And all in London. It depends on what you’re starting your new career in and whether it’s one where £100k is a perfectly attainable mid-level salary after a decade or so of commitment and progression, or one where that’s an outlier salary for a very senior and competitive post.

Hi! I’m in banking, but low grade, processing. Not entry level, but low. I want to go into accountancy. I live in Yorkshire, where salaries are lower. I don’t realistically expect £100k. I want to know about people , who made successful career change in their forties without having vast experience from previous one and large financial outlay.

Well no not earning any where near that amount, but between 43 and 47 have doubled my salary. Kids growing so more ability to upskill, switch jobs and take on added responsibilities. I now love my job.

That’s the message I’m looking for 😊 @mumonthehill can you say, what you do and what did you do before ?

Worked for charities all the way through, but have gradually looked to move to gain experience in areas I lacked until I got my current post which covers a big area of the UK. In my current role I have had significant pay rises by being promoted and taking all courses or training offered. Having older dc definitely gave me the head space to think of myself and what I needed out of work and to be proactive in getting it. I am no big earner on the MN scale but have progressed and found that I have increased in confidence.

There’s nothing to stop you from starting your accountancy training in your 40s, just bear in mind that it takes 3 years of being on a low ‘trainee’ salary (in London this is £30-35k, my guess is it would be around £25k outside London).

To be honest, my current salary is so low, that I honestly don't think it'll make much difference. I've been with my current employer five years and I've got good benefits. My other option is to stay with current employer and push for promotions.

Hello! An update from me. I’m starting the new job in two weeks. I’ve got a call from the recruitment company about vacancy as accounting assistant in the local workplace. I went for the interview and they offered me the job. I’m very happy about it, but also worried, as I’m loosing stability of employment and nice team. It’s not easy decision at 46. I’m got back to reading books and preparing to exams!

Congratulations 🥳

Thank you @misssunshine4040 !

I was a sahm for over a decade, started my career properly in late 30s. After 4 years I went from a part time 8k role to a full time fully remote role at 52k plus bonus. My original goal was 50k by 50, but I've achieved that already, so I'm aiming for 6 figures by 60 now. I have mapped my progression and feel quietly confident I can make it.

I have reached my goals so far with a mixture of luck, confidence, and determination. I'm in sales enablement and training. I try to pay it forward through offering mentoring with others looking to progress in the field of learning and development.

@Turefu Congratulations!

@NineToFiveish Do you mind me asking what you do? When you mention learning and development, are you in education?

@NineToFiveish , what's a inspiring story! Please tell us some more. I honestly believe there's no enough support for later starters. Many women raise their families first and then think/ been told it's too late for them to have careers in their own right. It's sad and simply wrong, forty-something still have twenty years of working.

Sorry, lost the thread!

Basically, about 5 years ago, I joined a tiny org as the admin. My role expanded into creating, running, and marketing the elearning courses based on the company owner's face to face training. (Niche field)

The revenue for the elearning was easily 70% of the total for the business, and I felt like I ought to have a bit more training than just self-taught info, so asked for funding to take a level 5 CIPD course in Learning and Development. That qualification helped me realise I'd outgrown my time there, and I secured a position in a larger org after 2 years there. It helped that they payed me a LOT more, too! After a year there, I moved to an even larger corporate with a big L&D team, in a role that allowed me to lead on large, influential projects. Job titles don't mean a whole lot in L&D, but I went from designing training modules, to designing full programmes, and my new role has more of a business partnering element to it, so a strategic role, which I'm excited about.

I was paid 8k in the admin/head of L&D role (part time), then moved to 31k, then 40k, and now 52k.

I was lucky that I had hotly marketable skills at just the right time during and post Covid, when training (like everything else) went fully remote/digital. And I've job hopped to get the roles and pay I really wanted. The level 5 certificate was also really valuable.

I worked in Accountancy from my mid twenties but was always blocked for promotion by my lack of qualifications.

At 42, with my DD leaving home, I decided to do something about it. I studied CIMA alongside my full time job, going to college in London at weekends. Passed all 15 exams (had one exemption) first time and qualified at 45.

In the following years I achieved 2 FD posts, and then moved into Consultancy. By 50 I was earning well over £100k p.a.

Started my career at 40 earning 13k. At 45 I will be on 37k. Nowhere near the 100k but a decent jump. Unfortunately I've chosen a sector where 100k is definitely not the norm but I'm hoping to start some training soon which will open up opportunities later on.

Thanks @NineToFiveish, very much my hoped-for direction so that's really helpful! and well done :)

Thanks, @alargeoneforme - and good luck!

@Swarmingbees Thank you for sharing. How did you move into consultancy? You’ve set up your own business?

@Turefu

I have always focused on Network and maintaining contact with people who inspire me.

I pitched for a contract to set up an overseas business for someone I had worked for many years before. The personal knowledge of my work / capabilities meant I won the bid. I then set up my own Consultancy and expanded my portfolio on the back of bringing that first contract in on budget and ahead of time.

Relationships are everything along with slightly undercommitting and over delivering !!

So glad I found this thread. After raising my family I'm just about to start university at age 44, and have been doubting myself all summer.