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Original poster

Anyone else feel they havebt achieved what they hoped for career wise in their forties?

4 replies

Enchanted82 · 18/05/2024 21:12

lately I’ve been giving myself a hard time for not being where I thought I would career wise by this time in my life. (40) married, one child (7) had a good Education but just fell into jobs, never really knowing what I wanted and now I am middle management with decent pay but nothing to write home about. Feel a failure for not having followed a vocation but current job is do flexible and allows me to have an excellent work/life balance. I could go and get more money but it will be the same tho g different company just more money.
just wondered if there’s anyone else who feels like this?

OP posts:
MotherofChaosandDestruction · 18/05/2024 21:14

I feel exactly the same but my life is busy with my children and they are more important than money/career so I'm trying not to beat myself up about it. I'm paid well and it's flexible but know i can do more, I've signed up for more CPD and am thinking of applying for promotions soon but it's daunting to be honest.

BiddyPop · 19/05/2024 13:11

At 40, I was doing the same role for 5 years and already trying for promotion. 1 DC already in school. DH needing to travel overseas 50% for work due to economic crisis so I was keeping the home fires burning.

I kept trying for that promotion and finally got it 2 years ago. And last year, I finally got my chance for the overseas role.

So as I literally turn 50 this year, I am feeling fulfilled for the first time in a long time.

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 19/05/2024 13:16

This was me at 42.
I was honestly despairing at my lack of career ladder and was on 16k pro rata and had masses of time out for kids. Less than a decade later I’m on 99k, my kids are older and I am in a stressful job but which also gives me total flexibility. It’s swings and roundabouts. I would never have seen this at 40.
My point is, it’s ok to feel that way but things can change. I changed my job. And increased my hours and leaned in (sorry for the phrase). I realised quickly that I hadn’t been doing that before, but by doing so I raised both my game and my career very quickly. You can do this.

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Freckles81 · 01/08/2024 14:57

SilverBranchGoldenPears · 19/05/2024 13:16

This was me at 42.
I was honestly despairing at my lack of career ladder and was on 16k pro rata and had masses of time out for kids. Less than a decade later I’m on 99k, my kids are older and I am in a stressful job but which also gives me total flexibility. It’s swings and roundabouts. I would never have seen this at 40.
My point is, it’s ok to feel that way but things can change. I changed my job. And increased my hours and leaned in (sorry for the phrase). I realised quickly that I hadn’t been doing that before, but by doing so I raised both my game and my career very quickly. You can do this.

What role did you transition to in later life, and did it require re-training at all?

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