Tell me about your career change

[Eldermileniummam]

I'm thinking about a slight change in career, related to what I do but completely different job, think doctor to teaching medical students...

I'd love to hear your experiences if you've changed career

Switched from coding to graphic designer to counselling to property development but I’ve got ADHD. I’ve got 4 degrees, no kids obvs 😂 edited to add I’m not rich either, self funded through always working and studying simultaneously

I changed career at 50. My first career was in corporate law which I'd thoroughly enjoyed to the extent that through my 30s I thought I'd never retire. Through my 40s I increasingly tired of it, the lifestyle, pressure and by 50 I realised that if I stayed another year it would be just like the last. My older colleagues all seemed exhausted, jaded and bored and I didn't want that to be me.

All my life I've been a keen gardener so I studied with the RHS and worked as a gardener for a decade, firstly for the National Trust and then I ran my own gardening business.

My salary dropped considerably but in every way the change, new challenge and breath of fresh air (literally) was worth it. A real eye opener was how different the people I trained and worked with all were. In my previous career everyone was similar - school, training, mindset - in horticulture you have such a mix of people - all ages, backgrounds, reasons for being there from vocation-switching vicars to folk doing community service. That was an unexpected joy.

I would really recommend starting again to anyone.

Sounds like a lot! Did you feel better each time and are you happy with your current career?

That sounds amazing! I'm a lawyer too in my early 40s and like you I enjoyed my career for years but it all feels like a lot now especially with young children. I'm thinking of making a move that will mean less money but I don't think that's the most important thing.

What surprised me was how much I saved when I wasn't compensating myself for the stress, long hours, travel etc. I'd wasted so much money on stuff like new shoes to cheer me up after a hard day, expensive holidays to escape the rat race and sooooo many bottles of wine and takeaways grabbed on the way home.

I found that once the idea that I could do something else/better came into my head it was stuck there and I couldn't turn it off.

Even if you’re not planning to retrain, you may find the Mature Study and Retraining board helpful, @Eldermileniummam. Countless experiences of career change.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

I’ve found that career shifts feel less scary when I hear how others mapped theirs out, even if it’s in a totally different field. I’ve read things like how to start a plumbing business just to see how people break big changes into small steps, and it helped. Talking to a few people already doing the job you’re eyeing also gives you a clearer picture of the day to day.

Most of us in our extended family have changed careers successfully. DH initially took a huge drop in salary but it worked out and he was much happier and successful in his new career.