Career change in late 40s?

[Whereisme]

I’m a senior manager in the public sector. I have always worked at universities or in the NHS. I don’t hate my job, but not excited or inspired by it. However, it pays well, has good pension options and is really flexible. I would really like to do something else, but no idea what and also really scared about change. Also I keep thinking that I would be silly to leave something that has the benefits I listed above. Should I just stay where I am? And am I too old to do something else? Would love to hear from others who have changed career.

I hope you are not too old as I am 50 now but took the plunge and am working in a different but relafed field 3 years ago. There is still more I want to do with my career so I hope 50 is not too old!

I pivoted at 47. Best thing I ever did.

I'm 47 and strongly thinking of leaving teaching this year after 26 years. Don't have a clue what to do but it's taking a major toll on me.

Thank you everyone for your replies. For those who have changed what made you do it?
Funnily enough teaching is one of the things that has crossed my mind, but hear so much negativity about it.
I really want to do something that makes a difference.

You’re definitely not too old. I left my PhD level academic job after 20 years. Unfortunately, that was partly due to ill health, but I was so done. I’m retraining now at 45.

Assuming I live that long, I’ll be working til I’m 65/70, so that’s another 20-25 years. Why spend all those years hating going to work?

I think it’s important that you know what you want to do though.

Speaking as someone in my early forties in the private/creative industries with great job satisfaction but almost zero useful pension saving, I wouldn’t.

i would spend the next 5-7 years maximising your pension and then claim it from 55 and retrain/try something else with that lifelong security in the bag first.

I am very very worrrid about my retirement and won’t financially be able to slow down until I’m in my seventies earliest

I’m a teacher in my late forties and, if you get the right school, it’s a great career.

I changed career at 48. I went to college to retrain and was in the most amazing and interesting group of people (aged 35 to 65) all of whom were changing career at that stage in their life. I qualified, started my own business in my new field and it was a complete new lease of life for me.

What made me do it? My previous career lasted over 25 years and I'd loved it up until the point when I'd just had enough. The realisation hit that if I carried on then the next year would be just like the last and I might have another 20 years of that ahead of me. I wanted something new, a challenge, something to excite me and I had a life long hobby that I was desperate to turn into a career.

The pay is less, the reward is amazing.

I have to say that many of the people on my course were from healthcare and education backgrounds and wanted out.

Everyone I know who has gone into teaching as a second career loves it.

My dad went into teaching as a second career and absolutely thrived.

I really want to do something that makes a difference.

Do that in your spare time. Volunteering means you get to do the parts you enjoy and that feel fulfilling without all the stuff that drags you down when it's your full time source of income. All the politics and admin and non-enjoyable tasks that have to be done. Endless political interference in teaching (yes, some people love it but it doesn't live up to the "changing lives" fantasy for many more).

I do think you would be daft to abandon the benefits and financial security you have now - plus all the advantages of being established in a career rather than bottom of the heap learning and proving yourself - especially if your only objective is to add more meaning into your life.

Your job pays the bills, it's not there to meet all your needs as a person. There are so many different ways to make a difference in the world and find meaning, satisfaction and purpose in the rest of your life.

Have you looked at volunteering?

A reality check about passion jobs/careers:

https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20230509-is-it-time-to-quit-your-passion-job

A lot of food for thought.

I used to be a nurse which was what I always wanted to be. However, left as it was breaking me.I have no idea of the amount of unpaid hours I worked! So I guess I already left my passion job many years ago.

Not set on teaching, just an idea I keep mulling over.

Not sure I am brave enough to leave my current job. I am lucky in the fact that between my husband and myself we are financially secure. Just worried about making a massive mistake!

A few thoughts. We probably can’t draw down on pensions until 57/58 as I think the age is changing. There is an article in the times today re those doing teaching training as a second, later in life career - so that may interest you. Finally, nursing has changed immensely in the last 20 years. There are more day roles, with specialist nurse roles, more practice nurses etc. So even if you went back for a retraining programme there might be more varied roles available.

I retrained as a primary school teacher in my mid-forties. I love it and I work at an amazing school.

I took a different role in a different team, but within my existing organisation. The change of responsibility, learning new skills and my lovely new colleagues makes it feel like a career change. But safer!

Teaching is very similar in terms of hours. It's also physically tough. Even the people I know who career changed into teaching didn't stay because reality didn't match their dream.

Honestly there are so many rewarding things you can do as a volunteer. I would explore that first to find your excitement and inspiration.

Those who changed careers, what do you do now?