to consider a change of career at my age? dh thinks so

[lilitaly]

i'm 43, and have worked in logistics/distribution for most of my life. in the last few years, it's been co-ordination duties for ad hoc projects - i do a lot of client facing stuff too - heavily focused on new business side of things (not at the sales side though, i can't sell!).

dh works for the same co. - warehouse work - that's how we met but we don't work on the same site, i'm at head office, and he's at one of the distribution centres.

a new (internal) vacancy has come up which they've decided not to advertise externally until after chrismas if they can't fill it. it's a role where the job title is as a business analyst - normally i wouldn't pay much attention to moving jobs as i'm quite content (if a bit bored) where I am - but i read the job description on the intranet on friday lunchtime and for the first time in years my heart gave a little flutter of excitement. it sounds like it's the sort of thing i've been moving into on an informal level for about 5 years, but technically i'm still under my same job title ('project co-ordinator' in my contract)

i want to apply, but i'm not sure if i'm being daft! and my stomach has been in knots all weekend about it.

Pro's are:
the actual duties involved aren't that far removed from what i'm expected to do already
training is covered (don't know what that entails though)
the starting wage is £19k more than i'm on right now
i'd apply as an internal candidate, so maybe a good reference from my boss would count strongly?

Con's:
job ad says international travel maybe needed (who'd look after the kids if i was away and DH was on shifts?)
i'm suspicious at the salary listed - either i've been underpaid hugely all these years or the duties involved are much more complex than i've picked up on?
i don't have a degree, so don't meet 1 of the essential bits of criteria
as DH says, would i be able to cope with extra pressure or training courses at my age? i haven't been in any formal eduaction for 20 years - what if i apply, get it, and can't cope?

am i totally mad to consider applying for this? i don't really have anything to lose - do I?

Go for it!

Definitely apply. You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain. If they don't think you're the right applicant for the job you won't get it, simple as that. But if you don't apply you'll never know. I'm sure you could sort out any additional childcare using the extra £19k . Any queries regarding salary/training/duties can be cleared up during the interview and if you then decide you don't want the role you don't have to accept it if offered. The interview process is as much for the applicant to find out if they want the role as it is for the company to find the right applicant.

Do you think your DH could be slightly envious of your skills and ambition? I know you say he's supportive but if he really was, he'd be encouraging you to apply and be helping you with the application.

Go for it, and let us know how you get on (nosy but also professionally interested)

Definitely go for it!
On the degree requirements, I'm
Not sure they can state specifically you need one as its indirect discrimination. 15-20 years ago, few people (particularly women, at the risk of being controversial) had degrees unless it was medicine/science, not like today where everyone has one whether it's useful or not. I work in the public sector and it's 'degree or equivalent' ie experience.
Good luck!

And I bet your DH wouldn't turn down the extra £19k coming into the house!

Your DH sounds very unsupportive and downtrodden. It's one thing to be 'realistic' about your chances of getting the job, it's quite another to make you feel like you shouldn't even try for it!

You have so many advantages that not having a degree might not matter at all.

As others have said, make sure your application covers everything - all of your experience within the company, the parts of the job you are already doing, how you have upskilled over the time you have been there - you name it, get it in your CV!! I would, if it's not your thing, get it done professionally too (or get a friend in HR or whatever to look over it at least).

Of course you can cope with training at 43 FFS - or was that a typo and you're 93? Blimey - it actually sounds like he's a bit jealous or a bit worried about you 'moving up in the world' and no longer wanting to be with him. Do you think that with the extra money, extra kudos & travel - he might be feeling a bit insecure?

£19k more a year - childcare isn't an issue!

To not go for something that has given your heart a flutter of excitement would be utter madness!!

sod it, you're right

i am going to apply

thanks all - no one seems to think the idea is totally mad! which was what i was wondering.

i will update if i get anywhere (intranet says the deadline is 1st december)

thank you for the (much needed) confiidence boost!!

Yayyyyyy

Good Luck

Great!!

Can you update on this thread - then I wont miss it :)

My DP is a business analyst and I had not idea what that meant but am now aware that there are different sorts and it's quite versatile - lots of companies need them - so good experience for future applications and broadening your CV.

I find the idea that 43 is too late to change career hilarious, it isn't. It's about half way through a working life and there is so much more opportunity to develop, branch out and do different things. My Dad made a total career change at about the same age - using skills from original one, plus some voluntary re-training, to do a different job in another sector in another country and his wife did some major career development at the same time - so perhaps that's influenced my thinking about what's possible.

The lack of degree could be a hurdle but the fact that you're known and have a track record at the company will be in your favour and could be considered experience of equivalent value. Think about the skills that a degree provides, so what the employer will really be looking for. I'd suggest these include being self-motivated; able to plan and deliver work without heavy supervision; ability to identify, seek out, evaluate and summarise relevant information. It's generally the skills and proof of dedication to something that a degree conveys. My DP has one but in a subject bearing no relation to his work, as with many people.

Do it! Nothing to lose. Whatever happens you'll get a chance to find our more about the role and the company will register your interest in learning and progressing, so may keep you in mind for other opportunities.

Apply! What do you have to lose? If nothing else, it sends a signal to your current boss that you are interested in progression and doing more within your current workplace - which is a positive thing!

If your company is switched on, they will weight each application. Not having a degree will take 'points' away from you, but having intimate knowledge of the company and how to get things done will add 'points' to your application.

I am older that you and retraining as a teacher, you still have 20 working years ahead of you. Good luck and hope you get it!

Often jobs are advertised as needing 'degrees or equivalent'. I think with all your experience you would certainly have a good chance. Is it possible your husband is a tiny bit jealous- would it put you in a much higher wage bracket than him???

Go for it!

Go for it! You are not too old and the fact that you have 20 years work experience under your belt will count for a lot more than the degree itself.

I am 40 and I have just returned to education to enable me to embark on a new career. I was terrified that I would be making a mistake but it is one of the best decisions I have made in the last 10 years! (DCs aside, of course )

Glad you're going to apply - the experience you have gained will be invaluable, probably moreso than if you were fresh from doing a degree, as you know the business (this is an easy way to work round the 'required criteria' and sell yourself at the same time).

Best of luck with the application.

Even if you don't get this position, it will mark you out to the company as someone keen to progress and diversify what they do, and they will keep you in mind for future posts.

I applied for a job which I knew I didn't have the right qualifications for (or rather was just under the stage they required), but it worked exactly like that, marked me out as very ambitious, I have bided my time and I have been promoted/am progressing now.

Go for it, and as for too old as 43, words fail me (as someone in their early forties!)

I went for my final interview on Monday afternoon, yesterday. I got a phonecall this morning to say the job's mine if I want it - !!!!! 43 clearly isn't too past it for them

Turns out there were only a handful of internal candidates that applied (and from finding out some of them, none of them with as much hands on exp. of doing a lot of the new job's work as me, not to gloat too much), and they brought in a few external ones that had been kept on file since October BUT they've offered it to me!

Now to figure out the emergency childcare issue if I need to go away - but they've told me I'll always have a few weeks notice of when that is - so it's a nice kind of problem to have to solve - not impossible

COngratulations - what an excellent start to Christmas!

Congratulations - did not see you original thread, and was going to come on here and be all reasonable about being realistic. But as soon as I read the op, it was obvious you had to go for it!

Well done! You must be very proud and you dh should be too!

YAY! Good for you

It's great to read a happy ending to a thread, well done for being a risk-taker!

Congratulations! That's brilliant news and a super start to Christmas!

Just goes to show that if you're unsure about applying for a job but you really want it it's always worth a shot.

"Your age"?!?

Hell - at your age - I think just climb into a comfy armchair wearing slippers and wait for the grim reaper.

you sound like a classic woman - almost trying to undersell yourself.