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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask if you can make a new successful career in your 30s

95 replies

ciceroscribe · 30/04/2016 14:34

O pr is it just too late especially if you have or want children as well?

OP posts:
Stopyourhavering · 04/05/2016 13:36

DH retrained as a Barrister in his late 30's after several yrs in medicine!....now earns much more ( after a few crap years!)

MeMySonAndl · 04/05/2016 15:22

I have been trying for a few years, but then reality kicks in and I had to let go of the dream for yet another year, to ensure we can keep a roof over our head.

I'm too trained to retrain. I just hope that people could look into experience and transferable skills, before they dismiss you on the basis of being over qualified (and no, when I ask for jobs that I am qualified for, I'm dismissed in the grounds of not having recent experience).

Sigh... And then you see the girl with no experience or qualifications that got the job and you wonder why did you bother Sad

MeanwhileHighAboveTheField · 04/05/2016 16:02

Watching with interest!

123lekl · 05/05/2016 16:20

Absolutely not in my experience..... I was. A teacher until I was 31 and then completely started again (second undergraduate degree, further training etc.). I'm now enjoying a whole new different life/ career and it's great. I had 2 kids in my 20s and then another one mid training at 32 Smile

123lekl · 05/05/2016 19:06

Not impossible*

mmmminx · 05/05/2016 19:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BuntyCollocks · 05/05/2016 23:03

I've just given up a career in banking due to bullying, had been at manager level. I'm now hoping to retrain. I'll be 33 if I get accepted back to uni. So, I hope so!

Blossom591 · 06/05/2016 09:08

Working for a corporate or public sector organisation, often alongside facilities/HR. They advise on things like fire safety, safe working, building projects, ensuring the organisation is compliant with health and safety legislation and regulations. There is a severe shortage of specialists. Remuneration is good too

Beau can I ask where that info is from? (esp shortage/rename ration) I want to look into it further sounds interesting

Selenatwins · 06/05/2016 11:28

No, I became a transcriber when I was 31 and am now doing it full-time, with 9 year old twins. Now thinking about doing accounting or at least book-keeping next year (aged 36)

motherinferior · 06/05/2016 11:36

I became a moderately successful journalist in my mid-30s. Had my first baby at 37.

rockchick78 · 06/05/2016 14:04

I went back to college at 28, trained in something completely different... I'm 37 now and have never looked back! Do it!!!

Vitchling · 06/05/2016 16:54

I'm 54 now and I've changed career three times, quite successfully each time.

I've been a computer repair engineer, a computer disaster recovery service salesman and for the last 20 years a self-employed computer disaster recovery consultant.

In each case I drew on my previous knowledge and experience to help me move to the next career and I worked hard to "learn the ropes". Stuff I didn't know. In the move to sales I relied heavily on others to teach me. There was more than I could imagine that I didn't know. Surprisingly though, my engineering background and lack of "salesyness" made me a hit with customers and I did very well.

I'd say that changing career at any age is doable if you put the effort in and are prepared to learn but first I think you need to think carefully about your choice of new career.

If you believe you're really going to enjoy it you'll be totally motivated to learn and become good at it. A success.

If you're not sure or you're doing it to escape a career you don't like then maybe you need to think a bit longer. Look at your strengths and weaknesses. Ask around. Do some research.

It takes a lot of guts to change career. It is risky but if you believe in yourself and you want it badly enough you'll probably do great :)

Good luck!

StrandedStarfish · 06/05/2016 23:29

I started my midwifery training at 38. Eight years later I won a regional specialist award. Some careers are enhanced by a bit of life experience. I've never regretted my career change. I don't make as much money as I did before but I do love my job

Eiram49 · 07/05/2016 23:12

I went to uni at the age of 38 to undertake social work degree. On starting, I had two daughters and in my first year had daughter no 3 and in my third year, daughter no 4! Now work full time as a social worker and single parent of four - anything is doable if you want it enough, regardless of age.

Momamum · 07/05/2016 23:48

Ok, I'd no 'need' to work for money, so had a pretty hedonistic life dedicated to the pursuit of fun, great! But then, hitting 40, I got tired of doing nothingConfused. but I'd always loved being in my garden, I'm naturally tidy, realised that there was a gap in the market for a 'lady gardener' for elderly widows whose husbands had always maintained their gardens, and that was the very beginning of my gardening business. I started about this time of year 10yrs ago, simply tidying up gardens, planting troughs, hanging baskets, whatever.
I joined a gardening forum, learned loads about plants, soil and stuff., met some peeps who were good at tree pruning etc I could use as contacts and so on, and now, at 52, I'm a go-to person in my area to do gardening work or to recommend someone who can do whatever the client wants. Not bad, eh, for someone who'se only doing what she actually likes doing anyway? And, btw, it's extremely lucrative!
So I'd say....think of what you like doing, and start thinking round how you can turn your interest to your advantage.

It worked for me.

Good luck with whatever you doFlowers

Memunchiesanomanomnom · 08/05/2016 01:07

People are undertaking nursing courses in their 40's and early 50's. You,re never too old to learn.

zippyswife · 08/05/2016 07:24

This is a wonderful thread! So many ideas and positive stories! moma I had suggested a similar gardening idea to dh last year after I planned the landscaping of our garden and started to enjoy gardening. He laughed at me and told me I would never get employed. You have inspired me to reconsider!

TheoriginalLEM · 08/05/2016 07:41

I am 45. i haven't really had the career as such. Was a single mum at 19. College at 24 then university. a year working then did PhD. never got an actual job in the field and have been sahm to dd2 for ten years.

Am niw returning to work as a vet nurse and will be completing my training on the job. It will take 3 years Shock and i can't wait to be a student again.

JaneAkshar · 14/05/2016 18:54

Good heavens giving up at 30.

I changed career at
25 moving from engineering to computers
48 moving from computers to tourism
59 half moving from tourism(few tourists in Egypt) to web design

listen to Granny Akshar you are only limited by yourself

Rebecca2014 · 14/05/2016 19:02

Will be starting a social worker degree at age 27, first proper 'career', had jobs before

Your never too old change careers.

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