To want a new career at 58?

[Trewser]

Perhaps "career" is a bit hopeful. It's a pipe dream, isn't it? In five years I could leave my current job in a family business and do something else. I'd need to earn money. Has anyone ever changed direction in their 50s?

It will be very difficult - depending on what you fancy doing - because by the time you are 58 you will have less than 10 years until you can claim your pension. You may be lucky to find a company willing to take you on (after all how many youngsters stay in a job for 10 years?) but it won't be easy.

Thanks. Yes, of course its a pipe dream! Might just have to find a new fulfilling hobby instead!

I think about it sometimes as well. It would be nice. Then I think actually I can't be arsed. Have a nap and it'll all go away! Still...

Have a nap and it'll all go away! ha ha yes exactly.

I'm bored, that's the problem.

Too early to say in my case, but I keep being told it's never too late! Of course it depends on a lot of things, and as others have reflected it might not be easy if you just want to walk into a permanent role somewhere (although there are some employers with a specifically positive policy towards more 'mature' workers). One route to consider is having a 'portfolio career', perhaps with several freelance jobs, managing your own time, working from home etc. The following site may or may not be useful (but I'm sure there must be plenty else online about it): www.careershifters.org/

The hardest thing is probably taking a leap into the unknown. Obviously if you can minimise risk in the process (e.g. reduce hours in existing job to allow retraining whilst still working) then all the better. Otherwise it takes some bravery, but many, many people have taken the leap and never looked back... I suppose if the determination's there, you make it work.

Good luck.

Friend of mine is going to be 70 this week. At 57 she took on a new career, followed what she loved and was good at, and at 68 was appointed as Education Director in a charity. She is vibrant, energetic, enthusiastic and loves her life more now than she did when she was a menopausal 50 year old.

I know others whose lives have been slowly declining since their mid 40s.

And I know which camp I'd rather be in...

Go for it!

Do you need an actual career change or just a new job? Could you use your skills and experience in a different environment?

It really depends on the career in question and what you are doing now. If you want to move sectors but stay in a similar role it should be doable but if you want to do something completely new it will have to be something low skilled with a short qualifying time.

Could you earn enough money by giving your experience to a company in a more junior role?

We had a really fascinating guy apply for our finance role who might have been brilliant for certain things. We couldn't have paid him what he was worth, but he was genuinely happy with the junior role we advertised because he thought it was more compatible with the end of his career.

The only snag was he would only be there for a year and we were in desperate need of stability, but if he'd had a few years to offer it would have been brilliant!

Go for it op! Everyone is working for longer nowadays so you may as well enjoy it!

In my case paid employment has not been easy (expat issues so work minimum hrs current) but right at this moment I am planning and preparing to start my own small enterprise in 2021 when (God willing) I'll be 57! I want to keep it going for at least a decade if I can. I have older sisters and they are both extremely active and inspiring and busier then ever!

You could easily work for another 20 years so I say go for it!

Do you know what you want to do?

Is it the kind of thing you could do/learn on the side for the time being?