AIBU to consider a change of career at 40?

[vivacian]

I read or heard something the other week about someone feeling that they were just done with their career. As in, they had just come to the end of the road with it.
Something clicked with me, and I realise I feel the same. I'm not burnt out, cynicism hasn't set in... it's just run its course for me.

But what to do? Do I dare leap from the top of this career ladder? How do I pay the bills?

Would love to hear your stories and advice.

@Retroflex sure you did.

I'll be 47 when I complete my career change transition. On a practical level I financed my career change by saving as much as I could prior to leaving my higher paying career. I took out every student loan & grant that I was entitled to. I then cut right back on my spending & outgoings as follows:
=I moved my mortgage to a three year fixed rate deal,
=I looked for the cheapest gas/electric fixed rate deal I could find and update this every year.
= Because I'm on a reduced income I am eligible for support with my water bills.
= No council tax to pay because I'm a student.
= I've cut back on my non-essential spending (no clothes, shoes purchased unless replacing worn out items)
=no holidays (I used to have two overseas holidays per year - I will recommence this when I've qualified),
=maximum two takeaways per month,
=I plan one night out per month with friends and this is normally a really cheap night. I've also stopped drinking.
=I've had to put on hold lots of non-essential DIY jobs around my house.
=I've consolidated my loans & credit card debt to one payment.
=I managed to find a part-time job with really flexible hours.
=I have a gym membership at a cheap 24hr gym.

I'm not going to lie, I've had several occasions moments where I've doubted my decision & cried into my pillow and wanted to run back to my previous career. It's been a tough couple of years but it will be worth it.

I help people retrain and change careers to become professional financial advisers. I love seeing people come out of the training being able to do a role I spent c15 years doing myself and help people make better financial decisions. We are keen to see more women join and there’s financial assistance too. I can’t promote on social media but you’re welcome to pm if it’s something that interests you. So, no YANBU ... go for it!!

@passthetequila

My friend retrained as a driving instructor last year at the age of 48 and he's doing very very well.

DH and I have both changed careers in our forties, having been made redundant in the same week when my son was six months old... It’s been an ideal time, as our kids are now at primary and we have the time and energy to devote to it.

I made it. Less money, but massive satisfaction.

Oh, this is just what I'm after. Thank you @ChristmassySpice @NurseButtercup and so many others who also posted encouragingly and honestly, I'm sorry I can't name-check you all.

@insertimaginativeusername thank you for persisting. I'm not in Scotland so your posts have been very helpful.

Thehop Sun 05-Jan-20 20:47:08
I’m 40, stuck in early years poverty and would love to get out....but can’t think where these skills could transfer!

You could do nursing or be a family support worker for children services.

I would love to retrain as a nurse. However I have a child with health issues and a condition which means I'm usually off once every 2 months on average for about a week with them (can be more frequent).

At the moment I am self employed which means I can work around it as and when, but I know the need to be off regularly will affect both my employability and I imagine I won't be a very attractive candidate for training.

Does anyone have experience of retraining/career change when you have dependents with additional needs?

I am planning to do this in a couple of years when I'll be 40. I'd do it now but the requirement to take regular and unpredictable time off is a huge factor. This should become less frequent in the future.

I qualified as a nurse at 40 and I wasn't the youngest in my cohort either

@vivacian you're welcome! following with interest as I've also considered a career change.

I’ve made a dramatic change. Money has been an issue while I’m building up my new business and I’ll have to admit, I’m not sure whether it’ll be profitable in the end either. I am happier as really did need a change.

Have a look at everydaybright.com - it’s full of excellent advice about career change. It’s important to figure out your core values as well as strengths, weaknesses, interests and personality type before you get stuck with another career you can’t stand a few years down the line.

Marianne Cantwell, Farnoosh Brock, Niall Doherty and Pamela Slim have excellent resources (books, websites) about career change or working for yourself.

It’s never too late to change direction. Ignore the Beige Army (as Marianne Cantwell calls them) who are merely a noisy, scared bunch of people will try to tell you otherwise.

Good luck!

I not so much re-trained as trained in my career in my 40s having done a variety of odds and sods that were interesting in their way but not ‘me’. In my 50s I’m hoping to add to my training. Do it, OP! Many roles really benefit from emotional maturity so your age is a positive asset. I also think it keeps us curious about life.

Funny that I just came across this thread because I’m 38 and I’ll be 40 in 18 months and just last night I applied for college to have a change in my career, new year, new me.

I will be graduating in the spring from my engineering program.

I will be 47, and it is the best thing I have ever done.

In this day and age then it’s never too late for a new career.

I chucked in a successful career in a highly regarded profession in my late 40s, sold my house and moved to the country. It took me several years to re-establish myself on the work front but I now have a job I truly enjoy and I live in a great place. I'd always say go for it if you're not happy. I earn a fraction of what I earned before, but for me it's been worthwhile. Good luck to you in whatever you decide

Thank you to everyone who has posted their positive stories - I feel inspired! Well done on your achievements.

Agreed, such encouraging replies.

In this day and age then it’s never too late for a new career.

Just need to figure what to do next.

Just need to figure what to do next.

I think that is often the most difficult thing. Fear of choosing the wrong thing, or having multiple possibilities and not knowing which one to choose.

I've been signed up to this website for the last year or so - they have lots of stories of people who have made a career change and how they did it:

www.careershifters.org/success-stories

Thanks @WhatWouldStevieNicksDo ! I'll take a look.

@littlecabbage I just draw a complete blank. There's so little that appeals. It's like I am just devoid of any kind of personality I could do with a really good advisor to sit me down, ask me about my interests, passions etc. Ask me to do lots of tests... and then tell me what I should do

Oh wow, this website looks great @WhatWouldStevieNicksDo !

I need that careers advisor too. Or some kind of psychic.....

Also needing to find a new career that I can progress in over the next 5 years so that when kids leave home I can earn enough to run house/smaller house as single 50+ yr old. Both my kids have additional needs so I've worked p/t in low responsibility jobs for last 10 years topped up with DLA and tax credits. All will go when youngest hits 18. Not keen to return to previous career and actually think I'm now too old for it... Could even do an apprenticeship...

but in what??!!!