Can I really start my career again at 40?

[Areyouactuallyseriousrightnow]

As part of my loading midlife crisis, I’ve decided that I really want to leave my wanky business career behind and start again. I’d like to do something completely different, something meaningful, that feels like a proper job. I’d ideally like to retrain. But AIBU- is this crazy at my age with children, the youngest of which isn’t in nursery yet. Am I just swapping one sort of stress for another. What would I even do that would feel fulfilling but also sufficiently challenging? And not like I’d wasted the last 20 years of education and career? And how do people afford all the tuition fees if they’ve already done degree/postgrad?
Anyone who has done successfully? Or has suggestions? I thought about midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational health (have biology based degree)... or becoming a solicitor!
So many questions. Am I mad.

Whatever you do, work for yourself. Do not give anyone control of your life.
I don't know what your skills are, but there are plenty of professions where you can just set yourself up and run with it. If you're any good you'll make a success of it. For example, anyone can set themselves up as an estate agent, counsellor, business consultant or even accountant. You don't legally have to be registered or anything like that (though for accountancy you'll soon be found out if you don't know your stuff!)
Some of these you can even do from your front room.

Please don't become a solicitor. The profession is seriously overcrowded and mostly does not pay as well as you expect.

Well no it is a good thing I have done it. But I waited until both my DCs were in primary school. I think you need to do the planning now, look ahead. My friend was a solicitor she earns more now staying at home and running Airbnb`s. She does not miss it for a moment. My friend did the OU and retrained as a teacher started her first job at 50 and loves it.

Do your research is there a gap in the market locally for your future skills.

Disquieted I really feel like I want to move into a fulfilling skilled profession that I will need training and qualifications for. I think that’s more important to me now than working for myself which I’ve done previously. Maybe I’d be proved wrong though.
Blueshoes, the money side isn’t a key motivation for this change, but I do worry that anything I really want to do will be so competitive and overcrowded that at my age, up against twenty somethings, it’s just a stupid idea.

There are a lot of mature students, often older than you are now retraining in colleges and universities! Go for it!

Definitely talk to lots of people who've been doing the job a while (not the fresh-faced trainees!) before making a decision. If you can manage to do some work experience then great, but that's often not feasible for career-changers.

In lots of areas of law, you're likely to be doing wanky business stuff still if you want to make a decent living, plus you're going to be doing your clients' bidding as that's what pays the bills - although it can be interesting, it doesn't always feel particularly meaningful. Even most of the people I know who wanted to be human rights lawyers now advise big companies when they've potentially breached people's human rights, as that's where the money is.

If you want to explore law and money is not the primary object, apart from private practice or working inhouse for an organisation, you could consider the Government Legal Department, the Crown Prosecution Service, the Solicitors Regulation Authority or other roles within the public sector.

Midwifery sounds like it would be tough with night shifts, short staffing. If you really were interested, maybe try doing some work as a Phlebotomist or HCA first?

Go for it! I am just about to qualify as an Occupational Therapist, ages 42, having completed a 2 year university course. I have 3 DC and started when the youngest started school. It’s been a wonderful experience and there were a number of other mature students on the course. I’m now about to start work in a hospital in a career I feel passionate about. All the best with whatever you choose.

Hi OP,
Why not go for it! You are not mad at all.
My one suggestion would be if you think you might want to go into midwifery, physiotherapy or occupational health see if you could get a job as an assistant in one of these areas first. I thought I wanted to be an occupational therapist so managed to get a job as an OT Assistant which I did for a while but realised after the first month that I didn't want to train as an OT, it just wasn't for me. I was so glad I didn't go through applying for a university course and loans, etc.
I wish you luck with whatever you choose.

Do you like computers, OP? You could do a one year masters at Imperial in computational biology ( processing bio data with Ai/ML algorithms.

Think it would be worth looking into as growth area.

I went to university at 39 and qualified as a teacher 4 yrs later. I have worked in further education ever since. Started in adult education, moved on to specialising in those with low levels of engagement, then got a management post. Still taught a bit (mostly A levels or Higher Education). I am coming up to retirement at 64 and have never regretted it - I love my job

Yes you can! Have a look at this:

tanksgoodnews.com/2020/01/16/middle-age-success-stories/

Of course you can start over at 40! You've probably got three decades of working life left ahead of you. 🙄

Go for it and do the thing that is calling your name. Good luck.

I worked in Insurance for over 20 years and reached the same conclusion that I wanted a 'real job' and despite being well paid and at a decent level gave it it to go back to university.
I graduated 18 months ago at the age of 51 and I'm now a Child Protection Social Worker. I am paid little, work king hours and wouldn't change a thing. Go for it!

Do a post grad nursing qualification like a Masters. You would probably qualify for the bursary the government has just announced. It would take you two years to qualify.

Thank you very much for the encouragement. Good idea in terms of getting work experience, I actually don’t know much about occupational health or physiotherapy .
Sparklehead I want to get on with things sooner than later but actually my youngest starts school next September so maybe like you, that’s what I should consider.
Interesting that views on law very mixed, reflects other things I’ve read, maybe it’ll be too much for me both training and career. I still want some work home life balance, I wouldn’t want to go straight into long hours so maybe it’s not for me.
NewYears I don’t even know what that is but I’ll definitely look it up!
Maybe I’m not mad thanks all.

40 is no age! My mum started retraining as a nurse at 41. She had a really fulfilling career and that was when retirement age was 60.

You have decades left to work so why not spend a few years retraining in something you find really interesting? Nursing/ midwifery would use some of your past sciences knowledge too.

Do carefully consider how you will manage childcare and shifts during training though (even if you eventually move into an area more 9-5 as my mum did).

As for Law, your business experience might make you attractive to firms offering training contracts so I don't want to say rule it out but it is pretty heavily oversubscribed so do your research before just funding yourself.

Watching with interest!

FWB that’s amazing well done, how rewarding. So good to hear stories of those who haven’t looked back.
Casino that’s a good idea I need to look into what’s available. Can’t even imagine doing a UCAS again after all this time!

Don't take up nursing with young children! Long shifts, unsocial hours including nights and weekends and absolutely no financial reward.

Think v carefully about what it is you may like to do - so many public sector roles have been negatively impacted by the insane degradation of services that it is impossible to do them well.

Retraining and having a new career is definitely possible - you have a lot of working years left!

Proudowner what an inspirational mum. I’ve just told my husband I’m thinking about this (after telling Mumsnet first!) and I’ve immediately started panicking about childcare as he’s in line for promotion which would mean he wouldn’t be able to help much (he helps a lot at home though)
Childcare costs on top of fees and living expenses (I used to earn more than him so we’re already taking a hit) how do people manage it. I suppose it’s not forever though.

Lots of NHS roles have mature students. I'm a radiologist and we often have mature radiography students. Having one with a business background would be great. We always need people with additional skills.

Whatever you do, work for yourself. Do not give anyone control of your life.

Please think twice if you were to consider this advice having moved from employment to self employment it is not as great as people think, yes there are benefits but the negatives are there to. being in complete control has its pit falls especially with young kids to consider. I have had many occasions where being in charge has impacted quite a bit on my family life in a negative way, I could give many examples of not just that but other downsides to.

The benefits can be great yes, but they only come after a long time of hard work, long hours etc and even then you can still have the odd.wobble down side to that is you cant just switch off. Even if you end up with staff you are always there the buck stops with you.

After 10 yrs my patience with people is shot to pieces Im worn out and can now see that the negatives of being employed were not as bad as the negatives now and the benefits now just arent worth the negatives and I hate it. Selling up now would be a complicated process and I cant just look for something else and leave.

I end up having to leave my 20 year communications career last June after my older daughter became very unwell with complications of a long-term illness. Planning on doing a masters in arts/events management, ultimately with the aim of working in community arts and music venues and projects. I was 40 in October, like a PP said, we have three decades of working life left, and I don’t want to waste it.