How old is too old for a career change?

[smithyca]

After being made redundant due to covid I now face the prospect of job hunting. I've done low skilled jobs all my life and have no career as such. After talking to my work coach and expressing my regret at not taking my career more seriously she suggested retraining and maybe starting an apprenticeship. I've always thought they were for school leavers but since she's mentioned it I can't stop thinking about taking the chance and going for it. So my question is AIBU to think at the age of 38 I can retrain and start an apprenticeship or are they for the kids? Has anyone done an apprenticeship later in life or knows someone and from an employer's point of view am I too old?

@smithyca

After being made redundant due to covid I now face the prospect of job hunting. I've done low skilled jobs all my life and have no career as such. After talking to my work coach and expressing my regret at not taking my career more seriously she suggested retraining and maybe starting an apprenticeship. I've always thought they were for school leavers but since she's mentioned it I can't stop thinking about taking the chance and going for it. So my question is AIBU to think at the age of 38 I can retrain and start an apprenticeship or are they for the kids? Has anyone done an apprenticeship later in life or knows someone and from an employer's point of view am I too old?

What are you hoping to retrain as please? You might get better qualified answers if you can provide that detail.

I'm 46 and about about to retrain. The way I see it is I have 20 years until I qualify for the state pension. That's a long time to be in a profession where I'm not happy.

38 is not too late to retrain. Lots of people have 2 or 3 careers over their working lifetime these days. Some careers are easier to get into as a 2nd career and some apprenticeship programmes are only open to 16-24 age groups (I think there’s some government funding linked to NEETS), so that’s worth bearing in mind when you’re thinking about opportunities.

I'm 35 and I'm doing a paid apprenticeship...it's never too late OP.

My experience has been that it’s easy to get accepted onto a course. You feel all positive about moving forward and starting fresh. Then employers go “nope, you’re too old to be a trainee”. In most companies the trainees are 20-something, very low paid because they don’t have financial commitments, and very flexible because they have no personal commitments. An older person isn’t as flexible, they have more time pressures and more bills to pay. Not saying it can’t be done, but why would someone hire you when they can hire a cheap and cheerful 23 year old? The best approach to getting a job is either to retrain for a public sector position or for something where you can be self employed.

I’d say it all depends on your situation and if you really need to, and it sounds like you need to.

However I started my apprenticeship in 2019 and there was loads of guys in their 40s and a few in their 50s. The ones that I have kept in touch with all seem to be doing well, but i would say they get overlooked for progressing up the ladder because they are closer to retirement.

You are never too old to retrain!

I went back to college at the age of 43. I gained my hnc which has given me the qualification to begin a new career. Best decision I’ve made.

Go for it!

I think some careers are easier to train into than others but I’d say you have nothing to lose and at 38, you potentially have another lifetime in front of you - what a pity of you didn’t give it a go

Sorry @Ginuwine I forgot that part! I'm hoping to either do a HR or business admin apprenticeship but those are the two that have jumped out at me so far.

Thanks for all your replies, I do have good GCSEs and A levels, all grade A apart from one B. My intention was always to go to uni but I fell pregnant at a young age and life got in the way so I picked up whatever jobs I could to support my kids.

It's good to know that others have done it and it is possible. I'm definitely going to look into it more and give my work coach a call back tomorrow.

Go for it, I can't think of a reason not to if it's something you want .

I think HR is potentially a better option, as it’s a more specific skill set, and you could progresss by doing CIPD qualifications. Do you know anyone who works in these sorts of roles that you could chat to to find out more?

When you're dead.

What are you thinking of doing?

I'm 10+ years older than you and going back to study for a second degree. Already work in that sector but hoping to move up the ladder which I can't without said degree.

Go for it! I’m starting to think I might join you OP!

Retraining here in my mid forties. Go for it OP. I won't finish my course for another 2 years,. I just want to do something I'm passionate about. Let's face it, many of us will be ancient by the time we retire, so why not.

HR is better than business admin - the number of admin jobs is shrinking drastically with technology, and you'll be up against others who are either more experienced or cheaper/more flexible/younger. HR is still more in demand, and your life experience can be worth something too.

There is business analysis also - I believe the British computing society do a diploma for business analysis. Someone at my company retrained - I think in her 40s (after her kids have grown up) and has completed her apprenticeship.

I think business analysts gather requirements from customers (can be internal customers) and analyse the impact of changes to an organisation. I work at a tech firm and there are quite a few BAs.

HR can be a very interesting area, but I would try to get experience working in an HR office first. HR, like most professions has its own vocabulary and generalist areas. Doing a CIPD course while working in an HR department would be a great way to go.

100% agree with @Toilenstripes Doing a CIPD course while working in an HR department would be a great way to go.

Also this skill is transferable and can work in any sector.

Project management is another path where there is a lot of demand in a range of industries. There may be professional qualifications you could do.

Have you thought about NVQs rather than apprenticeships? You can often do them in evenings / at weekends and unrelated to your job so potentially you could get a new job and do an NVQ on top. Then you'd be on at least NMW rather than an apprenticeship wage.

CIPD is the HR qualification, I don't know if they are NVQs but you can definitely study part time for them.

38 is no age! I had a massive career change aged 37 - I became a mother

Go for it OP!

Ive just finished a 3 (nearly 4 - fuck you covid) year apprenticeship. Im 50.

Never too old!

My dad was made redundant at 55 from a career he'd had since graduating uni at 21. He retrained as a forklift truck driver, got a warehouse job, did some maternity cover in the admin offices, they offered to train him in their logistics department at around 58. He retired at 67.

A friend started an apprenticeship after splitting up from her husband at 45. She's now doing the degree course and will qualify at 52.

Just do it!

Thanks everyone! Seems like it's not such a crazy idea after all. I have had a bit of experience with HR, I went on a job swap in my old company to get a taste of it but sadly they decided to reduce the number of people working in HR so nothing came of it and I went back to my department.

As I've said I've only been looking into it today so I've got plenty of avenues to explore. I want to make sure I get it right and don't just jump into the first one I like the sound of.