To want a career change aged 50?

[Letussee]

Here’s my dilemma: I had a decent job, which - for various reasons, inc childcare costs - I gave up when I had kids. The job paid about £40,000 (late 2000s). I was an editor in central London. I’m now looking for a new full time job.

Unfortunately I’m not finding anything much and the only work I have is PT and pays about 6k/year (book editing). I’ve been doing this work since leaving my other job and throughout the time my 3 kids have been at primary. Fine at the time, since flexible. Not sustainable in the long term.

so my questions: is there anyone out there (especially anyone who has an arts background!) and has got a decently-paid job after a break - if so how? Or made a career change at this stage, and if so, into what?

I feel I need to break free of publishing, or understand how I can make better money as an editor or within comms.

Suggest if in UK
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You may find something that you had not thought about previously

I was in a similar position and retrained in social media it's def doable! DM me if you like.

Thank you @DeliveryTrickery !

and to @MrsBlythe , I’ve DM’d you with thanks.

Career shifters is a good organisation if you want support with the shift

@Luredbyapomegranate thanks for the tip! Have you used them and if so, how did you find the experience?

Also I’m on very low income atm — any hints on how expensive they are? (I realise an investment, but I don’t want to take their 30 min free session only to discover it’s all unaffordable for me. Their website has no prices as far as I can see…!)

You've probably looked at www.ciep.uk/ but if not, they might have advice/opportunities for developing the editing side of your work?

Thanks so much @MumInBrussels . I’ve been wondering whether to do any of their formal proofing/editing courses (my editing etc has all been “on the job”). Have you done any of their courses and, if so, any advice? Again, I’m thinking about the cost, and time, and which ones would be relevant to me — maybe all, or maybe just the more advanced? In truth, I’m sure they’d all be worthwhile but any feedback from you would be great. Thanks again!

Ah, sorry - I haven't taken any of their courses. I've heard good things about them, is all I can offer!

Looking at www.ciep.uk/training/about-ciep-training-courses/editorial-skills-training if it were me, I think I'd pick an area of editing I'd like to focus on and maybe try their training in that specific field (medical, or web for example), plus maybe the more business focused ones, around project management and efficiency, etc - essentially what they call domains 1 and 3 in their curriculum - www.ciep.uk/training/curriculum - the actual mechanics of editing, it sounds like you're well on top of!

I think if you're enjoying doing editing, then building that kind of work up through freelance projects might be worth exploring before doing a complete career change. It's easier to build on experience than to start from scratch, I'd have thought.

In terms of making more money, it often feels like it would be great to take as many clients as possible, but it might (counterintuitively) be better to focus on a particular niche. It might be easier to market yourself as, say, a specialist legal editor to people who are looking for legal editors, and charge accordingly, rather than trying to be all things to all people, some of whom won't really be serious about hiring anyone. Maybe there are also agencies that could help with short term contracts?

Good luck, anyway! Let us know how you get on!

So helpful! Cheers @MumInBrussels . I’m going to do some courses this summer (inc digital) and start applying for work in sept. I’ll see if upping my skills makes a difference! I’ll let you know if I have any luck!