To feel like it's too late to start again.

[fruitstick]

I'm nearly 50.

I am clever, went to a good university and got a good degree. Then I had my dream career for 10 years until I had kids.

We moved away for a better house/life and that meant giving up my career (it was very London based).

I set up my own business which was great but if I'm honest I don't thrive at being self-employed and find it very lonely. I've also lost passion for the business anyway as lots about it has changed.

Health problems and the pandemic meant that the business pretty much collapsed and I've spent the last few years trying to get back to where I was but my heart's not in it.

I want to do something else but don't actually feel like I have any skills (I know this isn't true).

I have so many friends who stuck with their careers, or retrained in the 30s/early 40s.

I feel like I've wasted my brain and my skills.

I would love to study and do something meaningful.

Please give me your tales of starting your career again at 50, and what it was.

Is there anything you have always wanted to do or study? At 18 I knew which industry I wanted to get into but at the time there was no way in. 30 years later I am pro actively looking to enter the same industry I always wanted to. I’m doing online courses and training and have a Mentor who is helping me. I hope it will work out but if it doesn’t at least I know I have given it my best shot. My DM completely changed jobs at 50 and is still working pt at the same job at 70 and loves it. It can be done, don’t let age be a barrier if there’s something you want to do.

I know some trainee solicitors in London who are in their 50s. Most firms are at least 50% WFH now so not sure how far you are but might be possible commute wise.

I would like to do something around mental health and wellness, but I don't think I want to be a therapist.

Something like a mental health first aid trainer, or workplace wellbeing.

I have experience in training but don't have qualifications/training in the subject matter.

But you don't really want to be self-employed anymore? Might need to be a bit broader, or a job with a very very large corporation... Can you look for a way in somewhere as a trainer? It would help you brush up all your skills. Then work to pick up the subject-specific knowledge/experience once you're in?

I also don't think it's too late. I'm slightly younger than you (47) but just started career number three.

Something in a care home, whether it be carer, events or house manager. Very rewarding and so worthwhile. You're definitely not too old to start again.

I'm not sure if this a good or bad thing to say, but I've been having existential fear about not being able to start a new career at 35 now that my children are school age. And I know myself well enough to know I'll be feeling exactly like you do when I'm 50 - I get this regularly with other things 'I wish I'd done with my life' (like it's over). I'm starting to think it's a subtle form of self deprecation. I guess if you can find one example of a person who has done what you want to do, then you can perhaps say you've 'objectively proven' it can be done and don't have to fret about it? But that's an active thought I'm having, not advice

I'm in your boat but nearly 60. Sigh.

Decent well-paid job but it's meaningless and I'm bored to tears. Trying to figure out how to start over while still earning enough. I'd like to work for 10 more years.

Mental health nurse. I am a lecturer on a nursing degree. Loads of people finish the course mid to late 50's. It's absolutely well worth doing if it will make you happy!

I'm mid-40s and I feel the same. Im currently looking through Masters degrees and I think im going to apply for one with a view to doing a PhD after. It was my plan after I left uni 20 years ago but life got in the way.

My mum went back to uni in her mid-fifties, she has worked in her second career since and is just about to finished her PhD at 70. With no intention of stopping work anytime soon.

You’ve got time!

And I only read your first post before I replied, but as it happens, my mum’s second career is as a therapist.

Its far from too late! Find out what qualifications you might need to go into this sort of role, and start a plan to get some. Do you have the possibility of doing some volunteering or evening work to increase your experience?

Then, just go for it. Your current skills and experience sound very transferable and its just a case of you framing them as such in your mind, and then being able to frame them for a potential employer. Best of luck!

Well, I'm not 50, but I am in the process of changing careers.

I've stopped seeing my career as a trajectory, more as something I've done. I've had one career, now I'm going to do a different one. I'm starting again, but with a lot more confidence, experience, and cash at hand! I expect all this will help me navigate my career a lot more easily than 21 year old me did.

I recommend doing a self-studied course in something you're familiar with yet - like the training. Get an exam under your belt.

Then if you can, get a free or paid instructor led course in something a bit new.

I've taken this approach, and not only have I got some quals under my belt, I've also learned a lot of new things, and can appreciate how I've already used my skills. Plus it gives me something to talk about when networking, and really sharpened up my interviewing.

I'm 50 this year and am about to start work as a TA with a view to becoming a sessional lecturer in Crafts,

Hoping a school who will put me through my level 5 teaching and I can find work teaching Textiles.

The one concession is I can't face full time work anymore, but that's nothing to do with my age, I just enjoy my own hobbies too much!

I'm 60 and working on a PhD. Computer science related.

I'm 48 and am doing a masters in something completely unrelated to what I was doing before.

I started doing courses on Futurelearn (most are free or used to be anyway) in areas that interested me and went from there.

I trained as a nurse in my early forties. And no, I do not recommend it.

I’d brainstorm on paper everything you’re interested in. Eg. I did this and realised I like working with animals so I might go into veterinary nursing eventually.

Also take the ONet test. It’s American unfortunately but it’s quite thought provoking: www.mynextmove.org/explore/ip

There are also some good books out there on this subject.

Its definitely not too late! You might have another 20 years of working and you might as well fill it with something you enjoy. The more experienced person is better at figuring out what that is.

Of course it’s not too late, don’t be ridiculous. You have at least 20 years left working so do something you want to do!

Here is the Mature Study and Retraining board, @fruitstick

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

It’s intended for threads exactly like yours - so you’ll find hundreds of experiences of re-starting.

My DM trained as an Alevel maths teacher aged 48 and spent a happy 15 years working in a couple of different schools before retiring. She then tutored privately before retiring fully.

My grandfather became a novelist age 65 and a couple of years ago we had his first novel published posthumously.

Its never too late.

Maybe you could look at working with large corporates as a trainer/facilitator or joining a DE&I department.

My MIL has just become a counsellor at 62 😀

I would suggest looking for work in the local authority or mental health charities. Lots of nice jobs related to mental health in either and I work for my local authority, they do not see your age on the application form and honestly they don't care, 50 is not too old nowadays (neither is 70, my boss is 70 and amazing at their job) good luck 😀

Careershifters are a good organisation

I retrained in my 40s as an occupational therapist. Before I did my degree I worked as a therapy assistant in a hospital (following doing some work experience there) and a support worker in the community. Before that I worked in building services local govt. I’m a couple of years in and have worked in a physical hospital setting and now in social care adapting houses. OTs work in so many settings- including mental health (I see you said something about considering mental health etc) Basically anywhere there is health and social care there will be OTs. There are some really niche ones too (eating disorders, perinatal mental health, homelessness etc). It might not be the most clever job (think if you’re aiming high in mental health then maybe psychology/ psychiatry for mental health) but also might be worth looking into- can be quite creative (nhs has good info about retraining). Anyway no regrets. Sometimes felt old during my training but my university cohort were probably half mature students. Definitely appreciated returning to study much more than I did first time round. Defo do it if you’re thinking about it x