To Want a New Career at 40

[Bananas85]

I've just turned 40 this year and the thought of working in my current profession for the next 25 / 30 years is very disheartening. The issue is that I like the people in my office, I get to travel to some interesting places and I get paid a decent salary which makes it hard to make a decision to leave (I've also been there for 19 years so it's all I've ever known).
I sometimes wish I could retrain completely to do something else but I don't have a passion for anything in particular and I know I'd have to take a big pay cut.
Has anyone been in this position (I'm sure there are plenty), what careers have you gone into and how did you make the decision?

Following with interest

I'm the same age as you OP in a senior role in a profession and recently I have felt like I want to do something else but like you I'm not qualified to do anything else where I'd get paid what I can earn doing this. My DH thinks this happens to people at around age 40.

Yes Op. I wanted to change my career when l was exactly your age . I was a nurse of 22 years including training. I wanted to become a social worker.
I weighed everything up and decided to retrain in nursing . I went on to do Paediatric nursing in University, while working in my normal job, then l went into Paeds community nursing. I was lucky l trained while l worked a l kept my pension contributions and didn't have to pay for my Uni course.
I then retired when l was 56 on my birthday still with a good pension and lump sum .
I made the right decision, my parents needed help and l was available to care for them . I think with the present economic situation, which doesn't look as if it's going to improve, a secure job , with a good salary and pension is worth keeping hold of tbh .
Who knows if you would be happy in a new job ?
It's a risk .

What are you doing and what is it you don’t like about it? Does it have to be a full retrain rather than a sideways step? Perhaps a new organisation would give you some desperately needed change?

I think you need to work out what you like and don’t like about your current role, and what you like in wider life. Doesn’t have to be a passion but what kinds of things give you satisfaction? Then you can start to look around for a job which might give you more of those things.

@MaryGreenhill i’m not sure I understand. You said you were a nurse, you wanted to be à social worker, but you retrained in nursing even though you were already a nurse? Am I missing something crucial?

I'm a geologist so do a lot of site work assessing landslide hazards and writing reports. Although I've done this for a long time, since having my son (who's 7) and quite a few health issues over the last 5 years, I feel like I have imposter syndrome and that I don't really understand what I'm writing about anymore. I've spoke to my boss and he doesn't feel there's any decline in my work standard but I often feel on the edge of panic that I'm going to give bad advice and I'll bury my head in the sand.
I think because of the nature of the work being so specific it would be hard to side step into a different role / organisation without having the same issues, if that makes sense?
I'd love to do something related to travel as that is what I love, but I can't see a way of making that a career without taking a drastic paycut.

I would seriously work on the imposter syndrome part. I get it and I’ve been there many times but if you think this is the root of your problem, I would focus on solving this and getting back your confidence. Imagine retraining and going into something completely new…the likelihood of having even stronger imposter syndrome feelings is high, particularly if you are surrounded by other people who have been doing the work for 20 years already. Nothing wrong in retraining at 40, but first have a good look at your current situation and consider if you are just looking for an escape route.

Worked as a town planner. Similarly to you I couldn’t face doing it for another 35 or so years. Returned to uni mid-late 30s and am an OT now.

I am glad I did it as my actual job is worthwhile and I like working with people and solutions. It feels much more positive than the previous role. It also feels like there are more roles doing what I do now.

However, some of my issues in my previous job have followed me (confidence, getting stressed with additional responsibilities, how to communicate so managers listen). , the change in the way we all work post covid has made it really tricky to learn. And my current employer is probably the worst I’ve had. Also it’s 9 years since I left my old role and my pay hasn’t caught up with what I got paid previously. I also have some new perimenopause type hormones which add to all of this.

Good luck whatever you choose x

Yes l was an adult trained nurse . You have to do further training to become a Paeds nurse .

@MaryGreenhill ah thank you, that helps

No advice but also 40 and having a very similar wobble!

I had my wobble at 42. Found a job as a university lecturer training people in my profession. They were more interested in my previous career than any teaching experience and paid for me to do a post grad teaching qualification. Salary is similar but I now get, excluding bank holidays, 45 days leave/year and 20 days study leave to maintain my professional development.