Am I crazy to think that doing a masters at my age and stage with change anything?

[Creaturediscomforts]

I'm early 50s, in a senior role in a job I used to love but now absolutely hate due to bullying by bosses. I have been desperately trying to get out of for about 18 months but there are almost no jobs in my sector, those which do get advertised get thousands of applicants. It's a service industry, connected to financial services but I don't want to be more specific than that (its not law).

I've come to the conclusion that I need to take some sort of leap of faith and do something a bit radical: even if I could get another job, I doubt things would improve. Budgets are slashed to the bone, low-level bullying and corporate politics make it unbearable in most of these companies, I'm really burned out from overwork and bored. I've been doing this just for the money now for several years and I don't think I want to spend what's left of my working life in a horrible environment doing a job which doesn't interest me.

I've applied for, and been accepted on, a masters in a subject which is adjacent to what I do (similar discipline but a different sector). It sounds really interesting, potentially useful for a new career and I would love to study something just for the intellectual challenge. I am selling a house which, when it happens, should provide me with a bit of a financial cushion which will enable me to work less than I do now: either going part time at my current company or potentially going freelance to pay the bills while I study.

Am I being naive about what this will change? I know I need some sort of reset of my life and this seems as good an opportunity as any and I really want to do it for my own interest. But I'm worried that at my age, this is just going to be a bit of a vanity project and won't actually help me get my career back on track. I don't want to wake up in my mid 50s with an expensive degree which won't help me get a job, however interesting the study has been.

Does anyone have any experience of doing a masters at my stage of life and did it change anything?

Go for it!

@Creaturediscomforts sorry I made a very quick comment so I didn't lose your post. I am in such a similar situation to you but in a different industry. Have hit total burnout as well combined with increased boredom for the role. Just finding no joy in it at all anymore. I'm a similar age to you and also considering a masters which is vocational and leads to a new career path as the jobs need this qualification.

I'm not expecting to be senior again and am aligned to that.

Doing a masters has been on my bucket list for years as a general goal but I felt an MBA was a bit pointless at my age.

Its scary but I've played it safe for my entire career and kind of thinking 'why not!'.

(Happy for you to PM me If you fancy a chat)

Firstly, not crazy. A study challenge can be really good for the brain.

Former comms professional here who was in a similar situation. I went for a part time diploma in a new area but one where my comms experience was relevant. It opened up a lot of doors for me and helped me make a sideways move into a new field. Not many people in the new field are very experienced in comms so I’ve used that credential to carve a niche for myself.

I did my masters at 49 and it increased by salary by a significant amount. It depends if jobs require it.

Just do it.

I completed a Masters just before I turned 51, and it enabled me to completely change my career.

I say 100% that you should do it. I left a job I was feeling burnt out and demoralised by at the age of 54, and completed a PhD. This did lead to a complete change of career, and opened up so many new doors and experiences that I would never have had in my previous job. Don’t allow the nay sayers as to change your mind. If this is a subject that you find interesting and you feel excited at the thought of studying again, and financially you can afford it, go for it. It was the best thing I ever did and I’m so proud of myself for doing something so difficult, challenging and exciting in my 50s. Financially, I would’ve earned more staying in the job that I hated, but it wasn’t all about the money.

Life is for living as fully as you can, I don’t think you would ever look back and regret taking a chance on this. The worst that happens is you go back into your old industry but you would’ve had the experience of being a student again and stretching and challenging yourself. That is such a good feeling, and you have no idea where it will lead in the future, it may just take you somewhere new and exciting that you never even thought about.

I definitely will never reach a senior position again in my career, but I now work in a field that is so much more interesting and has many opportunities for me to use all the new skills that I gained through the PhD. I’ve also been able to take on Work on the side that helps to make up the money that I lost by stepping down from my more senior role.

@tryingtobesogood this is really inspiring thankyou! I'm very academically minded and got offered a funded PHD as an undergraduate many years ago and decided against it so I would be excited to study again. I think it will give me a new lease of life and also hoping to do some other work on the side.

Universities are currently in a state of crisis, and they see many Masters courses and their intake as "cash cows".

They will do everything they can to sell you the course, then once you've committed the money it may be a "bait and switch".

Academic courses aren't some "relaxed safe space" where you'll acquire a community of new people who are "nicer" than corporate types.

Your classmates may be immature or super-competitive or socially "odd". Or from such different backgrounds its hard to communicate. Bullying and harassment (from staff or fellow students) is common and is rarely addressed.

It won't matter how intelligent, motivated or mature/professional you are.

Even basic professional expectations like normal marking/feedback/respectful communication may be sparse.

It will be like going into another toxic workplace but paying for it. You may end up more psychologically burnt out than before.

There are promises made about networking events and work opportunities afterwards, or name-dropping all the "elite organisations" recruiting

if you turn up to any networking events you'll just meet a few eccentric academics and random people in the same life stage as you.

You could take the year you'd use for the Masters and use it as a grown-up gap year? Especially if its financially practical, just don't pay for the Masters or waste time studying for it.

You could...

• Enrol in free relevant online certifications if you want a university name on your CV. This can also "fill the gap" and maybe meet your "intellectual stimulation" goals?

• Get a Linkedin profile or get on SM saying what you want ...often companies like people with the right "look" for them regardless of qualifications. So if theres something about you or your existing experience that will override qualifications.

• Contact people and companies to see if you can do any shadowing/internships etc.

• I don't know the specifics of the industry you want to get into but if you ask on MN or Reddit experienced people can give more pointers. Most skills and software are available with self-learning from Youtube for free.

• If you want a reset for your wellbeing (GREAT idea if you're recovering from toxicity), why not go part-time, take big holidays and spend time doing self-care and hobbies and resetting your life? Do meditation, exercise, go on retreats, speak to a life coach...

You don't need to have a student card to do intellectually stimulating activities.

You don't need the £10,000 Masters as a "worthy" reason to cut your hours if you can afford it...its your life! You don't need to justify needing a psychological change.

Yes Masters courses are very important to universities financially, and as a mature student the OP will be around people who are much younger than her and potentially immature, but then again she may not. I have taught on many masters courses and seen wonderful students who excel both academically and socially through doing the course. I also teach online and the experience is completely different., Much more isolating and does not allow the student to make any kind of academic relationship with fellow students or their tutors in the same way as attending in Person does.

Also a few online courses does not give you the university name to use. Everyone can see them for what they are, they are not the same as committing yourself to the challenge of completing an accredited masters course. Neither does doing meditation.

I’m 54 and just completing my dissertation for my MSc. I would say, go for it. While universities undoubtedly treat some masters courses as cash cows - especially when appealing to foreign students - they aren’t all full of empty promises.

One of my modules had world class guest lecturers I would never have met otherwise, and I’ve had opportunities that wouldn’t have been open to me had I never started it.

I’m looking forward to graduating this year, and seeing where I end up next. I got a scholarship for this course and it includes a placement, so that may also be something to consider with the course that interests you: the placement was hugely attractive to me as this is a tangential field and I wanted to make sure I would have marketable experience as well as the piece of paper at the end of it.

But also, it’s worth doing just because you’re interested and want to get out of a rut. Education is a worthwhile goal in itself. Do it!

I did a pgdip at 40 (masters level but part time over 2 years alongside work). Not been able to change jobs as my sector is in a bad place right now but it’s shut my bullies up and I’m more respected now. Previously new director claimed she was worried I was taking on too much and it was above my ability (she’d met me twice at that point and basically was worried I’d be more qualified than her). So, yeah… I went and got a distinction from a RG uni. Sounds silly but I was being massively underestimated and it hit my confidence so I proved to myself who I am and have a piece of paper to back that up.

so I say go for it for your own mental health.

@tryingtobesogood this is really inspiring. Thank you!

I wonder if volunteering in this new might be a better use of your time and resources? For example, you can approach your local Chamber of Commerce and become a mentee. You could talk to local secondary schools and give a talk about your industry in their careers fair.

Alternatively, explore all options. Someone I know used to work a corporate IT engineer and hated it. She retrained in sports massage first, then as a clinical hypnotherapist. She is very successful in her practice

I disagree with people saying you only regret the things you don't do. That doesn't stand up to any scrutiny. Of course people regret the things they do.

I love learning and the structure of formal qualifications. I succeeded at the postgraduate qualification I undertook but it made me miserable and unwell. The time commitment was ridiculous alongside my job. The stress and pressure killed any enjoyment of the subject. The social component was limited because everyone else was also drowning/having nervous breakdowns juggling study with full time work and families. I am not in contact with anyone from the course now it's over.

Whilst I learnt useful things which I value, it didn't help me professionally in the way I hoped and actually it may have set me back because it meant I had no energy or headspace to do more than tick along at work for that extended time period (and I was burnt out for a while afterwards). It also interfered with other parts of my life because I had no time to do nice things because I had no free time left.

I would only pursue it if it was highly vocational or it was a post-retirement hobby. I don't think it would be as enjoyable or fulfilling as you imagine to do alongside even part time work. I also don't think it would help you find alternative work or motivate you to do that - you won't have any time or headspace left.

I think someone referred to postgrad courses as cash cows for the institutions. I would be inclined to agree insofar as them being offered for the benefit of the institution rather than the learner.

@ArtfulJadePombear

I hear what you say about universities treating these as cash cows. But honestly I don't really care.

I'm not looking to do this to make friends or acquire a social life either.

I'm interested in it from the perspective of intellectual stimulation and also a "circuit break" to the endless corporate treadmill. I know I don't technically "need" this, but much as I would like to spend a year going on holiday and doing yoga, I don't think this in itself would really change me.

I'm not expecting to walk into a job at an equivalent salary, not even expecting to walk into a paid job at all. Just want to learn something new and give myself the jump-start I need to get off this awful conveyor belt.

My late mother was awarded her PhD at the age of 72 - never too late & never a waste of time.

I think the gold standard is getting an employer to pay for your masters. You might need to stay with that employer for a time, but it’s a way to remove the financial burden I suppose. Obviously not your current employer due to the issues but a future employer might be more receptive.

I haven’t done it yet but following with interest as I’m a little behind you. Similar levels of toxicity at work that is doing my head in and leaving me feeling unwell.

Small mid sized kids. Husband that is doing my head in. Working in an industry which used to be well paid but the ££££££ only comes now if you get to the very top. I’ve run out of time and interest.

So.
im starting to look at masters and diplomas and the like. in different a subject but would be super interesting and eventually I would be set up to do something different as I head towards what willl not be retirement but a different phase in life when I probably need to maintain some earning power.

in the meantime I need the money from my current career to facilitate a potential divorce and pay for kids to get to adult hood. (I’ve been the main breadwinner for a long time)

Best of luck OP. A career change has got to be as good as a rest?!!
enjoy the studies.

I had a similar rationale to you when I enrolled on my course. The experience really damaged my mental health.

Have you considered trying a micro credential? They're accredited at postgrad level and can be used towards qualifications but they're shorter courses. They're also often more vocational.

I wonder if that might be an alternative way to give yourself a jump start?

For instance:

https://www.gla.ac.uk/study/microcredentials/

I did an MSc in my 40s in an entirely different field to the one I was working in. Within a year of graduating I had a job in that field which paid more than I was earning before studying the masters. Within 5 years of graduating I was earning twice my previous salary.

More importantly I absolutely loved studying the subject and I love working in this field. I made lots of friends (of all ages) on my course. I have zero regrets.

Gawd. Tell me about it.
I’ve just started a contract role. Ie I made a jump out of full time secure role.
But what a box of spanners. Even more toxic than the last few places I was employed. Unbelievable. Now I think it’s my boss that is the problem and I suspect she is too senior to find a new role. But ffs. Totally awful.

reminds me why I’m looking at doing something new.

in the meantime I also need a new contract!

I did a part-time MA, graduated aged 56. I fitted it around my awful job, loved the challenge, my peers, the whole experience. It hasn’t led me any further except to reduce hours at my awful job further. I’d do it again in a heartbeat but it didn’t help me go anywhere or earn any more - actually a lot less, but happy so still working a bit, not thrown in the towel just yet, I might even make it to retirement age!

I honestly think work from 40+ is very unsatisfying because you realise how much bs work life is and how incompetent the senior people are…. And you see young, keen people coming in with “new” ideas but you’ve seen it all before. I’ve been centralised and decentralised multiple times. If they want to save money they should just stick with one! Gah!

If a change of career is the goal I don’t think a masters is the way to get it. Could you look at the kind of jobs you want, think what extra experience you need and then aim for something that will get you that? An apprenticeship which might have a work experience element (they aren’t always for kids), volunteering, work placed learning, joining a networking group/ sector leadership group/ trustee? Do the masters if you want to and will enjoy it but I wouldn’t kid yourself it’s going to work for career progression. I work at a senior level in comms and am fairly dismissive of masters as more of an indicated of how much spare money people have than their skills.