Has anyone changed career?

[dailyduel]

I am nearly 52. Have worked admin all my working life and beyond the DCs younger years, always 9-5. For about a year or so, I have pondered doing something else. I just feel so done with the 9-5 slog. I do need to work though.

I am not sure if I should speak to my employer about dropping a day and see if that frees up the time that I seem to be craving or look at something completely different. My neighbour is doing particularly well after becoming self employed. She’s now a home help come dog walker, come house sitter/companion and is turning work away weekly. May be that’s too much of a change but then perhaps I need to take a leap of faith and try something completely new.

If you’ve had a complete career change, did it work. Do you have regrets. I definitely feel at a cross roads and something has to change. I don’t want to get to 60 and regret not at least trying. I suppose my concern is leaving a stable job for something new, hating it and then struggling to get another job for being perceived as too old!

You need the Mature Study and Retraining board.

(It was set precisely to support people wondering if they are ‘too old’ to start something new.)

Experiences vary. Study can be challenging after years or decades out of an academic environment - but many people find they relish the learning in a way they didn’t when younger. Career progression going forward can sometimes depend on whether the new industry is focused on young recruits or truly open to everyone.

Read a couple of dozen threads - see how it’s been for others. (BTW MNHQ will happily move your thread there if you ask via the Report button.)

Thank you. I’ll ask HQ to move my post.

It’s a pleasure!

So, what do you think you might be interested in? Developing a hobby, or voluntary interest? Learning a completely new skill? Do you want something relatively gentle or an opportunity to compete? How much energy and resilience do you have? Are you completely independent with no ties, or would you need family support or cooperation?

(FWIW I was older than you are when I took up a new subject at postgraduate level. The studying stage was fantastic; carving out a career amongst people half my age has been very much harder.)

I think I’m interested in going it alone and working for myself. I can’t do uni and college again - well, or full time anyway as I do need some money coming in.

I don’t want to manage people anymore. That I know I am absolutely done with. I am also sick of office politics. If I do something by myself, then I’ve only got myself to look after or blame. I’d like a few more days than 28 off a year.

I think it might look at the open university or evening courses and see if anything catches my eye.

My neighbour has turned my head really. She’s made me think more about this. She’s so happy doing what she is doing now. Content and happy.

It’s my lunch break now so I am going to read through some older posts.

You still haven’t said what your particular skills, talents, interests are?

If you add a little detail people might be able to make relevant suggestions.

When I retired I volunteered for a canal restoration charity and studied Heath and Safety and took the NEBOSH exams. They were not easy but were very interesting. It could have lead to a career change if I'd wanted it and a background in admin would help you