Career - or mid life crisis - counselling?

[MancMum]

I am fast approaching 40 and in the middle of what I can only describe as a mid life crisis - except I can not afford a sports car... and am too knackered and flabby to pick up a toy boy...so am trying to work on the areas that are maybe achievable!!

I am getting very bored with some aspects of my life... mainly where I live and what I do... Manchester is fine but it was never my choice to live here for ever and I am dreaming of emigrating but DH is not keen so need to either give up on that or dump him and run away with kids... tragically not possible as am still very keen on him!

So my job.... been at same company 8 years in a variety of managementy type jobs.. job is well paid flexible and low stress... but dull. Fits in well with kids... but I used to be quite ambitious and this really is quite low level stuff... but anything more high powered would cause conflicts with home life ... and what would I do - I have never wantd to 'Be' anything but am currently feeling need to 'Be' something (at work) - but what - how do I sort this out... Is there such a thing as career counselling - anyone had it?

I feel like I would be happy doing this job somewhere else or happy in Manchester doing another job....is this a mid life crisis?

Can anyone give me any advice on what to do? Please?

Sympathy mancmum - I'm sick of my job too. But it's reasonably well paid and I can't afford the drop in salary if I were to retrain in something new. I feel well and truly caught in the rat race.

I'm sure there is such a thing as career counselling, yes. Will eagerly watch this thread for advice!

mancmum- I think this is a mid-life crisis! I'm 41 & going through the same thoughts! I dream of emigrating but at our age & with no skills there is no chance I think it's just the realisation that there isn't much time left, sort of "is that it?"

Can I join in on this one? I feel trapped (main breadwinner so can't take drop in salary.....) Having one of those 'how did I end up here?' moments.....talked to dp last night about jacking it all in and the pair of us going freelance...scares the bejesus out of me thou'....

Wow mancmum, this is exactly the sort of thing I'm going through at the moment. I'll tell you what I've done and how I've found it.

Some years ago I went to Career Analysts in London. This involved a morning of psychometric testing and an afternoon interview with a psychologist, plus a printed report. They are very good but v expensive and unfortunately I thought I knew at the time what I wanted to do - this gave them too many 'clues' I think, so they basically said it would be fine, though they did say they thought it was an odd choice given my aptitudes. Wind forward to me on maternity leave, several different types of job later and really searching around. Have read What Colour Is Your Parachute (lots of threads on here about this) and some of it was helpful though I found it a struggle.

But yesterday I had an interview at the local careers advice service, and they were great. The organisation was IAG - Manchester equivalent site is City Pride . Interview was free and had lots of good ideas, plus I'm going to do their psychometric testing as well which is a lot cheaper than the private firms.

HTH and best wishes

yes careers advice is good and usually free at your local centre

good luck with whatever you decide

Me too! Me too! I have the kick up the backside that I need because I have been told that my job is at risk of redundancy with effect from the end of the year. I need to sort out what I really want to do next - will try and get some careers advice too, because I don't want to rush into the 'wrong' job.

Wow - thanks everyone - sounds like there are a few of us feeling the same way... which always helps!

acnebride - thanks for the link - will be following that up tomorrow when in the office (currently skiving!!). I did do something similar with psychometric testing in my twenties (early life crisis!!) and the suggestions were ...'Breakfast TV presenter, barrister or magazine editor!' Hope to get something more achievable = could never be breakfast TV presenter as look rough until at least 12!!

I think everyone should emmigrate and stay at my house. Can I sponser all of you?

where do you live and could you sort my life out? If you can do the second, not too worried where you live!!

Thanks

Sunchowder, aren't you in Florida?!