Can anyone offer advice on job change in mid life, please?

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi, I'm new to the employment threads but have been on Mumsnet for about 3 years.

I have just realised I probably half way through my life and (in my 40s) half way through my working life.

I have been working in administration for about 14 years and I am bored with it! It is just not me! I love the charity I work for and the people I work with are lovely. I just feel I could do more, and what I do could be more interesting and maybe better paid!

Does anyone have any experiences of job change for the better, at any time but especially at this stage in life.

Thanks so much.

Hi - love your name. We have a whippet and a lurcher btw.

I have recently made a career change at (just about to turn) 40. I was reasonably successful in my previous career and earning a decent salary, but becoming increasingly dissatisfied for the last few years.

Making a change has meant a significant salary drop for me, but atm not regretting it. My attitude is that given we could be working till well beyond current retirement age and spending so much time at work, it should be something I actually like doing. My previous job was making me depressed, but now I am happier in myself and therefore also better for my family.

My advice would be to make a list of the traits which are non-negotiable must-haves for your ideal job, make another list of the no-ways and a third of the maybes, then consider what transferable skills you have and look at possible careers which might fit. Some of the on-line surveys might give you a good start.

Ooh thanks MagratGarlik, any ideas which are good on line surveys about jobs, please?

I found one here. It is really designed for new graduates, but has job profiles for lots of different roles and what you need to get into them. You can also try to match against your current experience/skills as well to avoid those jobs which would mean completely retraining.

I found it came up with a few options for me that I had never even heard of or considered, but when I spoke to people doing those jobs realised it would be a good match.

I've recently done pretty much the same thing as MagratGarlik, though I knew which industry I wanted to go into. I did a foundation degree and got plenty of work experience while I was studying, then after my exams I was lucky to find a good job.

Recently though I've found I am not sure what area I want to specialise in, so I've been using the government careers advice website to look at what I'm good at and what I'm less good at, to see what sort of areas I might be interested in.

MagratGarlik and Kernowgal WOW thanks so much.