Struggling with career change

[Alfie19]

I have been in the workforce for 25 years, professional occupation and I have quite a good CV. However I realised I was bored and decided I needed a change. I was able to take a year out to undertake a MSc and professional certification towards a different career.

I am reaching the end of my MSc so I decided to start applying for new opportunities but I am getting nowhere fast. The new occupation is not something that I would be a total and utter newbie too and I have particularly focused upon aspects that would draw upon my previous skills.

I am in my late 40s and starting to think I just wasted my time and money on this masters and I am too old to change career now. Why am I writing this? I think I would like to hear some encouraging stories or on the other hand, I am also happy to get some frank feedback if perhaps I should be sticking to what I know at this point.

I have come to the conclusion that constant reinvention is necessary these days. I have done it twice already!

Can you give a bit more info? That way people can help with your specific career path.

Yes of course. I am an accountant, I have had a career in corporates. Have risen some way through the ranks, not to the top, but to department head level, managing teams of up to about 50. Have a lot of managing people experience.

I have decided to move into HR and I decided to apply for roles in rewards and compensation, for which my mathematical and finance skills would transfer over (and also I keep hearing that these skills are in demand amongst HR professionals). I also targeted the industry sector that I have in for 25 years, so I have a strong understanding of how these businesses work and what are the current issues and trends.

I spend time on my CV, drawing out my people related skill, sector knowledge and I also did, what I thought, was a very good covering letter highlighting what would transfer well and my rationale etc.

I did about eight applications at the more junior level. All were turned down more or less straight away due to experience. One was at a place I had previously worked at for seven years and I had an excellent track record there, obviously the person responding to my application wouldn’t have known me personally as it was a multinational, but i thought they could have done a bit of digging (I am sure they didn’t because that one come back really really quickly).

Sorry for rambling on, it is just very demoralising.

OP, sounds like your career has been great so far!

I've got two suggestions:

1. can you make yourself known to recruiters or 'head hunters' in your sector. They may be able to help, or at least give feedback. Also, they may deal with interims, which could be a way in (?)

2. how about trying a much smaller size of company? I am in a different sector (small biotech); at my company one person does both finance and HR. Could something like that work? I guess you would need to sell yourself on your finance experience and have the HR as a 'bolt on' skill/qualification.

@flowery is an HR person so may be able to advise please?

Did your course include CIPD qualifications?

I think LinkedIn could be a real help to you if you reach out to your network and also try to connect with those in the field that you are targeting.