Midlife career crisis - anyone else?

[NotMyUsualOne]

I had an interview yesterday for my ideal job, where yet again I came second (don't tell me that, I might as well have come 10th for all the good it does me...)

It made me realise that actually, the industry I'm in isn't really what I want to be doing, but I don't know what else I can do.

I've worked in the media my whole career but a) it's on its arse, b) there are very, very few jobs in my neck of the woods and c) I'm sick of it all.

Did anyone else change career in their 40s and what the hell did you do?

I love working with children (have a TA qual but been out the field too long to have any chance of a job) but couldn't do teaching.

I don't have masses of time/money to retrain, but it's not totally out of the question.

I went to a careers advisor after I was made redundant and they basically went through aptitude tests I could do online and came up with the job I'm in now...

I just feel unfulfilled and wasted and stuck and slightly paralysed by the position I'm in - anyone else? Do career counsellors/life coaches help with this sort of thing?

Just realised I said the interview was my ideal job; it's more like I feel it should be, in my industry, but cocking up the interview so badly made me realise it's probably not

I'm just about to retrain and I'm nearly 42. After years of working in a pastoral role in education, I start training to be a social worker in January. I'm lucky that it's a post graduate course with a good bursary for the duration otherwise there's no way I could have afforded it. That hardest part was knowing what's out there. I just googled how to get into various fields relating to safeguarding and stumbled upon this course.
I am absolutely terrified but I know I need to do it for myself. I worked out I'm only about half way through my working career so knew I needed to do it to keep my sanity. If I didn't do it now I never would....
Good luck!!! X

Absolutely no advice but I'm in exactly the same boat - want to make a change but have no idea what I want to do. Feel so little purpose doing what I'm doing, but its flexible, I'm paid well etc so feel like that has me a bit stuck.

@ooherrmissus14, a pastoral role in education is exactly the sort of thing I'd love, but without a teaching background, no idea how to get there. Also social work is something that interests me, but again, no background.

@Ijustlovethem, same - I have so much flexibility I'm good at what I do, but I just feel so meh

I'm not a qualified teacher either which I think is why I became quite frustrated as there isn't very much career progression in education if you're not qualified and I hit the ceiling a few years ago.
The course I will be doing requires you to have a degree and just some level of experience of working with young people and their families. You could maybe do some voluntary work to get that?

I have both - well, working with young people certainly, and it was in such an area that there many of the children had experienced neglect and domestic violence. I'll have a Google, I had no idea that bursaries would be available. Thank you 😊

This sounds like me. I currently work in an admin based role, late thirties, currently part time. I've had enough of it completely and want to help children and families.
I applied to be a volunteer in two roles; first as an IV to a young person in care and also for Home Start, love both. I've just applied for a bank care job working in residential childcare and going to see how I get on, especially as I can keep other jobs to fall back on. Although really hoping it works out as I've wanted to do this for so long. Although not sure whether to go down the social work route or therapy at the moment. Wishing you all the best!

You can get a training post in a school with a degree - you learn on the job.