New opportunity but feeling too old at 43

[Digsby13]

So I know I may get laughed at for this but really struggling with an issue that's making me feel like I'm past it at 43 !! So I currently work as a civil servant. I'm in a specialised role at a Manager level. I know, without sounding big headed, that as an SME I'm really well regarded and respected.

I've been offered a temporary opportunity,for 12 months, to act as an Executive Officer to head the head of our agency.Now, whilst I will have to hit the ground running I feel like it's a young persons job !! And for some reason am having a complete identity crisis. My partner and kids are really supportive of me giving it a go but my issue is this .....should I just stay in my substantive role which I know inside out or I'm I still young enough to try something fast paced and completely different ?!?!! It's exactly the same pay as my current job

Definitely not past it at 43! It just depends whether you want to do it or not?

You have half your working life left. When you feel you CAN’T move , that’s when you should

Is it a secondment so you'll go back to your current job after 12months? If so, I think it's a no brainer.

You are still young in career terms, you'll be working until almost 70!

I'm 57 and started in a new role last month

I took redundancy, did a masters and retrained in a completely different career at 43. You probably have 25 years left to work, which may even be more than you have already worked! Please don't give up on yourself.

I'm 43 and currently working full time and retraining for my third career change (I love variety!). Others are right, you still have another 25 years of your working like to go!

The only thing that would stop me doing it is there isn't any extra money for the extra responsibility. I don't do that now, but I know other people feel differently about doing that for career progression.

I took an 18 month secondment at 44. I'm 51 now and retraining.

I've recently taken at completely new path at 43 and it's given me more energy, confidence and self esteem. Go for it!

I'm carving out my next career move at nearly 54. I'm certainly not past it!

Do it! I changed career at 46 and I've never been happier.

Now, whilst I will have to hit the ground running I feel like it's a young persons job !!

What's more interesting is why you feel 43 is 'too old' for something. Sorry to say this, but you saying you know your current role inside out sounds like it's a comfort blanket for you and you're stagnating a bit and scared (reasonably so) of taking on a challenge.

It's a year, and who knows what avenues it will open for you.

FTR, I started the best paid job of my life aged 63.

It's perfect. You get 12 months to try it and return to current job. Nothing to lose.

I get where you are coming from at a similar age, got degrees, had lots of career success, had periods loved my job and taking on more and more. No longer rings my bell, I know I’m capable but don’t have the enthusiasm or desire to take on more responsibilities and actually negotiated to work part time. Being 100% on top of family life without constantly juggling (which I was partly due to partner’s job too).

But my BFF had kids young, didn’t get any post 18 qualifications and has had a string of dead end, low paid jobs. Kids now grown up and she’s like Tigger - I’m exhausted just talking to her. She’s got a new job with genuine prospects, taken up huge amounts of training, has started a degree on top of full time work only two months of a massive promotion. She’s blooming and thriving. I can’t imagine anything worse than the exams and homework she’s doing but she’s sooo happy! I feel ancient compared to her.

Totally get that too old feeling I simply am not interested myself but my friend would tell you nonsense you aren’t and you’ve 20+ years (she’ll be fully qualified in her new profession at 48!). And we’d both be right!

Thankyou everyone for sharing experiences and insights. It's what I needed. I'm going to go for it !!

Good luck!!!

You've got 25 years of work ahead if you, do you not intend to progress any further in that time? What about your pension? It seems very early in your working life to settle for where you are. Are you intending to just carry on at the same level for 25 years ?

Fucking hell, you're a spring chicken. Go for it and stop being so silly. Age is just a number.

Change is good. Embrace it. When the year’s up you’ll marvel at the idea that you might have just stayed in the same rut.

Good luck OP.
I finally accepted a promotion a year after it first being offered and I love it, I'm 48 now.

Oh my gosh 43 is the perfect age for a senior job. You have enough experience to do it well and enough maturity to handle it. Good luck!

I worked in a bank and came to hate it so managed to get a new job in my late 40s. I still have the lovely pen that one of my daughters bought for me because she was proud.