If you are 40 plus is work turning out how you thought?

[topcat2014]

Are we all sold a lie about work? Should we be taught a bit more that work is a necessary evil that requires some tolerating?

I'm a qualified accountant with a degree. Some jobs have been ok. Most recent one I got sacked from, so that may affect my judgement.

But, work has never been as interesting or challenging as I thought it would be. Not badly paid at times. But not the stratospheric salaries I see on MN.

At 53 I'm too young to retire, but just non plussed.

I fully appreciate I'm lucky to have a job. About to send DD off to uni. Must try and ensure some of my current lack of enthusiasm does not run off.

Working in my 40’s is so far turning out better than I thought. I’ve worked across two industries that I’m really passionate about and I’m more confident so able to stand up for myself. I’m in a better position financially than I was in my 20’s and 30’s so can be more selective about the jobs I do.

I have friends who’re in “good” jobs like accountancy, law, engineering, banking etc… All of them hate their jobs.

Thet have nice houses, cars, holidays. Can build on that extension. My job is fun, but I have none of those things!

At school I didn’t know what I wanted to do and couldn’t see long term….did a series of jobs and ended up in the nhs as admin. 25 years later I’ve worked my way up and am doing a job I’m enjoying. It’s not always been easy though and I wish I’d had better guidance at school

I fell into all the jobs I've ever done. The one I got redundant from I loathed by the end so mixed feelings, the others were just ok.

I wish I'd had more direction and still wish I was more motivated and had a stronger personality (to talk over the mouthy ones!).

In general I don't really resent working though.

I hate to say it OP, but when chose accountancy, I don’t think you set yourself up for an exciting career 😂

However, you chose a relatively stable and reasonably paid one, which may be more important to you.

I think that interesting careers usually involve an element of risk and low pay (especially in the early days). Usually people have to decide between whether they want an interesting job, or a stable, well paid one. Only the lucky few get both, and you have to be at the top of your game. The most unlucky people get a boring job which is also badly paid.

I’m early 40s, but I can honestly say I’m at the best point in my career from both an interest, and pay, point of view. Plus, I’m pretty good at what I do.

I had to go through two catastrophically awful jobs in my 30s to get to this place, though.

I chased the money in my earlier years, meaning that I have freedom now to pick and choose when it comes to roles/how I spend my days. Work has been pretty great so far. Even the workplaces that I look back on with raised eyebrows - I learnt a lot and overall had an hell of an adventure. 10/10 would recommend.

I’m running at about 85% good and 15% bad
throughout my working life (since 13). I think that’s a win. Every time I stop feeling challenged and engaged, I give it a while to check I’m not in a rut for some other reason, then I move on.

it’s rough that you lost your job. I hope you find a better fit soon.

I'm 62. I've worked in tech marketing for a long time. I've had a lot of fun, 15 years doing an international job. It's allowed me to travel, buy a good home and rise my ds.

I was managed out of my last job fairly blatantly because of my age (61). I thought it might be an issue but found an equivalent marketing role within a few weeks. Local and much less political, it was a good move for me.

I've been lucky but also willing to take risks - most of my employers over the years have been start-ups, which always involve a certain amount of flexibility, and an "all hands to the pumps" approach.

I’m in same line of work OP and same age - I’m going at 55 and ploughing into savings to accommodate

Thanks for replies! On holiday at the moment, which is lovely, but absence is not making the heart grow fonder :)

A female in engineering. It's a boys' club so OK...but time over again, I think I'd choose more wisely.

Nope. I'm 47, just finished my 25th year as a teacher - it's nothing like it was when I was a fresh faced NQT!

Early 50s and loved most of the jobs I have done and found interesting and challenging. Always prioritised enjoying a job over highest salary but had reasonable salaries and have lovely house with no mortgage and travelled the world. Would do same again mostly.

I’m 45 and I really loved my job until recently but out organization is going through significant change and that’s been quite tough. I’m doing well, earning well but I feel I should have somehow made it up to the next level when I see far less capable but far more arrogant people succeeding around me.

I wanted to be a magic circle lawyer but my working class lack of polish was a barrier in the end. I still don’t really ever come across anyone else who has my kind of background in my daily working life, even in my current industry that is a bit more equitable and diverse than the city.

At 42, I've risen 4 grades in 15 years, which I'm proud of given my ND and maternity leaves/kids. I like my work....but I don't want to go higher. I had a brief stint at management and hated it and quite frankly, I see what senior leadership have to deal with and I have no desire.

I hope to retire at 60 or so (and making provisions to make it happen). I don't really know what the next 18 years holds. I guess sideways moves to keep it varied with the hope of going part time late 50s.

I genuinely love my job. I went back to uni at 40, and had a slight career change (into a linked career), so I'm not where I thought I'd be, but my work is satisfying, interesting, and not badly paid for the public sector.

However, even though I love my job, I'm still tired and wish I didn't HAVE to work. Given the choice I'd still do my job, but perhaps a month-on, month-off throughout the year - that'd be nice!

I get paid around the equivalent of what I was aiming towards in my previous career, so I'm happy where I am in terms of seniority and pay. I have no desire to look at a higher level position.

I'm age late 50s & I quite like my job & feel very grateful for that.

Do people actually study accounting because they think it would be interesting or challenging?

Mind you, Dan Neidle makes tax law sound interesting so I guess there's an exciting angle for most jobs, may have to hunt for it though.

It’s ok. I’m a social worker, in a really lovely team that is very flexible around child care, it isn’t the area I am most excited or passionate about but it’s practical and enjoyable enough.
Despite being very experienced and always having very positive feedback about my work, I always seem to be the poorest paid member of staff whichever role I take. It’s well paid I guess but always mid range salary and never in line with colleagues doing exactly the same job. I think I’m too quiet/passive/not aggressive in anyway and those louder do much better than me.

Much better than I thought. I was always lucky at work and a hard worker, but my main aim in life was to enjoy it and create my own family. But to my suprise at 40 I got a huge promotion. Now I’m nearly 50 and I can say my career has been enormously rewarding so far. I don’t love work more than my family but it’s the thing I am best at.

I'm 44 and love my new role with a passion. Left teaching after 20 years in last year and best decision I made 😀

Nah it’s shit. 25 years in the industry and unless you’re very specialist technical expert or in the old boys club for “management” promotions (which are never publically advertised) you might as well not exist.
all the focus is on training for graduates, nothing once you’re chartered/professionally qualified.
clients are mostly all fuckwits and can’t be helped.
i literally dread going to work most days.
that said, i keep browsing jobs and have realised im quite well paid for the amount of responsibility I have, or more precisely don’t have!

I’m mid 40’s , work part time in a very rewarding but very mentally exhausting job. I feel lucky to be in a position to work part time, I definitely couldn’t do the job I do every day

I have a great work/home life balance

Work is just work for me. A means to an end.

I would retire in the morning if I could but I'm unlikely to ever retire.

Early 40s. Felt into a field and career really randomly but it's been fun, rewarding and a huge learning curve. I really enjoy my role. It doesn't pay as well as the sort of salaries you see on here but I live in the north of the UK and honestly there is no need for such high salaries round here.

I quite like my job (42) but I’ve realised that whoever I speak to over the age of about 45-50 are fed up with it. From those that do purposeful work, to owning their own businesses to those that have normal jobs.

I think it’s mostly just that most can’t sustain interest and enthusiasm for the length of time that we work for.