Did you change career successfully in your 40s? Need inspiration

[Firststepfwd]

I’m late 40s, have been working as an actress and have 2 degrees in English and communications (masters and undergrad). Has anyone with a similar arts/ humanities background changed careers? And to what? Media is in a state of flux and I’ve a feeling a big element of my work won’t be around in a few years. Need inspiring stories of new career/ life, please! Thanks!

Yes, I became a secondary school teacher. It worked out for me but I won't pretend it wasn't difficult at times. It was definitely the right decision for me though and I'm never going to be out of work (I was in the arts myself before although on the admin and fundraising side).

Yes I started writing books. It took a long while to make enough money to live on, I had to do it alongside my real job until I was in a position to quit.

I became a training officer in my late 40s - had been working in advice work. I really like my job - it's very varied and I have lots of autonomy. It's reasonably paid. Are you thinking of retraining? It sounds as if you have lots of varied skills, so maybe you could look at jobs in different sectors without retraining?

I went from hospitality , to college, to working in early years. Love it and wish I had done it sooner.

Not me but my DSis. She went back to uni and did a conversion course in law. She graduated at 40 and went on to be a very successful lawyer with her own business and at one point was president of the Law Siciety. She did all this whilst having a young child.

I haven't, but I'm also thinking about doing something similar (I don't have an arts background but not too far off) and feeling a bit like I've limited my options by doing what I've done for so long.

I saw this linked to on here a while ago and found it helpful to read all their stories: https://www.careershifters.org/success-stories. They have a podcast, too.

I'm also looking for a career change. Early 40s, worked in the arts when I was a teenager then fell into working in education. Been working with children and young people now for 16 years, but think it's time fir a change. I'm shattered and need something new and different.

I have similar degrees but worked in an office pre kids and retrained in an allied-health profession in my early 40s, and am still doing that ten years on.

Very similar position. I’m desperate for a change but don’t know what to do. Trouble is I’m the main earner and I don’t know how to switch without a big salary drop.
I have arts degrees and worked in higher education and now in comms in the third sector. I would like to do something much more interactive and engaged with the physical world and people instead of zoom meetings all day. You’d think comms would be social but my role isn’t very.

Yes there's quite a few arts people moving into the charity sector- comms and fundraising, I imagine as the arts sector is being decimated.

Fundraising - competitive but will always exist in some format - you do need to be exceptionally resilient at the moment as very challenging.

Thanks everyone. It’s just really comforting to know others are shifting careers at our age. I’m terrible for comparison (the thief of joy, I know!) whist some friends in other industries are thinking of retirement - I feel like I’m starting again in someways. DH and I have felt pretty down about the way our industry is changing day by day. With professionals our age and experience struggling to secure work that has normally been there for the taking.
But onwards… thank you @notsomarvelousmrsmaisel (great username!) for that link above too. Some really interesting career shifts, will have a good read over the weekend. @SunriseOver can I ask which allied health care profession you went into?

good luck everyone- love Mumsnet for this kind of connection- it honestly helps me feel like I’m not the only one.
I’ll post any useful links I come across here too.