Leaving tech sales at 50 for lower paid P/T work with purpose

[Midlifechampion]

I’m resigning from my career in tech sales, having got used to the golden handcuffs but my soul is dead! TBH I found myself in sales my a accident t about a decade ago go after running my own business but found that being naturally inquisitive, my coaching qualification and Industry experience meant big companies liked how I didn’t sell! So all of a sudden I went from the struggles of just about paying myself to crazy salaries (for me anyway!)

but now everything I’d assumed sales would be before I found myself in it has come back - I run a team where I’m forecasting and justifying why we aren’t growing fast enough half of my week, experiencing a quiet sexism I’ve not experienced for decades, constant reorgs and an expectation back to super long hours etc and I’m done.

The problem is I’m 50, I’ve had two roles now back to back that have been like this (so both will only be 6 month tenures, I just wasn’t brave enough to call it quits and realise I don’t fit that world. But I know people think I’m crazy leaving - i am phenomenally grateful that I’ve been sensible and now really only need £20-30k a year to get me to retirement age, but even the. I’d love to spend a few days a week doing work that feeds the soul.

i have so much experience now in coaching and playbooks for companies, I’d originally thought perhaps I could pick up a few projects a year and that would be ample. but I’m seeing threads and threads of people at my age now without work long term. Which is why people think I’m nuts!

or I could do something totally different and have time to do what I really love, writing and comedy.

but I’m a bit all at sea and could do with some outside ideas frankly! I am so lucky to be able to walk away so this is hardly a boo hoo thread! But is just love some insights

I think it's amazing that you can leave a job that sucks out your soul. You've clearly been sensible with your money over the years. You're only 50 and have plenty of working life left so do what you want. You're in a very good position to do something that really matters to you and that you value.

The way the pension age keeps going up every year, I would rather be in a job that I find interesting and that uses my skills than in a job that pays really well, but is making me miserable.

Good luck OP 🙂

Thank you so much, this is lovely - I think the main question for me is it seems like a little part time earning shouldn’t be too hard and yet the jobs market on the face of it looks horrendous! So I feel like I’m being a spoilt wanting less stress and less hours! I am noticing that for many people the challenge is they still want the same income but can’t find it. Thank goodness was I’m not in that position but after years of being on the treadmill, it feels alien to step off into the unknown

Yeah the job market is difficult at the moment. I think it depends on what sectors you're looking at as well.
I'm looking for 2 part time jobs to make one full time wage. The job I have at the moment is burning me out. I can't go on much longer. I used to have 2 part time jobs and really enjoyed the variety. Then I took this job on 7 years ago, more money, more incentives, a step up the ladder, but I've had enough now. Im working with a career coach through university at the moment and already I've figured out that working full time for one employer may not be right for me. Hence, looking for part time jobs. It's crazy but I just need to feel happy and me again. Which I haven't done for a long time.

Wouldn’t it be better to stick it out for a couple more years and then retire properly to write so you wouldn’t need the £20-£30K job? How easy would it be to jump back in if you couldn’t get another steady income? What financial commitments do you have?

That was my original plan but tbh there is no way I can stare down another two years, as much as I’ve tried to detach myself from the pressure, politics etc. it doesn’t seem long on paper but it’s not worth the impact. I’ve modelled it all with an advisor and tbh we’d be OK now it’s just that extra 20-30k gives a comfy buffer. And I don’t feel ready to completely retire - but I have interests that may earn bugger all that I’d like to pursue 😁 so something to top it up would be great

I work for a big college and there are loads of interesting jobs - some working with students (achievement tutor, student support) some not marketing etc. Great holidays, nice people, quite flexible. Take a look at ones close to you.

Ooh this is great, I’ll take a look