Career change at (nearly) 40?

[pcwizme]

Hello,

I changed career at the age of 30 from marine engineer to one in the environmental field. Went to University and got my degrees. While environmental matters are high on the world agenda, the pay, especially for countryside management etc is not good. try volunteering with your local wildlife trust for a start or another voluntary group who do practical conservation work. Give you an idea if you like it and also develop contacts. getting the first job in the field is always hard.

Stephen

My official and proper job is mainly countryside manager (I own my own contracting business for countryside management with one main client) and in the summer its great, when there's fun work to be done, in the winter, it can be less so, and litter picking can get really demoralising. But give it a go and see who is out and about in your area to volunteer with to get a feel, just be warned volunteers get the best jobs normally.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I had my best career move at 57yrs old, after years of twelve hour or more shifts day or night on major refinery and power station shut-downs, I, REIRED! Its been twenty years now and Im not wanting another change!!
Believe in yourself Kayos, follow your head and heart,

 

[addjunkie]

Wanting a life change is often in association with a “life event”. Whatever you do going forward, you can always go back to pipes and boilers if required. Central heating and project management will be around for the rest of your working life.

Rural type work doesnt pay well at all. I know a few folk who work in the Forestry Commission, the national park, and landmark on the military ranges.

You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it, but you need to get the finances in place, or it will end in tears. Takes a certain mindset to live with nothing and no future. If its a dream your chasing, you and those closest to you need to embrace the dream or it may turn into a nightmare.

I lasted 6 weeks as an apprentice tv engineer for my father, worked as a sample preparer/ lab tech, joined merchant Navy as a Marine Engineer cadet, got my tickets, hated going to sea, got a job at home 1/2 the money in dehumidifiers, then moved into fire engineering for Chubb. Wanted to gouge my own eyes out with-a spoon rather than go to work. Went up in the North Sea rather than go back to sea. Various jobs over 29 years in several locations, being a boss was the most stressful thing Ive ever done. Not the job, but the people. Ended up where I didnt want to be, and wasnt happy, resigned to go contracting. But after looking at my finances decided not to go. I now clean holiday cottages, my own, and farm alpacas.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Accountancy?

Stop it, you know what I meant . That said, accountants can be pretty good at digging too...

 

[stuvy]

Do it

Iv had a great career as well as working for some real dreamers and idiots

I changed from working in plant to a junior chef at 34 i couldn’t last with the salary against hours it just didn’t pair up

I now work in a great place the only downside is lack of management and self appointed people that think they know what they are doing

They don’t…

But I’m getting paid on time, it’s the easiest job Iv ever had and I will never leave until they either go pop or I get sacked(no plans as of yet)

I will be doing a food cart this year helping my sister initially and then my own

Your only stopping yourself

 

[addjunkie]

Wanting a life change is often in association with a “life event”. Whatever you do going forward, you can always go back to pipes and boilers if required. Central heating and project management will be around for the rest of your working life.

Rural type work doesnt pay well at all. I know a few folk who work in the Forestry Commission, the national park, and landmark on the military ranges.

You can do anything you want if you set your mind to it, but you need to get the finances in place, or it will end in tears. Takes a certain mindset to live with nothing and no future. If its a dream your chasing, you and those closest to you need to embrace the dream or it may turn into a nightmare.

I lasted 6 weeks as an apprentice tv engineer for my father, worked as a sample preparer/ lab tech, joined merchant Navy as a Marine Engineer cadet, got my tickets, hated going to sea, got a job at home 1/2 the money in dehumidifiers, then moved into fire engineering for Chubb. Wanted to gouge my own eyes out with-a spoon rather than go to work. Went up in the North Sea rather than go back to sea. Various jobs over 29 years in several locations, being a boss was the most stressful thing Ive ever done. Not the job, but the people. Ended up where I didnt want to be, and wasnt happy, resigned to go contracting. But after looking at my finances decided not to go. I now clean holiday cottages, my own, and farm alpacas.

My brains going it was only 26 years in total. 3 since I quit.

 

[GRW]

I'm in the same position. As @8ob says, It's all about self belief. Unfortunately, I lack that, And I'm 57 as well. CV only covers what you do now, or have done. Not what you want to do. Difficult to change direction.

I'm the same age..... but trying to learn from my own past.
At 37 I thought I was probably too old when my marriage went kaput. Wrong.
In fact, I think about a decade after I'd thought something like that.. I realise that I wasn't too old at all.
So now I'm trying to think like that.... without waiting the 10-years first

 

[8ob]

A career change after fifty should also be accompanied by selling up/moving to a far off land and starting a new life ( with a new chick)

Bob

 

[stuvy]

A career change after fifty should also be accompanied by selling up/moving to a far off land and starting a new life ( with a new chick)

Bob

First dibs on your years when you do

 

[Bryan Williams]

Bet you watched the last episode of Afterlife didn't you?

 

[sako243]

A career change after fifty should also be accompanied by selling up/moving to a far off land and starting a new life ( with a new chick)

Bob

So that's why you're scared of coming to Wales... Facing SWMBOs wrath when she finds out you've found a new place here and a new chick.

 

[Barking Mat]

At 25 I gave up my career in nursing, in 2000, I started a graphic design company, which didn't work out.

One night, after '98, '99 and 2000 being rubbish weather wise in central Devon I sat in my cold damp rented flat, and thought... What do I want in life ???

I wanted to live somewhere warmer, where I'd not spent the last three years obliged to be indoors as the weather was rubbish, so in 2000, I typed into Google, 'a nice job in France' , two jobs came up. One as a translator, one as a tour guide in France, in the Dordogne, I was living in a truck by that point.

Didn't have the language skills to be a translator, and didn't fancy Paris, a bit city, but 3 months later I woke up in a chateau in the Dordogne as a tour guide for Americans, and everything was perfect, like a strange over perfect dream till 9/11, when it all went pear shaped. But through the family I worked with I'd met the future mother / wife of my kids, and twenty years later.....

When that folded, she took me to work on hotel barges, as a barman, became the boat mechanic with zero experience, and well the rest is history.

Then about 15 years ago I bought a buzzbox welder, as I had old vehicles, found THIS website, which stimulated the welder / engineer in me, which I didn't know was in me, and last year, well I think I've finally found what I want to do.

I want to make industrial furniture, fix things, marine and general, but it's the (two) small motgages, and general financial constraints, which keep me as an employee, as much as I loved my job the last two and a half years have been really hard, on me stress wise, not just covid, staff shortages etc...

Mustn't grumble.

Apologies to anyone who read all of this, abridged life story.

 

[Barking Mat]

So that's why you're scared of coming to Wales... Facing SWMBOs wrath when she finds out you've found a new place here and a new chick.

Wales is alright, it's just the bloody weather, I love the welsh, (wife's welsh), so patriotic, rugby loving, alcoholic nutters, well I share that in common.

But I go to the Gower, pop out the back door for a cigarette, and Christ I'm in a force 9 gale, with horizontal driving rain...

 

[James87]

I'd rather take a chance in life than wonder what if, sounds like your current job would be easy enough to get back in to(maybe not the same place)

I've alleays been a firm believer that if you don't enjoy your job then do something you do enjoy. Life is supposed to fun

 

[Tangledfeet]

I fell into teaching in my mid/late thirties and I'm now 51... and I'd like out; it can eat up your whole life and consume you - working with kids is stressful, especially these days. The reality is that the holidays are great and the salary is excellent but both my wife (she's in clinical research project management) and I have both agreed that we'd like to be out of current roles by 55.

Never too late to learn.

 

[addjunkie]

A career change after fifty should also be accompanied by selling up/moving to a far off land and starting a new life ( with a new chick)

Bob

I know a few who have done such things, some as young as 30. One or two seem to be living happily ever after. Others keep getting new chicks regularly.
Another example of where fantasy and reality are not quite always the same.

 

[stuvy]

I know a few who have done such things, some as young as 30. One or two seem to be living happily ever after. Others keep getting new chicks regularly.
Another example of where fantasy and reality are not quite always the same.

I have a mate like this, 51 Thai boxing instructor gives extra lessons to normally a 20year old girl. He’s a nightmare as I can never remember the girls names when we go out

 

[Bobupndown]

The security of a public sector job and pension mean that even though there are times when work is depressing and I could see it far enough, I stick with it. See too many folk in private sector jobs where they're told on a Friday "Oh, we're closing don't be coming in on Monday" at 47 I'm 26 years into a projected 30 year career. Might stay on after that which is an option, might go and do something different.

 

[James1979]

The security of a public sector job and pension mean that even though there are times when work is depressing and I could see it far enough, I stick with it. See too many folk in private sector jobs where they're told on a Friday "Oh, we're closing don't be coming in on Monday" at 47 I'm 26 years into a projected 30 year career. Might stay on after that which is an option, might go and do something different.

If your 30 years is what I think it is, you’ll get a commutation which is an important consideration.

Mrs1979 has a friend who’s just left the job after doing her 30 and she hated the last 5. Leaving early meant she’d walk out on 45k so she stuck it out. Much happier now she’s doing her own thing.
As for OP I think as long as the numbers are doable I’d go for it. You’ve got a trade and experience so if it all went tits up you’ve got a fall back.

 

[MattF]

I'd rather take a chance in life than wonder what if

I tend to think similar. Better to make & regret a decision, than to regret never trying.