Changing life and career at a later age.
@MsDolphin Attempting it right now. I am 44. I started preparing at 38 by going back to school. It's been hard and feels like a *** of a let down because I'm no where close to where I want to be. And my depression is just eating this **** up.
Can I ask what did you went back to study?
@MsDolphin
im so sorry your going through this, im here for support if you need to talk.
I am not sure how to msg you
Are you able to msg me back?
@MsDolphin idk why it didn't notify me but medicine and health science. i have a BA in writing but needed to add math and health science to it.
That is nice
I wish i can talk to u about ur career switch. I cannot msg u
@realliyoverallofit I can understand all of what you’re getting at too. I’ve been in that exact situation except I was older.
@MsDolphin
I am currently contemplating it. Will be working with a career counselor to talk about potential career options. My problem is that I can't think of anything I want to do. Everything seems dismal and boring.
@hematite43
Always there are good things for us, we just need to discover.
I hope you will find your passion soon.
@Omathewise
Thank you. I hope so too.
Did u managed to find your answer?
@MsDolphin
Not yet, but I'm working on it. I did an interest inventory with my career counselor, and I have entirely lost my interest in helping professions/social services/education type jobs, which is what I've done since college. Now it seems I have a "conventional" work personality - accountant, budget analyst, librarian, insurance underwriter, that sort of thing. That would be a big change for me. We'll see what else we find out in this career counseling process.
@MsDolphin Someone I know did it after 40!
2020 made that decision for me. But the position I got into spurred me to go back to school. Over 70% of the course is completed. I don't know exactly where I'm going once I finish but at least I haven't let age deter me.
@Enthenia
I salute you for returning to school. Hopefully that will open exciting new opportunities for you.
@hematite43 I hope so! I just knew that I couldn't stay where I'm at long-term. I thought I could, but there's too much stress and frustration. And, much of what I do could be automated so I thought I'd better expand my skills.
@Enthenia
Sounds like a prudent decision to make, given all of the changes in the world of work. I hope you're able to find a supportive and stress-free work situation!
@hematite43 I think for that, I'd have to relocate but I don't have the money for that.
What did you went back to study?
I'm seriously thinking about it now.. in my late 30s, and having some circumstances changing in current life.. I'll need to rethink whether or not I can return to my current job.
@MsDolphin
@MsDolphin I'm 35 (36 next week) and I've been working to get into web development / software engineering over the last few years - starting with self-led study for several years (with varying amounts of success over that time) and then earlier this year completed a 6 month intensive program / bootcamp that really brought it all together in a lot of great ways.
However, the competition for dev / software
engineer roles is high and the market is really tough right now. After hundreds of applications I was
able to get a state government job as an entry level programmer - but
the pay was very low, it required relocation / full-time onsite work,
and I'm navigating a lot of other changes in my life (mostly the end of a
14 year relationship, and figuring out where to go / what to do next)
where it just didn't fit with how I wanted to start my next chapter even
if it was an opportunity to gain experience in a competitive field. Also, with the breakup / separation I mentioned, I think being closer to friends and family that I can lean on as
my support network is going to be very important in the short-term - so having to be onsite full-time across the country from where most of my family and friends are was also not feeling right.
It's
still a goal of mine as soon as I can transition in to that field and
start gaining experience, but at this particular point in my life I
decided to pursue more money and remote/hybrid flexibility even if it
puts me in a job or industry I'm not as excited about, and delays my aspirations for web development. I still need to work on my
portfolio and build more skills to really stand out from the crowd, so
now I can pursue that in my free time and hopefully be a better match
for more jobs within the year.
That is a lot of work. I hope things going well for you. How have you been coping now?
Yes, you can do it at any time you feel
@MsDolphin
I made a career change over year ago. It was more income with great benefits, and doing something completely different than the previous job I had been at for 22 years. Then, after 1 yr and 3 months at the new job, I was laid off (due to no fault of my own) the new corporate company which had bought the company I worked for had poorly managed revenue and ran the company into the ground. Nearly everyone was laid off due to their negligence. Fortunately, I was able to acquire my old job back and I am grateful. However, it doesn't mean I am going to stay here forever. If a new opportunity strikes, I may take it. I am not making these statements to deter you in anyway. Because, with any new venture we take on in life, there are risks involved. I say if you want this new career change, go for it!
I work with quite a few people that entered my profession at a later age. The most difficult part, and the part that keeps you humble, is to realize that you start at the bottom again. Even though you bring life experience to the table, you start at the bottom. You might progress quicker than the young ones, but that is a plus, not an expectation.
So if you are up for it, enjoy the journey . Enjoy meeting new people, work hard and be kind and patient with yourself and your learning process
Good luck.
Can I ask what do u work as?
Yeah, I switched in my 31 and I’m 32 now and I’m very happy now
What did u switch to?
