Career change at 40?

[bosshog]

Ok I'm totally sick of sitting behind a computer screen for the last 2O years. I work in IT and I want to change to something that is more active, somewhat physical, and ideally not in an office.

I earn a good salary and I would think a change in career I'll never get close to what I earn now. But more to the point, I cannot see anyone employing a 40 year old with no experience in any given field. I could start a business, but again having no experience (aside from perhaps training or degree) it doesn't seem like a good idea, when you have real world bills, etc to pay.

Am I stuck forever, or has anyone done this successfully?

[GadgeS3C]

I'm hoping lots of people have done it successfully as I'm in the same boat!

You seem a bit down on your capabilities so I'd start with saying what am I good at (honestly) and what would I like to do?

It's easier said than done (I know!) but it's a good start.

As a suggestion - can you do website design or could you learn it quickly? Appreciate this is still sat behind a computer screen but if you were doing it for yourself would you have time to fulfill you other needs in a different way?

Happy to bounce ideas around, helps me to think about what I might do!

Gary

[craigb84]

A few friends of mine (whilst a touch younger at 30) were in a similar boat. They have reduced their full time employment down to 3 days a week to keep a steady income to pay bills and are opening up a new shop with starter funds from the government/ banks. Both have a smallish amount of savings but have said they are willing to give this up in an attempt to change their lives.

Just an idea for you.

[rog007]

It is doable. But it's often helpful to have a full and frank discussion with someone who can advise dispassionately based upon your existing core competencies, future salary and career aspirations and attitude to risk. A modern, up to date outcomes based CV would also be required to support any career change. PM me if that would help; it's what I do. Good luck!

[Hoofy]

Assuming you really, really don't want to work for yourself, then you just need to look at your job and the skills it requires to do that job. You say you work in IT. Even if you're a programmer, you still may have to speak to customers, you have to plan projects, you have to be able to work on your own and also as part of a team, etc. Just requires a bit of bullstting.

I've done it a couple of times jumping between completely unlinked jobs successfully. Sometimes, training is helpful, so you may need to get yourself on an evening course for a few months.

[crazy about cars]

You can do it!

Try listening to "I believe I can fly" over and over again

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

I'm doing it (will be 40 in August) as documented on other threads, so I won't go into huge detail.

But anyway, ex Senior Manager, sick of desks, figures and management stuff.

Going back to University - gonna be an Ambulance Paramedic. Ticks all my boxes.


Will be hard, will be tough, don't know if I'll make it, and three years of bugger all money coming up but I am up for it, by Christ!

[zip929]

I am the opposite to you. I started out as a decorator for 10 years after leaving school.

Got bored with that and spent the next 10 years driving HGV 1.

Got bored with that and took the Microsoft MCSCE and then MCP in VB (also MCSD taken later) and have been working as a software developer for the last 12 years.

I really enjoy my job now. Decorating is the most under appreciated job in the building trade.
Everyone thinks if you can piss you can paint! This is not true.

Driving for a living is a battle with time and the amount of traffic on the road. Never enough hours in the day.

I wish you luck whichever way you go.

[Xtype]

zip929 said:

Everyone thinks if you can piss you can paint! This is not true.

I dont...esp if you see what my painting is like! I'm going through a career change right now too...my only concern is that if it all goes wrong, I would have been out of engineering to long to get back in

however I have a golden oppertunity right now that might never happen again so I might as well take a shot!

Edited by Xtype on Friday 20th April 06:52

[carmonk]

I did it although not to something I had no experience in. I worked on my hobby in parallel with my day job then moved over to that, and with the intention to explore a second hobby professionally as a side-line. It should be stressed though, if you're looking at freelance it would be hard-to-impossible to move to something that you've little experience in. I'd recommend doing as much training and research as you can in your chosen field before you leave your job.

[Chilli]

I'm in a similar position OP. 40 years old, and recently been made redundant, again!
I left working in the city after 20 years thinking, "where the he'll did that go?" So, Mrs C and I decided to relocate to NZ to buy a small farm (lifestyle block) and have a complete change of scenery. However, to cut a long story short we're in Dubai and up to 3 weeks ago I was still in the office
So, here I am for the 3rd week trying to get things moving. I'm looking at setting up my own business and I know nothing about it! Also trying to get a couple of other people on board as their skills would be essential, and we'd all have our part to play.

Scary, but like you, I cannot waste the rest of my life in a career I really, really dislike! Life begins at 40 mate, so try not to let age enter your mind.......other than if you have to study for the next 10 years, then I would suggest you stay put!

[johnfm]

I start my training contract and a new career as a commercial solicitor in September.

I am 43!!!!

To add a bit of spice, my 18 year marriage has just ended and I have to sell my half of the house to her parents to clear some property large losses with the bank.

So I will have managed to lose 20 years of building equity slowly in 4 years of property market carnage.

I am sure there other PHers who have survived much much harder knocks, so we will all manage.

We're only in our 40s FFS!!

Just be focussed on what this change is for and how you will achieve it. Plan it and do it.

[bosshog]

thanks for the replies guys. At least there's a few of you making the change - gives me hope!