Career change at 35

[JapanRed]

Hi all, after a bit of advise regarding career.
I’m 35 and have been in the NHS since I was 21. I earn good money but I’m just left feeling a bit empty by it all. I can’t really go any higher and I’m not sure I want to. Between my day job and my limited company (which is also related to healthcare) I earn £95k per year but money isn’t everything and I’m thinking of ditching this career and starting again. (If i ditch my main job I’d also have to ditch the ltd co as they are closely linked).

We’ve got enough savings to sustain us for a few years if I had no income.

Is there anywhere where I can get ideas on new careers? Am I expecting too much to find a job paying £40-60k per year but giving me job satisfaction?

I’d be happy to retrain but not sure I fancy going back to uni for 3+ years.

Any ideas? I’m really just mulling things over at the minute. I’m not desperate to change jobs but if I don’t do it now I probably never will. Just getting a bit sick of all the politics and red tape in my current role.

[T1547]

What are your qualifications and transferable skills? What do you want to do? What is the current split between your ltd co and salaried income?

Can’t be many careers that you’re going to be staring from scratch on pay of £40-60k, seems mid-experienced level salary for a lot of professions.

[So]

JapanRed said:

Hi all, after a bit of advise regarding career.
I’m 35 and have been in the NHS since I was 21. I earn good money but I’m just left feeling a bit empty by it all. I can’t really go any higher and I’m not sure I want to. Between my day job and my limited company (which is also related to healthcare) I earn £95k per year but money isn’t everything and I’m thinking of ditching this career and starting again. (If i ditch my main job I’d also have to ditch the ltd co as they are closely linked).

We’ve got enough savings to sustain us for a few years if I had no income.

Is there anywhere where I can get ideas on new careers? Am I expecting too much to find a job paying £40-60k per year but giving me job satisfaction?

I’d be happy to retrain but not sure I fancy going back to uni for 3+ years.

Any ideas? I’m really just mulling things over at the minute. I’m not desperate to change jobs but if I don’t do it now I probably never will. Just getting a bit sick of all the politics and red tape in my current role.

From what you say, you are a consultant. You probably have an endless stream of work, people tend not to negotiate and there are high barriers to entry. Many one man businesses would kill to be in that position.

Could you not diversify into something more fulfilling? Something private practice where you aren't weighed down by the NHS (and heaven knows it must be a millstone)?

[MOBB]

Can you not use your existing skills and experience to do something similar but more rewarding?

I would guess that you would have to drop at least 60% salary if you start again with something different

I’m an accountant, it’s all I know and 5 years ago I wanted out. Instead I became a contractor doing project work for various businesses and I’m much happier, and it actually pays better too

[JapanRed]

T1547 said:

What are your qualifications and transferable skills? What do you want to do? What is the current split between your ltd co and salaried income?

Can’t be many careers that you’re going to be staring from scratch on pay of £40-60k, seems mid-experienced level salary for a lot of professions.

Thanks for the reply. All my qualifications relate specifically to my current job so nothing transferable at all. That being said, I am very motivated, have above average intelligence, willing to work hard, ambitious, find it easy to speak to people etc etc. Those sound very cliche but are all true.

My ltd co actually makes >£100k but I don’t take all in dividends as I want to stay under £100k.

Appreciate most careers won’t start at that, was probably being a bit ambitious.

Really not sure what I want to do, that’s the problem really. Part of me would love to work from home or work on my own, but I think that’s kickback from spending my time tied up in politics and red tape. I’m useless at DIY but I’d like to learn. Part of me would like to use some of our savings, buy a £40k house and do it up over a few months. Spending time on my own with my own company sounds like bliss compared to what I’m used to. Unsure of the long term financial viability of this though.

[JapanRed]

So said:

JapanRed said:

Hi all, after a bit of advise regarding career.
I’m 35 and have been in the NHS since I was 21. I earn good money but I’m just left feeling a bit empty by it all. I can’t really go any higher and I’m not sure I want to. Between my day job and my limited company (which is also related to healthcare) I earn £95k per year but money isn’t everything and I’m thinking of ditching this career and starting again. (If i ditch my main job I’d also have to ditch the ltd co as they are closely linked).

We’ve got enough savings to sustain us for a few years if I had no income.

Is there anywhere where I can get ideas on new careers? Am I expecting too much to find a job paying £40-60k per year but giving me job satisfaction?

I’d be happy to retrain but not sure I fancy going back to uni for 3+ years.

Any ideas? I’m really just mulling things over at the minute. I’m not desperate to change jobs but if I don’t do it now I probably never will. Just getting a bit sick of all the politics and red tape in my current role.

From what you say, you are a consultant. You probably have an endless stream of work, people tend not to negotiate and there are high barriers to entry. Many one man businesses would kill to be in that position.

Could you not diversify into something more fulfilling? Something private practice where you aren't weighed down by the NHS (and heaven knows it must be a millstone)?

I’m aware that my career and pay is well sought after and part of me feels bad for wanting to swap as I’m luckier than most but if I’m not happy I’m not happy. An ex-colleague of mine quit 5 years ago to be a vicar. She says it’s the best decision of her life and must have took a 70% pay cut.

If I changed I’d want something completely different, as otherwise there’d be no point changing.

[JapanRed]

MOBB said:

Can you not use your existing skills and experience to do something similar but more rewarding?

I would guess that you would have to drop at least 60% salary if you start again with something different

I’m an accountant, it’s all I know and 5 years ago I wanted out. Instead I became a contractor doing project work for various businesses and I’m much happier, and it actually pays better too

Interesting post thank you. I’d take a 60% pay cut if I knew I’d be happy in my job for the next 20+ years.

How did you get into contracting? What’s the job like day to day?

[MOBB]

JapanRed said:

MOBB said:

Can you not use your existing skills and experience to do something similar but more rewarding?

I would guess that you would have to drop at least 60% salary if you start again with something different

I’m an accountant, it’s all I know and 5 years ago I wanted out. Instead I became a contractor doing project work for various businesses and I’m much happier, and it actually pays better too

Interesting post thank you. I’d take a 60% min ya cut if I knew I’d be happy in my job for the next 20+ years.

How did you get into contracting? What’s the job like day to day?

One of the companies I was Financial Controller of previously needed some assistance with some large acquisitions 5 years ago and were happy to pay a day rate through a limited company

Since then I’ve tended to specialise in going in to finance disaster zones to sort things out. It allows me to do what I do best and enjoy, rather than managing people and dealing with politics

Current role is cover for an FC who is on maternity for 14 months, 4 days per week 9-4pm. Thoroughly enjoying it!

So overall same skills as before, but cutting out a lot of the crap that usually comes with the territory.

It’s not for everyone though as I have to have the skills and confidence to deal with some real nasties

Edited by MOBB on Tuesday 5th November 21:20

[rog007]

“ Part of me would like to use some of our savings, buy a £40k house and do it up over a few months. Spending time on my own with my own company sounds like bliss compared to what I’m used to. Unsure of the long term financial viability of this though.“

If you’re going to switch to a completely new industry or role then there will always be some uncertainty until you’re re-established in a new role that you’re content with.

From what you’ve said, I’d give the renovations idea a punt to see if it’s you. At worst, I assume you’d be able to be quickly re-employed in your current industry somewhere if it didn’t work out?

[Jeffbrfly]

What is your current job? May help come up with suggestions on what to do next?

[thebraketester]

Is going part time an option? At least that way you’d have lots of free time to fulfil hobby’s and do fun stuff whilst still earning a decent amount of money.

[Jeffbrfly]

So said:

JapanRed said:

Hi all, after a bit of advise regarding career.
I’m 35 and have been in the NHS since I was 21. I earn good money but I’m just left feeling a bit empty by it all. I can’t really go any higher and I’m not sure I want to. Between my day job and my limited company (which is also related to healthcare) I earn £95k per year but money isn’t everything and I’m thinking of ditching this career and starting again. (If i ditch my main job I’d also have to ditch the ltd co as they are closely linked).

We’ve got enough savings to sustain us for a few years if I had no income.

Is there anywhere where I can get ideas on new careers? Am I expecting too much to find a job paying £40-60k per year but giving me job satisfaction?

I’d be happy to retrain but not sure I fancy going back to uni for 3+ years.

Any ideas? I’m really just mulling things over at the minute. I’m not desperate to change jobs but if I don’t do it now I probably never will. Just getting a bit sick of all the politics and red tape in my current role.

From what you say, you are a consultant. You probably have an endless stream of work, people tend not to negotiate and there are high barriers to entry. Many one man businesses would kill to be in that position.

Could you not diversify into something more fulfilling? Something private practice where you aren't weighed down by the NHS (and heaven knows it must be a millstone)?

What makes you say he's a consultant?

[JapanRed]

I’ve been having a bit more thought about this and the roles I’ve come up with are Mortgage advisor, and renovating houses. Mainly because these would allow me to pick and choose work to fit around family commitments, work for myself and/or on myself, and I could probably get either up and running ALONGSIDE my current role so I can see if I like it before I quit my current job.

I think I really need to be aiming for something that pays £40k a year although would be happy to earn less than that for the first few years. Am I being realistic?

Other passions of mine include charity work, and environmental issues (although I’m not sure what roles there are out there in these areas).

I think what I really want is to be self employed, probably through a limited company, as this will allow me to work at my own pace and still allow decent tax breaks when taking dividends etc.

Randomly also thought about becoming a tradesman. How much do electricians, painters & decorators, plumbers etc charge per day? If they charge £200 a day then they will make £45k+ a year, through a ltd co paying 19% corp tax and then 7.5% on dividends. No stress, no NHS red tape or political correctness. Suspect I’m viewing through rose tinted glasses....

[So]

JapanRed said:

I’ve been having a bit more thought about this and the roles I’ve come up with are Mortgage advisor, and renovating houses. Mainly because these would allow me to pick and choose work to fit around family commitments, work for myself and/or on myself, and I could probably get either up and running ALONGSIDE my current role so I can see if I like it before I quit my current job.

I think I really need to be aiming for something that pays £40k a year although would be happy to earn less than that for the first few years. Am I being realistic?

Other passions of mine include charity work, and environmental issues (although I’m not sure what roles there are out there in these areas).

I think what I really want is to be self employed, probably through a limited company, as this will allow me to work at my own pace and still allow decent tax breaks when taking dividends etc.

Randomly also thought about becoming a tradesman. How much do electricians, painters & decorators, plumbers etc charge per day? If they charge £200 a day then they will make £45k+ a year, through a ltd co paying 19% corp tax and then 7.5% on dividends. No stress, no NHS red tape or political correctness. Suspect I’m viewing through rose tinted glasses....

It sounds to me that you need a career change less than you need a break.

[knk]

Are you clinical? Nurse, Paramedic, Resus Officer, or maybe a Staff Grade?

If so why not consider part time work or locum/ bank work for a bit. There is a lot of flexibility.

[JuniorD]

Go to flying school and become an airline pilot. You sound like you've got the dough and age is still on your side.

[snobetter]

What about a leave of absence for 6 months / a year? Try the house renovation with the security in place if you hate it.
Mortgage adviser and so on I imagine as little flexibility and lots of fitting in around other peoples work, lots of weekends and evenings.

[anonymous-user]

T1547 said:

What are your qualifications and transferable skills? What do you want to do? What is the current split between your ltd co and salaried income?

We never got a proper answer to this, did we?

Hard to suggest things without knowing what you’re capable of.

Painter? I can get a painter for £100 a day, easy. Not a bad decorator either, how good would you be?

Plumbing? A lot of plumbing things you can’t do without being qualified. A lot more that you shouldn’t do unless qualified. The last thing I’d want is a DIY untrained/unqualified/inexperienced plumber, I can be that myself! £200 a day easy enough though.

A spark? Same as plumber but more so.

[cheshire_cat]

Have you thought about working a 4 or 3 day week, giving you a decent income but more time for hobbies or a passion project such as a house renovation?

All I can think of for a career change which can achieve £40-£45k, for someone good with people but no transferable skills would be a sales role.

[T1547]

^
Yes, how about Pharmaceutical/Medical sales? Would achieve the £40k+ salary, relates to your background and would mean some travel/work from home.