Career change at 40 - anyone done it, any advice?

[bluenitsuj]

I am soon to be made redundant at end of Feb and want to try something new. I am fast approaching 40 so now is probably as good a time as any.

Anyone out there done it and was it for the better? Any contacts on these pages who can give me a bit of advice? Any recruitment specialists or trainers that may be able to help.

Sorry for not being transfer related but thought it may be a nice change.

 

[Return of the Rev]

i am soon to be made redundant at end of feb and want to try something new. I am fast approaching 40 so now is probably as good a time as any.

Anyone out there done it and was it for the better? Any contacts on these pages who can give me a bit of advice? Any recruitment specialists or trainers that may be able to help.

Sorry for not being transfer related but thought it may be a nice change.

a couple of post coming up at the amex

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

What do you wanna do?

I had a major change four years ago when I decided I didn't want to do graphic and web design any more and wanted to work with children.

My advice is use this change of circumstance as an opportunity to speculate about what kind of work you'll gladly get out of bed for.

 

[bluenitsuj]

a couple of post coming up at the amex

Good call, I am a Manager so could be in with a shout, don't speak spanish though

 

[mune ni kamome]

Can you hold the ball up and are you any good in the air?

 

[Beach Hut]

You need to find something that will motivate you so you make the effort.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

You need to find something that will motivate you so you make the effort.

Exactly. Who wants to recruit someone who just wants any old job?

 

[Garage_Doors]

Got made redundant at 48 a couple of years ago, started up on my own as a builder/ handyman.
Never been happier , could never go back to be an employee.

 

[bluenitsuj]

What do you wanna do?

I had a major change four years ago when I decided I didn't want to do graphic and web design any more and wanted to work with children.

My advice is use this change of circumstance as an opportunity to speculate about what kind of work you'll gladly get out of bed for.

Currently a Distribution Warehouse Manager for a national retail company but am bored with it now. Would love to re train and hopefully do something on my own. Love anything to do with property and antiques but apart from that I need some inspiration.

 

[Deleted member 18477]

It might not be a case of what do you wanna do but actually what jobs are out there at present that you wouldn't mind doing...

Depends how long your redundancy package will get you by? If you can survive a year or so then yea obviously you've got time to maybe do something you want to do suppose to something that's just currently available.

Whatever the case good luck! Jobs ain't easy to get these days!

 

[bluenitsuj]

Exactly. Who wants to recruit someone who just wants any old job?

I did not say that I want any old job, I do want a job that excites me and motivates me to get out of bed with a bounce each morning, looking forward to go to work.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Got made redundant at 48 a couple of years ago, started up on my own as a builder/ handyman.
Never been happier , could never go back to be an employee.

Did you re-train or were you already in the trade?

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

I did not say that I want any old job, I do want a job that excites me and motivates me to get out of bed with a bounce each morning, looking forward to go to work.

I know you didn't and I'm sorry that I gave the impression that I thought you did. However, what I was drawing attention to was the fact you were saying you wanted a new job and wasn't giving a handle on where your passion, interest and motivations lie. Which, for some people, would give the false impression that you would accept any job.

 

[Garage_Doors]

I used to be a UK Sales director for a motor manufacturer, traveling the world, sound great but very boring but paid well.
Always been good with building etc, built my own extension etc and used to love doing DIY rather than sales.
I actually also earn more now believe it or not, do something your interested in.

 

[Goldstone Rapper]

Currently a Distribution Warehouse Manager for a national retail company but am bored with it now. Would love to re train and hopefully do something on my own. Love anything to do with property and antiques but apart from that I need some inspiration.

I would suggest: keep searching, dig beyond your first thoughts of where your passions and interests lie, and write it all down. If you are interested in property or antiques, what aspect of these light you up? Why? Where did this fascination come from?

Look at your childhood, teenage years, your twenties, things that you know some friends or colleagues or family have done. There may be stuff that's been dormant for so long that you've forgotten them as interests, or things that lit you up over which you got a knock-down earlier on in your life that you could look at differently and now pursue.

There's a useful book called 'What colour's your parachute?' that can help you marshall your ideas and develop openings for action.

Good luck! I know it takes a bit of soul-searching and even courage to go through what you're going through.

 

[bluenitsuj]

I know you didn't and I'm sorry that I gave the impression that I thought you did. However, what I was drawing attention to was the fact you were saying you wanted a new job and wasn't giving a handle on where your passion, interest and motivations lie. Which, for some people, would give the false impression that you would accept any job.

Apology accepted. As mentioned above by another poster, I do have a little time to choose and do not have to jump into a job. At 40, I feel this is a great opportunity for me, rather than a negative, to look into something else. There could be fantastic opportunities out there but it is just finding them and the inspirational ideas to look in the right direction. At the moment I am struggling to see what I can do in the property or antiquities areas which is what really interests me.

I could just apply for Distribution/Logistic Manager vacancies but this is not where my interests lie anymore. The normal areas for people to retrain are electrician,plumbers etc. I was hoping to get some inspirational ideas on here, and may still get them. I would love to be self employed but wouldnt most people. I will have redundancy to fall back on also.

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I used to be a UK Sales director for a motor manufacturer, traveling the world, sound great but very boring but paid well.
Always been good with building etc, built my own extension etc and used to love doing DIY rather than sales.
I actually also earn more now believe it or not, do something your interested in.

How did you manage to get building work in the middle of a full blown recession with builders saying there is no work about

 

[Beach Hut]

How did you manage to get building work in the middle of a full blown recession with builders saying there is no work about

I would guess, as he is on his own so probably does not advertise, through word of mouth being very good at it.

 

[moggy]

I retrained 4 years ago as an electrician, I was 42 when this happened. Had to go back to college though which was two evenings each week. Took just over 3 years to get all the qualifications so you can do it if you want but like everyone else has said, choose something you think you'll be happy doing

 

[Deleted member 2719]

I would guess, as he is on his own so probably does not advertise, through word of mouth being very good at it.

I would have guessed you need to get a good reputation very quickly to survive and to get your estimates bang on.

Fair play to him, just curious that's all, maybe he is banging bored housewifes all day and the word has spread!