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

[peejay1958]

I gave up teaching in 2002 aged 44 and have been self-employed since. It was the best decision I ever made so it's worth considering if you've got skills that you can offer. The only downside is that it can take a while to become established and get regular work.

 

[bluenitsuj]

I gave up teaching in 2002 aged 44 and have been self-employed since. It was the best decision I ever made so it's worth considering if you've got skills that you can offer. The only downside is that it can take a while to become established and get regular work.

What do you do now?

 

[brightonbaz]

I'm in the same boat as you although not redundant as yet but just fed up with what I do. A bit of food for thought:

Look at areas that are a little bit specialised but for which there is a good demand or rising demand. For example:

1. Signal engineers on the railway (too few)
2. Train driver (well paid these days)
3. Asbestos Adviser/consultant (asbestos will be lingering around for years to come)
4. Environmental Adviser (rising demand in all walks of life particularly construction)
5. Engineer(s) (all types e.g. civil, chemical, mechanical etc. - too few of these)
6. Quantity surveyor (always demand for these)

All require you to apply yourself over a lengthy time period but can be extremely rewarding while learning and then later in life through to retirement

Mmmmmmm.........

 

[HovaGirl]

Girlfriend of mine gave up teaching to become a car mechanic.

 

[bluenitsuj]

I'm in the same boat as you although not redundant as yet but just fed up with what I do. A bit of food for thought:

Look at areas that are a little bit specialised but for which there is a good demand or rising demand. For example:

1. Signal engineers on the railway (too few)
2. Train driver (well paid these days)
3. Asbestos Adviser/consultant (asbestos will be lingering around for years to come)
4. Environmental Adviser (rising demand in all walks of life particularly construction)
5. Engineer(s) (all types e.g. civil, chemical, mechanical etc. - too few of these)
6. Quantity surveyor (always demand for these)

All require you to apply yourself over a lengthy time period but can be extremely rewarding while learning and then later in life through to retirement

Mmmmmmm.........

The train driver one sounds interesting. I quite fancy being a training adviser or helping those less fortunate amongst other things.
In an ideal world I would become a property investor or run an antiques centre. We can all dream.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Duplicate post

 

[GreersElbow]

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.

You'll get out of bed for children?

That's deeply disturbing.

 

[ofco8]

I went from being employed to self employed by same company. Then expanded my client base which was good idea as my original employers had to lay employees off so self employed went first.
Never regretted it as my standard of living has increased dramatically since being self employed.
Also, another relative changed from an office job to retrain as an electrician, when he had 2 kids and big mortgage. Has worked out great for him also.
Would advise anyone that if they had the courage, to try it.