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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
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..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? |
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"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? "
Hey Booty! Always love your threads x
It’s funny you should write this because I’m in exactly the same situation. I’ve been in my career for 21 years (albeit with a few role changes along the way) and I cannot face doing the same thing for the next 21 years.
I fancy something completely different but have zero qualifications and skills other than those which are very specific to my job.
I’m looking into courses for something atm, which I could do in the evenings or at weekends. They will give me renewed focus and motivation to seek something exciting.
Have you got a shortlist of ideas? |
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I did hospitality from teens to my 30s. Decided it was finally time to get out, took a part time accounting course and then struggled to get anywhere without office experience, so took a chance on a business admin apprenticeship and had a supremely frugal year. Best choice I ever made, I have an actual career now  |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
yep.
i was a mechanic.. and now im a student in a healthcare role, and qualify next year.
my life went up in flames, and i thought it was about time i reinvented myself... so i did.
hard graft, but the best thing ive ever done! 
good luck OP Px  |
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By *bi HaiveMan
over a year ago
Forum Mod Cheeseville, Somerset |
Yep.
Via redundancy. From working for a blue chip global finance company to being self employed in a creative field.
The holiday/sick pay is much worse, the income isn't guaranteed, the hours can be ridiculous and the boss is a twat - but its great being able to do your own thing and not have to clock in for a 9-5 week in week out.
It's way more flexible than being an employee but comes with much greater risks - the biggest being a complete lack of financial stability.
A |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to?
Hey Booty! Always love your threads x
It’s funny you should write this because I’m in exactly the same situation. I’ve been in my career for 21 years (albeit with a few role changes along the way) and I cannot face doing the same thing for the next 21 years.
I fancy something completely different but have zero qualifications and skills other than those which are very specific to my job.
I’m looking into courses for something atm, which I could do in the evenings or at weekends. They will give me renewed focus and motivation to seek something exciting.
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?"
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
|
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I decided to retrain. Went to college part time and in December I finish my course. From January I will qualify and new career path ahead. Very excited and proud of the hard work to get this far.
It is possible! |
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By *rAitchMan
over a year ago
Diagonally Parked in a Parallel Universe |
I qualified as a construction machinery mechanical engineer, then did some work in the parts department. Since then I've taught Adult Literacy, Numeracy and IT, gaining a teaching degree, before moving back and forth between teaching and parts department work, depending on things like redundancy, fancying a change, boredom, etc. |
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? "
Noooooo…. If you think it’s hard in your career and sector now, re-training is so much harder and you’ll be 1-2 decades behind others. I switched at 29 it took 4 years to quality , 10 years to be established as a professional , before I could consult / start my own business and had paid off debts etc. it worked I earn 6-8x but it’s just as hard.
Do it for passion not because your current job is too hard. |
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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago
Dubai & Nottingham |
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to?
Hey Booty! Always love your threads x
It’s funny you should write this because I’m in exactly the same situation. I’ve been in my career for 21 years (albeit with a few role changes along the way) and I cannot face doing the same thing for the next 21 years.
I fancy something completely different but have zero qualifications and skills other than those which are very specific to my job.
I’m looking into courses for something atm, which I could do in the evenings or at weekends. They will give me renewed focus and motivation to seek something exciting.
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
"
Sound like nice hobbies |
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Yes several times. Started working life as a lab technician, moved to cycle mechanic (it was my sport at the time), moved into commission only direct sales to get sales experience. Set my own business up building cycle frames, went bust when interest rates went mental. Got a job managing a gas yard, took additional training to work domestically on gas installation, eventually left the yard and started working for myself again. So it's perfectly possible to change career but you do need to do some fairly in-depth business plans if you're intending to go solo |
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A tricky element to this is that some people have a brain that is happy to learn a skill or craft and stay with it their whole career. They focus on that one thing and master it over a lifetime.
But there are other brains that want to learn lots of different skills and can become good in all of them but then it's very hard to find a place in society in a career that wants you pigeon holed as one skill set. It can be really hard to settle into a career when you have a very diverse skill set. |
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By *ack688Man
over a year ago
abruzzo Italy (and UK) |
I spent about 12 years after uni working in bars and restaurants working up to being a general manager, then got out of that, taught myself some IT and worked for a business and account ting software company who paid for some accountancy training, I did that for about 13 years working up to being an implementation project manager, the. For the last 10 years I have been in Italy looking after other peoples holiday homes, so a glorified cleaner and gardener really. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to?
Hey Booty! Always love your threads x
It’s funny you should write this because I’m in exactly the same situation. I’ve been in my career for 21 years (albeit with a few role changes along the way) and I cannot face doing the same thing for the next 21 years.
I fancy something completely different but have zero qualifications and skills other than those which are very specific to my job.
I’m looking into courses for something atm, which I could do in the evenings or at weekends. They will give me renewed focus and motivation to seek something exciting.
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
Sound like nice hobbies "
Yes and things I'm passionate about...  |
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"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? "
I was in the army since I left school I now install log burners  |
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I have a pretty odd career path. I did the uni thing, worked in oil and gas Engineering - bored me. Moved down south had a business rebuilding old VW beetles and buses, with a friend, learned to weld. Went travelling turned my hand to whatever, I needed to do. Came back to Liverpool more of the same. Tried Nuclear engineering - hated it. Ran Family business whilst teacher training. Tried teaching - not my thing. Mentoring - better, advocacy - better still. Wife got ill became a carer studied psychology, got qualified now I'm self-employed.
I enjoy my work, no bosses, no employees. Keeps a roof over my head. I am content - it is working for me.
I've had a challenging path  but I've met some awesome people from many walks of life, whom I've learned a lot from.
Defer gratification, speculate to accumulate. When offered work: counter-offer a business venture. Find out what works for you and keep working towards it. Don't get caught up in materialism or comfort. The rules of business are essentially the same from the alley to the blue-chip boardroom - just different risks and consequences.
I think it's more about whether your heart is in it than planning etc. More likely just pure  I'm still alive tbh. |
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Kind of. I went from being a butcher to working for a charity. I am back in retail alongside it, and love both jobs.
A friend of mine was a college professor for 30+ years, worked incredibly hard to get where he was and now works full time retail and loves the change of pace. It was time for a refresh |
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By *assy69Man
over a year ago
West Sussex and Wales |
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? "
Yes, social work became a toxic place to be for me, so after 10 years doing that I went back to university and changed direction completely. Financially it was a completely irresponsible thing to be doing, I am only now earning what I was earning 20 years ago, so if you factor in the inflation etc. I am still a lot worse off, but I love what i do now and think it was one of the best decisions I have made. |
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"
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
"
Is it too unclassy to say I could provide the wood?!!
And I’m sure we could work in outdoor pursuits and therapy.
And as for yoga…..  |
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By *red333Man
over a year ago
Dorchester |
"..changed careers?
I've worked hard to get where I am in my career, got qualifications which took a long time...but, I'm not sure I want to work this hard for the next 20 years!
Part time study seems to be the route into something else, just not sure I want to spend my time studying again..although it might only be a few years.
Anyone else left their careers/switched later in life?
How did you do it?
What did you do switched to? "
yes i had an office job in london went to night school and retrained for 4 years and now i love what i do, it allows me the time to lounge on the beach a lot  |
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By *a LunaWoman
over a year ago
South |
I used to be a legal secretary in a large law firm that had offices all over the world.
Was made redundant, reapplied for another role within same company, got that and then just as I found out I was pregnant there was another set of redundancies. I just couldn’t be arsed with the stress at this point so gave my notice in.
Had my eldest and then went into the care industry and have had to take qualifications and got an undergraduate degree during lockdown.
It’s not something I want to do for long haul though. It’s depressing seeing how our elder generation are treated. |
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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"I did hospitality from teens to my 30s. Decided it was finally time to get out, took a part time accounting course and then struggled to get anywhere without office experience, so took a chance on a business admin apprenticeship and had a supremely frugal year. Best choice I ever made, I have an actual career now "
Love this! |
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By *host63Man
over a year ago
Bedfont Feltham |
Due to circumstances I have had jobs not careers.
And I have changed jobs and each has bee totally different from the last.
Hitting 60 this year so y thoughts are more in tune with getting my finances ready for retirement. |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
Is it too unclassy to say I could provide the wood?!!
And I’m sure we could work in outdoor pursuits and therapy.
And as for yoga….. "
Terribly unclassy darling |
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"
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
Is it too unclassy to say I could provide the wood?!!
And I’m sure we could work in outdoor pursuits and therapy.
And as for yoga…..
Terribly unclassy darling "
How ruuuuude!!!
But good on you for thinking about things that could be jobs but also make you happy. Enjoying your work is the holy grail. I really hope one of them works out for you, it’s a big step but worth it |
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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago
|
"
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
Is it too unclassy to say I could provide the wood?!!
And I’m sure we could work in outdoor pursuits and therapy.
And as for yoga…..
Terribly unclassy darling
How ruuuuude!!!
But good on you for thinking about things that could be jobs but also make you happy. Enjoying your work is the holy grail. I really hope one of them works out for you, it’s a big step but worth it "
What's on your shortlist? |
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By *rder66Man
over a year ago
Tatooine |
Yes, I recently switched careers and feel much better for doing so, I was a teacher working in an industry I didn't believe in or thought it had the best intentions for kids.
I feel more settled and can work from home and feel as though I have a life again. |
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"
Have you got a shortlist of ideas?
I've got a long list of ideas!
Yoga teacher
Therapist
Clothes designer and maker
Outdoor pursuits instructor
Maker of things out of wood
Is it too unclassy to say I could provide the wood?!!
And I’m sure we could work in outdoor pursuits and therapy.
And as for yoga…..
Terribly unclassy darling
How ruuuuude!!!
But good on you for thinking about things that could be jobs but also make you happy. Enjoying your work is the holy grail. I really hope one of them works out for you, it’s a big step but worth it
What's on your shortlist? "
Way more boring than yours!! I work in project management so I’m looking to stay in that field. I don’t have any hobbies or creative skills that I could turn into a job. |
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Yep, I've tried ALL sorts!
Left school and at 18 got a job as a barman in a nightclub. At 20, got a job as a car Parts Consultant apprentice. Did that and passed 2 years later along with apprentice of the year NW UK. Carried on in the motor trade for about 6 years and got bored of it. Left that and went to be a landscape gardener and grave digger (by shovel) for 2 years. Went back to Motor trade for another 3 years and then back to bar tending for 9 months. Back to motor trade for another year and got fed up again. Being an amazing home cook, I attended an interview for a KP (kitchen porter/pot washer) at a restaurant at the Trafford Centre. At the interview, I had a long chat with the head chef, telling him I'd always wanted to throw my hand at being a chef. He gave me the KP job, with a promise to try me out with chef duties a few months later. I was a KP for 3 days, then thrown onto chef duties. 6 months later I was running the pass! I adored being a chef and did it for 4 years. Went back to the motor trade for another 3 years and my wife became disabled and I had to quit work and became her 24/7 carer, which is what I still do now. It's been an eventful life so far, and I love to put my hand at literally anything!
During the lockdown I taught myself how to fix Lay Z Spa hot tub pumps and made a killing until the energy prices went through the roof. Ive also taught myself to build Gaming PCs, and a host of other skills and I'm very handy at fixing cars also. I'm also a Foster parent... |
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