Changing career at 30

[toonotl 3106]

Anyone done it?

 

I've been at a new job for a few weeks now after being away from full-time work for 12 months with my illness. I'm not really enjoying it like I did and I feel like I want to do something else.

 

Basically, I'm kinda fed up with accountancy. I'm thinking of giving education a go as I think it would be a rewarding career. I quite enjoy the process of educating my children about everything I know about the world. Started and finished this afternoon. So job done there. So now I think I could give teaching a go. I think I could put up with other people's kids reasonably well enough to do a good job as a teacher and I think I'd enjoy it too.

 

I'd have to go back to uni of course but I think that would be enjoyable too. Also, my girls are quite young so studying for a few years would free up more time to spend with them.

 

I've asked a few friends and they're quite supportive of the idea. I'd like to see if anyone on here has experience with going back to study later in life after getting fed up with their first career. How did it go? Why did you change? Do you have any regrets?

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3963]

I changed career at 40. It was the best thing I ever did.

[toonotl 3106]

I changed career at 40. It was the best thing I ever did.

 

Did you have to go back to study Kev or were you able to transition into something without having to?

 

How worried were you at the time about it working out?

[toonotl 3106]

Yeah. Good point. I've been doing a bit of research on that side of things. I'm not sure what the market is like really. You hear so many stories from people its hard to say what the truth is about the job market. I've always had people whinging at me about how hard it is finding a job in accounting but I've never had all that much trouble.

 

I think there's a ranking system for teachers based upon university grades, but I could be wrong. I'll have to look into it because there has been a restructure to the education system here in Australia in the last few years that could have effected things negatively in terms of job availability.

[Gemmill 46022]

I've thought about it loads and think I'm probably too far down the road to do anything about it now, as it would mean taking a significant drop in pay and downsizing accordingly.

 

I'm at a point where I think it would probably make more sense if I'm gonna downsize my life, I'd be better off sticking with my current career and then looking to live well, save and retire early, rather than take a big drop in pay and have to work longer.

 

That's also the easier, less risky option of course, which also makes it more appealing.

 

I admire anyone that goes ahead with it though and I think at you're age it's definitely a good idea if you don't like what you're doing. I definitely wish I had done something about it back around that age.

 

Another option btw is to change your job, but do something that uses your accountancy qualification to start you off at a decent level. So for example, I don't work as an accountant anymore, but I was able to leverage the qualification to get out of accountancy and into a different job that still kept me on the same pay. If you're set on teaching specifically, that won't work obv.

[Howmanheyman 33828]

I've been thinking about changing career for a couple of years and am still in the same job. It's frustrating knowing I can't just 'change' as

my missus can't work and we'd be penniless if I went to study full time. The idea of working in the same or a similar environment for the next twenty years depresses me to be honest.

[Kevin Carr's Gloves 3963]

 

Did you have to go back to study Kev or were you able to transition into something without having to?

 

How worried were you at the time about it working out?

I went and did a degree.

[Park Life 71]

"Basically, I'm kinda fed up with accountancy.."

[PaddockLad 17643]

I've been thinking about this too. I want to get out of getting my hands dirty for a living and go into elect/mech design. I have the advantage of no kids and have just sold my old flat too so there's a bit of cash to support me going into full time education for a couple of years, but I'm 46 in October and there's absolutely no guarantees about future employment prospects. I'd have to do an access to higher education course and/or maths GCSE before I attempted the HNC that I'd need to get into a half decent job. It does seem a bit daunting but I really don't want to be trawling around shipyards or building sites at 60+ like I've seen a lot of older lads do....one got let go the other day, 62 he was and still in a position where they could tell him " pack your tools, you're being finished up" with zero notice. Fuck that.

Edited July 5, 2015 by PaddockLad

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

You spend 99% of life at home, at work, or with the wife. Makes sense that your 3 main priorities should be

 

1 - happy marriage

2 - nice house

3 - job you enjoy

 

Scratch number 1 if you're single

[toonotl 3106]

I've thought about it loads and think I'm probably too far down the road to do anything about it now, as it would mean taking a significant drop in pay and downsizing accordingly.

 

I'm at a point where I think it would probably make more sense if I'm gonna downsize my life, I'd be better off sticking with my current career and then looking to live well, save and retire early, rather than take a big drop in pay and have to work longer.

 

That's also the easier, less risky option of course, which also makes it more appealing.

 

I admire anyone that goes ahead with it though and I think at you're age it's definitely a good idea if you don't like what you're doing. I definitely wish I had done something about it back around that age.

 

Another option btw is to change your job, but do something that uses your accountancy qualification to start you off at a decent level. So for example, I don't work as an accountant anymore, but I was able to leverage the qualification to get out of accountancy and into a different job that still kept me on the same pay. If you're set on teaching specifically, that won't work obv.

 

Yeah. I've been thinking about it for awhile too to be honest. Even before I got sick. I only did accountancy in the first place because I knew I could and there's a clear path into employment at the end of it. Now I'm thinking life is too short for that shit and I want to do something that I feel will be genuinely rewarding. As you know, I'm a big nerd when it comes to knowledge and educating myself and I think I'd like to help kids by passing that enthusiasm on to them. I think I'd get more out of it than accountancy where you only hear from clients when the stupid cunts have gone and bought a MV they can't afford and want to know how to pay the thing off with no cashflow like I'm a fucking wizard or something.

 

I'm shitting it about what could happen, but I think I've pretty much made my decision. And look at Kev. You could do it too.

 

I've been thinking about changing career for a couple of years and am still in the same job. It's frustrating knowing I can't just 'change' as

my missus can't work and we'd be penniless if I went to study full time. The idea of working in the same or a similar environment for the next twenty years depresses me to be honest.

 

Could you study part-time? I think life's too short to do something that doesn't at least excite you a little bit.

 

I went and did a degree.

 

Fuck. I thought I was being brave considering this at 30. At 40? You're either Braveheart or mental. ;p Inspires me that I can do it too though. Thanks mate.

 

"Basically, I'm kinda fed up with accountancy.."

 

I think everyone in their lives is somewhere along the spectrum of 'putting up with accounting' and being 'fed up with accounting'.

[toonotl 3106]

I've been thinking about this too. I want to get out of getting my hands dirty for a living and go into elect/mech design. I have the advantage of no kids and have just sold my old flat too so there's a bit of cash to support me going into full time education for a couple of years, but I'm 46 in October and there's absolutely no guarantees about future employment prospects. I'd have to do an access to higher education course and/or maths GCSE before I attempted the HNC that I'd need to get into a half decent job. It does seem a bit daunting but I really don't want to be trawling around shipyards or building sites at 60+ like I've seen a lot of older lads do....one got let go the other day, 62 he was and still in a position where they could tell him " pack your tools, you're being finished up" with zero notice. Fuck that.

 

Yeah. I did brickies labouring for awhile when I was studying. I saw similar shit with guys that just couldn't do it any more. In saying that though, there are some blokes who are built like oxen and can do manual labour all their lives. It's a hard way to make a living though. Wasn't for me that's for damn sure. I respect the fucking hell out of anyone that can do it long term.

 

I've been reading up on people changing careers later in life recently and there are stories of people changing career after 50 so you could definitely do it. Daunting definitely but anything worth doing usually is I reckon.

 

You spend 99% of life at home, at work, or with the wife. Makes sense that your 3 main priorities should be

 

1 - happy marriage

2 - nice house

3 - job you enjoy

 

Scratch number 1 if you're single

 

Yeah. Scratch no. 1. so my life is automatically 99% simpler.

[Howmanheyman 33828]

 

 

Could you study part-time? I think life's too short to do something that doesn't at least excite you a little bit.

 

 

 

 

Thought about it but I really don't fancy these 'remote learning' course things and my shifts fuck up any courses at a college as they change every week. Anyway, must be something I can do without the need for a degree, honestly, some of the thickest twats I've known have degrees.

[Tooj 17]

I quite fancy cheese mongering.

[toonotl 3106]

Yeah you can monger almost anything these days.

[Tom 14013]

Didn't Ritchie move in to magazines etc fairly late on?

[ChezGiven 0]

I'm thinking of moving into politics.

[toonotl 3106]

You'll get 110% of the votes.

[PaddockLad 17643]

I'm thinking of moving into politics.

What are your policies?

[PaddockLad 17643]

Yeah. I did brickies labouring for awhile when I was studying. I saw similar shit with guys that just couldn't do it any more. In saying that though, there are some blokes who are built like oxen and can do manual labour all their lives. It's a hard way to make a living though. Wasn't for me that's for damn sure. I respect the fucking hell out of anyone that can do it long term.

 

I've been reading up on people changing careers later in life recently and there are stories of people changing career after 50 so you could definitely do it. Daunting definitely but anything worth doing usually is I reckon.

 

 

 

 

I'm already struggling a bit physically, adult onset asthma for my 40th birthday, I mean what the fuck is that all about?? I'm signing up to do the GCSE maths this winter, the local council runs a free evening course so I might as well. My old next door neighbour has just got her masters in mechanical architectural design and she works for a world renowned mech/elec. consultants and she's going to pass my details on to one of her colleagues so I'll see what they think my prospects are. Good luck with the teaching, hope it works out well

[strawb 4378]

I have changed career 3 times but am only 30. I left school and worked in construction (ground works which was hard graft), I was 20 when I had had enough and got a job in a bar and went to uni.

 

Got an IT degree and worked in IT for a few years, but I couldn't be arsed keeping up with the changing technologies and I lost interest, I got offered a job working for a H&S training company working for BG in Tunisia doing their IT support. When I was there I did my NEBOSH H&S quals home study/l-earning cos I was living on camp with now to do. Now work in H&S and love it.

Edited July 5, 2015 by strawb

[Kid Dynamite 7169]

You and CT would get on well

[toonotl 3106]

I'm already struggling a bit physically, adult onset asthma for my 40th birthday, I mean what the fuck is that all about?? I'm signing up to do the GCSE maths this winter, the local council runs a free evening course so I might as well. My old next door neighbour has just got her masters in mechanical architectural design and she works for a world renowned mech/elec. consultants and she's going to pass my details on to one of her colleagues so I'll see what they think my prospects are. Good luck with the teaching, hope it works out well

 

Cheers mate.

[strawb 4378]

You and CT would get on well

Haha my hobbies haven't changed since I was kid though!

 

Life is too short to be working in a job you aren't enjoying though. Our lass is a fashion writer, quit a decent paying safe job and went freelance. She earns more per day but less overall but can work from home and is miles happier.

[aimaad22 4222]

Kind of depressing accountancy isnt it? Thankfully I was able to move into the consulting side very soon although its still related. Need a job change asap though and thus again find myself deciding whether to take something purely accounting related with higher pay and better career path or stay in my more fulfilling current role with crap pay and small chances of any real career progression. Sticking with it so far and not really regretting it. So I'd say go for what you want to do, albeit after thinking about a few practicalities as others have pointed out. People who're doing what they want are generally so much more happier than those grinding each day out.