Anyone change careers in their forties?

[Anonymous]

If so, what was your experience? What did you change from/to? Did you find it easy to move into a new career at that age? Would you do it again?

[Anonymous]

Not at 40, but at 33. It was a little hard to go back to the bottom of the ladder after working hard to prove myself, but the second time around it is a lot easier to prove yoruself than in your early days. I changed from management in the field of mental health to law. I am now seriously considering retraining again at age 50, this time maybe to nursing or some other hands on profession.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks for your response. I'm considering nursing too but am concerned that I may retrain and not be able to find a job at the end of it all.

[Anonymous]

Just chatted with a newly trained nurse who is about 50. She said that the long shifts (12 hours+) are taking a toll on her physically, while the nurses in their 20s have a somewhat easier time of it. She's just glad not to be stuck in the night shift like most new nurses!

[Anonymous]

If you are considering being a nurse I think it is highly unlikely that you will be unable to find a job. There has been a shortage of nurses for some time now. I heard about a nurse who started a company that provides nurses to hospitals across the country to help fill gaps. Sort of like a cadre of traveling nurses and they were highly compensated.

[Anonymous]

Yes - I started grad school at 44 and just started my new career at 48. Nursing is somewhat like my new field in that there are so many different jobs you can do - if you're flexible you won't have problems finding one. OTOH, I was pretty picky about what I wanted to do and it took me a year to find the job I wanted after graduating. If I had been younger or desperate for work, I would have been able to get a job a lot faster. I just was lucky to be in a position to wait to find something I wanted to do. It was worth the wait. Absolutely do it - I loved changing careers; very stimulating.

[Anonymous]

PP here again - I once heard Marlo Thomas say something that has really stuck with me. A woman told her she wanted to go to medical school but was worried because she wouldn't get out until she was 40. Marlo said something like "So what? If you don't do it you're still going to be 40 anyway, but you're not going to be a doctor!"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here again - I once heard Marlo Thomas say something that has really stuck with me. A woman told her she wanted to go to medical school but was worried because she wouldn't get out until she was 40. Marlo said something like "So what? If you don't do it you're still going to be 40 anyway, but you're not going to be a doctor!"

and a big pile of student loan debt. It isn't always so simple.

[Anonymous]

I've switched twice -- when I was 28 I left social work to enter into the corporate world and then recently, at 38, I left my a decade's long career in corporate human resources to be a realtor. It was such a hard decision because I was making a 6 figure salary but I wanted a way to spend more time with my 10 month old and my 3.5 year old. I hated the stress, I hated the commute, I hated the political bullsh*t, I hated daycare drop-off but mostly I hated being away from my sons. My husband just commented the other day that he can't believe the difference in me. For the first time in YEARS, I am truly happy; it was one of the best decision I've made in my life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've switched twice -- when I was 28 I left social work to enter into the corporate world and then recently, at 38, I left my a decade's long career in corporate human resources to be a realtor. It was such a hard decision because I was making a 6 figure salary but I wanted a way to spend more time with my 10 month old and my 3.5 year old. I hated the stress, I hated the commute, I hated the political bullsh*t, I hated daycare drop-off but mostly I hated being away from my sons. My husband just commented the other day that he can't believe the difference in me. For the first time in YEARS, I am truly happy; it was one of the best decision I've made in my life.

I'm not the OP but just wanted to say that this post is inspiring to me. I am also 38 with a baby and a preschooler who has had a corporate career until now, but have never loved it or been truly happy and now in the past year, have not been able to find a job in my profession. (I resigned my previous position and took some time off while the economy tanked and now have not been able to find new work.) My gut tells me that real estate has always been my passion, but I am so afraid to make the switch (and lose my current salary potential...even though I'm making zero right now!), especially in today's housing environment. Not to hijack, but if you check back do you mind sharing how you found the the courage to finally go for it? Or what light bulb went off in your head? And how to you handle all the evenings/weekends with two small children? I want to get my license but I'm full of "what ifs" and skeptical by nature.

[Anonymous]

I switched from non profit into the corporate world in my early 30s, and love finally being adequately compensated. I found the not for profit world very gossipy and holier than thou.

I can now afford to outsource the things I had no money or time to do before. Much less stressful for me.

Look at long term issues, such as retirement and college savings, as well as short term issues such as time with your children and your commute.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've switched twice -- when I was 28 I left social work to enter into the corporate world and then recently, at 38, I left my a decade's long career in corporate human resources to be a realtor. It was such a hard decision because I was making a 6 figure salary but I wanted a way to spend more time with my 10 month old and my 3.5 year old. I hated the stress, I hated the commute, I hated the political bullsh*t, I hated daycare drop-off but mostly I hated being away from my sons. My husband just commented the other day that he can't believe the difference in me. For the first time in YEARS, I am truly happy; it was one of the best decision I've made in my life.

I'm not the OP but just wanted to say that this post is inspiring to me. I am also 38 with a baby and a preschooler who has had a corporate career until now, but have never loved it or been truly happy and now in the past year, have not been able to find a job in my profession. (I resigned my previous position and took some time off while the economy tanked and now have not been able to find new work.) My gut tells me that real estate has always been my passion, but I am so afraid to make the switch (and lose my current salary potential...even though I'm making zero right now!), especially in today's housing environment. Not to hijack, but if you check back do you mind sharing how you found the the courage to finally go for it? Or what light bulb went off in your head? And how to you handle all the evenings/weekends with two small children? I want to get my license but I'm full of "what ifs" and skeptical by nature.

9:02 here. Please e-mail me and we can talk about this more off-line: [e-mail].