Ideas for career change at 40?
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Anonymous
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For the past decade I’ve worked in higher education, mostly in residential life with a short stint in the Greek Life office. Before that, I was a construction estimator and even a small-town newspaper reporter along with a few temp jobs in between. I enjoy my job but I'd like to make more money--I may need to help financially support my elderly mother in the future--along with having a more predictable schedule. My degree is in graphic design and I'm so behind on the times the average sorority member with a Canva account can do a better job than I can.
Right now I'm looking into master's degrees but I'm open to other options (certifications, another bachelor's, etc.): -Higher Education Administration: Would give me the mobility that I want to move around in the university ecosystem but I wonder about the ROI given the current state of higher education. -Compliance/Risk Management: My supervisor suggested this to me as compliance is a big part of my job. I asked my cousin, a lawyer, about it and she said to either get a law degree or an MBA instead. -MBA: A lot of my work colleagues got this because they felt it was more transferable if they chose to leave higher ed. I'd love to hear opinions on the above, or if you have any other suggestions. |
Anonymous
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Facilities Management or Property Management or in those industries. There are companies the own and lease off-campus student housing. Find those companies. It’s an entirely new industry for you but some of your experience will translate - student “buyers,”quality of amenities, property management, transient customers each school year.
pursue an MBA if you still want one after you get real business experience under your belt. |
Anonymous
| Airline pilot |
Anonymous
| Law - my cousin got a law degree at 40 and is now a top lawyer in her state. I wish I had done it then too. |
Anonymous
| Is your MBA at your current employer free? If so that is a good route for now, and will get you into processes you cant be in as a non new grad/student. If not, then I'd consider sales or marketing. |
Anonymous
That is pretty rare outcome. |
Anonymous
| If you have to pay full tuition, you're unlikely to see a big return, especially if you have to take out loans. Will your employer pay? If so, what are the free options available to you? |
Anonymous
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I assume you're shopping degrees as part of your tuition benefit, right? If so, cool. If not, don't pay for it.
An MBA is a good bet. So is an EdD if you want to move up in higher ed. Lots of higher ed admin jobs that pay $150 or more and might be friendly to remote work (but get out of res life or teaching and learning for that benefit). You could also pivot to curriculum design with an EdD. |
Anonymous
lol |
Anonymous
| Become a headhunter in a firm that does higher Ed searches |
Anonymous
| If you've stayed in shape, then marrying well as a wife #2 is your best bet by miles. Just get an admin job at a nearby professional office, and, uh, move on up from there. |
Anonymous
A 40 year old second wife? You are looking at dating octogenarians… |
Anonymous
| Run it through chapgpt with your resume. |
Anonymous
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An MBA isn't the same returns as it used to be.
I would vote healthcare if I were you or compliance if willing to do a JD (don't go into major debt for it if possible). |
Anonymous
| Mowing lawns |