career in change in mid 40s--willing to work hard, long hours ok

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently changed careers in my 60s. It is my fourth career. One of the fields that is encompassed in my new role is insurance and finance. It is surprisingly interesting and challenging. And well paid. I would highly recommend that you check out opportunities in this field - brokering, underwriting, that sort of thing.

What was the previous 3 careers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently changed careers in my 60s. It is my fourth career. One of the fields that is encompassed in my new role is insurance and finance. It is surprisingly interesting and challenging. And well paid. I would highly recommend that you check out opportunities in this field - brokering, underwriting, that sort of thing.

What was the previous 3 careers?

Social work, health care administration and trial lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Law degree? I say that as a lawyer who hates being a lawyer, but I make $180k.

The debt and opportunity cost is not worth it in your 40s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’m surprised with no kids you weren’t able to move up higher in your field, guess it’s not a great fit but probably need to know more about it/you to make a any useful suggestions.

Plenty of hardworking, brilliant women don’t move up. Lack of sponsorship, bias, getting passed up by white boys, located in remote regions… can be the reasons. Kid is not the only thing that holds women back 🤪

Also, speaking as someone who chose not to have kids, not having kids takes off some of the pressure to make a huge salary. You only have yourself to worry about - you can mess around more and go explore what's out there without having to grind grind grind. I don't know if that's OP's case but it's def mine.

Exactly. I don't have kids and have no desire to get into management. I've had many opportunities to apply for supervisory positions but passed them up because I have zero interest in it. I work to live, not live to work. It's funny how there are so many stereotypes about people without kids (i.e. if you don't have kids you must have a big career).

Previous comments have nothing to do with stereotypes.

OP is asking what career they can switch to and make more money, and said they’re willing to slog it out, go back to school, work long hours etc to do so.

That is why people are commenting about being surprised the OP didn’t already do that sooner, when they were younger, particularly since they didn’t have any spouse or kids to have to provide for.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently changed careers in my 60s. It is my fourth career. One of the fields that is encompassed in my new role is insurance and finance. It is surprisingly interesting and challenging. And well paid. I would highly recommend that you check out opportunities in this field - brokering, underwriting, that sort of thing.

-Did you apply for your current role online, or get it via a personal/network connection? Or are you self-employed?

-How long did it take you to transition to this new field? Were you without a job for awhile (how long)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cyber security, Internal Audit, PMP, Risk Mgt, AML/BSA there are certifications you can get get that require no additional schooling where you could be making 250-350k in a few years

Can you expand on that path as relates to Internal Audit or risk management?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Law degree? I say that as a lawyer who hates being a lawyer, but I make $180k.

The debt and opportunity cost is not worth it in your 40s

I was going to go on a different tack and say paralegal. Senior paralegal at top firm that is really good and does a lot of overtime = $180 or $200k.

Govt lawyers everywhere seething but it is what it is.

[Anonymous]

How do you feel about medical, specifically Physician's Assistant?

You can get certified here. https://www.umes.edu/pa/

Since you are a government worker you may be able to pick up side work while working on your P.A. at Wallops Island a fed facility on the eastern shore of Va.

One of my employees just rented a 3 bedroom, 3-1/2 bathroom with garage in Salisbury on the river for $1400 per month. I'd rent in Salisbury (watch the area), Ocean Pines, Berlin or West Ocean City. I would not rent in Princess Anne.

You can also pick up side work in the beach areas. I was there last week and saw a lot of help wanted signs. Cleaning condos on Saturdays May - Sept will net you $300 - $500 cash on Saturdays.

Pay ranges nationally 99K (probably for rural areas) with pay going up to $230k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently changed careers in my 60s. It is my fourth career. One of the fields that is encompassed in my new role is insurance and finance. It is surprisingly interesting and challenging. And well paid. I would highly recommend that you check out opportunities in this field - brokering, underwriting, that sort of thing.

NP. I work in insurance as a client lead. Make roughly $200k with 12 years experience. The state insurance exams are easy enough and low cost. Long hours, but really great people and good job security.

[Anonymous]

Corporate compliance or privacy certifications are not arduous
Project management

[Anonymous]

Don’t give up your current position until you have a position. Have you considered changing agencies, maybe a new subject area is all you’d need. Or take some budget classes and get certified, you could try for a budget analyst position. Take the COR certification to enable you to work on contracts. Maybe do a 2 year accounting associates degree and then move on an agency and do acccounting or examinations. Learn a language and get on at State Dept or maybe DOD.

[Anonymous]

Are you good with excel and PowerPoint? Can you learn new software applications quickly? You can transition to corporate easily. 65k is the starting salary for more new grads, so your salary expectations are fine.
You give no indication on the type of work you like to do… research what PMOs do, and if interested get a PMP certification.
If you like administrative work and mild analytical, look at insurance companies or risk management companies like Marsh or Aon, you can easily get in on claims team, and then move around after 18 months to underwriting, broking, etc… try to connect with someone inside the company from your alma mater or past work, so that your resume gets seen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you feel about medical, specifically Physician's Assistant?

You can get certified here. https://www.umes.edu/pa/

Since you are a government worker you may be able to pick up side work while working on your P.A. at Wallops Island a fed facility on the eastern shore of Va.

One of my employees just rented a 3 bedroom, 3-1/2 bathroom with garage in Salisbury on the river for $1400 per month. I'd rent in Salisbury (watch the area), Ocean Pines, Berlin or West Ocean City. I would not rent in Princess Anne.

You can also pick up side work in the beach areas. I was there last week and saw a lot of help wanted signs. Cleaning condos on Saturdays May - Sept will net you $300 - $500 cash on Saturdays.

Pay ranges nationally 99K (probably for rural areas) with pay going up to $230k.

This might work for someone already in the area, but not necessarily someone from the DMV. I’m currently at that fed facility and wow you couldn’t pay me enough to stay here long term.

[Anonymous]

Start your own business. Seriously. You have much more upside than you ever would working for a company. I'm on year 5 and make similar money to big law

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Start your own business. Seriously. You have much more upside than you ever would working for a company. I'm on year 5 and make similar money to big law

What kind of field?