50+ people: What’s your story of finding work you love?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked mostly in schools, then got my master's at 50 and got a government job soon after.
Now, I am transitioning to a much higher-paying job, also in government. It worked out because I was willing to apply for a lower-paying job and then got another better-paying job that allowed me to learn a skill you can only learn while working. That allowed me to apply for this new, higher-paying job, which I will start on Monday.
It took about 4 years to get to this point.

That's impressive. Ageism is real but you pull it off
Changing career at 50 and having a higher paying job in the process is not easy. Congrats and good luck!

Thank you so much! I remember telling my DS, 21 or so at the time, asking why I was not working a higher-paying job. I said that not many people are eager to pay a lot of money to a 50-year-old with no experience in a certain field. I was persistent, that is for sure. I kept saying to myself, I am not dead yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked mostly in schools, then got my master's at 50 and got a government job soon after.
Now, I am transitioning to a much higher-paying job, also in government. It worked out because I was willing to apply for a lower-paying job and then got another better-paying job that allowed me to learn a skill you can only learn while working. That allowed me to apply for this new, higher-paying job, which I will start on Monday.
It took about 4 years to get to this point.

That's impressive. Ageism is real but you pull it off
Changing career at 50 and having a higher paying job in the process is not easy. Congrats and good luck!

This. Is. The. Way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked mostly in schools, then got my master's at 50 and got a government job soon after.
Now, I am transitioning to a much higher-paying job, also in government. It worked out because I was willing to apply for a lower-paying job and then got another better-paying job that allowed me to learn a skill you can only learn while working. That allowed me to apply for this new, higher-paying job, which I will start on Monday.
It took about 4 years to get to this point.

That's impressive. Ageism is real but you pull it off
Changing career at 50 and having a higher paying job in the process is not easy. Congrats and good luck!

Thank you so much! I remember telling my DS, 21 or so at the time, asking why I was not working a higher-paying job. I said that not many people are eager to pay a lot of money to a 50-year-old with no experience in a certain field. I was persistent, that is for sure. I kept saying to myself, I am not dead yet.

This is really inspiring. I am 46 and have been at my dead end job far too long. I am taking some statistics classes right now with the hope of finding a better paying job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I worked mostly in schools, then got my master's at 50 and got a government job soon after.
Now, I am transitioning to a much higher-paying job, also in government. It worked out because I was willing to apply for a lower-paying job and then got another better-paying job that allowed me to learn a skill you can only learn while working. That allowed me to apply for this new, higher-paying job, which I will start on Monday.
It took about 4 years to get to this point.

That's impressive. Ageism is real but you pull it off
Changing career at 50 and having a higher paying job in the process is not easy. Congrats and good luck!

Thank you so much! I remember telling my DS, 21 or so at the time, asking why I was not working a higher-paying job. I said that not many people are eager to pay a lot of money to a 50-year-old with no experience in a certain field. I was persistent, that is for sure. I kept saying to myself, I am not dead yet.

This is really inspiring. I am 46 and have been at my dead end job far too long. I am taking some statistics classes right now with the hope of finding a better paying job.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Special ed para in MCPS. Practically working for free ($26k per year), but the work is incredibly rewarding

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU DO. You are truly unsung heroes.

[Anonymous]

At 48 I quit my consulting job and became an executive director of a family focused substance abuse non profit for a fraction of the pay. I loved the work and I had enough job flexibility to also have a life. Obviously, my husband had a high paying job and that really helped in my decision making.

[Anonymous]

I was asked to do a side job at work. It turned out to be my calling. I switched departments and now I love my company, my team, my boss, and my work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get your degree at a SLAC. Then go on to graduate school in the area that you love. It will be as if you haven’t spent one day working in life.

At age 50? I don’t think a SLAC would accept me. Lol!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went back to school at 48 to change careers. I'm doing both the old job and the new one right now as a transition (just graduated with my masters) and will gradually ramp up to FT in the new career. Very excited!

That’s so cool! Can you say what your degree is in? I’d love to know yet understand if you prefer not to say.

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time someone posts consulting, I think they are making it up. Nobody ever tells you what they are consulting business on.

Yes. And I already have a business and want a job this time around.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I worked mostly in schools, then got my master's at 50 and got a government job soon after.
Now, I am transitioning to a much higher-paying job, also in government. It worked out because I was willing to apply for a lower-paying job and then got another better-paying job that allowed me to learn a skill you can only learn while working. That allowed me to apply for this new, higher-paying job, which I will start on Monday.
It took about 4 years to get to this point.

Congratulations! What type of master’s degree? Is it IT related?

OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Getting out of the news biz and into predictable government communications at 50.

That’s great! I’ve seen a lot of public affairs government jobs. I wish you the best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Went back to school at 48 to change careers. I'm doing both the old job and the new one right now as a transition (just graduated with my masters) and will gradually ramp up to FT in the new career. Very excited!

Which career are you changing to?

[Anonymous]

I was a classroom teacher for the bulk of my career. I loved it until I didn't anymore. Now I'm a classroom aide and I'm loving life again. All the best parts of teaching with almost zero stress, but also practically zero pay...nothing's perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car salesmen at a dealership make 100k wirg benefits

Every time I'm at the dealership waiting for my oil change I think about how I could sell the hell out of some minivans after 3 kids and over 300K miles in them.