Anyone had a career change at 40?

[parisdisneyfan]

It was a couple of years before I was 40 but after being a SAM for about 12 years I went back to college to do some NVQ's to be an LSA. Previous to having the kids I was either an office work, typing etc or worked with horses. However I love my work with kids now especially this time of year with the magic as my 2 have grown up. Apart from the kids it is my longest job - coming up 13 years!

[nursetina]

I did my Nvq level 3 in early years care and education at around 35, then decided at 40 I needed a career for when my children leave home and I couldn't see myself working in a nursery forever. I decided to go to university and do my paediatric nurse training. This took 3 years, then once qualified I worked at my local hospital in the special care baby unit. I did this for 2 years and felt that urge to do something more with my life and returned to uni to do my specialist community public health nurse training and became a health visitor. There's always time to change careers and at 52, I'm still not sure this is what I will do until I retire... watch this space

[mlbolger]

I did 27 years in banking, the last 12 as a financial advisor. I probably would have stayed but got made redundant 3 times in 2 years, bank to bank to bank so my decision was made for me really! I now work for a corporate appointee company looking after the finances, benefits, pip forms etc for adults with learning disabilities. Gone from investing hundreds of thousands to fighting with DWP for people's disability benefits. I totally love it! Work from home, arrange my own diary for client visits and feel valued and trusted. The grass is sometimes greener. - apart from the money that is! That took a hit. X Sarah

[Sib]

I decided to retrain at the age of 35 and did an access course at the local college, I have just started my final year of a social work degree and will be 39 when I graduate (hopefully) in June! Age is just a number don't let it hold you back x

[djewkes]

Also my DD worked for 15+ years (mostly not happy, just existing) as a chef (then had a total transformation DS became DD) and worked for 2 years as a carer whilst doing GCSEs and access course, now is in her 2nd year at Bangor studying English lit and journalism, she is deputy editor of the university newspaper, has a boyfriend and couldn't be happier...

[angelcake71]

Originally Posted by daviewat

On my 3rd career as it were now ? others were flying RAF Civilian and commercial, but now I have done a night school course in Annie Sloan style painting and upscaling old furniture, I had a couple of items of ours I wanted to have a go with. Well found I really really enjoyed it ! now I have been to the Salvation Army warehouse bought lots of pieces, turned my garage into a paint workshop and went ahead and transformed a lot of these, stuck them on Gumtree and local FB pages for sale etc and astonished at how fast they sold ! :-) so that was a £125 investment including paints / brushes / waxes and furniture etc has so far turned into a £345 profit ! and its fun and all done in the space of 2 weeks ! So its now out to acquire more stock :-)

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This sounds fab!

[angelcake71]

I am also wanting to do something different , but I don't know what... I have worked since I left school at 16 (now 45) either in office work,(before kids) care work, working in a school (dinner lady/kitchen assistant) or retail which I am in at the moment.. I find it quite boring, and not rewarding at all...

Any advice tor suggestions for a new career would be great!

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by angelcake71

I am also wanting to do something different , but I don't know what... I have worked since I left school at 16 (now 45) either in office work,(before kids) care work, working in a school (dinner lady/kitchen assistant) or retail which I am in at the moment.. I find it quite boring, and not rewarding at all...

Any advice tor suggestions for a new career would be great!

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Try volunteering if you can fit in a day around your retail work. You get valuable training and experience and it helps you decide if the work is something you want. Most charities and many companies welcome volunteers.

[DIBBadmin]

This thread has been automatically closed as it has not been posted on in 365 days.

[TigerGirl]

Interesting that there are so many of us out here. I went straight to uni, did a degree in History and a PGCE in secondary teaching. I did my NQT year in a rough secondary where I was surrounded my male egotistical tools. I did a conversion course to primary and have been a supply teacher ever since - 13 years now. I am currently doing a TA cover role until Christmas where I basically get beaten up by a 4 year old. The problem with supply is lack of work, hard days and going in 'new' everywhere. I am also very used to the holidays which is perfect as I have 2 kids. Been in schools my whole career, very hard to think what possibly use I would be to any one / company.