Changing careers at 52 -Advice

[Wazza]

So I lost my job Dec 15th. And to be honest there’s not a lot about. Money is ok for a few months so not desperate just yet. All my life I’ve been office bound mainly dealing with complaints and to be honest it was wearing me down a bit so I have been applying for all sorts. Now I’ve been offered a job that’s completely different.

It’s looking after water meters at new builds. Delivering them, making sure they’re connected to correct address, working properly etc. Now I love driving and meeting different people so it seemed ideal. But the downside is I’d be based from home in Harlow but I’d me covering the entire Thames Valley. So the area stretches down to South London, up to Dartford and then right over to Swindon and Gloucester.
So Pros: Relatively stress free, won’t be worrying about what customers are going to be shouting about next, money not great but doable, can switch off from work at the end of each day and I’d effectively be my own boss
Cons: lots of driving between jobs, traffic jams, would be spending a lot of time on my own.
Any advice from anyone who does something similar or anyone who has changed careers late in life would be appreciated

[ClaireNJ]

Take it 😀
Then if you’re really not happy with it, look for something else 😉
There’s nothing worse than sitting around all day doing nothing, says me currently on furlough 😷

Good luck 😊

[stupet11]

Yeah - I think more positives in taking it - makes you more employable when you are in work - longer out of work, harder it gets / more unemployable you become, plus you will be adding new skills to your cv, and can stash your savings for a bit longer, and hopefully if things work out spend it on something nice!

[Mel49]

In the present economic climate I'd be inclined to accept and see how it goes. If you hate the job and the driving you can keep an eye out for another more suitable job while working.

My DH drives anything from an hour to 5 hours a day, works mainly on his own and would hate being stuck at a desk all day but everyone is different.

Good luck with your decision and well done for being offered the job whatever you decide.

[Mallky555]

I agree that you should take the job given it’s polar opposite to sitting in an office which you had done for long time I think you’ll enjoy the freedom however if you don’t nothing lost you have a job whilst you look for something better x

[Mary A]

Changed my job in August (my choice), one of the best things I've ever done! Much less stress, no thinking about work on days off and I have space in my head again. I'm earning 1/2 of my previous salary-- but much happier. I was 57 at the time

[kateh134]

I changed career later in life (40) and didn’t regret it one little bit. Life is too short to spend time in a job which doesn’t make you happy, so embrace the changes and go for it. It may not be your dream job, but there’s a lot to be said for being able to switch off at the end of the day.

[munmun]

I would take it and see how you like it, as you say there is not a lot out there. It is always easier to get a job from a job... I believe that employers will have more understanding of gaps in CVs than they did and to the fact that people have taken jobs that maybe they would not normally have done and give them credit for that.

Go for it, if you hate it you are no worse off you can leave.

[Guest]

Go for it, life on the open road, lovely! Load the car up with lots of music, snacks and drinks!

[ERICSMUM]

Find out who picks up the costs for the QE2 bridge and London congestion charges - hopefully there is a company account. They could add up if you have to pay for them yourself, even if you can claim them back later.