dfwmiket Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I don't think it's a midlife crisis, since I already have ex-wives to prove that happened. Anyone change careers post 40 and how did it go? Advice? If it helps to know, I'm in IT, have been for almost 14 years. Hate it. Ab.so.lute.ly. Hate it. I'm actually thinking something in health care-- there are several 16 week programs that get you a solid base and a foot in the door. Thinking it'd be a solid change. I don't really care too much about the $$$, I have pretty basic needs and the wifey is the breadwinner anyway. If I could wake up tomorrow and only have to use a computer again for my own use and entertainment, that would be a friggin' GREAT day......... anyway, maybe this too shall pass, but figured I'd ask the wise oracle known as Enosworld for thoughts. -Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 If you have ANY natural inclination toward the medical field, there will ALWAYS be a need for that... but you really have to WANT to be in it. I figure that medical/legal/IT people will outlast a lot of other careers (well, and people who fix cars, too), but much depends on what your core interests are. Ask yourself what you LIKE to do and start researching areas that MATCH that. Don't worry so much about pay scale until you nail down what you would LIKE to do. It also may depend a bit on the condition of the market in which you live as to the range and breadth of opportunities available to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blue edge Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I did it!! HAPPY DAYS!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokshwn Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I am not into IT, however my suggestion is to sit down and make a list of the negative aspects that your are dissatisfied with. If one of the aspects is constanly helping apathetic individuals with problems they created and have no desire to prevent in the future I would stronly suggest you stay away from the health care field. That being said, at a minimum spend the time to earn something more than a med tech, cna, rad tech certificate and go all in for RN, radiologist etc. The pay is better but job security and negotiating power is much better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwmiket Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 I am not into IT, however my suggestion is to sit down and make a list of the negative aspects that your are dissatisfied with. If one of the aspects is constanly helping apathetic individuals with problems they created and have no desire to prevent in the future I would stronly suggest you stay away from the health care field. That sounds like most IT users. Hell, I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raz-0 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 If one of the aspects is constanly helping apathetic individuals with problems they created and have no desire to prevent in the future I would stronly suggest you stay away from the health care field. On the upside, unlike IT, the users who refuse to listen will eventually stop coming back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Dunn Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I'd suggest being a surgical scrub tech. Doesn't require the time and money that Nursing/Med School do, you are front and center for some cool stuff (surgery), and generally there is enough variety to make it interesting. Like anything, if you like it you can advance. It is nice to work in a well oiled OR environment, it is definitely a team effort. Downside is the occasional strong personality. It would be a way to test the waters and see if you are suited to medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Airic Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I got my degree, worked in IT for 1.5 years before I decided I hated it. I'm not 40, but if I had any advice....I would say find something you really like to do, that you are interested in (or try a couple different things). Sounds like your current situation would lend to you being able to do that. I never, ever thought I would be a police officer....but I really enjoy the job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VegasOPM Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Look into joining your local IATSE chapter (International Assoc. of Theatrical and Stage Employees Union). Stagehand work is fun, satisfying and it can be very lucrative. It is also dirty, hard and filled with strange hours and long days. Believe it or not, your IT background will be a benefit (if you want it to be), but won't be the bulk of what you do. I have several guys that work for me that are retired military, so being in your 40's when you start isn't that odd. I have made a very nice career out of it and I still LOVE it, even after 23 years. There are several Entertainment, Sound or Lighting programs around the country that can help you jumpstart your career- or you can just do the apprentice thing through the hall. DFW has a bunch of really big Production companies and has a lot of convention work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bofe954 Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Quite a bit of computer use in a lot of healthcare fields, and it seems like more and more all the time. I am sure it would be less than what you do now but, I think escaping computers is pretty tough. If I could wake up tomorrow and only have to use a computer again for my own use and entertainment, that would be a friggin' GREAT day.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larry cazes Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I did it and so far it has been a really good move for me. I worked for 15+ years as a design engineer (EE). Woke up one day and found that I had climbed the corporate ladder to the point where I no longer liked the job. Furthermore, I was considered over qualified for the job I really wanted and the industry had changed enough that I would have to spend 50%-60% of my time traveling if I got the job I wanted. I now am working with my wife as a paralegal/small business owner and am very happy I made the change. A very wise person, my father, once told me to never be afraid to make major changes in my life if I felt it was needed. It has turned out to be great advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mdstihl Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Don't let your age keep you from changing careers. If you are doing something you like, it's not work. And we're all liable to end up working till we're 70'ish, so you better like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe4d Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I am a marine engineer, did it for 16 years for the Army, retired at 39 and wanted to do anything but deal with boats, Well "anything but" didnt call me back, didnt pay anything or was two far away. Now I have a great job with State Dept of Transportation as a marine engineer, I dont like the work and it gets really boring but the pay, benifits, time off is good and it's 10 minutes from my house. So I deal with it and just keep an "8 and the gate" mentality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) Mike, I can't imagine going to work every day and hating it. That would suck. But at least you have a good job and there are a lot of folks out of work these days. If your current position is rock solid, I'd say tough it out until you are sure what you want to do. If not, you'll just be hating that job too. I'm with you on the wife/breadwinner thing. It is nice, but if I made a career change, I would do my best to change that. Remember the "ex-wives" thing. Stuff happens! I love my job, but I would still rather stay home than go to work. Edited July 19, 2009 by rangertrace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokshwn Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 (edited) If one of the aspects is constanly helping apathetic individuals with problems they created and have no desire to prevent in the future I would stronly suggest you stay away from the health care field. On the upside, unlike IT, the users who refuse to listen will eventually stop coming back. Oh Raz, How I wish your incredibly logical statement were true. However, true to Bart's sig line, idiocy refuses to be ruled by logic. Just recently I went on a call and for an intoxicated/stoned teenager.....the mom looks at me and says "I recognize you, you used to take care of me when I used to OD all the time". I shook my head and realized just how many dams I had built on the river of evolution. On the whole I love my job and wouldn't trade it for the world, however when my second career starts it will involve a basement office, a red stapler, a can of RAID and little to no interaction with anyone Edited July 19, 2009 by smokshwn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shootingchef Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 On the whole I love my job and wouldn't trade it for the world, however when my second career starts it will involve a basement office, a red stapler, a can of RAID and little to no interaction with anyone This is me. I have spent 20 years cooking, 14 as a chef. I would be happy to never set foot in a commercial kitchen again. But then I have built a successful small business and I use the money to fund my hobby which I love and would never turn it into a job. I would rather be a U.S. Marshall going after the bad guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HRider Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 I somewhat changed careers. I am 44 and last year I left my job as Teamleader of the Electrical department for a manufacturer of Industrial equipment. I worked there for 20 years, was happy with my job and worked with a great team. The job was three miles from my house. The downside was that I was topped out and had little chance of moving up any farther in the company. A large, well known German company started building the largest steel mill in the world 45 miles from my house and I (along with 10,000 other people) applied for a job with them. The Lord led me through the long pre-employment process and I was one of the first 10 electricians hired. The company sent me (and the other maintenance people) to Germany for 4 months where we trained on equipment similar to what we will have. We are still building our new facility. I couldn't be happier (ok, I would be happier if they doubled my pay). I have got to see places that I never would have seen on my own (even shot an IPSC match in Germany), I have got to do things that I have not done in a long time, things I have not ever done, and even things that I have done but didn't want to do again. Bottom line is, I stepped outside of my comfort zone. It took some praying and support from my family, I made the leap and I am glad that I did. Hurley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TM262 Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 This is a great thread, and I hope people continue to add to it. I am in the very same situation. I have been at my current job for 7+ years and in the industry for 11+ years. I desperately need a change, but I am at a loss as to what profession would make me happy. I like the people I work with, but the cooperate politics suck. My job is an exercise in futility and I struggle with it every day. Thank the good Lord that I still have it, but a change would probably add years to my life. I have a running list of my strengths and things that bring me happiness. My hope is that they will develop into some direction, but to date there nothing is jumping out at me. At least not a profession that would allow to me to maintain my current standard of living. My biggest fear is that my true calling is going to be to sell all of my worldly possessions and going on a mission to help others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dfwmiket Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 This is a great thread, and I hope people continue to add to it. I am in the very same situation. I have been at my current job for 7+ years and in the industry for 11+ years. I desperately need a change, but I am at a loss as to what profession would make me happy. I like the people I work with, but the cooperate politics suck. My job is an exercise in futility and I struggle with it every day. Thank the good Lord that I still have it, but a change would probably add years to my life. I have a running list of my strengths and things that bring me happiness. My hope is that they will develop into some direction, but to date there nothing is jumping out at me. At least not a profession that would allow to me to maintain my current standard of living. My biggest fear is that my true calling is going to be to sell all of my worldly possessions and going on a mission to help others. Well, I thought about 'wondering the Earth, like Caine on Kung Fu', but I don't think it pays well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiG Lady Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 "This is a great thread, and I hope people continue to add to it." Wow, you beat me to it! This is one great thing about This Forum--the Life realities we are willing to share and examine as a group. I've had to 'change careers' way too many times (often thru no fault of my own), and suddenly was invited to join the legal field out of the blue a couple of years ago. It turned out to be something I see that I can do for an indefinite period of time into the future, so I think I'll stick with it. I'm even preparing to attach myself to a third legal office on an independent contract basis (I'm already connected to two legal offices) and there you have it. I've often had to CREATE jobs out of thin air and that method still seems to be working... which has been handy because our county boasts 14.2% unemployment. In my humble situation, meanwhile, I see loads of educational opportunities that could mean employment security for me for the forseeable future and a gradually fattening resume of skills. So you sometimes never know where your opportunities will arise. But continue to delve into the concept of your personal interests... and perhaps turning them into a new 'career'. Or directly research some of the suggestions made in this thread. Just doing the RESEARCH could be immensely rewarding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Well, I did the 40 something career change but it was because I retired from the Army after 20 and started a new career. I was involved with computers to a greater or lesser degree since 1972 (yah, I'm that old) and my last assignment was heavily computer-centric, so I gravitated to that and am still doing it. But the IT field got so overrun with overnight wonders that business has steadily fallen off. As to the medical field, that's what I was doing in the Army and I left it in part because, for the most part, people in the medical field are underpaid for their work. I know that sounds mean and crass, but I saw a lot of good people burn out working long hours for modest pay and very little appreciation. I know you say that you hate IT, but... Beef up you knowledge of medicine , medical terminology, and medical records management, take some classes. There is a major push ongoing to put create electronic medical records and there is going to be a big demand for people who can speak both "languages". What you might want to aim for is project management. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffWard Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Enter the medical field, from the fitness and nutrition direction. We are the best in the industry, hands down. www.NPTIFitness.com National Personal Training Institute Our Grads are grossing $50-60K per year, working 30 hr weeks. In shorts... JeffWard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leam Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Upside of IT is that there's so many different parts of it you can explore for a while. Down side is that high-schoolers can come in knowing more than I learned in the last 10-15 years. Experience pays, but businesses are looking to make IT workers a commodity to be used instead of a partner to be worked with. I'm in IT, in my late 40's, and in search of a bit of life's joy. Stuff I used to love to do is now a drag because it takes three weeks to get a 10 minute job done. So I'm looking at trying some different things while keeping my day job. That lets me experiement without ruining the finances. Nothing wrong with a mild or serious career change at any age. It might seem tougher, but there's a joy that comes with self re-creation. Leam Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chp5 Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 There's a major RN shortage in the US. Once you get the degree, you can work in most towns in the country. I'm not an RN, but if there's one undergrad degree that guarantees you work and decent pay - that's it. Now that the socialists want government to take over medicine - who knows . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik Habicht Posted July 24, 2009 Share Posted July 24, 2009 I made the move from newspaper photographer --> layoof --> nursing school in my early 40s. If you're employed, make a decent salary, have benefits --- plan very carefully, then act..... You can make a change if you want it badly enough! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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