am I wasting my time doing a degree at age 29..?

Immanuel_CAN

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

veron01

It's never too late. I started mine at 28 and will finish off a Masters this year. Yes there will be ppl younger than you but so what. Every person brings sthg to the table, be it college or work. Go for it:)

Immanuel_CAN

veron01 wrote: »

It's never too late. I started mine at 28 and will finish off a Masters this year. Yes there will be ppl younger than you but so what. Every person brings sthg to the table, be it college or work. Go for it:)

I appreciate the encouragement, but I cant help but think, being a graduate at 33 is not what employers are looking for, I am sure it will be a great acheivement to gain a degree but I am just concerned it may not make a big defference when it comes to gaining employment or starting a good career....

Kev8360

veron01 wrote: »

It's never too late. I started mine at 28 and will finish off a Masters this year. Yes there will be ppl younger than you but so what. Every person brings sthg to the table, be it college or work. Go for it:)

+1.

I have just started a 2 yr part-time masters in a different discipline this year and will finish when I am 34. Its not unusual for people to change careers anymore many times during their working life - I am going for my third now. Go for it and good luck with the degree!

Blueprint

Coming out with a degree in 2 years will look much better to employers than you having sat around on the dole for 2 years!

entropi

OP i'm 29 and have applied for four different degree courses this year, three are 4 year hons. and one is 4&half years hons. It is never too late to do anything in life, i've read about 80 yr olds going back to uni to do degree courses:)

Stuxnet

man i'm the exact same as you, 30, been in construction (carpenter) for 13 years, running away from it, computer systems in UL 4yr hons degree in sept !!
go for it ! age is nothing, life experience is with us ! get the head down and get on with it, it'll come easier to us i think
we have most of our partying done also...don't know if that's a good thing tho !! :-p

Fluffybums

Go for it. You will have a big advantage over young graduates - you already have work experience.

Dinkie

In my experience employers like to see both experience and education, so I wouldn't worry about going back.

I suspect you will be surprised at the number of mature students around when you start!

I would have huge respect for anyone who would go back to college as a mature student and any employer would be the same. It is not the easy option.

Good luck OP

Travel is good

Oh please don't say you're too old, just go for it! I was lucky and got the chance to finish a degree at age 39, & did my masters a few years later, approx. age 45. I never regretted it, as I just left school straight after Leaving Cert and was delighted to get the chance to return to education. I have interviewed people for jobs and I have to say, education looks really good on the CV. I would be more concerned about interviewing someone who sat around and didn't do anything. To me the education shows great initiative and "get up & go".

Agent_99

I hope not, I am planning to return this year to do a full time course and I'm 41:p

Chet T16

First year student at 29 here. Don't even hesitate for a second

cue

No way! I'm 41 and in my first year again. I change careers every ten years. I worked construction first, then theatre and am now going into information studies to have a go in the libraries. I like to mess with career guidance people's heads

KittyeeTrix

Definitely not too old OP, I'm 36 now in 2nd year and will be hoping to do a masters at the end of the degree.
I have a sister who works in HR and she said that a maturer person coming in with the same degree (usually a 1st honours in mature students cases) as their young counterpart will be more likely to land the job.
She said it boils down to attitude and that the maturer person usually displays more determination as well as obvious maturity!!!!!

Go for it, you will be less likely to compete with the young kids in 4 years without a degree!!;)

dr gonzo

Tbh mate, if i was an employer i think its a no brainer that i would rather hire an applicant with experience under his belt and as such a good work attitude rather then some twitchy young lad with the attention span of a gnat.

At the end of the day you probably already outclass a lot of the younger college graduates with your experience alone, add on to that the exact same, or better degree and you'll blow them out of the water.

WIZWEB

37 and finishing degree this summer

darragh o meara

Im in the same predicament myself and Im 29 too. I have been trying to look for excuses not to go back but to be honest I cant find any!! So hopefully I will be heading back to do a degree in September.

Remember your only as old as you feel

Fremen

A degree like that might help you move up to management in the construction business. It's not like you're starting from scratch when you finish this degree, you can use your experience to help you.

theg81der

Well if your a better student than me your grand, I`m 28 in 2nd year but barely passing, lucky if I get a 2.2. Generally mature student do a lot better so employers preffer them.

Turtyturd

Wouldn't a 2.2 be considered comfortable?

I was a bit worried about applying for my degree because I will be 28 when it starts in September. The thing that puts it in perspective is that when I graduate I will still have 30+ years working in that field before I retire.

ocokev

Went back to college when i was 29 and upskilled.
Employers would probably prefer an older canditate as they are less likely to leave employment, also life experience can be a valuable asset.

theg81der

Turtyturd thats a great way of looking at it, very true!

Fentdog84

Well I'm 26, and even for me its a big decision to go back(which hopefully will happen in September). If I had kids or a Celtic tiger mortgage I dont think I could do it, especially now since they cut the BTEA/grant combination which I'm absolutley fuming over as it was one of the main incentives to go back. Oh well, 3-4 years of poverty looms, hopefully it will be worth it.

doohan

Immanuel_CAN wrote: »

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

Hi OP

I don't think it is ever too late to do a degree. I did mine part time 4 yrs in DIT Bolton St. Have to admit it was the best decision I ever made. When I left school I hadn't a clue what I wanted to do so I just went out working. Found out what work I was good at and then did my degree based around that.
And to be honest the few jobs I have had since I completed my degree at the interview stage it has been looked very well upon, as I was working and doing my degree which shows them committment.
I say go for it and don't look back. It will be hard going and you will want to throw in the towel at a few stages but if you stick with it then as my mother always said....
"Education is something they can never take off you!"
Best of luck with it

nachoman

ocokev wrote: »

Went back to college when i was 29 and upskilled.
Employers would probably prefer an older canditate as they are less likely to leave employment, also life experience can be a valuable asset.

Totally agree with that, life experience is very important.

Curlz

Fentdog84 wrote: »

Well I'm 26, and even for me its a big decision to go back(which hopefully will happen in September). If I had kids or a Celtic tiger mortgage I dont think I could do it, especially now since they cut the BTEA/grant combination which I'm absolutley fuming over as it was one of the main incentives to go back. Oh well, 3-4 years of poverty looms, hopefully it will be worth it.

Same here...26, moved back home with the folks,leaving a good job in marketing & hoping to start Children's Nursing this September. The next 4/5 years will be tough i'm sure but i've come to realise that I have qualities better suited to the caring profession that the corporate!!:)

clarke1991

go for it! one of my friends is 29 and hes hopeing to go back and do a masters next year. im one of the youngest in my class doing a PLC at 19 but everyone else is between 29 and 53 and they are all going to 3rd level next year:D

shoegirl

dr gonzo wrote: »

Tbh mate, if i was an employer i think its a no brainer that i would rather hire an applicant with experience under his belt and as such a good work attitude rather then some twitchy young lad with the attention span of a gnat.

At the end of the day you probably already outclass a lot of the younger college graduates with your experience alone, add on to that the exact same, or better degree and you'll blow them out of the water.

Your experience will help a lot in some courses plus when you apply for jobs you'll outshine both the guys with experience but no qualifications, AND the people with qualifications but little experience. Ireland has been slightly different on this over the last 10 years but things are swinging back very much in favour of having both experience and a solid qualification.

It definitely looks better than somebody who just sat on the dole and waited for a job to come to them, but its also better than somebody who just sat on their hole in a job for years and took progression for granted without bothering to do anything about it for themselves. I find the place riddled with people who don't know what hit them when misfortune occurs because they really just took it all for granted - you'll show an ability to think ahead and outside the box.

shooter1978

not at all , sure what else is there to do? no sign of things picking up anytime soon. i have been jobseeking for the past 6 months now. some jobs there but offering peanuts. i would actually be better off going back to college - financially.

i am in the same boat as yourself - 31 years of age , mortgage the last ten years. only way i can afford to keep my house is go back to college.

dont get me wrong now , that is not purely the reason why i want to return. never too old . it will give you the focus and drive that when things do pick up you will be in a much better position

go for it

Ddad

Pretty strong consensus here. College drop out at 18. Built a decent career in computers in the meantime. Switched to catering at 30 and at 37 I've a degree and a Masters at this dicipline which I would have never achieved at my previous career as I had no love for computers. If you are going to go back to college choose something that you're enthused by and you'll be more likely to excel and stay the course. I've no regrets and up until a recent voluntary change to domestic engineer;) I've had no problem finding and retaining work.

Education is never wasted. Best of luck

clonagirl

Immanuel_CAN wrote: »

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

Hi! You will definitely have a long career ahead of you, especially as the retirement age is going to be raised! I'm applying this year and I'm in my thirties!!:)

lindtee

I'm 32 and hoping to start a degree course next year all going well. Good luck! You are never too old to learn, there are people in their 80s doing degrees:eek: (or so I hear)

bobie

Immanuel_CAN wrote: »

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

Hi,
I went back to education after over 20 years. I did the leaving cert first through VTOS and was surprised with how well id did, so I gave the college a try. I am 43 now and sitting exams next week for an BSC honours degree in industrial microbiology. I don't regret a minute of it, wont say it was easy but its an achievement in itself to be able to prove to yourself you can do it. I don't know what i'm doing after i finish but i'm hopeful of securing a decent job.
Its never too late to learn something new. Best of luck with your decision.

Ash.J.Williams

Immanuel_CAN wrote: »

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

It's well worth it, you will loads of new people as well as the educational and career benefits. Also it will challenge your brain, which i found to be healthy thing.

lilylarkin

im 43 and heading to UCD in Sept to study Engineering full time. Like you I was in Construction for a long time, ended up as Project Manager earning in excess of 150k annually. I am now on dole and have tried at being self employed for the last year but failed miserably, nobody spending money out there. Only thing for it is to go back and study. At least in 5 years time I will have been doing something rather than sitting on the dole waiting for the recession to end.
This recession has turned everything and everyone on its head. People in their 40s and 50s (whom historically were well settled in their careers and homes at this stage in their lives) have now had the rugs pulled from under them and face a life of dole or retraining or setting up a new business. Every option is tough but you must move forward. You are right to retrain and get out of construction. You are young and still have 75% of your working life ahead of you. Go for it!!!

IH77

Go for it OP. A graduate at 33 is no problem. Most people are just over a third of the way through their working lives at that age!

evolutionqy7

no ur not at this time the best thing to do is stay in education till economy picks up

adagio

I'll be 41 (ish) when I finish degree w/Open University... then on to full-time study for a year (or so!!).
Keep it lit!:D

mazi

Hi Guys,

I want to go to College in next year or so. I'm just worried financially as i have loans ( as i'm sure most people do!) I went to the citizens advice bureau re entitlements / assistance & they basically told me i have to be sitting on my bum for 9 mths prior,unemployed before i can obtain BTEA! Can you believe it! I have to sit around and do nout before i get anything, where is the sense in that?
Anyway just wondering if the maintenance grant is of similar value to this or which is better if any? I really don't want to sit around for 9 mths or i will loose my mind! Just looking for another avenue which i could go if anyone could help me i would really appreciate it as i don't have much knowledge on this sort of thing as i've never done it before.

Many Thanks !

Maz

Annasopra

Hi Maz

The maintenance grant is not high at all - The rate is about 3000 for the year, whereas the BTEA would work out much better but you are not on the dole so not eligible. Can you save for a bit and try and pay off some debts/bills?

felony

If you haven't got enough inspiration from above then have a read of this!

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/education/2010/0316/1224266347477.html

byrnem31

Immanuel_CAN wrote: »

I used to work in the construction sector and as a result of the recession I am currently unemployed, last year in an attempt to upskill I decided I would do a degree in business studies (part time) with the hope of eventually making a career change or enter a trainee management role.

I am 29 years of age and I am now beginning to think I may be wasting my time doing a degree at this stage, most people my age are already well settled into their chosen career and I cant help but feel I probably wont be able to utilise a degree in business because of my age by the time I would finish the degree I would be 33.

just wondering what anyone else in a similar position thinks...?

I worked in construction and Im the same age as you. You might as well do something else as that sector is well and truly screwed for a long time.
I went back to college and Im going into my second year in social work and love it. Its a degree course that is four years long and I will be a qualified social worker at 33 years of age. There are others in my class who are far older than me.
Id say go for it. There are plenty of supports and payments in this country for people going back to education. You will not regret it. College life is anazing, you dont even have to go in half the time . You are always clean as opposed to a dirty building site. You are inside out of the elements in a nice warm classroom in the winter. You have all summer off etc, etc.

layz65

No way dude go for it, i was in a similar boat but have just finished my first year of a degree and i am so happy i went for it, there is no such thing as been too ld to learn you are more mature then the kids comin out of school and u will work harder and better and not be distracted by been out from under your mothers apron and gettn drunk chasin women

Rubix

Hi there;

I think I take the 'prize' for being the oldest returning to education. At 45, I've done the business thing, the rearing the kids thing, the support the other half thing and am now doing my thing. Having completed the first year of psych with the OU and now hoping to move to Occupational Therapy in TCD, September 12 months. I should have done it at 30!! You go for it, don't let anyone stop you. Don't get to 40 something and wonder how different life might have been. I'm will be meeting nieces and daughters of friends at Uni - how strange can that be!! But I will become an educated hip 'n trendy Mum - well we'll see. :cool: