Change of career at 37

The Undecided One

Hi All,

Maybe someone here has been in a similar situation and could give advice.

I'm turning 37 this year and have been working in the hospitality industry for the last 12 years (10 in hotels). I have a wife and 2 small children. For the last 2 years approximately I have been getting really fed up with my job (work every weekend, work different shifts every week, work all BH). I'm really sick of dealing with the general public, especially undesirables (scumbags, junkies, annoying drunks, etc...) I really don't want to continue like this as this has a massive impact on my personal life, I get emails on my days off that raise my blood pressure, phone calls with problems (I'm a member of the management), I'm not really cut out for this.

Last night a friend of mine took me for a night drive to Dublin in an articulated truck. He has been driving it for a while and is very happy. Looking at his work week , yes, he works nights (we were back home at 5:20 am), but he has the weekends off,all BH's off and he is pretty much on the same money as me.

I am seriously considering taking a truck test and getting a truck licence and looking for work.
Is this a tough industry to get into? We don't really have any savings so I could leave one job and take my time finding another. I'd need to get employment and give my notice.

I'm afraid that I'll be left with no job and bills coming in if this doesn't work out....

Any input is appreciated.

Thanks

dogs321

same here my friend,let us know if you go ahead with it.
my concern is getting a job after it.As they seem to always ask for experience on vacancies.

wmpdd3

I left retail after 15 years in management, last year, I'm the same age as you.

I trained as a trainer and I work freelance while returning to college to get my degree.

You have a wealth of experience that you can pass on if you want to. The hours I work now are a god send after retail!

ted1

He who dares wins..,

I started a 3 years masters at 33 and changed carers once I graduated I do less work get paid a hell of a lot more. It's never to late to change,

For trucks I have s friend that delivers for calor gas and makes s fortune close to 1k a day as there hazard. Money could be worth looking into

The Undecided One

wmpdd3 wrote: »

I left retail after 15 years in management, last year, I'm the same age as you.

I trained as a trainer and I work freelance while returning to college to get my degree.

You have a wealth of experience that you can pass on if you want to. The hours I work now are a god send after retail!

That's great, this sounds like a good plan :-) Could you maybe give me more details on how did you train as a trainer and some more info about freelancing? I'd love to go to college and get a degree but need to support my family at the same time.

Any information would be great!

Thanks

Mrs OBumble

op, you need to be thinking about jobs that will be less physical, not more, qnd that you can still manage when you're 50 and 60.

At 37, the impact on your body probably hasn't kicked in yet, but it will start to as you get into your 40s.

Truck driving may not be the best idea from this point of view.