Opinions re career change

Kontaktlens00

hi,
any and all opinions most welcome please...

I graduated almost 20 years ago with a good arts degree but have somehow ended up working in IT since then. I have been very lucky and have always worked, and have been with my present company for over 10 years.
The salary isn't great as I work part-time, but the work is ok, I get on with everyone and my employer has been very good to me with maternity leave pay (3 times). The main downside with my job is that the future is uncertain and the work itself is not something I want to do until I retire!
Since turning 40 I have been thinking of retraining - in something completely different like Accountancy. There is the Accounting Technician course I could do from home, with an eye to further qualifications. Basically I am willing to work harder for more money and for something more stable/more opportunities.

Am I mad to think of retraining at 40? Should I not just keep my head down, keep plodding away at the current job and if it dries up, something similar may come up? There are a few perks with my current role that help with work/life balance with 3 kids, so why give that up?

Any opinions would be really appreciated, I am very indecisive at the moment.

Thanks!

beauf

Are you not interested in IT in general or just your current role.

If you want better money I would think leveraging your past experience would earn more. Unless it's something you really hate. You could do IT related role in a different industry or business area.

If you really hate IT then money won't be the primary motivation to change.

I know a few who changed and were happier but they bwere financially secure before hand and a bit older.

Quackles

Kontaktlens00 wrote: »

hi,
any and all opinions most welcome please...

I graduated almost 20 years ago with a good arts degree but have somehow ended up working in IT since then. I have been very lucky and have always worked, and have been with my present company for over 10 years.
The salary isn't great as I work part-time, but the work is ok, I get on with everyone and my employer has been very good to me with maternity leave pay (3 times). The main downside with my job is that the future is uncertain and the work itself is not something I want to do until I retire!
Since turning 40 I have been thinking of retraining - in something completely different like Accountancy. There is the Accounting Technician course I could do from home, with an eye to further qualifications. Basically I am willing to work harder for more money and for something more stable/more opportunities.

Am I mad to think of retraining at 40? Should I not just keep my head down, keep plodding away at the current job and if it dries up, something similar may come up? There are a few perks with my current role that help with work/life balance with 3 kids, so why give that up?

Any opinions would be really appreciated, I am very indecisive at the moment.

Thanks!

I certainly think you should change if you think that's the way to go. I got out of IT at 36 and into a completely different field... I was so afraid to change that I had to be coerced into applying for the new post, I literally cried when I heard I got the new job, but I'm glad I went for it now. If your gut is saying go for it, go for it!

syklops

The main downside with my job is that the future is uncertain and the work itself is not something I want to do until I retire!

Whatever career you choose the future is uncertain, but one thing is for sure, IT isnt going anywhere. I dont know what area of IT you are in, but IT is one of the most diverse industries out there. Why not consider moving into another area? Project Management, Development, networking, security, compliance, data analysis/analytics, web design, search engine optimization. etc etc.

That said, as the old adage goes, "Find something you love doing and you'll never work a day in your life". What realistically would you consider doing?

irishguy

Kontaktlens00 wrote: »

hi,
any and all opinions most welcome please...

I graduated almost 20 years ago with a good arts degree but have somehow ended up working in IT since then. I have been very lucky and have always worked, and have been with my present company for over 10 years.
The salary isn't great as I work part-time, but the work is ok, I get on with everyone and my employer has been very good to me with maternity leave pay (3 times). The main downside with my job is that the future is uncertain and the work itself is not something I want to do until I retire!
Since turning 40 I have been thinking of retraining - in something completely different like Accountancy. There is the Accounting Technician course I could do from home, with an eye to further qualifications. Basically I am willing to work harder for more money and for something more stable/more opportunities.

Am I mad to think of retraining at 40? Should I not just keep my head down, keep plodding away at the current job and if it dries up, something similar may come up? There are a few perks with my current role that help with work/life balance with 3 kids, so why give that up?

Any opinions would be really appreciated, I am very indecisive at the moment.

Thanks!

I work in IT (Software Eng) and my Wife in an accountant. Few people in accounting love/like there jobs. It pays very well and you will always have a job, but its very long hours, stressful and can be boring. Its not something id pick if I had 3 kids starting from scratch.it would be 5 years or so before your on the same money as your on now and lots of late nights/weekend courses and studying.
There are loads of areas in IT, lots of jobs and very good money. Just pick an area you like and move towards that. Will be a lot easier for you and generally most people I meet in IT like what they do.

Musicman2000

If you are looking into IT. The jobs are in Software Development . Other side of the coin the majority of IT poisons are Dublin based. If you are living in Dublin all the better. I work in IT myself and there is a lot of competition for jobs , its not as easy to walk into a job as some mention on here , especially starting out .

boobar

You mention quite a few positives with your current role, but from reading your post you seem to be drawn towards something else but are uncertain as to what that is.

Just so we can advise you, can you tell us what area of IT you currently work in please? What do you like and dislike about it?

Why are you drawn towards an accounting role? I'd imagine the salary would be quite low starting off.

Senna

Possibly this isn't relevant, but the work life balance you have now will be completely gone if you do decide to change.
I went back to college at 35 (into IT) and p/t studying really takes up the whole week outside of normal work. Might be different in accounting, but starting out in most industries means working full time and not just 40 hours.

Are you OK with giving up the perks you currently have?

Kontaktlens00

Thanks so much for all the replies, it helps a lot to hear different perspectives.

To clarify, I work in a QA role within the localisation industry so I call it IT, but it is not a very technical role. I have no IT qualifications. I don't hate the job I am in, but I certainly don't love it. The best way I can put it, its "fine". And maybe I should be grateful for that! But longer term, facing all the way to retirement, QA roles are more and more scarce and even if they were more, I can't see myself doing this forever.

As I say I have no IT qualifications and don't really have the interest in getting them, so I think I would find it very difficult to find an IT position? BTW, I am in Dublin.

Accountancy appeals in that I think it provides the option of a steady job for the years ahead. I did it years ago for the LC, I liked it and did well. Studying doesn't daunt me too much, maybe I am deluding myself on this one... The youngest is starting school this year so I think I will get a bit more time to myself for study. There seem to be plenty of part-time accounting technican roles with the option for further study if I wanted.

Boobar - you are right, I want to change but am not a 100% what I want that change to be. If I was following my heart, I'd opt for montessori teaching! But the pay is abysmal and as a friend pointed out, its a role more suited for a younger person...

Thanks again for reading. I know its something I need to work out on my own but each perspective is very helpful xx

beauf

Perhaps there are other jobs in the company you could try. Even extra projects to steer yourself in a different direction. Get a taste for other things. While still earning money.

It would be nice to use that QA experience, and or experience in that company, business, to avoid starting at the bottom rung again.

Mrs OBumble

Yes - I would also look to get some work exposure to other areas in your current company before you go studying anything. If you do want o change to accountancy, then having some practical experience would stand you in good stead.