Age 50 and want totally change career - ideas

AnRothar

Most people start out full of enthusiasm and energy.
But all jobs after a certain time become "work".

That's life.

Biggest issue is indirectly mentioned by partyguiness, we become accustomed to the lifestyle that a certain salary affords.

Tombo2001

Perhaps working in IT for a start up would be different- you might take a pay cut and more job uncertainty but also way more interesting.

howamidifferent

Feeling similar myself after 35 years in IT in private sector.
Just looked at some of the paygrades for the civil service. My god they are eye wateringly poor.
Didn't realise how much of a pay cut would be involved in switching.

ellejay

A cousin quit accounting and started their own dog grooming business.
45 quid a pop!

What are his hobbies or interests, a lot would depend on them.

partyguinness

AnRothar wrote: »

Most people start out full of enthusiasm and energy.
But all jobs after a certain time become "work".

That's life.

Biggest issue is indirectly mentioned by partyguiness, we become accustomed to the lifestyle that a certain salary affords.

It also gets to the stage were you need to learn to work to live not live to work. There are no medals handed out for time spent in the office and nobody lies on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at their desk.

Things in the back of my mind is that on a low wage doing something you like you pay lower tax and if planning to make the jump then tax relief in to pensions after 50 could be enough to finance your lifestyle.
In Ireland for example 30% of your salary is tax free for pension contribution. If you live a modest life that 30% pays for a year not working or only working on things which interest you.

Dyr

Been in IT 20+ years now and feeling the same,The level of BS that flooded the sector in the last 5 years is noticeable, I've turned into a jack of all trades, which is now seen as a negative. I've seriously considered just taking the pay cut and doing first level support or looking for something else altogether.

TheWonderLlama

retrain as a plumber or elecrician. There's few enough of them around and good ones can make serious money.

_Brian

Surely between you IT consultancy is an option. Slave in a few junior people to do the work and kick back and enjoy life a bit better.

Tombo2001

howamidifferent wrote: »

Feeling similar myself after 35 years in IT in private sector.
Just looked at some of the paygrades for the civil service. My god they are eye wateringly poor.
Didn't realise how much of a pay cut would be involved in switching.

Think about that next time you see all those facebook comments about "gravy train"

pwurple

Is he looking for something manual? sometimes with burn-out, an operator or tech role can help there. you still feel productive, but there isn't as much stress.

Factory operators in biotech or manufacturing can have a good work life balance if they are on shift. 3 days on, 4 days off, come in, meet target, go home.

Tombo2001

partyguinness wrote: »

It also gets to the stage were you need to learn to work to live not live to work. There are no medals handed out for time spent in the office and nobody lies on their deathbed wishing they spent more time at their desk.

Remember there was one lad in our office who was always in 30 minutes before everyone else. This was in 2008 or so.

When the job cuts came, he was the first one to go.

partyguinness

partyguinness wrote: »

Teaching.

Although I am in England I do know a few 50+ who changed career and went into teaching. One lady after a few years packed that in too and now tutors. She is happy out with it.

Thought of this

I think id love to do a few years teaching/lecturing/training before (maybe even during!) retirement

Tombo2001

Thing is - it sounds all well and good, but a career change can be a difficult thing. What else are you equipped to do.

People are always clear why they want to leave a job.

Less so on what job they are taking a job. Unless the answer is, 'for more money'.

Tombo2001

Deleted User wrote: »

Thought of this

I think id love to do a few years teaching/lecturing/training before (maybe even during!) retirement

Ive done a bit of teaching, also done a fair bit of journalism.

Both kind of interesting, but you certainly wouldnt be doing it for the money.

partyguinness

TheWonderLlama wrote: »

retrain as a plumber or elecrician. There's few enough of them around and good ones can make serious money.

The problem with a trade like that is the 4 year apprenticeship. At 50 do you really want to be dragging yourself around building sites, up and down ladders on cold wet mornings. The novelty will soon wear off.

I often imagine a trade but I spent all my summers working on sites and I just think back and remind myself how grim it could be.

Tombo2001

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Ive done a bit of teaching, also done a fair bit of journalism.

Both kind of interesting, but you certainly wouldnt be doing it for the money.

Hence the few years before or after retirement!

I think if money isnt a concern for him OP, then its a case of what he enjoys. Or is there something he always wanted to learn?

After that, i suppose its a question of what demand is out there for what jobs.

dazberry

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Perhaps working in IT for a start up would be different- you might take a pay cut and more job uncertainty but also way more interesting.

My previous job was in a startup - was great until they ran out of money - and then the stress of not being paid came along - but I'd do it again if I could. Like others on this thread I'm nearly 50 and been in the IT world for 26 years. It's lost its shine...

Padre_Pio

I'm 20 years behind you, but my plans would be to get to a stage where I can afford to take a paycut, then move into teaching or consultancy.

Lecturing would be my dream at 45 or so.

partyguinness wrote: »

In my legal profession role I couldnt give a ****e about it. I would gladly drop it and take up a trade where I have none of the regulatory BS and constant pressures.

But I can't walk away from the six figure salary...

I wonder could you get to a stage where you don't need a 6 figure salary and do half the work for half the money.

NIMAN

As someone in this age category, and who has been shifts for many moons, I often got to thinking what I could do if I decided to get off the shifts and into something more 'normal'.

From trying to get hold tradesmen, I always thought it might be a thing to get into, although I am sure it would take a lot of training to actually be a good one!

Last month I was trying to get my oil burner serviced, and my regular guy said he couldn't get to me til the new year as he was flat out. And he said he was busy all over the lockdown too. I wonder how hard that is to learn?

Thats another consideration too, a job that might be pandemic proof in some way, where you could continue working. I know a lot of tradesmen who didn't really stop over the pandemic, they were able to keep away from customers.

Padre_Pio

NIMAN wrote: »

Last month I was trying to get my oil burner serviced, and my regular guy said he couldn't get to me til the new year as he was flat out. And he said he was busy all over the lockdown too. I wonder how hard that is to learn?

Thats another consideration too, a job that might be pandemic proof in some way, where you could continue working. I know a lot of tradesmen who didn't really stop over the pandemic, they were able to keep away from customers.

IMO the good tradesmen never go without work.
Most of my family are electricians and made it through the last recession with little to no change of pace.

That said, they are fairly skilled in industrial, commercial and solar work, none were in construction really, so that might have had something to do with it.

Id say you could learn 90% of it easy enough, but it's the 10% that people pay for. The only difference between an amateur and a professional is the professional is quicker.

JimmyVik

pwurple wrote: »

Is he looking for something manual? sometimes with burn-out, an operator or tech role can help there. you still feel productive, but there isn't as much stress.

Factory operators in biotech or manufacturing can have a good work life balance if they are on shift. 3 days on, 4 days off, come in, meet target, go home.

Yeah hes looking for something that would have normal hours and normal days. That might be an idea.
I think he has enough put away to retire. He just wants something simlpe for the wind down until full retirement in 10 years or so.

Claw Hammer

TheWonderLlama wrote: »

retrain as a plumber or elecrician. There's few enough of them around and good ones can make serious money.

He is far too old for an apprenticeship as a plumber or an electrician. There is good money in plumbing but it is physically demanding.

hometruths

Charity sector? Not talking about voluntary work, but there are interesting and rewarding positions available in management and board level.

A lot of charities value mature applicants completely new to the field over and above somebody who has spent 30 years campaigning to save the lesser spotted widget or whatever.

Its a vast area and he could look to area which he has interest in whether that is education, poverty, healthcare, heritage, wildlife etc etc.

He wont get an IT salary but wouldnt be on the breadline either

JimmyVik

_Brian wrote: »

Surely between you IT consultancy is an option. Slave in a few junior people to do the work and kick back and enjoy life a bit better.

Its less work and stress not more he wants

Claw Hammer

howamidifferent wrote: »

Feeling similar myself after 35 years in IT in private sector.
Just looked at some of the paygrades for the civil service. My god they are eye wateringly poor.
Didn't realise how much of a pay cut would be involved in switching.

About 2 months ago, I met a civil servant in his 60's (late entrant). After 6 years he was on 36K a year. He was too late for the (half) decent pension as well.

Claw Hammer

Tombo2001 wrote: »

Ive done a bit of teaching, also done a fair bit of journalism.

Both kind of interesting, but you certainly wouldnt be doing it for the money.

Do you do anything for money. You seem to be a specialist in poor paying jobs.

JimmyVik

dazberry wrote: »

My previous job was in a startup - was great until they ran out of money - and then the stress of not being paid came along - but I'd do it again if I could. Like others on this thread I'm nearly 50 and been in the IT world for 26 years. It's lost its shine...

Ive worked ion a few start ups and they are my favourite IT jobs.
Only think is they can have savage hours, and im at the point in my life where i want less hours myself.

Tombo2001

Claw Hammer wrote: »

Do you do anything for money. You seem to be a specialist in poor paying jobs.

Why do you have it in for me?

What do you get out of putting me down?

If you walked by me in the street you wouldnt know me......whats going on?

Padre_Pio

JimmyVik wrote: »

Ive worked ion a few start ups and they are my favourite IT jobs.
Only think is they can have savage hours, and im at the point in my life where i want less hours myself.

Consulting? Get to work with startups, but on an hourly rate :D