• When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

Change your career after 50 - anyone do it?

MGKelly

MGKelly

Well-Known Member
Local time
1:36 PM
Joined
Jun 1, 2013
Messages
421
Reaction score
405
Location
NJ
I’m seriously considering it, any feedback?
The net if full of suggestions anyone actually do it?

thanks, Joe
 
I guess if you are going to make a move, this is the economy to do it in. I've been doing what I've been doing for 41 years & my next move will be selling out and cashing in.
 
I retired 13 years ago and looks like I'm going back to work after going through a divorce a year and a half ago. It was a 30+ year marriage and well, I'm glad she's gone to tell ya the truth. Don't want to go back to work but really need to....
 
Joe I think about it all the time,I wish you best. The grass is not always greener on the otherside.
 
MGKelly said:
I’m seriously considering it, any feedback?
The net if full of suggestions anyone actually do it?

thanks, Joe
Click to expand...
What do you have in mind? I don't want to go back to into a machine shop anymore for numerous reasons plus my knees aren't what they used to be so I'm looking at driving a truck. No semi's though but looks like a Hino with a 26' flat bed and air bag suspension.....I hope!
 
Cranky said:
What do you have in mind? I don't want to go back to into a machine shop anymore for numerous reasons plus my knees aren't what they used to be so I'm looking at driving a truck. No semi's though but looks like a Hino with a 26' flat bed and air bag suspension.....I hope!
Click to expand...
Being married for 30 + years require discipline, love, courage, compassion love and care for others am so shure you'll find a new job that luck is no needed for you, employers are looking for someone like you, but you need to hurry those rodents of yours seems to eat a lot :D
 
4 years ago, after over 25 years in the same position, I made a change at age 52 (almost 53). It was hard starting over and being new at something after being in a job I knew everything about. But it was refreshing to make a clean start. I went from being a department head to a regular worker in the new job. It was stressful at times - sucks being the new guy, but 4 years later I'm a supervisor and things are smoother and smoother every day. It was a great move for me mentally and financially. I was really stuck in a rut where I was, but I was thinking I'd ride it out to retirement. You can get that way after so much time passes, and you can suffer from a lack of imagination as far as the idea of just doing something else. My heart wasn't really in it anymore and I was having a harder and harder time supporting upper management. I'm not the type who makes waves if I'm unhappy. I figure if you're unhappy, move along, don't just be a jag and cause trouble. I'm in an extremely rewarding position, now, and I'm glad every day that I made the move.
 
Retired 8 years ago. I went back to work 4 months later due to boredom. I didnt really know what I wanted to do, so I bounced around trying different things. After 4 years of that, I decided I might as well find something more permanent. I found a pretty good job and just found out towards the end of summer that they are getting "absorbed" into affiliate companies in other states. There is a chance to transfer...maybe...they havent been too specific.
This puts me in the position of either accepting a transfer or trying to learn a new career at 60. I am torn for sure.
 
Ive been in the chemical Industry 45 years. I would not change industries since you will be at the bottom then with the school children, only thing is your older and slower with only life experience if you change fields. My thinking is your taking a risk that makes no sense. Change companies in the same industry sure always consider looking.
 
Joe, Your move all depends on a lot of factors. Like were are you at this time in your life. Are you currently employed is a secure job with decent money and benefits? What exactly are you interested in doing, is there a market for it, do you have related experience, are you looking to work for somebody or start a business. Health care, can you afford to pay for it out of pocket? The things you need to consider are numerous and the bottom line is it practical at this stage of life.
Could you retire at say age 65 collect SS, enroll in Medicare and maybe some retirement funds and then follow your dreams while being able to have money come in and health benefits?
Don't listen to me but certainly do question the chest beating about how great the economy is. While there are lower unemployment there are so many other factors that come into play about the economy and especially how it relates to what you're thinking of doing.
 
I made a move at age 52 to go from management, to blue collar dude in the same company. I was managing ~25 mil annual contract value as a senior program manager. One day it just hit me: What was I doing? Not living where I wanted; tied to a damn cell phone; working over holidays; responsible for other dudes and dudettes performance; traveling; charts/graphs/budgets; bullsh*t!

So when an RFP came down and we were generating a competitive proposal, I told my boss “if we win this work I’m taking the highest compensated blue collar job on that position chart”. He asked if it were really what I wanted to do, and I said yes I’d done that work before, 10 years ago.

I haven’t looked back and I’m loving it. Yes, it was hard getting back up on that step, a lot of work. But I was successful.

Do what you love and can have passion for. You’ll be happier.
 
What a read. At 66, I’m on the skids. Can’t imagine switching Trades, especially with the school children. They have different values, traditions, and priorities. It’s my way or the highway. They can thank God I’m not the boss.
 
I have done it, not by choice, but kind of by accident. I was a technical project manager in information technology for many years and just before I hit my 50's I got laid off and was out of work for a few years.

So recently I went back to work doing estate and antique purchasing and sales plus helping the guy I work for to expand his online presence and sales. Its fun because I used to do some antique furniture flipping and I enjoyed it. Now I am working with him and am learning a lot. Its lower pay at the moment but no stress and its part time and pretty chill kind of a job.
 
Moving to Arizona in a while once the house is finished. To young to retire so I’m hoping this will lead to a good change. Been doing same for 35 yrs.
 
Anyone that questions the economy as it is now is either ignorant to the facts or lying to themselves and everyone else. THere are jobs to be had if a person wants to work. I switched companies recently and they are very happy to have me. Almost immediately they shipped a few guys to other job sites and had me take over their tasks AND working overtime.
 
MGKelly said:
I’m seriously considering it, any feedback?
The net if full of suggestions anyone actually do it?

thanks, Joe
Click to expand...

Hey Joe,

My original plan was to quit my high-stress job at 54 and become a mailman with a walking route. The idea of getting away from managing people, doing something mostly solo, being outdoors, and getting exercise appealed to me. As I got closer to my target date I went through a couple other versions of the plan that had similar appealing elements like short-haul truck driver, etc.

I considered all of the same things I'm sure you are thinking about: Starting at the bottom..... if an old dog could still learn new tricks.... losing my big catalog of career contacts and support system..... how age discrimination might effect me as the new guy..... etc.

By the time I got to 54 I realized that all of the elements I was looking for also existed in not working at all, so that is the career choice I made. What I didn't expect is that as soon as I jumped out I had several solid job offers to jump back in whenever I want to. So I guess my feedback is to follow your heart. Most likely, you can always jump back into your last career.
 
steve from staten island said:
Save it RC. I made a statement about the economy and not to base a carer change on what you think about the economy.
Not the best advise I thought.
Click to expand...


I was merely stating that with unemployment today at it's lowest level in the last 50 years and (some) businesses starving for employees, the chances of landing a new job now in a good economy are better than looking for a new job versus in a depressed economy.


steve from staten island said:
If you take the time to read everything that goes into the economy and what it is based on, I wouldn't be so fast to advise anyone to depend on the economy to change his career.
That was my only point and was not playing politics until the usual suspect started hurling out his usual BS, which you ignored.
As par for the course what has triggered you and others is anyone questioning the economy and I think WE can figure out why.
Click to expand...

As far as the rest............





:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

GetX'd
Anyone been to the Southern tip of Africa - Advice?
2
Replies
34
Views
1K
WileERobby
WileERobby
RonnieK
Feedback on front tires
Replies
1
Views
378
71Beeper
71Beeper
StckweldinSteve
No crank no start
Replies
12
Views
430
59pwrwgn
5
Tony Tee
Fossilized plasti dip. Difficult to remove.
Replies
7
Views
578
Tony Tee
Tony Tee
R
Wheel/Tire Sizing – 63 Plymouth
Replies
4
Views
869
33 IMP
33 IMP
Auto Transport Service
Back
Top