Anyone changed career in there early/mid 40’s?

Not enjoying my chosen profession at the moment (in fact haven’t enjoyed it t couple of years….) and with the recent passing of my Mom I’m thinking life’s too short to be stuck in an office hating pretty much every minute and not really caring about the projects I’m working on.

Problem is I have no idea how to go about doing anything about it.
Have been in Building Services Electrical Design (for contractors and consultants) for nearly 25 years and don’t really know anything else.

I always had a plan of where I was going to be when I was younger but circumstances conspired against me and I couldn’t do what I wanted to do so that plan went out of the window….

Problem is that ‘plan’ has re-surfaced and keeps going round in my head and I can’t seem to shake it.

I always planned on joining the Navy, doing my 22 and then come out at 40 with a decent pension and set up/get in to outdoor pursuits as I always enjoyed it as a kid/teenager and wanted to share that with others.

I never made it into the Navy due to being left partially sighted in one eye after being mugged when I was 15, this led to flunked GCSE’s and the next couple of years sorting these out and going to college to get some quals in Electrical/Electonic Engineering and a complete change in attitude and my plans forgotten…..

I seem to be spending more time outdoors with the kids again recently and love seeing their enthusiasm for being outdoors and exploring – whether on our bikes or just mooching around the woods.

This has got me thinking about going back to that ‘plan’ athough in a somewhat different way.

I have zero outdoor quals or relevant experience (other than still being able to read a map/use a compass).

I looked at the outdoor instructor course at Plas-y-Brenin but it’s nearly 4 months residential and close to £15k.

Time wise I could take an unpaid sabatical from work (allowed to after x years of service) but coming up with the £15k and also being able to pay mortgage/bills etc. is a non starter.

I’m toying with the idea of getting my MIAS MTB leader qual and starting some small family guided rides in the local vicinity but this isn’t really going to pay the bills.

So, my question is are there any other routes into outdoor pursuits that I can look at?

A mate who was ex army and working in the co-op at the time got a job at a local outdoor place called conkers in the Midlands. He soon became head ranger through hard work, good ideas and his enthusiasm for outdoor life and animals in particular. He’s moved on and is now working in the forest of Dean as a ranger having done various qualifications over the last 5/6 years. Don’t think it’s big money but he runs bushcraft courses, wildlife spotting and general outdoor stuff all over the forest of Dean. Seemed very happy when I last saw him, living in one of the log cabins with his Mrs and kid. They are always out and about and it looks a pretty good way to live, as I say maybe not big money but very contented.

A mate of mine became a Scout Leader when his little lad was old enough to join. He absolutely milks them for every qualification going – all paid for…

Might be a better alternative than jacking in the day job and hoping for the best.

I sort of changed careers at 40 (3 years ago) – my existing business premises (which I own) were underused so I learnt a new trade and opened an second business. It’s absolutely booming after 3-and-a-half years and has completely rejuvenated by enthusiasm for work.

Doing it from scratch, without the safety net of an existing business/income would have been a bit too risky for my tastes.

That PYB fast-track scheme includes a lot of things, sure if you have the time and the money it would be great. But it’s not essential. Why don’t you do what I have done and just start working towards one or few tickets?

Essentially, I’m working towards getting my IML award to work as a trekking leader at home in the alps and elsewhere. I decided to do it via. the UK scheme and so had to get my summer ML first. I gained that earlier this year and have at least 2 training courses and 2 assessments to go.

I’m not so much planning on changing career but starting a new one in parallel as I am self employed and work overseas a lot and have some down time looking for the next contract which can be very miserable and depressing. As time moves on maybe I will phase one out and step up the other one. I simply don’t know. What I do know though is that it felt great to actively take the 1st step, and it’s really good, comforting even, to have it running along in the background not knowing where ultimately it is heading.Sometimes I get really into it and think about it all the time, other times I take pleasure in just letting it have its own momentum. But that might not suit you in your situation, only you can judge.

In addition,

In my main career, I actually went independent as it was the easiest way of moving to France, when my french isn’t good enough for technical work. It actually revitalised my passion for my profession (Engineering Geology/ Geotechnical Engineering) and has given me some great opportunities and experience. I feel much happier working the way I do, I actually really enjoy my work now and motivation went through the roof. I just didn’t suit being told to sit at that desk over there between 9 and 5 and tow the corporate line. It’s just the in-between contracts bit is rubbish for me. Might be something you could look at: going independent?

The outdoors pays bugger all. I mean nothing. You’re doing well if you get £25k, most under £20k, many on less than national minimum wage. Anyone on more than £30k never leaves.

Also the vast majority of centres barely leave site, run four sessions back to back a day, work you two or more evenings a week, most weekends and all holidays. You won’t be climbing Munro’s, pedalling Laggan or paddling white water at most.

Freelancing many places still pay £100-130 a day, with no long term contracts really, you will do 25k miles a year with weeks away chasing work or lost DofE groups across the country. And you have £3-5k of your own kit in your own vehicle with no insurance for illness or duff knee joints.

To earn well and get a job somewhere that does do proper adventure, you need a full D1/D1+E driving license (tested these days, not grandfather), a couple of senior level outdoor tickets and a further three or so lower level. For most folk that is Summer ML and one of UKCC L2 in paddle sports, MTB, climbing or sailing. On top you need UKCC L1 or equivalent in archery, orienteering, high ropes, DofE assessor etc. Plus three to five years varied and adventurous leading experience. You also need to live in Wales, Lakes or Highlands, and beat 100 others to each well paid post or more interesting posts.

To earn in one particular sport you need the most senior qualification in that sport, a good name and reputation and a back up activity. For example UKCC L3 Canoe, with 5 star, moderate water endorsement, WWSR and apply for and be accepted as coach provider. So ten years experience and effort, including all the lower qualifications below. Plus a second income across off seasons – I know many that do things like photography, driving, building, ski lift attendant etc.

You will be up against folk who have all this, plus teaching degree and MIC for any really good posts and who still do work for £120 a day, six days a week for six months of the year.

There are apprentices, but that’s three years of £300-600 a month with tied accomodation, but your qualifications may be included. That said, most apprentiships wouldn’t get you beyond UKCC L1 level, maybe UKCC L2 paddle sports or Climbing.

I’m (hopefully) painting a financially difficult industry, that works you until you drop, and is generally hooking brats onto the same damn rope behind the kit store climbing wall, and straightening Edelrid helmets endlessly while being eaten by midges and cold.

If you do manage to spend 5 years+ and £20k getting all the tickets and experience you need, you may manage to swing a job at one of the few centres that has interesting, varied work, maybe some guiding and coaching or local college work, earning £25-30k in a lovely part of the country. The lifestyle is fantastic, the places you go and sense of achievement hard to beat, the happiness you feel is great. And then you realise your knee is giving up as you’re now heading for 50….

I’ve worked my way up through Outdoor Education teaching degree at IM Marsh, Saturday and holiday jobs through to Chief Instructor at Highland Centre, with a long list of tickets to my name (all the above mentioned apart from MIC, and some more on top). I did this for 20 years., employing scores of apprentices and instructors along the way. I now teach teachers to get outdoors, away from adventure education, into cities, parks and forests. I’m accredited by General Teaching Council for Scotland and Scottish College of Education Leadership. I’m travelling over UK, some in Europe and one Asia trip. I work mainly school term busy, 9-5ish. I have about half a dozen other folk in the UK who do what I do, three of whom work for same employer. I still don’t earn as much as the teachers I train. But it is a good job. Because of the specialist nature of the work, I do pay properly our freelance team (£300+ per day), but expect them to be leading the way in outdoor learning and play knowledge and practice.

Hope that helps.

I have zero outdoor quals or relevant experience (other than still being able to read a map/use a compass).

This. This worries me.
Go and volunteer at an outdoor centre for a week. Go and volunteer coach at the local bike club. Get out and offer help to the kids school to get outdoors.
Then think about if you really want to do this.

Thanks for the replies chaps – greatly appreciated.

A few thing to think about, and as some have said – not that great an idea with virtually zero experience.

I assume with your experience you are on good money in present job.
Why not go freelance/part-time, work three days a week, and spend the rest of your time on your bike in the woods, getting some qualifications over time, etc. Going part-time will also probably make you appreciate the work more.

I think it is often best to do the transition over time rather than make a big jump, esp without qualifications and given what @matt has outlined above.

Why not go freelance/part-time, work three days a week, and spend the rest of your time on your bike in the woods, getting some qualifications over time, etc. Going part-time will also probably make you appreciate the work more.

If you can make the same living part time three days a week in current job as you would five or six days a week in the outdoors then go part time and keep the extra days for yourself.

@km79, good point. Apparently the Dutch are some of the happiest people and it has a lot to do with part-time working, then finding meaning/happiness in your spare time doing things you enjoy.
IMO the future of work will be relatively well-paid, skilled jobs on a part-time basis, on top of your basic income/living wage.
Workaholics, on the other hand, may not know what to do with themselves.

Looks like any job that looks interesting and good fun will pay little as so many people want to do it. If i was looking for a new job i d go for something really unappealing in the hope it must pay well to attract someone.

I really hated with a passion my old office job, now i m mainly out and about i love it.