[Closed] early mid-life crisis - new career advice wanted

you're not alone

Are postmen happy and well paid?.

Has anyone else here bitten the bullet and totally changed direction in their middle years?

Yes

was it a successful move or not?

No - I set up my own business, stuck at it for too long and am now looking for a proper job again with zero success. I was trying to fix a problem that was within me, not to do with the job I was doing but it took a major life event (or near death event) to finally get me to understand that and make me get my life sorted out.

If you can find a job that will pay the bills then that's a safety net that'd make it easier to give it a go, but with a mortgage & family it might be worth spending a bit of time looking at what's really driving the way you feel before taking drastic action.

I guess the question is what kind of things give you the satisfaction you are looking for? Buzzing about and meeting people, working solo on theoretically and creatively taxing topics, being in the outdoors rain and shine, long or short term projects, and so on?

Off the cuff, given your qualifications, have you thought about getting into web-based marketing as this is still a growth area where good people are needed?

afraid in todays job climate millions ( thats no exageration) would happily do you job and most for less.. the days of jumping ship getting off the bus etc were over 5 years ago. its time to get your head down theres a storm coming.

and you could nt get a job on royal mail or tescos filling shelves there are NO jobs for non vocationally qualified.

hi,
i gave up working for others in 2008 after 20 years of it.
started my own business at 41.
never been happier.
only do something you are passionate about.
imho do not waste any more time working for others.
best, mark.

Steer clear of RM, the other delivery companies can pay well if you can get around in your van fast enough. National trust could offer a nice outdoors type job.

don't make me look at teacher training again..

I try to just do things that make me happy, so I've changed quite a lot. If I'm happy and it doesn't feel like work then I'm likely to be better at it. At least that's the aim.

There's all the politics and BS to consider as well, but thinking about setting up on my own next year.

The one thing I will say is that it will never be "the dream life" but if you're getting itchy feet it will probably be satisfying to at least explore possibilities. I have the luxury of not having any kids which gives me a bit more freedom.

In the same boat as you. 34 this year and feel stuck in a job i dont like and want a career change but no idea how to go about it!

Ask yourself this: what will a new job/career give you?

Keep asking it until you really know.

Then ask: what do I need to do to get to that?

Keep asking until you have all bases covered.

Then agree a plan with your wife.

Are you a product designer?

If so you should investigate if there is a market for your skill.

❓

send the missus out to work and be a stay at home dad.

I can sympathise with you on this. I'm also 34 working in an unfulfilling office job. I have a degree in Multimedia Computing but didn't pursue that route because I didn't really enjoy it. My Mrs is a teacher and I've been toying with the idea of doing a PGCE but have no great passion to be an educator if I'm honest. Also looked in to postgraduate course in Surveying but the cost is prohibitive.

I kinda just accepted that 99% of jobs are dull and just a means to an end (money). Given the current economic climate + mortgage and a kid I think you'd be mad to take the risk of changing career completely at this stage. Doubt there's a nice outdoors job out there anyway that pays £25k and doesn't need experience (there's loads of people looking for that sort of thing...) and going self-employed carries a huge financial risk.

take a look at field engineer roles if you've got a half a brain and dont mind the odd bit of weekend work.

I did it for 2 years and hated it though but it did get me out and about (and 'working' about 28 hours a week!)

Now I'm back in an office full of people that are cheerful and fun to be about with a good social aspect and no working at weekends.

I ride to/from work and it's ace, maybe you need to just look for a new office/job rather than a complete change if things have stagnated where you are.

my Mrs is a teacher too..

Being 100% honest, I started trianing to be a secondary teacher several years ago but hated the admin/beurocracy.. so dropped out.
Armed with several more years of office work, im kicking myself to the maximum for dropping out.
Im not sure if that would affect my chances of a second application, this time for primary education.. which in hindsight I think I would work for me.

I know how you feel OP as I'm in a similar position. I looked at teaching as well, but the people completing the courses were struggling to find work once the probationary period was over. I'd also think long and hard about whether becoming a teacher is for you if you're not really that interested. Would you want someone teaching your child who wasn't really that interested? I certainly wouldn't. I'm currently trying to get my head round the fact that for the time being I'm stuck doing what I do, but that it does mean I can pay the bills and spend time with my son.

I moved from working for the man to freelancing a couple of years ago. Still doing more or less the same job but I have a lot more control over how and when I work. Income is up and down, I'm very busy at the moment, over all it's better than a fixed income, just need to manage the money a bit. We have no kids and the mrs works so it's a bit easier for me. I do 3D design and model making so if you want to chat about that drop me a line.

Rather than heasding down the usual school teacher route have you considered teaching in further/higher education? I used to and found it far more rewarding than schools as the vast majority of the students are there because they want to be not because they have to, and are far more willing to engage in the subject.

don't know waht it's like now but it used t obe relatively easy to get into and then do any teaching qualifications you need while in the job.

I went into teaching about 8 years ago after working as a post-doc genetics researcher. I really enjoy it, plus I get 13 weeks off a year and go on 2 week long outdoor ed camps a year (Hiking/climbing/ski-touring/cycling depending on what comes up).
Rarely bored (other than in meetings,of which there are a few). It can be frustrating and maddenning at times, but never boring. Most of the time it is great. Having said all that, the first two years working in rough london schools were a nightmare and I wondered if I'd made the right decision. My wife was going to make me quit (or kill me).
I dragged her back to Melbourne (I'd qualified in London at the IoE)and got a job at a catholic boys school in the outer eastern suburbs. Much easier, although the expectations are higher.

Double post

Do[b] NOT[/b] become a teacher if you do not have the patience with children, teens or people etc, as you will only do harm to their education. There is no half hearted approach to teaching and you cannot free ride on having an easy life if you are teacher.

I know some teachers that only teach half heartedly and is causing a major headache to children/students. These teachers are lazy no good who expect kids to do past papers but without giving answers later on or explain the answers to them later on ... what a waste of time. When kids worked hard by revising passed papers in addition to all those in the books, the teachers have the audacity to accuse them of cheating.

I am seeing the headmistress tomorrow and my advice to her will be [b]fire the lot[/b]! Yes, I will say that. There are many good teachers out there ...

[b]Again do not become a teacher if your heart is not there.[/b] You will destroy the next generation as they are already now.

I do feel I could offer a lot to kids with teaching.

Paperwork? that may suffer a bit.

Do NOT become a teacher if you do not have the patience with children, teens or people etc, as you will only do harm to their education. There is no half hearted approach to teaching and you cannot free ride on having an easy life if you are teacher.

I'd have to agree with this - some people (I know a few personally) get into teaching because they don't know what else to do. Teaching is a skilled job, best left to those appropriately talented and passionate, so unless you see it as a definite calling, don't do it. You can be miserable and uncommitted in many jobs, but when you behave like that as a teacher it has too much of an effect on others.

Are you good at what you do? Why is your folio stale? Why do you call your qualification "mickey mouse"?

As I see it, there are two kinds of jobs that will make someone happy:

[list][*]Job 1 is challenging, hard work and long hours doing something that you're passionate about;[/*]
[*]Job 2 is dull and repetitive, but you do it for 7 hours a day 5 days a week (or equivalent) and that's it.[/*][/list]

Doing either of those, you can be happy. Anything else and you'll be miserable.

Teaching definately isn't something to go into half-arsed. I'd done a fair bit of running practical sessions and tutorials at uni while I was post-docing, and had also done private tutoring.
The first couple of years as a teacher are bloody hard while you find your feet. I have also seen burnt out teachers who are despirit to get out of the profession. Once you get to that point, there is no point being there. It does challange you. I've taught a variety of sciences, maths and IT subjects in the last few years. I've had to learn or re-learn a great deal. You do have slack periods and then incredibly busy periods (report writing and exam marking time has just finished here yesterday)