FAO people over 40: best new career paths

[edmonddantes]

Im close to 50, 49 now, and Ive always been a SEO and social media manager but now for many reasons I dont find the motivation to do it anymore, its a lot of work and stress and the benefit margins are getting smaller and smaller. Some people will disagree but thats not the point of this thread, the point is to discuss finding new working horizons at ages over 40.

with the pandemia and the many insecurities that the future brings I think people need to have more than one string to one’s bow. Automatization is a reality and we cannot pretend it isn't going to be a massive issue for many careers that will become obsolete or close to. Ill stop with the intro and context because Im not new to the internet and people love to focus on the intros, dispute them, and then the discussion is lost in trivial things and discussions that have no real interest.

the main point I want to discuss is which careers or which work horizons do you think are the best for the near future for people of our age? are you studying new fields or careers? what tools are you using to get done this studying? online courses? which ones exactly?

[Dubstar]

although I don't have any insights or bits of wisdom to impart, I'm following this conversation to hear any pointers; I'm looking for employment and as much as I'm resisting getting back into retail (sucky pay, sucky scheduling), I want something 'more' and satisfying.

[edmonddantes]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

although I don't have any insights or bits of wisdom to impart, I'm following this conversation to hear any pointers; I'm looking for employment and as much as I'm resisting getting back into retail (sucky pay, sucky scheduling), I want something 'more' and satisfying.

well given the lack of interest and responses I think we're both going to be disappointed waiting for new POVs regarding this.

I also want something more, something more personally rewarding, its not about money, though obviously, we need money to survive, but I dont want to keep doing a soul crashing job that I dont enjoy, or find creative. I want to find something that makes me excited to get up in the morning and go to work, I've never felt like that.

I'm really leaning towards trying to learn to program, though I'm not spring chicken and the attempts Ive made have been a bit underwhelming

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by edmonddantes

well given the lack of interest and responses I think we're both going to be disappointed waiting for new POVs regarding this.

I also want something more, something more personally rewarding, its not about money, though obviously, we need money to survive, but I dont want to keep doing a soul crashing job that I dont enjoy, or find creative. I want to find something that makes me excited to get up in the morning and go to work, I've never felt like that.

I'm really leaning towards trying to learn to program, though I'm not spring chicken and the attempts Ive made have been a bit underwhelming

I will say, and I need to apply for this job today, is that I am really good with people (engaging, great listener, talkative) and there's a job at a neighborhood hospital for Activities Assistant ~ my past job being receptionist/data entry at an homeless organization, I really liked talking with the folk that came in looking for help and all. I was in no way a social worker, but I think they felt more comfortable with me just having a guy listen to them and validate what was going on in their lives. Conclusively, as a kid, teenager, I've always enjoyed and being with older folk and being helpful, a listener, etc., if I can find a job in this sort of vein I'd be happy.

[beefytwinkie]

Just to give you my own background without boring you to tears, I am an accountant by trade and have basically stayed within the accounting field throughout my career. I was a tax accountant, auditor, forensic consultant, and now I work as a corporate accountant/finance analyst.

Accounting is great because it will never be automated. No matter how great a computer is, it can never mimic human judgment. So as much as I hate my job (or as edmonddantes perfectly said it: soul crushing), at the very least I have job security and that gives me comfort for a good retirement outlook.

If I wanted to start over with something completely different, I have always wanted to go into cooking. Learning to cook is a lot of fun for me and I definitely feel like I can turn it into a career. A lot of people say "If you hate your job, do something about it." Sure, I would love to but it is never that easy. Plus, I am at a point where I don't want to lose my salary and start over at the bottom. I don't work crazy hours anymore and I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.

Maybe one day I will take cooking more seriously but for now it's just a pipe dream.

The only thing I can say to you guys is if you want to go for a different career path, give it everything you got. Don't ever let anyone hold you back or talk down to you. We are living this life now and if something else makes you happy, grab it.

[Scarriere]

I am also middle aged and ponder at times about switching to another job.
I’m somewhat limited though on what I’m comfortable doing.
I’m in Mining as a Driller and feel that when/if I switch, it’ll be to something I’ve already done and is less rewarding than what I’m currently doing.
I will be moving back south in a couple of years to be closer to family and should get a job closer to where I’ll be moving to.
I know that the mines I’m considering and the job I’ll be doing will potentially be mind numbing but the money will be great.
It’ll be a tough decision when I have to start planning for my seemingly inevitable switch.

[edmonddantes]

Originally Posted by beefytwinkie

Just to give you my own background without boring you to tears, I am an accountant by trade and have basically stayed within the accounting field throughout my career. I was a tax accountant, auditor, forensic consultant, and now I work as a corporate accountant/finance analyst.

Accounting is great because it will never be automated. No matter how great a computer is, it can never mimic human judgment. So as much as I hate my job (or as edmonddantes perfectly said it: soul crushing), at the very least I have job security and that gives me comfort for a good retirement outlook.

If I wanted to start over with something completely different, I have always wanted to go into cooking. Learning to cook is a lot of fun for me and I definitely feel like I can turn it into a career. A lot of people say "If you hate your job, do something about it." Sure, I would love to but it is never that easy. Plus, I am at a point where I don't want to lose my salary and start over at the bottom. I don't work crazy hours anymore and I can do whatever I want, whenever I want.

Maybe one day I will take cooking more seriously but for now it's just a pipe dream.

The only thing I can say to you guys is if you want to go for a different career path, give it everything you got. Don't ever let anyone hold you back or talk down to you. We are living this life now and if something else makes you happy, grab it.

well said.

Ive also thought about becoming a chef, or trying to open a restaurant, something along those lines, but although I do love cooking I dont think I've got a natural ability to do it. I can cook a decent steak and fried eggs, but will people pay me from their hard earned money to taste my food? I dont think so, plus I dont really get cooking as my "call"

and thats what Im looking for, my call or something that I really enjoy, and that I can be moderately good at. Granted this is the kind of quest you do in your 20s and not in your 40s but life passed so fast, I just didnt have the time to pause the play button and make a thorough introspection about the work I wanted to do. Then the pandemia, and the uncertainty of the future happened, and made me stop and take note.

Originally Posted by Scarriere

I am also middle aged and ponder at times about switching to another job.
I’m somewhat limited though on what I’m comfortable doing.
I’m in Mining as a Driller and feel that when/if I switch, it’ll be to something I’ve already done and is less rewarding than what I’m currently doing.
I will be moving back south in a couple of years to be closer to family and should get a job closer to where I’ll be moving to.
I know that the mines I’m considering and the job I’ll be doing will potentially be mind numbing but the money will be great.
It’ll be a tough decision when I have to start planning for my seemingly inevitable switch.

if you can somehow save a little money that will definitely give you more options when you switch jobs. I didnt save, or the money I saved evaporated during the pandemia, and as a consequence, my options are limited, as I cannot do something that requires a bit of initial investment.

I have a couple of friends in my same age group that would love to leave their current jobs and try something new, but they've got a family and cannot plunge into uncertainty, particularly with inflation and the war in ukraine, but I dont have kids and Im at an age that is either now or never.

So I will pick a couple of courses in programming, python and the likes and see how it goes, but if not that, I will look for something with animals, I love animals, and Id love to be part of a company that helps cats and dogs and all kinds of animals.

Those are my options so far, perhaps depending of what you guys say I will find another option.

[TripleHBK]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I will say, and I need to apply for this job today, is that I am really good with people (engaging, great listener, talkative) and there's a job at a neighborhood hospital for Activities Assistant ~ my past job being receptionist/data entry at an homeless organization, I really liked talking with the folk that came in looking for help and all. I was in no way a social worker, but I think they felt more comfortable with me just having a guy listen to them and validate what was going on in their lives. Conclusively, as a kid, teenager, I've always enjoyed and being with older folk and being helpful, a listener, etc., if I can find a job in this sort of vein I'd be happy.

If you live in the US look into your states' DHHS programs with the Division of Developmental Disabilities or something under "Home and Community Based Services" and the Medicaid Waiver programs. In said field you'll be fulfilling a role similar to that of a Social worker but will be working with folks that are looking to use Medicaid funding to purchase state funded services from local area providers. In this role you should be able to avoid having to do the direct care work but would be in more of an oversight role. You'll have an opportunity to work directly with families and local providers but keep your hands clean (so to speak).

It's a variety of Social work so don't expect to clean up in regards to wages, but depending on your states benefits package, the freedom the job provides, sick leave, vacation, insurance package and retirement may prove to be worth the loss of gross income as your happiness/stress may be in a better balance.

Stay out of "Children and Family Supports" (CFS) or any of the similar Adult Protective Services/Child Protective Services jobs as those are thankless and high stress.

In Nebraska a person needs only a bachelor's degree to be considered for most of the positions.