Has Anyone Ever Attempted a Career-Change?

[javero]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 4:55pm

I'd really like to know how things worked out for any bold souls over 40 who pulled it off.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:14pm

I'm not close to 40 (yet), but I'm also interested in this topic, Jav.  I got laid off more than a year ago and have been the silver medal in nearly 15 interviews last year.  Thank God for occasional consulting gigs.  

[DAME]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:47pm

I did.  And I was in my late 40's.   It was harder than I thought and for the first two years I had to make many lifestyle adjustments.  BTW.. the older you get the harder it is in almost any profession.  

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 5:51pm

I did, and it took me four years to get to where I thought I'd be in six months. It wasn't graceful, but I got there. No regrets. It was time for a change.

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 8:12pm

I've made numerous career changes over the years. I've been a book store manger, school secretary, and paralegal. Then I went to law school and during that time I managed to get elected to public office as the head of a small town. I then decided law wasn't for me. After serving two terms of public office, in my late '40's I decided to go into journalism with no previous experience. I started as a reporter. Now in my '50s I am the editor of a newspaper. As a hobby I like to write for BroadwayWorld and other arts publications. I've received a dozen journalism awards and just learned that I am getting another one later this month in Boston.

And still, I'm looking to change careers again.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 10:10pm

Wait, wait, wait, waiiiiit a minute.  BWW hires professional journalists?  

 

 

 

(Are the editors volunteers?)

[Stage Door Sally]

Posted: 2/1/16 at 10:32pm

"As a hobby...." gratis.

[javero]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 2:53pm

Thanks to all who responded.  Your personal accounts are inspiring.  Somehow by hook or crook, I will become a documentary film maker!

[AC126748]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 4:22pm

I'm not going to be 40 for several years, but I did change careers after becoming firmly established. It is difficult, although if you find yourself unhappy with your career, it's essential to your happiness. I went straight from college to graduate school and earned two terminal degrees at fairly young ages (MFA at 23, PhD at 27). I'm one of the increasingly rare breed of young academics who was hired into a tenure-track teaching position straight out of school, becoming an assistant professor at a small liberal arts college at 28. I love teaching, but I loathed the politics involved with contemporary academia. Nevertheless, I stayed with my job for several years, published adequately, met my service requirements, earned tenure, etc. Basically, I was living the young academic dream, except that I hated every minute of it.

 

Two years ago, I took a semester-long sabbatical to work on a book project. During that time, I saw that a magazine that had previously published my work several times had an opening for a staff position. I applied on a whim and was hired, and now I am the managing editor of a fairly well-known literary magazine. I pulled double-duty for one semester (teaching and working full-time at the magazine) in order to honor my contract, but I resigned at the end of the academic year and haven't taught since.

 

I realize that I am very lucky, seeing as how I didn't have any unemployed time between careers. I truly empathize with those who switch careers and end up jobless for stretches of time. I am happy than I've ever been, work-wise, in my new job. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/5/16 at 4:57pm

Oh great now I can become what I've always aspired to be: a man-whore.

 

Oh.....wait.....

[South Florida]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 5:31pm

Good luck.  I've been making my money doing something I care less about for years.  I think you should do what you enjoy.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 2/6/16 at 6:48pm

I  changed from working to retired with no problem at all. I took a pay cut but the hours are great. Lots of free time as well.