Career Change at 50 ?

[sheddy]

Happy New Year Folks ! Is it a good time to ask what jobs could the CC Collective advise that will might provide me with another 15 years useful employment ? Has anyone successfully retrained at 50 ?

 

[Sittingduck]

I'd imagine that the answer depends upon your individual skills, interests personality etc etc?

No different for a 50 year old to re-train than a 30 year old and these days employers can't hire based upon age restrictions can they? Of course they'll always find a way round this by using other "excuses" why the 50 year old candidate wasn't selected other than their age. I guess it really depends on the individual who's doing the hiring.

In any case - good luck with it!

 

[Night Train]

It would also depend on what you would want to, and be able to, still be doing as you approach the end of those 15 years. Physical skills may become less accute with age but if you intend to use your knowledge then computing technology may advance faster then you can keep up with with regular retraining.

It really depends on your own strengths and weaknesses over the next 15 years. You need to be honest with yourself about what you want to be still doing and what you are able to keep doing.

 

[Cycling Naturalist]

Happy New Year Folks ! Is it a good time to ask what jobs could the CC Collective advise that will might provide me with another 15 years useful employment ? Has anyone successfully retrained at 50 ?

Anyone round here whose business failed at that age used to get a job with the council as a business adviser.

 

[Over The Hill]

I worked in retail management for 12 years, then retrained and was a jeweller for 12 years with my own business. That got me to the age of 40 where I retrained and went into property law.
I am now one of many lawyers who are out on my ear now aged 48 so looking for the answer myself.

 

[Blue]

I did my teaching certificate at age 48 and spent the years up to retirement teaching full time. Indeed, it was a useful career change as I still teach at evening classes during the winter and the earnings pay for all my bikes and cycling gear.

 

[yello]

I started a PGCE at 45 (not so long ago) but couldn't hack it. Too stressful and had to pack in. I'd also looked around at some other re-training options (plumbing for instance) but decided to sell up and leave London.... MUCH the simpler option!

 

[Night Train]

I worked as a mechanic until my very early 20's at first then retrained to be an electrician. I then retrained and went into housing management when I was 30 and then retrained as a furniture maker when I was 40. While I am enjoying being a furniture maker I have also began to retrain as a teacher. It will mean that I can teach any of the previous qualifications.

 

[Baggy]

then retrained as a furniture maker when I was 40.

How long did it take you to retrain? I've always enjoyed doing up old furniture and sometimes wonder about furniture restoration as a job.

 

[Night Train]

How long did it take you to retrain? I've always enjoyed doing up old furniture and sometimes wonder about furniture restoration as a job.

I did it in two years as a full time HND student. This is as quick as it gets depending on how good you are. If you are not too practical then you could spend a bit longer doing various C&G levels before hand.
Alternatively you could just do the restoration parts of the course but you do need to find a good college to do it at.

 

[Baggy]

Thanks. I don't want to hijack sheddy's thread, but I'm pretty practical and was good at woodwork, metalwork etc at school (hah, only 23 years ago!).

Finding a good college might be the most difficult part. Food for thought though.

 

[Night Train]

Burnley College is good if you are in the North West and I teach there.

 

[Baggy]

Sadly Burnley is about a 5 hour drive away!

 

[Night Train]

For career changes it is worth just looking at all the courses available at your local colleges in case something sounds good that you hadn't thought of before.

Where are you Baggy?

 

[Aperitif]

I'm baggy under the eyes...