Career change...anyone??

[Turkish Delight]

i want to change my career but i am afraid.

I am currently in a big company as an environmental officer and have this urge to do beauty. I feel like socialising and meeting different people. I want to do a course and have looked at several but am afraid i might not get a job!

I love the jewellry shop Diva and even applied online to do part time work there. I hate being stuck in an office all day.

Has anyone changed careers later on in life? Is it scary?? Do you regret it??

[Mrs T]

I say follow your dreams, I am currently doing a refresher on Maths and communication pathways so i can apply for Uni next year to do teaching. I am currently a travel consultant!
SO at 32 I also feel scared, however i have always wanted to this, so I am finally able to !

Good luck!

[all girls]

I did a beauty course about 4 years ago and whilst i LOVED studying even though it was a lot more in depth that i thought when i started working it is such a hard job. It is really quite bad pay too but in saying that it has lead me to working in cosmetic laser doing hair removal and skin rejuvenation which is much better money. In saying that it doesn't mean you wont enjoy the work if you have a great boss.

I don't regret doing the course, it was quite scary at first but i ended up loving it but it was the actual work and the pay that i didn't like so much.

[Turkish Delight]

Congrats on the big move too!

Hubby thinks i'm an idiot. I get paid well to do what i went to uni to do but i hate going to work everyday and it's becoming a drag.

Mum thinks i'm an idiot as i get to travel interstate, attend seminars, conferences and have great work hours but it's just not satisfying my needs.

The people here are mainly much older than i am 40-45+ and i just don't click with them anymore.

I'm really afraid, but know i have to do something about it. Maybe study towards the beauty diploma at nights and work here til i complete it.

So hard!

[Laranna]

I say go for it if it is what you really want. Don't stay in a job you hate just because other people "perceive" it to be great. Maybe you can start a savings fund while you are on the good pay now, so when you switch careers you have some savings behind you and your DH might feel more comfortable with the idea?

Life is too short to do something you don't enjoy. You're only here once, make the most of it!

ETA: And if it doesn't work out at least you know you gave it a shot and have no regrets!

[sweetpea678]

my dh changed carrers at 42 and now done it twice in 2 yrs to get to wear he realy wants to be, pay cut and all i prefer a happy dh than one who came home everyday cranky etc.

So gor for it

[Lisa]

I have always worked in Customer Service/Admin type roles... and I am currently getting myself ready to go to Uni next year to study nursing & midwifery.
I say do what you feel is right... it could mean sacrificing a few things in order to feel better... but I bet it is worth it in the end. I like Laranna's idea of starting to save now.
Good luck

[Kitt3n]

You are 31, thats hardly "later on in life!!!"

I am a complaints officer for a major co - but as soon as i go on mat leave i will be picking up studies, will take me 6 years but then i will be a teacher!

Lol when i go back to work i will earn much less money but hey - its whats i want to do....

[CombatQueen]

Do it! I've always done secretary work and turned down an executive secretary job in the city to study then become a personal trainer. I know till I get clients i'll be working on the gym floor earning peanuts but hey ho, thats what you have to do when you change careers. If you think you'll love it and it's a dream then DO IT!!!!

[deancey]

I am applying for tafe for next year to study nursing. Its 2 years part time and then I can work my way up and continue study whilst working in the nursing area.
I currently work in cust service/admin and have been in same job for 9 years. I am over it and need a change
I cant see myself retiring early so I have a good 30 plus years of working to go so better be in a job I like.

I say GO FOR IT

[smiles4u]

They say " WE " have 3 career changes in life ...

I just noticed your age (31) ... funny as I had a massive career change at 30 & another at 36

A few of my friends for some strange reason have also had career changes at about 30

One friend was a secondary school art teacher & at 30 became a policewoman 2.5years ago.

Also another had a high power job with a medical company & funny she too also became a policewoman at 35.

Another friend went from being a hairdresser for 20yrs & then went into working as a consultant for a medical clinic for 2yrs & then went into working in an office job at 40.

I knew a woman years ago, her hubby was a bank manager BUT he always wanted to be a nurse ... so at 40 he went back to uni to study full-time.

I think it gets scarier as you get older to start a new career for many different reasons. One being financially (especially if you come from a well paid job & starting a new career often can mean starting on a lower income than you are use to). So you need to work out if you can 'afford' to change careers

For me changing careers was so exciting as work becomes more enjoyable again

You also need to have the motivation & patience to start a new career position !!

I think if you can afford to do it & are realist about & have checked out your options - that there is future employment especially as you get older ... I say " GO FOR IT " as you don't want to look back later on in life & think " WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I DO IT "

All the best in what you chose to do ... Good luck :goodluck2:

[~ dragonfly ~]

i started working life in offices, hated it, and dropped out to become a singer in a rock band (yes, really) then went back to office work four years later only to get pg with twins and be a SAHM for seven years. when i went back part-time i worked in a garden shop, evenually running it for the last 2 years. i resigned due to ill health and work stress (long story) at the end of 1999, and promptly spent the next four years studying natural health, graduating with three diplomas in bodywork by 2004. two years later i did an AIN, only to find old injuries prevent me from working in that field. this year i started cert IV in community welfare and am still working for myself part time as a massage therapist, and loving it. i'm 43.

my advice is, go for it! it's hard to establish a private practice, but if you love the work, why not?

"find a job you love, and you'll never work another day in your life"

[little sprocket]

Im another changing career person. I was a document controller up until about 3 weeks ago and now Im in IT with the Catholic Education System. So Ive gone from constuction and engineering to IT within education. Best thing I ever did.