Have any of you changed careers later in life
#1
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Have any of you changed careers later in life
Have any of you changed your careers once you were already established in one profession?
How hard was it?
To find a new job with little experience?
To take a pay cut?
Etc.
THanks
How hard was it?
To find a new job with little experience?
To take a pay cut?
Etc.
THanks
#2
DVD Talk Limited Edition
I've been at the same low pay, dead end job for 28 years. I would leave in a second for a better job. I don't care if it's removing peanuts from turds if the pay is better.
#3
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Hmmm, I don't even know if I qualify as being later in life.
But I would suspect it is scary. Go find a niche and be self employed. You will never get ahead working to make someone else money.
But I would suspect it is scary. Go find a niche and be self employed. You will never get ahead working to make someone else money.
#4
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I'm still looking for something to call a "career". Right now, I work for a paycheck (and to set a good example for the kids....).
I have been a stockbroker, a counselor, and my current incarnation, a WAN telecom engineer.
I have been a stockbroker, a counselor, and my current incarnation, a WAN telecom engineer.
#5
DVD Talk Legend
I'm in the process of a career change.
I was an account coordinator in a Graphic design firm and just working there for a paycheck. Money was good enough but I hate it going to work everyday. That's hate with a capital H.
I decided to look around for other careers or jobs and find something that I would like and be useful at. It took me two years to figure it out but this September, I started Teacher's college and hope to get a job as a High School Teacher in September of 2006.
I was an account coordinator in a Graphic design firm and just working there for a paycheck. Money was good enough but I hate it going to work everyday. That's hate with a capital H.
I decided to look around for other careers or jobs and find something that I would like and be useful at. It took me two years to figure it out but this September, I started Teacher's college and hope to get a job as a High School Teacher in September of 2006.
#7
DVD Talk Godfather
Originally Posted by Big Quasimodo
I'm still looking for something to call a "career". Right now, I work for a paycheck
I can't understand why I can't figure what I want to do. I just started a second job that I'm already hating and at 35 it's pretty depressing to realize one hasn't even started living life yet. Thank God I don't have a wife and kids.
Just shoot me now....
Last edited by Giantrobo; 10-01-05 at 09:52 AM.
#9
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by kvrdave
Hmmm, I don't even know if I qualify as being later in life.
But I would suspect it is scary. Go find a niche and be self employed. You will never get ahead working to make someone else money.
But I would suspect it is scary. Go find a niche and be self employed. You will never get ahead working to make someone else money.
I've known several people who were self-employed who were struggling. I've known several people who've worked for someone else who did really well.
#11
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by Kube
Have any of you changed your careers once you were already established in one profession?
How hard was it?
To find a new job with little experience?
To take a pay cut?
Etc.
THanks
How hard was it?
To find a new job with little experience?
To take a pay cut?
Etc.
THanks
Staying in a job you hate is too stressful especially when there are lots of opportunities out there.
#12
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by DodgingCars
Not really true. Being self-employed doesn't guarantee you anything better than you'd get working for someone else. Many people fail at their attempts of self-employment.


I think I have worked 7 days a week twice in the last 12 years. I have 400 hours of accumulated time off and I took 4 weeks vacation since Feb 05

I've known several people who were self-employed who were struggling. I've known several people who've worked for someone else who did really well.
You have to define "doing well". I know people all over the board in both cases. Point being, more depends on the person and less depends on the employment situation they are in.
#13
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by 4KRG
But these people will never be extremely wealthy working for someone else their entire life UNLESS they also invest in the stock market/real estate or eventually own part of the company they work for (the later of the two is my case, I work for someone else, but I own private stock that has done better over 10 years than any other stock/mutual fund I have owned)
You have to define "doing well". I know people all over the board in both cases. Point being, more depends on the person and less depends on the employment situation they are in.
You have to define "doing well". I know people all over the board in both cases. Point being, more depends on the person and less depends on the employment situation they are in.
Is one a good businessman and the other not? Is it that simple? I don't know. But, I think not everyone has what it takes (which you already said). I haven't figured out if I have what it takes or not. I like the security of working for someone else. If I lose my job, I simply go somewhere else.
#14
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I've changed careers once so far (polar opposite jobs), and it was scary for me....and I'm still in my 20's. I went from a very successful job that I hated, to the life as a student again...which has its moments. If I had a family, I never would have made the jump....though I probably would have made a lateral move to a less stressful situation.
You only have 1 life, so make the best of it.
Ultimately I made my choice based on freedom (working for myself), and discounting the role money will play in my life. (It will take me at least 5-6 years to get back to the kind of money I would have made in my previous job.)
You only have 1 life, so make the best of it.
Ultimately I made my choice based on freedom (working for myself), and discounting the role money will play in my life. (It will take me at least 5-6 years to get back to the kind of money I would have made in my previous job.)
#15
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Originally Posted by 4KRG
I work for someone else
I see my friends that are in business for themselves (doing similar to what I do) working 7 days a week, not being able to take vacation or sick days as needed, etc, etc. I DON'T WANT TO WORK THAT HARD 


However, it also looks like it will afford me the ability to retire by age 50 with more disposable income than I currently have. Definately some trade offs. I have no desire to be wealthy, but I also want to be able to do things like remodel my kitchen, buy a car, etc. without having to get a loan or save for years to do it.