40 and Washed Up

B1gbeard

B1gbeard

B1gbeard

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12 Mar 2008
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1,950
For a number of years now I've been plodding along career wise. It's all my own fault as I have never really been very career minded. I do ok wage wise, about the national average, and I guess the fact that my wife is very driven in her work means I have been able to plod along.

After recently turning 40 though the feeling of total boredom and dispondency in my work and career has hit its height. I'm looking at different options but feel at my age is against me and pretty much everything I would like to do seems to involve a lot of retraining and experience that I would struggle to get.

I was just wondering if anyone else had faced this and how difficult a transition it was.
 
Thankfully I have a supportive wife and so am now in University starting to study towards becoming a teacher. You only have one life, if what you are doing makes you unhappy, try something else.
 
I'm in almost the same boat as you, I hit the big 40 next year. My OH is also quite driven in her choice of career and it's looking very promising for her. I've recently moved from a stressful office (IT) job to working physically on the shop floor. It's fair to say from my point of view if I don't make a big push soon then my own career isn't going anywhere!

Call me lazy if you like but I'm quite happy doing what I'm doing, not having any stress, fewer responsibilities and still earning a fairly decent wage. The question you've got ask yourself is "are you happy plodding along in your current job?" You can decide from your answer whether to stay put or do something about it. Remember though it's never too late to learn new skills. You've got options such as: college / university / home study all full or part time and all of the above will help you in which ever option to decide to take. :)
 
Problem is that if you want to do something else it might be difficult to get a job without training or experience end unfortunately that isn't something you can get quickly.

Or are you willing to get a job that pays a lot less than what you get now?

Then again it's not too late as you still have to work for 25 years or so.
 
B1gbeard said:
For a number of years now I've been plodding along career wise. It's all my own fault as I have never really been very career minded. I do ok wage wise, about the national average, and I guess the fact that my wife is very driven in her work means I have been able to plod along.

After recently turning 40 though the feeling of total boredom and dispondency in my work and career has hit its height. I'm looking at different options but feel at my age is against me and pretty much everything I would like to do seems to involve a lot of retraining and experience that I would struggle to get.

I was just wondering if anyone else had faced this and how difficult a transition it was.
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As has been said... what do you want to do? 40 is getting a a bit to change careers, yes, but its not impossible depending on what you want to do with your life. I'm trying to change at 30, and that seems like enough of a mission at the moment!

Sonea Fifer said:
I'm in almost the same boat as you, I hit the big 40 next year. My OH is also quite driven in her choice of career and it's looking very promising for her. I've recently moved from a stressful office (IT) job to working physically on the shop floor. It's fair to say from my point of view if I don't make a big push soon then my own career isn't going anywhere!

Call me lazy if you like but I'm quite happy doing what I'm doing, not having any stress, fewer responsibilities and still earning a fairly decent wage. The question you've got ask yourself is "are you happy plodding along in your current job?" You can decide from your answer whether to stay put or do something about it. Remember though it's never too late to learn new skills. You've got options such as: college / university / home study all full or part time and all of the above will help you in which ever option to decide to take. :)
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If your OH is very career-driven, and you ditched an office job to work on a shop floor, then that could lead to problems in the future. It doesn't always end well if one person is a good breadwinner, and the other coasts doing more menial work without chance of real advancement... especially if said breadwinner is a female. Human nature looks at the man to provide, and when that stops then it can lead to issues.
 
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I'm currently employed at my local council working on various projects that council's seem to come up with and its not really something that is going anywhere.

I've always been pretty good with computers and very good with people face to face. I have no computer qualifications or IT support experience as such but it has been an avenue I have looked down. There seems very little need for someone with ability and interest but who would realistically need to learn on the job.
 
B1gbeard said:
For a number of years now I've been plodding along career wise. It's all my own fault as I have never really been very career minded. I do ok wage wise, about the national average, and I guess the fact that my wife is very driven in her work means I have been able to plod along.

After recently turning 40 though the feeling of total boredom and dispondency in my work and career has hit its height. I'm looking at different options but feel at my age is against me and pretty much everything I would like to do seems to involve a lot of retraining and experience that I would struggle to get.

I was just wondering if anyone else had faced this and how difficult a transition it was.
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Welcome to the club, I was under the impression from 40 onwards I just plod through the rest of my life hoping for a happy death.
 
B1gbeard said:
I'm currently employed at my local council working on various projects that council's seem to come up with and its not really something that is going anywhere.

I've always been pretty good with computers and very good with people face to face. I have no computer qualifications or IT support experience as such but it has been an avenue I have looked down. There seems very little need for someone with ability and interest but who would realistically need to learn on the job.
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At 40 in my opinion the last thing you should do is go into IT with no qualifications or experience, starting form scratch, unless you want to spend the next 5-10 years doing absolute monkey work for peanuts. People often make the mistake of thinking "well, I like PC's in my free time so i'll go into IT" and it doesn't always work out the way they think it will. IT (especially support) can be mind-numbingly boring and completely thankless... not to mention you are only one step above a cleaner in the minds of the many of the people you deal with.

Find a career were you can use your existing skills and build on them, don't start from scratch.
 
B1gbeard said:
For a number of years now I've been plodding along career wise. It's all my own fault as I have never really been very career minded. I do ok wage wise, about the national average, and I guess the fact that my wife is very driven in her work means I have been able to plod along.

After recently turning 40 though the feeling of total boredom and dispondency in my work and career has hit its height. I'm looking at different options but feel at my age is against me and pretty much everything I would like to do seems to involve a lot of retraining and experience that I would struggle to get.

I was just wondering if anyone else had faced this and how difficult a transition it was.
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I'm 40 myself in a month's time and will be changing job roles about the same time due to not being offered to stay on with the new company who just won the IT contract where I am based. I'm glad to still be in a job to be honest and I think you need to feel the same way even though the daily routine seems mundane.

Your alive, still only 40 and probably in reasonable / good health, got a job and a wife so there are only a few plus points. Someone else would be jealous to have what you have and not everyone is able to progress and earn super wages. Yes, it makes me mad too to see people driving around in big posh cars and buy expensive stuff but it's not all about money and status.

Have you tried refocusing on getting a new hobby, something which you liked doing when you where younger? It will help take the bordom out of everyday life.
 
Richdog said:
At 40 in my opinion the last thing you should do is go into IT with no qualifications or experience, starting form scratch, unless you want to spend the next 5-10 years doing absolute monkey work for peanuts. People often make the mistake of thinking "well, I like PC's in my free time so i'll go into IT" and it doesn't always work out the way they think it will. IT (especially support) can be mind-numbingly boring and completely thankless... not to mention you are only one step above a cleaner in the minds of the many of the people you deal with.

Find a career were you can use your existing skills and build on them, don't start from scratch.
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Cheers chief thats pretty solid advice.

I completely understand where you are coming from regarding IT. I would effectively be coming in at the bottom and I'm not sure that would be a good thing. You are absolutely right in that I am thinking that it wouldn't be so bad turning a hobby into a job. I'm sure there are enough horror stories out there of computer enthusiasts that thought exactly the same thing.
 
wnb said:
Jesus your 40! time to get measured for a coffin! Get a grip man.
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Just to pick you up on this pal.

I'm specifically talking about work, not life in general, and I think anyone who has looked at a career change at a certain age realises that it is much tougher. Especially when by my age, you will most likely have kids and a mortgage.

Anyway it's certainly no sob story. Just looking for options and to hear from people who have been through similar.
 
cyber69 said:
I'm 40 myself in a month's time and will be changing job roles about the same time due to not being offered to stay on with the new company who just won the IT contract where I am based. I'm glad to still be in a job to be honest and I think you need to feel the same way even though the daily routine seems mundane.

Your alive, still only 40 and probably in reasonable / good health, got a job and a wife so there are only a few plus points. Someone else would be jealous to have what you have and not everyone is able to progress and earn super wages. Yes, it makes me mad too to see people driving around in big posh cars and buy expensive stuff but it's not all about money and status.

Have you tried refocusing on getting a new hobby, something which you liked doing when you where younger? It will help take the bordom out of everyday life.
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Yeah I know what you mean. I have little to complain about outside of work and feel fortunate to be working in the current environment.

I just feel that I need a change and time is running out. Ultimately I need to get off my arse. ;)
 
B1gbeard said:
Just to pick you up on this pal.
Anyway it's certainly no sob story. Just looking for options and to hear from people who have been through similar.
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I put myself through university and teacher training post 40's and was lucky to get a job. It is a big shift, lots of sacrifices and the outcome is uncertain.

Bad idea at the moment. Unless you are thinking of a small change in what you are doing rather than a complete career change.
 
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