Career change

[Dicko]

Has anyone here changed their career after 40+?

I've been doing contracting work for Pharma companies for the last 15 odd years and enjoy what I do, However my last contract finished earlier this year and the work has really dried up. A lot of work is now outsourced to places like India and places like LinkedIn that are normally full of agents bugging me for roles when I didnt need them are now completely dead!

It's been a good few months now and I'm starting to wonder what else I could do? Which is difficult when you have been doing the same thing for so long!

I've got some good investments on the side and I'm not struggling (not yet anyway!) and I really just need to find something for the next couple of years max, Preferably something I can do from my home office.

I was wondering if anyone else here has had to make a complete career change?

 

[johnola]

all industries wax and wane. Would you consider doing some study and/or travel whilst you wait for the tide to turn?

 

[Dicko]

all industries wax and wane. Would you consider doing some study and/or travel whilst you wait for the tide to turn?

Had plenty of family time and a few trips recently, Time to get back to work I think. I'd be happy to train up or learn something new, or even start from scratch and learn the ropes in a new role etc., Only issue is it would need to be something that doesn't take too long as I don't really want to spend a huge amount of time like starting another a degree or anything at this point.

I'm still networking and contacting old colleagues to look for new contracts and would still prefer to wait for something.. But I can tell the Mrs is getting twitchy and to be honest it's only sensible I start looking around for a Plan B

 

[johnola]

Had plenty of family time and a few trips recently, Time to get back to work I think. I'd be happy to train up or learn something new, or even start from scratch and learn the ropes in a new role etc., Only issue is it would need to be something that doesn't take too long as I don't really want to spend a huge amount of time like starting another a degree or anything at this point.

I'm still networking and contacting old colleagues to look for new contracts and would still prefer to wait for something.. But I can tell the Mrs is getting twitchy and to be honest it's only sensible I start looking around for a Plan B

If you are looking for unskilled work in your forties not even halfway through your working life then you are probably unique!

 

[Dicko]

If you are looking for unskilled work in your forties not even halfway through your working life then you are probably unique!

Haha not unskilled, Id be interesting in doing a course of some kind to get a foot into a new industry. I'm just not looking to spend years to completely retrain. I understand it limits my options though you are right.

I might need to hit up Chich for a B&Q referral!

 

[Bullet]

Haha not unskilled, Id be interesting in doing a course of some kind to get a foot into a new industry. I'm just not looking to spend years to completely retrain. I understand it limits my options though you are right.

I might need to hit up Chich for a B&Q referral!

You could start a tea and coffee truck, or a Boba truck or something. People pay a lot of money for hot water.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

Has anyone here changed their career after 40+?

I've been doing contracting work for Pharma companies for the last 15 odd years and enjoy what I do, However my last contract finished earlier this year and the work has really dried up. A lot of work is now outsourced to places like India and places like LinkedIn that are normally full of agents bugging me for roles when I didnt need them are now completely dead!

It's been a good few months now and I'm starting to wonder what else I could do? Which is difficult when you have been doing the same thing for so long!

I've got some good investments on the side and I'm not struggling (not yet anyway!) and I really just need to find something for the next couple of years max, Preferably something I can do from my home office.

I was wondering if anyone else here has had to make a complete career change?

What were you doing when contracting? Project Management? Sales? Other? Hard to suggest an alternative without knowing what it would be an alternative to.
I’m retiring in a few months from the same industry I’ve been in for nearly 30 years. I’d be so outside my comfort zone trying something new that I admire anyone willing to try it.