Embarking on a new career

[fancyboot]

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

[+ FrankR]

43 minutes ago, fancyboot said:

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

Have you considered changing the optics on your current role in education? Become a consultant for a tutoring firm or build out a tutoring client base. Learn to love teaching again, by working with individuals. Help kids with college applications, their application essays etc. Better hours, more money and it utilizes your existing knowledge base… A complete change to something brand new seems daunting. Just my 2c. 

[fancyboot]

Thank you. Good food for thought. 

[+ sniper]

Insurance companies generally train people and take career changers in a variety of positions. 

[fancyboot]

5 minutes ago, sniper said:

Insurance companies generally train people and take career changers in a variety of positions. 

Are these usually sales positions? Thanks for the advice 

[+ sniper]

16 hours ago, fancyboot said:

Are these usually sales positions? Thanks for the advice 

No they have tons of boring desk jobs, underwriting, policy language, etc. Actuarial I would not recommend this late in career because there is a set of exams that deternines your career progress/$$$$ and even if you pass them quickly,  the payoff time you have left in your career is short.

[BuffaloKyle]

On 8/30/2024 at 11:30 PM, fancyboot said:

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

Maybe look into being a tax preparer? I think that'd be good to look into because even when you retire you could always work for just two or three months then at tax time itself and make some nice extra money.

[handiacefailure]

On 9/1/2024 at 12:41 AM, BuffaloKyle said:

Maybe look into being a tax preparer? I think that'd be good to look into because even when you retire you could always work for just two or three months then at tax time itself and make some nice extra money.

As a CPA, I can tell you most tax preparers don't make much and it's pretty seasonal, but may do it part time after I retire.

Most well paid tax professionals are CPAs and/or lawyers and the CPA exam now requires five years of college.

I think intuit discriminates against people over 40.   I applied for a part time season job with turbotax figuring I could do it for a little side income when I travel and had a three minute screeinging interview and never heard back, even though I'm a CPA with a PTIN.   A friend of mine that is retired and is a CPA and was manager of the tax department for a large local firm had the same results.   But a friends daughter who just graduated from college with no real experience and not a a CPA or no PTIN got hired.   Just weird they didn't even give my friend or myself the opportunity to take the online exam at least.   

[fancyboot]

30 minutes ago, handiacefailure said:

As a CPA, I can tell you most tax preparers don't make much and it's pretty seasonal, but may do it part time after I retire.

Most well paid tax professionals are CPAs and/or lawyers and the CPA exam now requires five years of college.

I think intuit discriminates against people over 40.   I applied for a part time season job with turbotax figuring I could do it for a little side income when I travel and had a three minute screeinging interview and never heard back, even though I'm a CPA with a PTIN.   A friend of mine that is retired and is a CPA and was manager of the tax department for a large local firm had the same results.   But a friends daughter who just graduated from college with no real experience and not a a CPA or no PTIN got hired.   Just weird they didn't even give my friend or myself the opportunity to take the online exam at least.   

That sounds suspicious.  I’m sorry to hear that happened to you and your friend.  Age discrimination happens more often than we think.   I’d love to get back into accounting but I don’t want to do all the classes.  Sometimes I think I picked the wrong career path.  Thanks for your insight. 

[ZackZack]

On 8/30/2024 at 8:30 PM, fancyboot said:

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

How much do you want to work? How many hours a week?

[fancyboot]

32 minutes ago, ZackZack said:

How much do you want to work? How many hours a week?

I’m good with 40 hours. 

[Redwine56]

On 9/3/2024 at 1:10 PM, fancyboot said:

That sounds suspicious.  I’m sorry to hear that happened to you and your friend.  Age discrimination happens more often than we think.   I’d love to get back into accounting but I don’t want to do all the classes.  Sometimes I think I picked the wrong career path.  Thanks for your insight. 

No, you did not choose the wrong career path.  A job in education is an important one.  With the right skillset and personality, a teacher's job can be rewarding and impactful.  You also have great benefits, a pension and can usually take early retirement if financially able to do so.  Many teachers are able to have side gigs due to the hours worked and summers off.   You should not have to reinvent the wheel at this point in your life.  I often see jobs for training in the private sector.  If you play your cards right, with 10 years of employment elsewhere, you may be able to pick up another pension when you  retire.  Concentrate on your skillset and transfer those skills elsewhere.  You should definitely have other opportunities.  Good luck to you!

[+ sam.fitzpatrick]

With your background in education, have you considered entering the corporate world in a Learning and Development role?  Many corporations have a need for those with backgrounds in education to assist with internal training and course design.  These positions often do not need to have expertise in the industry to be strong contributors. 

I just worked a project in banking where the online training for our subject area was completely redesigned as part of a project to implement changes to comply with new regulatory requirements.  The staff member on our L&D team designed the course and our team's subject matter experts provided input to ensure the accuracy of the content.  Trainee's feedback was that the training was much better than the former training entirely designed by the subject matter experts.  

[fancyboot]

I’ve toyed with this idea. But I’ve never seriously pursued it.  Thanks for the advice. It’s worth looking into! 

[+ BOZO T CLOWN]

On 8/30/2024 at 11:30 PM, fancyboot said:

 Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

Yes. 

• Walmart Greeter
• Giving out samples at Costco
• Lunch Lady
• School Crossing Guard

BTC

Edited September 9, 2024 by BOZO T CLOWN

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

3 hours ago, BOZO T CLOWN said:

Yes. 

• Walmart Greeter
• Giving out samples at Costco
• Lunch Lady
• School Crossing Guard

BTC

I would also like to be a museum docent and private math tutor when I retire from my current career.

[fancyboot]

Being a docent sounds like a great choice. I would enjoy that.  Being a private math tutor could be quite lucrative. 

[Redwine56]

On 9/9/2024 at 10:44 PM, fancyboot said:

Being a docent sounds like a great choice. I would enjoy that.  Being a private math tutor could be quite lucrative. 

There you go, my friend.  Pursue your dreams!  

[Rudynate]

On 9/9/2024 at 7:44 PM, fancyboot said:

Being a docent sounds like a great choice. I would enjoy that.  Being a private math tutor could be quite lucrative. 

Docents are almost always volunteers.  Years ago, I went to an orientation for the docent training program at the Marine Mammal Center in Marin.  I was too busy to do the program at the time.  But, now, actually, it looks like a possibility.

[Rudynate]

On 9/3/2024 at 9:37 AM, handiacefailure said:

As a CPA, I can tell you most tax preparers don't make much and it's pretty seasonal, but may do it part time after I retire.

Most well paid tax professionals are CPAs and/or lawyers and the CPA exam now requires five years of college.

I think intuit discriminates against people over 40.   I applied for a part time season job with turbotax figuring I could do it for a little side income when I travel and had a three minute screeinging interview and never heard back, even though I'm a CPA with a PTIN.   A friend of mine that is retired and is a CPA and was manager of the tax department for a large local firm had the same results.   But a friends daughter who just graduated from college with no real experience and not a a CPA or no PTIN got hired.   Just weird they didn't even give my friend or myself the opportunity to take the online exam at least.   

Its the money, honey.  They would have to pay somebody as well-qualified as  you a lot more than the new graduate - the "overqualified" trap.  And of course, people who are overqualified are usually older than the new graduates.

[Rudynate]

On 8/30/2024 at 8:30 PM, fancyboot said:

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

Most of my career has been in biotech and medical devices.  I always thought product managers had one of the best jobs in the company - its a key position, they're involved in everything, their opinion really matters in the their area, they travel a lot, stay in cushy hotels, go to all the important industry events, work closely with the IP attorneys. 

[Rudynate]

On 9/3/2024 at 9:37 AM, handiacefailure said:

As a CPA, I can tell you most tax preparers don't make much and it's pretty seasonal, but may do it part time after I retire.

Most well paid tax professionals are CPAs and/or lawyers and the CPA exam now requires five years of college.

I think intuit discriminates against people over 40.   I applied for a part time season job with turbotax figuring I could do it for a little side income when I travel and had a three minute screeinging interview and never heard back, even though I'm a CPA with a PTIN.   A friend of mine that is retired and is a CPA and was manager of the tax department for a large local firm had the same results.   But a friends daughter who just graduated from college with no real experience and not a a CPA or no PTIN got hired.   Just weird they didn't even give my friend or myself the opportunity to take the online exam at least.   

Im an IP attorney. During the financial crisis, my business pretty much dried up.  I took a course in tax preparation and was going to get the enrolled agent certification to represent people in tax court, but then I started making money in IP again.

[+ sync]

On 8/30/2024 at 11:30 PM, fancyboot said:

I’m not sure if this is the right place for this. 
 

I have 10 years left to work before retiring. I’m looking for a career change, though, as I’m tired of my job in education.  I don’t want to do another graduate degree. Did that two times. 😝 I don’t really want to do a software boot camp either  I like to write, research, do financial stuff  

Are there any careers/jobs that are easier to break into at a later age?  
 

Considering your liking to write, research, and financials perhaps market research would be an option of interest.

 

 

 

 

 

[+ ApexNomad]

First, congratulations on recognizing that you’re ready for something new—that’s half the battle! There are definitely fulfilling career options that won’t require another degree or a total reboot.

Given your interest in writing, research, and financial matters, here are a few paths to consider:

    1.    Freelance Writing/Editing: With your experience and writing skills, there’s a market for freelance writers, editors, or content creators in various fields. You could write for educational platforms, finance blogs, or even develop your own niche.
    2.    Grant Writing: This combines research and writing, and it’s a field where organizations are always in need of skilled writers to help secure funding. Non-profits and educational institutions especially value people with backgrounds in education.
    3.    Financial Coaching or Consulting: If you enjoy working with numbers, you might explore financial coaching. Many people need help with budgeting, saving, and understanding investments, and your background in education could be a great asset in making complex financial topics easy to understand.
    4.    Project Management: Many industries need project managers, and your experience in education means you’re probably already great at organizing, planning, and overseeing projects. Certification programs like PMP (Project Management Professional) are available, but they’re far less intensive than another degree.
    5.    Research Analyst: Whether it’s in market research, finance, or education, research analysts are needed to collect and interpret data. Your ability to dig into information and present clear findings could open doors in this area.

Since you’re not looking to do another degree or a software boot camp, these options provide opportunities for growth with your existing skills. The key is to leverage your experience and strengths, while targeting fields that value life experience and perspective.

Good luck on your new adventure!