Is 47 too old for a career change

doobie01

I am 41 & thinking of a career change, the way I see it, is that if I don't change now, then I'll still be working a 40+hr week at 65, or maybe even 70.

Go for :-) :-) :-)

sharpy2010

I'm 37, and I've accepted that my best chances of acheiving high in life are long behind me by now.

littleminx_2

I re-trained as a teaching assistant last year at the age of 46, i really enjoyed it and wished i had done it sooner. Only trouble is i cannot find work, as the teachers at the school where i trained are now retired, so i cannot get any references. I feel so disheatened about it but there is no way i will find employment in a school without refs

Tryingagainandagain

I am planning a career change at age 57.

I hope it's not too old - but as it will result in my own small business I won't have to consider potential ageist employers and my customers won't know or care how old I am.

slenderkitten

i would say go for it, its one of those jobs where you could go into peoples homes or they come to your home to do their hair. At least once you start at a hair dresser and they get to know you.

Reggie_Rebel

Due to redundancy I've had a slight career change at 46, no issues at all. Actually part of me getting the job was the extra life experience I accumulated over the years

leftieM

Is it too old? I doubt it, but I know that if you don't do it you will look back in 5 years and think "I wish I'd done it then". Really, you have nothing to lose.

I retrained as a teacher at 37 and got a permanent job aged 40, beating scores of younger candidates. I love my job and, although it's painful being paid the same as a 22 year old, I have never felt so fulfilled by a job. I never knew it was possible!

paddyrg

Some very supportive words here, very 'can do', but remember the realities of hairdressing mean on your feet all day, having to build a client list, working with harsh chemicals, (possibly) having to work alongside whippersnappers (over 40 there's not a lot of common conversational ground with a 16-yr-old) in whichever salon you can get a chair at, etc.

I don't want to discourage you from following a dream, just want to make sure you're going into it for the right reasons... If you always wanted to cut and style hair for older ladies (older guys go to barbers, younger ones and younger girls to the younger stylists) then don't hold back! Go right for it! If however it is more an escape from the humdrum of your current life, be careful you're not in a greener grass situation.

Things can easily appear more glamorous/easy/fun when you see them from the outside than from the inside - take the world of tv/movies for instance. Everyone wants to be on set when you're shooting a scene - yet it is the most life-sapping, crushingly dull thing to do once you're into the reality of 12-14h days etc., etc. Make sure if you're planning on actually jumping into hairdressing and don't mind interning at the backwash for a few quid a day that you try it out first, get some real experience of what your life would be like if you go down that route.

BUT I don't want to discourage you from learning something you've always wanted to learn, or from having a change of pace or direction! I've jumped about into different industries whenever I get too bored, and the fun of learning a whole new skill and experience is often worth it alone. Just don't pin all your hopes and dreams onto a specific job making other problems (boredom, money, idiot boss, rubbish colleagues, whatever) go away go away - instead do the training because you enjoy it and see if you still enjoy it at the end. Expectations set up disappointments, where enjoying the journey and stirring up opportunities leads to new chances!