46 years old and need a new career

Rob1878

I have worked for my employer (HM Revenue & Customs - please don't hate me!) for 25 years. I am now 46. In November 2012 I changed roles and almost straight away knew I had made a mistake. I have tried to give it time but after 8 months my moods were so low that I was crying at work and ended up seeing my GP and was recommended counselling (which hasn't really helped).

I need to change my job/career (I think anyway). My current role involves going out to businesses, looking for mistakes in their payroll and then issuing tax liabilities, penalties & interest. As you might imagine we are about as popular as a fart in a spacesuit when we arrive for these visits. I intensely dislike the whole process of punishing these businesses for what are often genuine mistakes.

Without being too idealistic I would prefer to do something in a more caring or educational role, maybe work for a charity (like Shelter or the Prince's Trust perhaps). A lot of the jobs I think I would enjoy or apply for require additional qualifications which would mean studying (which I am OK with) but I need to be earning as well.

Just wondered if anyone out there has any practical advice about changing careers or any success stories from people in similar situations. I know there is no magic wand for this kind of thing, thanks for reading and appreciate any input.

Dunroamin

What qualifications do you have and what sort of salary do you need to earn in a new career?

Acc72

Dunroamin wrote: »

What qualifications do you have and what sort of salary do you need to earn in a new career?

Also, what commitments / liabilities (eg. mortgage, loans etc.) do you have ?

After 25 years are you eligible for a redundancy package ? (would this clear your commitments) ?

Do you have any family commitments - eg. private school fees, University fees etc. - how long do they last ?

TrickyDicky101

Would you consider working in a payroll/finance function within a charity? You have valuable skills and experience from your time at HMRC and could usefully utilise these in another organisation.

Laurajo_2

If charity work isn't an option, could you move into practice? I know that practices often value workers who have experience with hmrc, in fact several tax workers in our firm started are ex revenue.

Rob1878

Thanks for all the replies.

My qualifications are not great, I have a HNC in Business and Finance which I got through part-time study, a GNVQ Advanced in Business and Finance again through part-time study and a couple of O levels in English Language and Economics. I reckon I could drop to around £16k p/a and get by, currently I earn £22k p/a.

As for financial commitments me and my partner have a mortgage but that's it no other loans or fees. HMRC do occassionally offer severance packages but only if you are in a location or business stream that is regarded as isolated or redundant (which I am not) and they tend to be offered to people over 55.

That's an excellent idea TrickyDicky101, a friend has also suggested the same thing.

Accountancy is something I would consider, I was thinking of sending my CV to local accountants in fact. I cannot ignore the fact that I have 25 years of experience in tax and a fair number of people I used to work have moved to accountants.

marybelle01

There are a whole load of other things you are forgetting about giving up if you leave HMRC. Stopping your pension at a crucial point - the next few years will make a big difference to what you end up with. Occupational sick pay. Flexible working. Many of these things are not offered, or much more limited in other fields of employment.


Why not first go through your employer and see what might be possible? Redeployment, a change to other work, occupational health support... You have a large employer who has loads of resources which they are expected to use to support their employees. Before you walk away from a job that has lots of benefits for one that might be lower paid, less secure (and definitely less secure for the first two years - you will have no employment protection), and which you may find that you hate just as much, I'd suggest you exhaust every possible alternative in your current employment.

Voyager2002

The obvious thing to try: tell your manager how you feel, and ask about moving back into your old role, or about other things you could do.

The pension issue is important: I THINK (but check this) that you could move to another Civil Service position without losing any pension rights. There are loads of vacancies across the country that would use your skills: Google "Civil Service jobs" to find the website listing vacancies; register; then just apply for anything that interests you.

You might also work for a bank, probably on the business banking side. Do be sure to negotiate hard so that you get a package including pension rights at least as good as those you would be giving up.

Working for a charity sounds attractive, but would mean a significant sacrifice in terms of pay and conditions as well as job security. Doing a bit of voluntary work for a local charity might well make more sense.

noelphobic

I'm reading this thread with interest. I am 54 and left my banking job in June after 23 years. I recently completed an Open University degree in Health and Social Care. I am hoping to find some kind of work in the third sector but haven't started actively looking yet. I was on a similar salary to the OP and know I will have to drop that a lot, even if I do find a job.

I am currently doing voluntary work for the Alzheimer's Society and for a local Food Bank. I am also going to be starting some voluntary work with Health Watch soon. If you can fit in some voluntary work then I am sure it would be a great help when seeking alternative employment - I appreciate that's not always easy when working full time though!

I was very lucky in that I got a good redundancy package when I left work. I was unhappy at work but don't think I would have had the bottle to leave otherwise!

Not trying to hijack the thread, just seem to have lots in common with the predicament!

Nebulous2

I posted to somebody else who was looking for a change in career a while ago. https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/63944121#Comment_63944121

Very different circumstances, but my advice would remain the same, there is more chance of succeeding if you go for something, like working for an accountancy firm, which is close to what you already do.

I've spent pretty much all my adult life working in care, except for a very miserable year as a financial adviser. I was obsessed with personal finance, read a lot about it, was very knowledgeable and thought I knew what I was doing, but I was remarkably glad to get out and back to care.

I've worked for a charity and recruited hundreds of people to care posts, but many of them who were making big changes didn't make it either. Basic grade care posts are always available. They generally mean working shifts and you need to have the right people skills and values to enjoy it and make an impact, but there are qualifications and career options available. You need to weigh it up carefully though if that is of any interest and trying a relief contract with an occasional weekend shift in addition to your job would let you dip your toe in without burning your bridges - if that isn't mixing too many metaphors!

Triker

I would suggest that you look at the best type of training and qualifications that would suit a professional caring role and then aim to start them.

Use the time in your current role to fund this future training, this is exactly what I did, having left my role for something that suits me.

However I had to be realistic and realised I required money for future training. Reframing it in my head that this was a means to an end helped enormously. When you feel trapped it feels like the walls are closing in on you, when you have made your mind up that by a certain date you are leaving it just feels better.

Is there any call for agency work in the type of work your doing now, this is also something I've been doing, pays very well fro my profession but again I see it as nothing else but a means to an end.

Good luck.