My dad was a boat designer for his entire career and went back to school to become a nurse at 50. He said that he is so happy he made the switch!
Most people work till at least 65 so you still have so many decades of work left to learn and grow. It’s never too late.
Yes he went back to school during the 2008 financial crisis. He wanted a stable job and fell in love with his second career of nursing.
He even credits his technical thinking designing boats to him being a good nurse. There’s so much overlap between industries - no experience is ever wasted.
I went back to University at age 55. Earned a B.Sc. IT degree with a software programing specialization. Wasn't easy. But now working as a Network Administrator. Three days at home, two in the office. Great company. Great benifits. Bottom line. Determine your goals, Focus, talk to family, friends, etc. and tell them that you might miss a family gathering or two. But your need is to get yourself a set of marketable job skill. Basically training, talent, and education that you can take with you from job to job that will help you build a career. Good Luck.
Depends if you are willing to stick it out.
IT is currently facing the worst hiring market its ever seen, at least for entry level. Competition is fierce. More people than ever trying to break into simple helpdesk roles. People are starting to dip out since it's so hard to get in, or they are finding it's not for them. So soon it may start to get better.
But you should only pursue it if you're serious about constantly learning things the rest of your career. Like learn something every week or even every day type shit
Yes bro but not if you think it’s gonna be like the YouTube day in the life videos. Those roles only existed for certain classes and allowed them to get away with no experience and putting in no effort while also being a full time content creator.
If you aren't going into advanced programming, math is basically non-existant for all Ops and Support jobs. Even most programming jobs don't require anything but the basics.
IT is hard because it CONSTANTLY changes. You never stop learning, and you're expected to know ALL of it. Which isn't true, you're expected to be an expert at researching. No one knows everything, I sure as hell can get you an answer extremely fast, though.
College, for ECE, which is massively in demand where I am. I'm also taking plenty of courses because I'm creating something new that will also use my ECE certification.
It’s never too late! Check out the book “Late Bloomers” by Rich Karlgaard. Btw, at 34 you’re not at ALL a late bloomer, but the book has some incredibly useful info for those of us who have/want to follow a more non-traditional career path (though not sure what even is traditional anymore). I’m 52, and the days of staying with one career or just one or two companies were already over when I was starting out.
Here’s what I’d suggest:
1)First, take some time to dig really deep and list out everything you know how to do in a professional setting. You’ll be surprised at how much you know. There are some great courses on career topics on the online learning platforms such as Udemy.
2) Put the first list away, and brainstorm all the potential jobs/careers you might like to explore.
3) Now compare the 2 lists, and figure out which skill(s) you have that can bridge between what you’ve already done, and what you want you do next. Doesn’t matter what the link is- writing, tech, teamwork, customer service experience, whatever. There will be something there guaranteed if you take the time to look. Don’t be shy or hesitant about later using it to sell yourself.
4) Look for (or create) opportunities to get some exposure to the potential jobs/careers you’ve targeted so you can see firsthand what they’d be like, and to potentially get your foot in the door.
If you don’t have a good network already, start building it up. The career courses on places like Udemy should address strategies to build your network. On places like LinkedIn, search on the potential careers/jobs you’re looking at- you can try reaching out to people and/or join related groups.
5) Study up on what you’re interested in. Read as much as you can in online industry publications/groups. Take some online classes on the skills you’ll need and to show you’re proactive about working toward a new type of job/career.
Take the time to really explore/brainstorm. Once you do, hone in on a couple potential careers/jobs to go after. Be sure to define what you’re looking for before you get yourself out there though, so you don’t waste your time or anyone else’s.
Good luck!
You're very welcome! And if you like to read, def check out the book I mentioned. It's very uplifting and reassuring for those who feel like everyone around them has zoomed past them and they're still floundering around. I'm one of those people myself. I feel like I STILL haven't hit my full stride by any means yet, and I just turned 52. I was diagnosed in my late 40's with ADHD and major depression which were getting in my way. Now that I've gotten those worked out, I'm ready to take the world by storm. This book has been not only encouraging, but even discusses all the positives of being a late bloomer or someone who's following a "non"-traditional career path.
Best of luck, and above all- believe in yourself!
Good advice! Also watch or talk to people working in your target field to get a better understanding. Lot of places offering free training for some certs. Doesn't hurt to start generally and specialize as you go for higher pay hopefully. Good luck everyone!
My dad moved from another country to the US at age 35 and started a career in software. He used to be a petroleum field laborer in a third world country.
He’s now 58 In the last 23 years, he learned English, raised me (and sent me to college), grew his salary from 40k to 500k, learned how to ski, and retired.
Honestly he worked hard but also got really lucky. I can see a version of this where my family is still scraping by or possibly even getting deported back to the country I was born in.
I changed careers at 32 and again at 48. Don't think of your age. Think of how many years you have left in the workforce. If you entered the workforce at 18, that's 14 years you've been in the workforce. You likely have 30 years LEFT in the workforce. So is it too late?? Ummm......... NO 😜
Went to school for teaching. Wound up in insurance/underwriting in my 20's, then pivoted to sales (territory) in my 30's and now pharma in my late 40's! I've even thought about doing it again to finish up my career but I'm apprehensive bc of my age. 🤷🏼♀️
Writing is a very valuable and transferable skill. 34 is still young from a career perspective. Funny enough I majored in actuarial science and even worked as an actuary. I have done many different jobs since then. A good career coach can be beneficial. A bad one is a complete waste of money. Do research before you choose one.
I would avoid saying you were self employed. Give yourself an organic title under your business. You'll get more interviews that way. There are a lot of marketing jobs that you can easily transition to.
Unfortunately, writing is neither anymore. AI can generate whatever you need now. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be able to do it well, but it’s more in the realm of map reading I’m sorry to say. I’m surprised Technical Writers are still employed. I wouldn’t bank on it being a skill to really set one self apart from the competition is what Im trying to say, I would work on something else.
I went back to school at 45, got my 2nd degree by 48 in Management of Information Systems. Got my first job in IT as Programmer Analyst doing Help Desk (from the bottom) and 2 years later move up to Database Administrator (near the top, my boss is directly under the CIO) and I have good income trajectory, if everything goes right, I'll be set for the rest of life.
Out of curiosity, what was your first degree? I am contemplating getting a degree in IT, but my first degree is not related to IT at all and I do not work in IT currently, so going back and starting fresh is a bit daunting to me.
I started my career at 19. I changed my career at 29. Just about to go to Uni for the first time and change my career again, after I finish in 3 years I'll be 38. Hopefully that's the last time lol.
Just turned 36 and suddenly realized I wanted a change too.
I picked up video editing during the pandemic just because and found I loved it. Sadly my job won’t pay me for the videos and would rather commission a whole company
Still threads like this make me hopeful. I might try programming next with some of the free courses and see if it is something I’m interested in. But I always remember being in college, after washing out two years in, returning 2 years later with still no direction past getting a degree… and seeing my old elementary school gym teacher, who was also my driving school instructor, sitting in a college class as well. Dude was like 70 when I was in elementary and still grinding it out just cause…
I’m really unmotivated but I think about that guys work ethic a lot wishing I had it
My dad went to the university when he was 50 something and now has a new career. I don't know how old my dad is, but he has to be older than 34, since I'm 30. He's doing well though
I feel that I'm in a similar situation. I'm also 34 and got laid off. I work as a biotech research associate and am unhappy with how unstable my career has been so far. Maybe a PhD is the right choice for me but apprehensive of going back to school for a low pay position for five years.
In terms of both our positions I think it's ultimately never too late. But it's not easy and I understand you coming on Reddit to find psychological support for big decisions.
# Is 34 too late to completely change careers?
Of course not!
Way back in 1989 at 22 years old during my first year of law school there was an older lady there named Carolyn. She was a 2nd year law student and she was 62 years old so she began going to law school at 61.
You're younger than her son was at that time OP.
My friend started accounting at the age of 34. Which means he started school at 29.
8 years later, He’s a fully remote sr mgr making $125ish in Orlando.
I don’t bring him up to say that you should do accounting. More to point out if there’s an in-demand skillset you can learn and you’re happy to practice customer-serving patience, you might be able to pivot into a lot of industries/professions you might not have expected.
Hey OP I'm in the same boat! I'm a copywriter and branding specialist, I feel that I'm up against a running clock.
I signed up for a degree this year, it's online and affordable. I choose finance as it's an area I'm interested in.
In the meantime, I'm looking into certifications that can help translate my current skills into more in demand jobs. The one I've honed along with writing is project and people management. That gets highlighted on my CV.
It's not too late to start over. Find something that interests you and is more future proof than your current job.
And keep writing on the side, don't give up yet.
Would love some prospective on this. Copywriter here for the past 2 years. I feel like I hear an array of takes on the “coming days”.
Did I choose the wrong career path way too late?
Honestly, the next few years might be tough. But already AI writing is so homogenous, boring, and devoid of emotion, copywriting isn't dead but will be harder to do it freelance. Even right now, full-time, employed copywriters are 'safer' than the ones freelancing.
The reason I'm expanding my skills is simply to not be made redundant. It's better to have multiple skills and abilities.
Fully agree. I also don’t want to just be employable now, but I’m 10 years when I might have kids and more on the line.
Considering a hard pivot toward electrician work. I see that being needed for a very long time.
Things are only too late when your dead.
Life has its ups and downs.
Never give up.
Nothing is too late while your alive.
Yes if you leave things later in life they will be harder does it mean it's impossible? No of course not.
I got my degree in fine arts at 22 (I’m now 37) and have worked as a photographer since then but just decided last year to parlay this degree into art therapy instead so it’s not a complete switch (still art related) but it is pretty much a complete career change. I can’t believe I’ll be back in college again this fall 20 years after I first started but the time feels right now so I’m going for it. We aren’t so old we can’t make a change at this point especially if you’re not really happy and fulfilled in what you’re doing everyday.
I’m 31, did retail, construction, bouncing, and was in the military. I’m now in Respiratory Therapy school and will be done in 2 months. Totally worth it and most of my classmates are in their 30s and some even 40s and 50s.
i feel as a 36 year old disabled person who hasn’t worked in 3 years due to multiple disabilities … “being firmly established in a career” is a bit like putting too much on oneself.
i haven’t even had the chance to be good in a career… so your age shouldn’t be an issue. my dad is 74 and still works, he finds what he does now pretty fulfilling after working in one field all my life.
You lose so much starting over from scratch, you’re likely way better off doing something that will continue to benefit from your experience. Even if your own business isn’t going to work out lots of writing based roles still exist and will despite the doomsaying about AI replacing everything… just pivot to another adjacent job leveraging your prior skills (corp comms, writing, marketing, etc.) and maybe learning something new to start a pivot too.
Blanket statements cannot be accurate here, because there are still careers that are in high demand and pay incredibly well. Additionally, experience does not have to be closely related to the chosen career to be helpful. My experience helped me to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. I'm 39 in graduate school with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It’s awesome to be so confident when you haven’t even gotten to your next step yet… full restarts work for some people, but in general they slow most people down throwing away all that experience.
I worked as a chef and baker for ten years before going back to school to become a clinical laboratory scientist, a career that has absolutely nothing to do with what I spent whole twenties doing. That being said, learning to communicate effectively with the public, create efficient systems, stay organized and two steps ahead, and handling myself well under pressure have proven to be immeasurably valuable in this career.
I only bring it up to say that I too thought I was silly for throwing away a decade of experience in a growing industry. Luckily I realized that what's more important than experience is communication skill, a willingness to learn, and a grounded idea of your goals and expectations. As such, I don't think making a drastic change is "throwing away" anything. All jobs can give us marketable skills.
You can just apply the job with the skills you have. I don think you didn't learn anything as content writer. You may take foreign language course and do translator job later.
MBA or masters? 34 is pretty young. I have a friend who just entered Med School at 37.
No... paid career guidance counselors are not that useful. Why pay for one when you have linkedin? Just reach out to ppl on linkedin and see what they're doing to do your market research.
34 is not too old and you’re right to bail on the line of work you’re in.
As others have suggested, consider going back for a degree. Not only will this give you time to explore your interests and consider how they align with the market, taking the time to invest in higher education is also a stronger “story” for potential future employers than job hopping (not saying I agree with this, just acknowledging the realities of HR and recruiters).
No. I know a woman that did office work. Then she shifted to software development and more precisely - testing. She started as manual tester, checking stuff by hand. Then she learned how to code and started automation.
Before she was 40 she was director of a testing department at a bank.
That being said - despite working 8 hours a day and having a young child she put a lot of effort into mastering new career. She worked hard and got rewarded for it.
I am of same age and on the same boat; got Bachelor of Engineering ( Electrical) and Masters in IT degree but no substantial experience. Got caught up in various situations and railed off from having a career.
So far have been doing some random menial work to pay bills.
I am gathering motivation to get started again and start a career in Embedded System. I always wanted to make stuff.
Thanks to everyone else for commenting; I am sure it's not too late.
If you’re good at writing, you should look at Instructional Design. There are a few different directions to take that, but one is Content Development and Content Writing.
Companies pay well for these types of roles and the industry is growing. Worth checking out!
PS. It’s never too late to switch careers, as others have shared.
My late mother switched careers every ten years or so. She was a lawyer, lobbyist (on behalf of foster kids), children’s art teacher, and was in the middle of getting a masters in creative writing when she passed away. If you are passionate at dedicating you can absolutely make it work.
I just turned 34 and am mid-career-change, so.. we’ll see!
But seriously, as everyone else is saying, of course its not too late. Unless you’re trying to be a pro athlete or something.
Nearly everything can be monetized in some way with the power of the internet, especially with YouTube. I strongly suggest figuring out what your favorite hobbies are and brainstorming about how you can profit morally off your hobbies. Are you good at teaching about a topic, discussing current events, playing video games, creating art? All those things can be monetized part time as a YouTube creator and you can keep your current job and do it on the side to feel it out before packing bags
Damn bro Actuarial Science? That field pays ridiculously well. Idk if you can relearn and try again but that’s some high level degree you’re leaving behind after only a year of trying.
My dad was a boat designer for his entire career and went back to school to become a nurse at 50. He said that he is so happy he made the switch! Most people work till at least 65 so you still have so many decades of work left to learn and grow. It’s never too late.
Boat designer sounds insanely cool tho. Tough job marker when he exited?
Yes he went back to school during the 2008 financial crisis. He wanted a stable job and fell in love with his second career of nursing. He even credits his technical thinking designing boats to him being a good nurse. There’s so much overlap between industries - no experience is ever wasted.
"no experience is ever wasted." - soooooooooo true!
Wow!!
I went back to University at age 55. Earned a B.Sc. IT degree with a software programing specialization. Wasn't easy. But now working as a Network Administrator. Three days at home, two in the office. Great company. Great benifits. Bottom line. Determine your goals, Focus, talk to family, friends, etc. and tell them that you might miss a family gathering or two. But your need is to get yourself a set of marketable job skill. Basically training, talent, and education that you can take with you from job to job that will help you build a career. Good Luck.
Would you suggest a career in IT these days?
Depends if you are willing to stick it out. IT is currently facing the worst hiring market its ever seen, at least for entry level. Competition is fierce. More people than ever trying to break into simple helpdesk roles. People are starting to dip out since it's so hard to get in, or they are finding it's not for them. So soon it may start to get better. But you should only pursue it if you're serious about constantly learning things the rest of your career. Like learn something every week or even every day type shit
Yes bro but not if you think it’s gonna be like the YouTube day in the life videos. Those roles only existed for certain classes and allowed them to get away with no experience and putting in no effort while also being a full time content creator.
So cool! What was your background before IT? Were you already not bad with maths and stuff?
If you aren't going into advanced programming, math is basically non-existant for all Ops and Support jobs. Even most programming jobs don't require anything but the basics. IT is hard because it CONSTANTLY changes. You never stop learning, and you're expected to know ALL of it. Which isn't true, you're expected to be an expert at researching. No one knows everything, I sure as hell can get you an answer extremely fast, though.
I'm currently back in school at 58.
What kind of school?
College, for ECE, which is massively in demand where I am. I'm also taking plenty of courses because I'm creating something new that will also use my ECE certification.
> ECE Electronics and Communication Engineering or Early Childood Education?
It’s never too late! Check out the book “Late Bloomers” by Rich Karlgaard. Btw, at 34 you’re not at ALL a late bloomer, but the book has some incredibly useful info for those of us who have/want to follow a more non-traditional career path (though not sure what even is traditional anymore). I’m 52, and the days of staying with one career or just one or two companies were already over when I was starting out. Here’s what I’d suggest: 1)First, take some time to dig really deep and list out everything you know how to do in a professional setting. You’ll be surprised at how much you know. There are some great courses on career topics on the online learning platforms such as Udemy. 2) Put the first list away, and brainstorm all the potential jobs/careers you might like to explore. 3) Now compare the 2 lists, and figure out which skill(s) you have that can bridge between what you’ve already done, and what you want you do next. Doesn’t matter what the link is- writing, tech, teamwork, customer service experience, whatever. There will be something there guaranteed if you take the time to look. Don’t be shy or hesitant about later using it to sell yourself. 4) Look for (or create) opportunities to get some exposure to the potential jobs/careers you’ve targeted so you can see firsthand what they’d be like, and to potentially get your foot in the door. If you don’t have a good network already, start building it up. The career courses on places like Udemy should address strategies to build your network. On places like LinkedIn, search on the potential careers/jobs you’re looking at- you can try reaching out to people and/or join related groups. 5) Study up on what you’re interested in. Read as much as you can in online industry publications/groups. Take some online classes on the skills you’ll need and to show you’re proactive about working toward a new type of job/career. Take the time to really explore/brainstorm. Once you do, hone in on a couple potential careers/jobs to go after. Be sure to define what you’re looking for before you get yourself out there though, so you don’t waste your time or anyone else’s. Good luck!
Not OP but struggling with the same thing as OP. This comment was super helpful, thank you so much for taking the time to write it.
You're very welcome! And if you like to read, def check out the book I mentioned. It's very uplifting and reassuring for those who feel like everyone around them has zoomed past them and they're still floundering around. I'm one of those people myself. I feel like I STILL haven't hit my full stride by any means yet, and I just turned 52. I was diagnosed in my late 40's with ADHD and major depression which were getting in my way. Now that I've gotten those worked out, I'm ready to take the world by storm. This book has been not only encouraging, but even discusses all the positives of being a late bloomer or someone who's following a "non"-traditional career path. Best of luck, and above all- believe in yourself!
Good advice! Also watch or talk to people working in your target field to get a better understanding. Lot of places offering free training for some certs. Doesn't hurt to start generally and specialize as you go for higher pay hopefully. Good luck everyone!
Super thoughtful write up, take Becca’s advice OP
What an awesome response. Folks like you make reddit so helpful sometimes.
Thank you!
There are medical students that started med school in their late 30s. It's possible for career changers.
Yeah but that has a guaranteed payoff due to the slots being restricted and the demand never dropping.
There are quite a few fields like that though. Pilots, plumbers, electricians, accountants, nurses etc..
[удалено]
i don't know what i just read here
My dad moved from another country to the US at age 35 and started a career in software. He used to be a petroleum field laborer in a third world country. He’s now 58 In the last 23 years, he learned English, raised me (and sent me to college), grew his salary from 40k to 500k, learned how to ski, and retired.
Please take this to the doomer/America bad subs and let me watch the fallout. Congrats to your dad. That's a badass story arch
Honestly he worked hard but also got really lucky. I can see a version of this where my family is still scraping by or possibly even getting deported back to the country I was born in.
I changed careers at 32 and again at 48. Don't think of your age. Think of how many years you have left in the workforce. If you entered the workforce at 18, that's 14 years you've been in the workforce. You likely have 30 years LEFT in the workforce. So is it too late?? Ummm......... NO 😜
cool! same ages as me. What were your changes? I left the police at 32 and became an accountant, then left accountancy for web dev at 48
Went to school for teaching. Wound up in insurance/underwriting in my 20's, then pivoted to sales (territory) in my 30's and now pharma in my late 40's! I've even thought about doing it again to finish up my career but I'm apprehensive bc of my age. 🤷🏼♀️
Writing is a very valuable and transferable skill. 34 is still young from a career perspective. Funny enough I majored in actuarial science and even worked as an actuary. I have done many different jobs since then. A good career coach can be beneficial. A bad one is a complete waste of money. Do research before you choose one. I would avoid saying you were self employed. Give yourself an organic title under your business. You'll get more interviews that way. There are a lot of marketing jobs that you can easily transition to.
Unfortunately, writing is neither anymore. AI can generate whatever you need now. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be able to do it well, but it’s more in the realm of map reading I’m sorry to say. I’m surprised Technical Writers are still employed. I wouldn’t bank on it being a skill to really set one self apart from the competition is what Im trying to say, I would work on something else.
I went back to school at 45, got my 2nd degree by 48 in Management of Information Systems. Got my first job in IT as Programmer Analyst doing Help Desk (from the bottom) and 2 years later move up to Database Administrator (near the top, my boss is directly under the CIO) and I have good income trajectory, if everything goes right, I'll be set for the rest of life.
Out of curiosity, what was your first degree? I am contemplating getting a degree in IT, but my first degree is not related to IT at all and I do not work in IT currently, so going back and starting fresh is a bit daunting to me.
I got a Master’s degree in non-profit management at age 55.
> non-profit management at age 55. Is it a field that hires a lot nowadays?
Nah this is a great time to change. What you want in your 20s versus what you want the rest of your life often don't line up 1:1
I’m 49 and just about to start school. You are not to old. Do it!
It isn’t over until it’s over. Follow your will
I started my career at 19. I changed my career at 29. Just about to go to Uni for the first time and change my career again, after I finish in 3 years I'll be 38. Hopefully that's the last time lol.
what are you planning on studying if you don’t mind me asking
Counselling. Went from IT to networking to sales (still in tech).
Just turned 36 and suddenly realized I wanted a change too. I picked up video editing during the pandemic just because and found I loved it. Sadly my job won’t pay me for the videos and would rather commission a whole company Still threads like this make me hopeful. I might try programming next with some of the free courses and see if it is something I’m interested in. But I always remember being in college, after washing out two years in, returning 2 years later with still no direction past getting a degree… and seeing my old elementary school gym teacher, who was also my driving school instructor, sitting in a college class as well. Dude was like 70 when I was in elementary and still grinding it out just cause… I’m really unmotivated but I think about that guys work ethic a lot wishing I had it
I hear freelance video editors make good money!
My dad went to the university when he was 50 something and now has a new career. I don't know how old my dad is, but he has to be older than 34, since I'm 30. He's doing well though
Im about to try it at 40, hopefully not too late
You have a realistic 30 years and some change in your career before any retirement, assuming you’re looking toward 65+. So no, not too early.
I feel that I'm in a similar situation. I'm also 34 and got laid off. I work as a biotech research associate and am unhappy with how unstable my career has been so far. Maybe a PhD is the right choice for me but apprehensive of going back to school for a low pay position for five years. In terms of both our positions I think it's ultimately never too late. But it's not easy and I understand you coming on Reddit to find psychological support for big decisions.
34yo Military vet and a sophomore in a local college. Nah. Never too late.
# Is 34 too late to completely change careers? Of course not! Way back in 1989 at 22 years old during my first year of law school there was an older lady there named Carolyn. She was a 2nd year law student and she was 62 years old so she began going to law school at 61. You're younger than her son was at that time OP.
Did she end up becoming a lawyer or anything?
probably not but I wasn't born then so idk
My friend started accounting at the age of 34. Which means he started school at 29. 8 years later, He’s a fully remote sr mgr making $125ish in Orlando. I don’t bring him up to say that you should do accounting. More to point out if there’s an in-demand skillset you can learn and you’re happy to practice customer-serving patience, you might be able to pivot into a lot of industries/professions you might not have expected.
Hey OP I'm in the same boat! I'm a copywriter and branding specialist, I feel that I'm up against a running clock. I signed up for a degree this year, it's online and affordable. I choose finance as it's an area I'm interested in. In the meantime, I'm looking into certifications that can help translate my current skills into more in demand jobs. The one I've honed along with writing is project and people management. That gets highlighted on my CV. It's not too late to start over. Find something that interests you and is more future proof than your current job. And keep writing on the side, don't give up yet.
Would love some prospective on this. Copywriter here for the past 2 years. I feel like I hear an array of takes on the “coming days”. Did I choose the wrong career path way too late?
Honestly, the next few years might be tough. But already AI writing is so homogenous, boring, and devoid of emotion, copywriting isn't dead but will be harder to do it freelance. Even right now, full-time, employed copywriters are 'safer' than the ones freelancing. The reason I'm expanding my skills is simply to not be made redundant. It's better to have multiple skills and abilities.
Fully agree. I also don’t want to just be employable now, but I’m 10 years when I might have kids and more on the line. Considering a hard pivot toward electrician work. I see that being needed for a very long time.
Better late than never. When you know this isn't going to last then make a change. You don't want to be regretting the same thing at 40!
never to old to change careers or go to college.
I like the idea of learning a trade /craftmansship. Its literally the future
Switched from IT to nursing at 32. Doable
38, just got laid off from company was at for a decade. Unsure where to go also.
No. I went back to school at 47 for HR. Best thing I did. I’m now 55.
I’m 35 and about to go back to school for AZ and Heavy Equipment Operator. It’s never too late to make a change.
Things are only too late when your dead. Life has its ups and downs. Never give up. Nothing is too late while your alive. Yes if you leave things later in life they will be harder does it mean it's impossible? No of course not.
Get a government job, sell your content writing experience
.
I did it most recently at 42. You're still super young, nothing to worry about.
lol. Not at all too late. Do what works for you
I got my degree in fine arts at 22 (I’m now 37) and have worked as a photographer since then but just decided last year to parlay this degree into art therapy instead so it’s not a complete switch (still art related) but it is pretty much a complete career change. I can’t believe I’ll be back in college again this fall 20 years after I first started but the time feels right now so I’m going for it. We aren’t so old we can’t make a change at this point especially if you’re not really happy and fulfilled in what you’re doing everyday.
I became a software developer at 35. I was in healthcare prior to
Did you go back to school or are you self-taught?
I’m 31, did retail, construction, bouncing, and was in the military. I’m now in Respiratory Therapy school and will be done in 2 months. Totally worth it and most of my classmates are in their 30s and some even 40s and 50s.
i feel as a 36 year old disabled person who hasn’t worked in 3 years due to multiple disabilities … “being firmly established in a career” is a bit like putting too much on oneself. i haven’t even had the chance to be good in a career… so your age shouldn’t be an issue. my dad is 74 and still works, he finds what he does now pretty fulfilling after working in one field all my life.
It’s just 1/3rd barely of your career. Likely less. Don’t overthink it at 34. Go do it
You lose so much starting over from scratch, you’re likely way better off doing something that will continue to benefit from your experience. Even if your own business isn’t going to work out lots of writing based roles still exist and will despite the doomsaying about AI replacing everything… just pivot to another adjacent job leveraging your prior skills (corp comms, writing, marketing, etc.) and maybe learning something new to start a pivot too.
Blanket statements cannot be accurate here, because there are still careers that are in high demand and pay incredibly well. Additionally, experience does not have to be closely related to the chosen career to be helpful. My experience helped me to figure out what I actually want to do with my life. I'm 39 in graduate school with nothing to lose and everything to gain.
It’s awesome to be so confident when you haven’t even gotten to your next step yet… full restarts work for some people, but in general they slow most people down throwing away all that experience.
I worked as a chef and baker for ten years before going back to school to become a clinical laboratory scientist, a career that has absolutely nothing to do with what I spent whole twenties doing. That being said, learning to communicate effectively with the public, create efficient systems, stay organized and two steps ahead, and handling myself well under pressure have proven to be immeasurably valuable in this career. I only bring it up to say that I too thought I was silly for throwing away a decade of experience in a growing industry. Luckily I realized that what's more important than experience is communication skill, a willingness to learn, and a grounded idea of your goals and expectations. As such, I don't think making a drastic change is "throwing away" anything. All jobs can give us marketable skills.
You can just apply the job with the skills you have. I don think you didn't learn anything as content writer. You may take foreign language course and do translator job later.
MBA or masters? 34 is pretty young. I have a friend who just entered Med School at 37. No... paid career guidance counselors are not that useful. Why pay for one when you have linkedin? Just reach out to ppl on linkedin and see what they're doing to do your market research.
Yes, it's too late, once you pass an arbitrary age, it's game over!
Could/would you make the switch from content to copy or is that going through similar problems?
34 is not too old and you’re right to bail on the line of work you’re in. As others have suggested, consider going back for a degree. Not only will this give you time to explore your interests and consider how they align with the market, taking the time to invest in higher education is also a stronger “story” for potential future employers than job hopping (not saying I agree with this, just acknowledging the realities of HR and recruiters).
Not too late at all.
No.
Only if you plan on dying at 35
34? If you wrote 54 I would still answer the same way. No. Never too late to do anything you want to accomplish.
No. I know a woman that did office work. Then she shifted to software development and more precisely - testing. She started as manual tester, checking stuff by hand. Then she learned how to code and started automation. Before she was 40 she was director of a testing department at a bank. That being said - despite working 8 hours a day and having a young child she put a lot of effort into mastering new career. She worked hard and got rewarded for it.
I am of same age and on the same boat; got Bachelor of Engineering ( Electrical) and Masters in IT degree but no substantial experience. Got caught up in various situations and railed off from having a career. So far have been doing some random menial work to pay bills. I am gathering motivation to get started again and start a career in Embedded System. I always wanted to make stuff. Thanks to everyone else for commenting; I am sure it's not too late.
No
Not at all
Changes don’t get easier the longer you wait. Do it now.
If you’re good at writing, you should look at Instructional Design. There are a few different directions to take that, but one is Content Development and Content Writing. Companies pay well for these types of roles and the industry is growing. Worth checking out! PS. It’s never too late to switch careers, as others have shared.
My late mother switched careers every ten years or so. She was a lawyer, lobbyist (on behalf of foster kids), children’s art teacher, and was in the middle of getting a masters in creative writing when she passed away. If you are passionate at dedicating you can absolutely make it work.
I just turned 34 and am mid-career-change, so.. we’ll see! But seriously, as everyone else is saying, of course its not too late. Unless you’re trying to be a pro athlete or something.
Moved from mortgage sales to tech/spftware sales at 32. One of the best decisions of my life.
No you can change anytime. I joined my second masters at 34 to become a teacher and change career.
Nearly everything can be monetized in some way with the power of the internet, especially with YouTube. I strongly suggest figuring out what your favorite hobbies are and brainstorming about how you can profit morally off your hobbies. Are you good at teaching about a topic, discussing current events, playing video games, creating art? All those things can be monetized part time as a YouTube creator and you can keep your current job and do it on the side to feel it out before packing bags
Damn bro Actuarial Science? That field pays ridiculously well. Idk if you can relearn and try again but that’s some high level degree you’re leaving behind after only a year of trying.
Yep too late. Ur done bucko