Career changes

[Hot Tamales]

Recently been thinking of changing careers. Started out an OTR truck driver then went to nursing school now 6 years later I'm thinking I want to go another direction. Problem is I'm 38 and don't want to be that "old guy" in class with a bunch of kids. Anybody else change careers at an "older" age?

[CamaroSpike23]

WGAS if you are the old guy in class. Nothing wrong with expanding your horizons vs being locked into a set way of life till you die. Do what you gotta do for YOU.

[justa25thTA]

5 years from now you'll still be 43. The question if you will be 43 year old unhappy nurse, or a 43 year old happy ...

[IROCanSS]

Do it.

Nothing wrong at all with being a "non-traditional" student. Bettering yourself with education is never a bad thing.

OTR trucker to nurse to...??? What you going into? Just curious.

[NoUCantDriveIt]

Originally Posted by orangepeel

Recently been thinking of changing careers. Started out an OTR truck driver then went to nursing school now 6 years later I'm thinking I want to go another direction. Problem is I'm 38 and don't want to be that "old guy" in class with a bunch of kids. Anybody else change careers at an "older" age?

Yep! And I was older than 38 when I did.

What is the career change you're looking at? I agree with Spikey, and don't give a second thought to being the old guy in class. Doubt you'd be the only person giving education a rerun.

However, not to be a downer, but you might want to consider how marketable you will be going into whatever the new career is. By all means make a change if you have the itch for something different. Just have realistic expectations of what opportunities you will have after you finish classes. A totally different career might be a challenge to break into, continuing the nursing/medical field might be easier.

Good luck with what you decide to do.

[cowboy1948]

At 50 years, I am now 62. I changed from a over the road trucker to a construction inspector for a private engineering firm. We re the 3RD party inspectors. 2005 Thru 2009 one of our Clint's was the Middletown Hospital. They hired us to inspect every thing on there new hospital. I had a lot of over time in those 4 years. It helped buy the camaro.
99% of what i did was common sense. Just follow the engineers plans and instructions that are all written out. One of those jobs where you are not the most weclomed person on the job site.

[rachykells]

I'm only 25, but I'm doing a career change already. I've been in public relations/journalism for 3 years post-college but decided to go into surgical tech school (eventually surgical assistance school) already.

There are a LOT of older people at my school and I'd say more than half my class in this program are over age 35. They don't seem to struggle at all balancing their school, work and home lives.

My mom went to paramedic school at 40. She said it was a little difficult, but she had never gone to college before that, so I think it was more of a "I didn't know what to expect" thing moreso than age.

Go for it!! I'm a lifelong learner so I have a feeling i'll be always wanting to switch things up.

[JETG]

Just do it, dont let age stand in your way on anything. Your still young, 38 is the new 28 LOL.. Yep and I am 38 also, and working on doing something different in 5 or so years. But it will be my own company and wont have to work as hard.

J

[Blondie3]

Depends on the hours you attend class. Im sure there are courses and times that have students in your age range.

The medical field is growing and will always be around. Dont let age stop you!

[NoUCantDriveIt]

Originally Posted by JETG

Just do it, dont let age stand in your way on anything. Your still young, 38 is the new 28 LOL.. Yep and I am 38 also, and working on doing something different in 5 or so years. But it will be

"my own company and wont have to work as hard."

J

Ummmnnn.... good luck with that part.
Usually--> "my own company" = work harder

[JETG]

Originally Posted by NoUCantDriveIt

Ummmnnn.... good luck with that part.
Usually--> "my own company" = work harder

LOL well not what I am doing, investing now and have a leg up. Considering I am learning and getting full contacts from someone that has been in the business for well over 30 years.

[hotrodsally]

Originally Posted by orangepeel

Recently been thinking of changing careers. Started out an OTR truck driver then went to nursing school now 6 years later I'm thinking I want to go another direction. Problem is I'm 38 and don't want to be that "old guy" in class with a bunch of kids. Anybody else change careers at an "older" age?

Go for it, Orangepeel, now is always the right time to pursue a dream.

To wit: Tom Thompson, the 61 year-old grad-student-full-worker-Place-Kicker for Austin College. Wooohoooo.

http://www.kten.com/story/11506583/roos-kicker-61-sets-record?nav=menu410_5_3&redirected=true

Originally Posted by JETG

Just do it, dont let age stand in your way on anything. Your still young, 38 is the new 28 LOL.. Yep and I am 38 also, and working on doing something different in 5 or so years. But it will be my own company and wont have to work as hard.
J

Darlin' JETG, 50 is the new 30 so you gotta give Orangepeel 10 more years .

[RAWarrior]

Actually there are more mid-lifers doing the college thing for career changes. Lot of people have been laid off & changing careers because of the economy. Good luck with the change!!! I'm 47 & getting ready to do the same thing.

[G-Oil Guy]

Education isn't limited to age. It's never too late to learn something new. If you're unhappy with what you're doing and you have the financial means to be secure during your new schooling, do it.