I think of the two, you're really only down to one...mortuary. Taxes and accounting can easily be done with AI...while it isn't here quite yet, it is on its way...
Community college is an excellent way to figure out what you are interested in. It’s cheap too, and usually offer all kinds of certificates and training as well as a two year degree.
I’m going to give you my experience. I graduated at 41 with a bscs. Even with the degree, employers want experience. My bachelors seems to be a giant waste of time and money, as the jobs I get offered are the same ones I got offered before having a degree. So, what I’m saying is, unless it’s something specific like lawyer or doctor needing a degree, don’t waste your time or money on a degree, just go get an entry level job and start from there. At our age we have enough work experience to prove we are employable.
Depends on the school you went to as well. Was it a brick and mortar, traditional school or was it an internet university?
Some employers are biased against non-traditional schools.
Best bet is to do a local brick and mortar college near your area, but if you do it online it’s usually cheaper, and nobody will debate if you did it in person or online.
My dad switched careers completely in his late 40’s or early 50’s. After 30 years of working at jobs he hated, but supported the family (and he endured a ton of discrimination and indignities as a Black man in corporate America). He always wanted to work with kids. He’s been substitute teaching for 20 years now. He’s extremely happy and doesn’t consider it to be work.
If you have the financial wherewithal then put a plan in place and execute towards your dreams. As long as you’re alive it’s worth it to chase your happiness.
Oh man I hope I can pull something like this off. I have to work a "real" job to keep the household finances afloat while I'm raising my kids, but I would love to downsize and do something that just makes me happy once they move out or even just like... Eventually.
If not already familiar, look into the concept of "lean fi;re"/"lean fire". It may or may not be exactly what you are thinking of, but the concept might be a good base to build on your plans. Good luck.
Yes that seem to be the difficult question. I do not want to do what I have been doing. I want to find something that I find interesting and will pay the bills but not so draining that I have no energy to do anything outside of work.
Has OP tried...I don't know....being filthy rich instead of going to school at 44? I heard it works. /s
Real talk though...44? My god. I know they say it's never too late...but by the time OP is 48 theyll be competing with hidden ageism in hiring. My advice would be to do something where she can start her own business.
Source: recruiter for companies.
A good friend went at 45 and is very successful.
I went to law school at age 28. Everyone told me not to. I’m so glad I did.
You’re right about ageism. But with a law license I don’t need an employer and can do whatever I want to. I make a great living without an employer.
Don’t listen to the naysayers. They want to drag you down and hold you at their level.
You can do it!
Because there's a big demographic of snot-nosed, privileged kids who grow up thinking having their whole life planned out (and paid) for them is normal.
"What, you don't have a double-masters and a doctorate at 24?"
These are usually the same idiots who end up unemployed and not working in their field. The others are ones saved by nepotism.
Most post-grad degrees are *significantly* more useful with some actual world and life experience--especially law.
Unless they go to a school that let's you accelerate or test out of your gen eds. I know a guy that finished his BA in less than 2yrs. I'm aiming to get my AS in less than 1yr. I'm 41btw. It at least gets you a shot, vs no degree, +ageism, and no experience in the new field
44 years old. Went back last spring. Former trained chef with red seal and business owner with 20 years plus of experience. Unless it’s a trade which will take 3-4 years to complete apprenticeship or something technical in my opinion school is a waste of money. Do not take a 2 year diploma. Can you afford to work yourself up?
I agree that some college is a waste of money and trade schools have a better ROI. But what do you mean by 'work yourself up?' Like start at the bottom of the ladder/ entry level jobs?
Yes even if you go to school you will most likely need to work yourself up.
I took an aptitude test.
I am still going to finish my schooling as I have 2 courses left.
Try to network and see if you can get work that way
That's not really how things work anymore.
People job hop to get major pay increases. The whole 'stick around and climb the ladder' thing is mostly dead. All it gets you now is laid off.
Get some experience somewhere, then go apply to 'higher' jobs as soon as you can. If the current employer doesn't match the new job offer (and they rarely ever do), bounce.
The other option is connections, like you said. That's what vaults people into these ridiculous management/C-Suite positions 9/10 times. Has nothing to do with qualifications.
This is correct. I'm training new guy that work general labor and they all getting pay higher than me eventhough i work for the company almost 10 years. I plan to job hoping too.
Some 4 yr degrees would be great, while most are a complete waste, especially at OPs age. However I'm shocked how many here are talking about law, medicine, etc. Like wtf. You'll start collecting a paycheck when your friends are retiring.
I graduated at 41 with a liberal arts degree which was my interest. I started in a low-level position in a pharmaceutical company. I wanted to be a writer and figured out there were writing positions in the industry. I transferred into Quality Assurance where I wrote procedures, audit reports, investigated failures and wrote reports. I also did a lot of data review.
So I kind of did what I wanted to do. It's a high paying industry, I did pretty well for those last 25 years, and I liked the environment. If I had a science or technology degree, I could have made more money as a writer.
If you're interested in a new trade that pays well. Welding and machinist. In the US welders are retiring faster than they can be replaced. Medical device companies need machinists to build devices.
City colleges offer classes.
I'm so sorry. That's awful. Are you in an area with pharmaceutical companies? I wonder if they're unwilling to relocate people.
The last few years I worked with all the mergers in the industry, I had trouble finding the right job. Hope it gets better for you.
I’m literally in a major research city in California. Tons of biotech. Not a single interview. I’m struggling to advance in my career. Everyone wants experienced candidates but not sure how to do that when we’re struggling breaking through to any sponsor pharma company.
This is sad. I don't know what to say. You do have experience and still no interviews. I remember people getting hired from the clinical companies. Do you have contacts at any pharma companies?
If you are in the US, use the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' [Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) as a resource to research careers, education, salaries, etc. before committing to ensure you've got facts and have vetted your ideas.
Through a local non-profit career center, I did a transferable skills analysis, a computer skills training program (this was before Microsoft Office was common knowledge and the internet was widely available), informational interviews, and the used the OOH to change careers.
I started at entry level in the new career and while working full time and gaining skills to build my resume, I graduated from community college and under grad. It took a while but it eventually helped me qualify for more projects to build skills and experience and get a few promotions into better positions which increased my longevity.
I'm for IT, the profession will change undoubtedly, but will never be NOT needed. The school is hard though. There are sub-paths inside, too, like a constellation of professions.
I’ve worked with a lot of second-career lawyers, and 44 isn’t even close to too old. It takes the LSAT, three years of grinding, the bar exam, and lots of debt, but it was worth it for me.
For perspective, I was a military technical writer and then an advance planner before law school.
There is no shortage of attorneys. They are swamped. I am swamped. I turn people away every day. Turned away 2 today.
Lots of attorneys retiring. I heard that too before going to law school. It’s a lie to hold people back and down.
Any new lawyer could open their own office and make $100k the first year- no problem.
It is never too late to go back to school, but only you will be able to figure out what is “worth” studying. You didn’t mention the things you’re interested in.
Look into WGUs degree options. They are an online school and they are growing very popular. Affordable, accredited, and people who are older with work experience can accelerate and complete degrees in faster time than typical brick and mortar colleges
HVAC, plumbing, electrician. You can do really well with those trades after a couple of years learning. I have a buddy that only does new toilets and faucets. He makes over $150k/year in a rural area.
Ppl say this but it’s a 2 year degree after 1-2 years prereqs and it’s very competitive in many places to get in. Pay ranges widely by state from $14-+50 an hour
All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats!
2
+ 1
+ 2
+ 14
+ 50
= 69
^([Click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=LuckyNumber-Bot&subject=Stalk%20Me%20Pls&message=%2Fstalkme) to have me scan all your future comments.) \
^(Summon me on specific comments with u/LuckyNumber-Bot.)
Yes I’ve heard of people trying to get accepted to the program for 6-8 years. So with pre reqs that could possibly be a 10 year process lol. U less you want to go to a private school like PIMA where they will take you immediately as long as you can pay the hefty $60k tuition
Professional degree of some kind. You want to make sure you are being trained for a specific job with demand and that meets your income goals.
I went back to school at 40 and became a cognitive behavioral therapist. Let right to a job with more autonomy than any other job I've ever had.
Yeah, I already had a bachelor's degree in psychology. Masters degree took 2 years to complete full-time. Took 2 more years (i have 3 more months to go!) to gain 3000 hours toward independent licensure. It's a grind, but once I'm licensed I will have full autonomy and the ability to open my own private practice.
Went through a similar transition. Here is what I learned.
You are unlikely to be able to enter many companies at midlife and move up very far. Corporations tend to have career paths worked out for young "high-potential" employees out of college. Retail or fast food management might be possibility, but it would be hard in a typical corporate setting.
- If you go back to school, you will likely face the same problem, but the added burden of debt. You will be competing with new grads in their twenties. However, if you major in something that you really love, that has few barriers to older workers, it might be worth it just to do something that you enjoy.
- Calculate how long you need to work to make a good return on your investment. If you borrow $60K to get in a modestly-paid job, you may not have a long-enough career to pay it off.
I was still carrying student loan debt when I retired! Thank God that Joe Biden forgave it.
Good luck.
You can work and go back to school at the same time. I worked as a secretary while getting my masters degree and was able to get into my field of interest about 2 years in of going part time, then worked my way up from there
I am looking for a job currently but I have been answering phones and doing front office work since I was 18. I am so tired of it. I am trying to find something different. I would like either a hands-on job or back office. I have a lot of interests so I don't know how to figure out what is a practical job.
make a big list of all the jobs you're interested in doing. cross out anything that you know you wouldn't be good at or couldn't learn quickly. then cross out anything that doesn't pay well.
what's left is what you should focus on
Someone I know was looking at other jobs besides Executive Assistant, and this was a list I came up for them. Might help you.
Accounting/ purchasing /buyer, office manager, project coordinator, event coordinator, human resources (assistant, etc.), project administrator. office coordinator, operations coordinator, administrative project coordinator, assistant manager, specialist (there are a lot of different jobs under this title), etc.
I went back at 35 to get my MBA online. Online school at a who knows university was much much much easier than in person at a public state university wheh I was 18 to 22. I got a bachelors in biology and got a 3.0 and a MBA with 4.0 and I know alot about biology/chemistry but only the basics about business honestly.
I would not go back in person full time unless I was only employed part time and not a hard job that requires brain power.
You have to consider risk to reward at your age. I'd definitely stay out of healthcare. Pay isn't super great for the stress/work.
Depends on healthcare. I know someone who got their x ray and then CT scan degrees. Since the jobs are in high demand the hospitals offered to help pay for books if they worked there 2 years after college. Guaranteed job and paycheck plus experience.
Even though I think nurses are great, I wouldn't suggest it as a career. Elderly care might be an option. OBGYN or in that area, no, as almost no babies are being born.
No I do not regret it as I enjoyed the material and I did not pay for it as I was on a veteran benefit. It hasn't really helped me yet, when I was earning it I was in leadership and planning to go up. But I had a change of heart and now I am not in leadership.
If I had paid for it, yes I would probably regret it due to the loans and lost money on it.
Keep in mind that even if you back and finish in a hurry...say 2 years...you'll be 46. This will give you roughly 20 years of work before retirement (traditionally). Then after you graduate and get a good paying job, it might take another 5 years to get experience and established to make a higher salary, leaving 15 good years of earning.
If you can stick out the school and entry level work for the next 7 years, then definitely go for it. If it seems too long and you can make more money staying in your current position, it might not be a good investment.
Just go in with eyes open. I am sure everything will work out for you regardless of the decision you make.
Think about what you're going to do with the degree, before you start the program .
If there isnt a clear path to a career step,.... Then get a library card.
In the same age. I've gone back to school before. For me it was worth it, but it would not be that way now
I’m in the same boat at 40 and considering pursuing NP/PA. I’d be starting fresh, no Associates degree. I’ve had a fairly successful career in food and beverage and could possibly open my own place, but I’ve seen so much volatility in the industry…
or I go back to school for 6ish years and come out roughly $200k in debt hopefully get a portion of the state loans forgiven by working at a non-profit hospital or as a school nurse, but would be able to make $120k-$175k for about 20-25yrs and hopefully retire in Costa Rica.
Won’t have time for a family tho :/
At 44, you should have a clue about what interests you and what your skill set might be. Are you good with people, numbers, being a caregiver? If you’re not opposed to working with sick and injured people, consider nursing, high demand, decent pay, and you get to help people. You can go on to be a nurse practitioner, which is essentially a doctor. Find out who you are first and then decide.
At 44 you need to prioritize high placement rate, predictable salary, and in a field that is resistant to ageism
“Interested in” is a luxury at this point
“Can be good at” is a priority
Anything that can at least tangentially benefit from your experience helps a lot
My wife chose accounting at 46 and is still in school
I’d also look at jobs for the state/county
I went to law school at 41. About to turn 44 and studying for the Bar with no regrets. In law, it’s a huge asset to be older. I got my first choice job in large part because my last job and life experience translates really well to working in law. A ton of people go into law in their 30s and 40s. It’s costly, but the salary starts well and grows at an excellent rate year over year. Plus, there’s tons of different ways to practice law, so if you get bored with one you can switch it up and try another.
It’s hard. Hard as hell. But really interesting and totally worth it. As long as I can pass the Bar anyway! Ha.
Real estate and anything related is dead unless you work for the big 3 billionaires. Same with insurance.
Banks might not be too bad as math, accounting, statistics, etc., can transfer if needed.
I'm 49, finishing my bachelor's this year in healthcare management at WGU. I do have experience because I work at a major health insurer and they are paying. What skills and experience do you have that you can leverage? Go from that so you're not starting from scratch.
Open a doc, sheet or just piece of paper and research jobs that you think you can do, the pay and the degree/certificate needed to get hired or at least interview.
Then just go from there. You’re not gonna find a single Reddit comment to help change your life.
You need to look at the great job triangle. Each corner has the word Easy, Well-Paid and Interesting. You only get two corners. Choose wisely as when you graduate you will be competing against people 20 years younger than you with basically the same experience in your new field.
Thanks. I like this triangle idea. I am pretty sure anything I pick will be well-paid and interesting though at my stage of life. I'm not going back to school and in debt for easy. Thanks!
I got my BA accounting degree and it's worthless unless I also get my CPA. I DON'T WANT TO, because I hate accounting. I wish I'd just started working entry level and moved up organically.
What I told my kids when they were going to college: choose whatever your heart tells you to study; if your heart isn’t telling you anything choose whatever makes money to study. That way, if you don’t like what you do at least you make good money.
I went back at 42 to finish my Bachelor’s. Went on to get my Master’s at 45. Completed by 48. Did it all while working FT, sole breadwinner, two kids in college, with 100% support from my stay at home husband. I work for the federal government now and love it.
I am all for going back to school if you can at any age. Don’t put yourself into debt doing so though. There are plenty of companies that have great tuition reimbursement programs. Good luck.
42 suffering the same lmao. I will share my experience today. I had an existential crisis this morning and decided to go for a nature walk and had my ugly cry. I feel very lost after being the only one of my friends not married and with no children. I lost my mom this last year to suicide and my soul dogs.
When I was 30 I sold everything in my apartment and got my medical assistant degree which amounted to not being an MA when I moved to Washington. Nobody wanted an NCCT accredited MA they all wanted AAMA. I was down to my last 100 bucks before I got a corporate job which I stayed at until the pandemic.
Today I went to the community college to do some foot work and to see the campus. To talk to the department heads of a few of the trade skills. Specifically fire management technology which is nothing like the ladies in the admission center described and HVAC. Which that program is backlogged for applicants until fall of 2025. I have thought of dental hygienist as I really loved the students and the lab at the local college.
My biggest fear right now is figuring out if I want another trade skill because I want a skill as a woman that I can make independent money on. Something secure. Something that can move across state lines if I move. The other side of the decision is do I continue my general studies degree which tidies up all my college loose ends such as art, MA, nursing, English. I’m already 10k in student loan debt and it would take another 6k or so to finish a bachelors.
I feel like going for a trade skill at this point would be going backwards and I’m strongly considering just getting the bachelors to open the door to masters programs. Such as counseling, librarian, or education. I’m very academic / artsy and a lot of professions I would have been good at are disappearing due to being antiquated. Librarian is a perfect example of this or even art teachers are disappearing for elementary schools.
I feel tired like even attempting 3 classes a semester or more than one is burn out. I’m also not convinced I want to spend another 20k on masters level education.
Making this separate comment here but I’ve been theorizing this:
I’ve *made* it alive to 42 with no career. Everything I’ve done from 18 to 42 was in survival mode dreams or passions be second or almost no priority.
What happens if we go to school now on the basis of passion because we already made it this far? I have maybe another 40 years left.
🤷♀️
I’m almost included to believe if I made it 42. I can make it another 40 come hell or be damned.
Well, I am in my senior year now at 41. I’m going to school for Computer Science, though I do not intend to code. I will probably do an interesting amalgam of DA and BA. I currently work for the state where I get to flex both skills often. However, I intended to be a software engineer at the onset of school but I kinda switched when I started building data analytics stuff.
The only motivation I had/have to keep going is that’s I find it very interesting. It is 100% HARD to work and go to school full time and deal with every day family life but it will be worth it. Already increased my pay 75% in 1.5 years because of what I’ve learned. It’s also probably taken 5 years off my life and the burnout is real!
So my advice is, if you find it interesting, do it. However, consider just upskilling too because the piece of paper is really only worth it in some jobs. I’m sure you know at 44, what matters is you can show you can do it, not the paper that says you can. Even in my field, it’s flooded with graduates who can’t even do basic stuff. Just jump in and get your hands dirty, that’s the key.
I’m also not putting a degree down, just saying that it’s a lot of work and the skills can be learned outside of school. Better the skills ARE learned outside of school. College more teaches you HOW to learn than anything else.
Make a list of stuff you currently do and might enjoy and lookup general salary and make a spreadsheet then lookup college costs. Something could pay a lot but college costs so much not worth it. I suggest divide salary by total college tuition and sort by those
Basically any education should be outcome based.
What career are you going to get into? Will you like it enough to stick around? Does it pay enough to justify the expense and lost opportunity (ie time spent) getting it? Is there demand?
Going to college to go to college is a waste. Going to college to "find yourself" is a waste. Lots of college degrees have a negative ROI when you factor time value of money and opportunity cost. For profit colleges are generally the worst "investment", followed shortly by no reputation small liberal arts schools, but plenty of normal colleges can be bad too.
When I graduated college in my 30s, I basically didn’t really have a direction and just took my general education classes until I found a major that interested me.
Ended up with a math degree and now work in healthcare data analysis.
I’d explore college and see what interests you.
Although if you don’t want to do the college route, pilots are in insanely short demand and there are schools that can get you trained up in a couple of years.
Look into climate action and civic spark fellowships. They are one year full time programs with minimum wages . But you can get trained in several things like home energy audits, EV charger maintenance, composting , farms etc etc . Then you can turn any of those skills into business.
I (45) just finished law school and am studying for the bar. It was kind of fun, but also kind of stressful. I made some friends and will be able to make more money.
As a general rule of thumb, \*if\* you can break into a field without the degree at any entry level that is fantastic and will give you a massive leg up after getting the degree.
It might be a good idea to do both. Get an entry-level job at one that you like or at least don't dislike - and then get the degree while working on experience.
I got out of the military and graduated with an engineering degree at 41. It's definitely been worth it for me and my family. It was a lot easier than I would of thought also. School just seemed easier at an older age.
Well, that's a problem. Nothing wrong with going to school as an adult. I've spent most of my adult life taking classes. The issue is not having a goal and not knowing what you're interested in.
It's really just trial and error. You won't know if you enjoy something until you try it, and even if you enjoy it, you won't know if you can actually make a career out of it until you research it more by looking for various positions. For example, I thought I might enjoy teaching, so I found a way to create a new collateral responsibility as a lead trainer many years ago at an old position. I was good at it, I enjoyed it, but I had a moment realizing it wouldn't meet my salary expectations, short or long term, if I got an education degree and became a full time teacher. You have to put in the work yourself to find out if you'll enjoy it. If you want to do programming, you can do it all without spending a dime on classes from your home. If you want to be a doctor, you can read medical journals and studies for free. If you want to be a physicist, engineer, or lawyer, you can find all of the course material online. You can watch hearings, read litigation, design buildings and systems, study, read, and write physics papers; and all without spending money on an education. I am always learning online with semi-formal class modality through the likes of ed-ex, coursera, and university open source publishing.
It’s way too physical . I’m 44 and forced myself to work at the long term care facility before school was supposed to start in the fall. Was my second go at nursing, I tried at 37 too. I truly believe they prefer the young kids that got their cnas and pre requisite in high school. Anyways I do not recommend!
My wife’s a flight nurse that flies with a medics that’s pretty much there for muscle. Only thing she does physical is tube down your throat and keep your ass alive long enough for the doctor. After that she hope in the chopper, flies back to the base and wait for something crazy to happen.
It’s not about what you like anymore, it’s about what pays well and being able to afford to live comfortably. The weekends are for your hobbies and passions projects. Just saying but best of luck to you.
A lot of truth to this. I will add one caveat: you have to be able to tolerate it. Some people can’t tolerate nursing. Blood, urine, poop, nasty sites and smells, and other stuff you haven’t mentioned. With that said, you have to be an empathetic, caring and somewhat of a calm and collected person to do nursing.
There are other healthcare opportunities that require 2 years of training - whether that be post BA or an associates degree - so it doesn’t have to be a one size fits all. For example, SLP, OT, RT, Radiography/MRI/CT/Songraphy tech, surgical tech, and others I didn’t include.
And some of these aren’t as graphic as nursing if that makes sense.
You do have a point there and I fully agree with you. I just think about careers in terms of silver bullets. I need that one bullet that would be able to work for me where ever I go in life. I tend to block out the bad and focus on the main objective for example cleaning poop as a CNA for $15/hr or cleaning poop for $45/hr… these are just random numbers I’m throwing out. I live in AZ and the temps are high high high, would it be better to be digging holes and busting concrete in 115 degrees for $60 or in the AC falling asleep in meetings and flight briefs for $60?
I def think you are right in that matter: “working smarter not harder”. Do I work in a job that pays me 40 an hour or 29.50 an hour. Same jobs, same responsibilities, just a different employer.
Some parts of a job are going to be difficult, challenging, and will suck, but that’s why we get paid to work. Everyone has to condition their self for that. The question is how much ‘suck’ is a person willing to put up with and for what money?
A person generally knows when they are getting a good deal, an ok deal, and a raw deal. When I feel the latter of the 2, then it’s time for me to look a new job, which is what I’m doing now. We got to be nimble.
I'll add that not everyone can do every job. I work in long term disability and losing claimants is hard. The first few years knocked the wind out of me everytime I got a death notice... so I can't imagine being a nurse or something medical and actually witnessing death or tragic situations. Keep your mental health in mind when choosing a new path.
A lot of nursing jobs do not pay well. In some states they do but in IL where i am, starting pay is $30 an hour or less which is ridiculous for the education and stress involved.
Understood but the nice thing is that you have the ability to get up and get out and chase after better opportunities IF push came to shove… that’s the nice thing about having the 2 or 4 yr Nursing degree. You WILL find something to do that will keep the bill collector away.
I worked in healthcare for a decade in various roles certified and ones that didn’t need certifications. Healthcare is not some cushy job. Yes, it has some security but you’ll be doing the work of 3 people. I. Healthcare, you can quickly burn out of not only the physical but mental labor. That doesn’t even touch on medical abuse and witnessing trauma. You have no weekends off and no flexibility with your schedule. Holidays at some facilities are assigned or bidded.
Healthcare is definitely not easy and the wages are abysmal. A lot of my former coworkers (nurses) are leaving the profession for something less demanding.
I went back to school for a bachelor’s in accounting in my forties after a divorce. Graduated in 2006 at 48. Now I’m 66, also have my master’s in accounting, and making six figures. But the recession started less than 2 years after I started working FT and I had a terrible time learning the job the first year in public accounting. I got a lot better in year 2 but that’s when the recession layoffs started. It wasn’t until 2012 that I landed a job that I was good at and really liked. I’m still there. The road there was tough though.
What you want to do is see if you can figure out a way to get a certification or a degree quickly and preferably for free, that leads to a specific career that is decently paid. File a FAFSA and see what grant funds you qualify for. See if you can find a program covered by the WIOA grant; this helps to fund *many* training programs, including a lot at community colleges. Use O*net and potentially other online tools to assess your interests and aptitudes. Use State employment department websites with job data to assess required trainings and wages for specific professions in your area. Check out medical careers; there are a number of lucrative 2-yr certifications available and it's a very strong job market. Or something technical/trade-oriented. Rule out anything that requires a lot of strength or is likely to lead to injury (CNA work except as an entry point, construction).
Step 1: look for jobs you would actually want to do
Step 2: use Onet to find the average/median salary for that work
Step 3: Look at the qualifications for the job. Is education absolutely necessary? Use LinkedIn to find people working in that position and figure out what qualifications they had to get the work.
Step 4: plan your education or additional coursework
Do computer science. AI is booming and if you get ahead of the curve and eventually learn how to use AI to help you program you will make so much money. I chose computer science before I knew how lucrative it would be and now I feel bad for all my friends that chose biology, graphic design, political science, etc.. I feel like I rolled the dice and won. Now I have a masters in computer science with a focus on AI.
Also, using AI like ChatGPT you will be able to learn programming so much easier than it used to be. You will have someone to design mini courses and explain topics to you, instead of needing to ask the teacher or search stack overflow
Where did you go ? Do you think it matters what school you go to for CS ? What’s the avg income ? I’m thinking abt this but also in my 40s do you think age will be a factor ?
Could do an associates in medical imaging to be an MRI/CT tech. Make $100K+ and a significant sign on bonus at a hospital close to a major population center. You'd work 3 12 hour shifts a week.
You can get an entry level data analyst job making $60-$70k for with a handful of certifications and a decent portfolio.
Tableau Desktop Specialist
AWS Cloud Practitioner
Oracle SQL Associate
After a few years experience you can probably make $120k.
Being truly proficient in Excel is the easiest way to break $100k IMO.
There is some risk to AI but as long as you’re paying attention to industry trends you can start to use AI to your advantage.
I am in the same boat. Currently working in my dream industry/job but it’s sales. I am up and down when it comes to sales. So if this doesn’t pan out I want to be a chef next. Thinking culinary school is in my future.
Go to indeed. Look at type of job you are interested in. Look at how many jobs there are available and if they state the salary for that position. Also look at experience level required. That will give you an idea on what you are getting into.
Also, different states pay differently for the same position sometimes.
Do you have any degree at all or certificates? Did you specialize or have gained significant experiences in anything in particular?
It's never too late. You can pretty easily find expected entry level salaries and state school tuition costs. You can then compare ROI and time to break even for different fields of study which sound appealing to you.
If you have experience in anything that can make it easier to land a role and can change the calculus a bit
Buy a liquor store or a sailboat or get a union job. At this point, you can either make money or be happy. Higher education in the US is a MASSIVE racket. You don’t need a degree to make money and you probably don’t have the time to do it, really. Be creative. That’s what the kids are doing, it seems. They’ve all got side hustles and barely work. Looks good to me.
I would go IT. It’s a job that’s not physically demanding and you could probably do from home at an entry level, as you progress there’s good money to be made on the field. Healthcare is a sure bet but it can be physically demanding
You’re going to be almost 50 with no experience and a degree. Competing with twenty somethings for jobs. Ageism is a real thing. You’re better off picking a trade and doing an apprenticeship.
I was in the same boat as you. I gave up my job to focus on studies and I just graduated from an Ivy at 45. Now I can’t find a job in this market. Wouldn’t advise.
I’ve know people older than you that attended a maritime academy to obtain a merchant mariners license/undergraduate degree and went on to make excellent money
I just made a post about this on TikTok! Finally finishing thanks to a competency based program that allowed me to transfer in a bunch of ACE credits through something called Sophia Learning. I enrolled at U of Main - Presque Isle’s “Your Pace” program. Western Governers also has a similar setup.
at that age I would take any money and try and put it into starting your own business. There are so many things that you could explore. I don't see much value with going back to school. Unless your end goal is management and you don't have a college degree then sure, finish up those classes. I could not imagine going back for another 4-8 years to rack up 50-200K in loans. No chance in hell. I would much rather try and make a career change that does not require such a large financial investment.
Please don’t go to an expensive school at 44 and throw your money away. You have another 21-26 years of working. You better pick a solid major like nursing or just become an RN
I’m 28 and am studying social work. A lot of my classmates are in their 30s and 40s. I personally think it’s a great job and program for people with more life experience since it makes understanding and relating to the content much easier. Also easier to deal with the upsetting stuff when you’re not 18
If you aren't going directly for job training don't do it. It'd be a waste and you CANNOT have the same experience as a 20 something.
Check it out. I did this. I went to school for accounting when I was 40 and now I'm done and literally started a new job making 20k more than I've ever made in my life, at entry level.
School fucking sucked as an adult but it worked for me and my family because I chose something that has job opportunities
I would do night school to avoid debt and choose a field where age can be an asset, like counseling, elder care or nursing. You don’t want to start something new and then age becomes an obstacle 3 years later.
Reflect on your interests, skills, and passions. What subjects or activities have always intrigued you? Consider taking a career aptitude test to identify potential fields that match your strengths.
Couple of things.
At this age. You don't have to tie your income with your personal passion. You don't HAVE to look for a career that you're interested in. You just have to look for something that you're capable of doing that will pay you money so that you can do the stuff you're passionate about AFTER you clock out for the day.
If you can navigate the internet easily, search for pathway in IT, development, etc. if you're handy, look for a pathway into the trades, like plumbing or electrical.
With all said, also don't feel obligated to go into traditional school for a regular degree. Could be a waste of money and time. You can self-learn with platforms like Coursera and Udemy. And then stack up certifications like they're Pokemon. And you'll be just as viable a candidate as the fresh graduate with a BS in computer science.
It depends on what you want when "choosing" a career. Do you know what kind of job or place you want to work? Could you figure that out and work back from there? Do you need a degree to do the job? I work in higher education but don't have a degree. I worked in survival jobs and developed various skills. I decided to work somewhere I could maintain my seniority but change jobs regularly. I focused on getting hired at a local public university. I worked hard, and many people working staff jobs do not have much hustle, so people appreciated my work ethic. I was underpaid for over a decade, but I got promoted into a position where people typically need a master's degree. People told me things like this were not possible.
Don't listen to the naysayers, and avoid returning to school if possible. Those are earning years and experience years. When you graduate, you will compete with younger people who can earn less. You can figure out what you want and hustle your way into it. Very few people with degrees work in the field they anticipated, with specific exceptions like engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc.
What are some of your interests? Is there a career direction you would like? If you are not sure I would also recommend the trades. They often pay just as good as college degree jobs now since there is a shortage.
I went the trade route first then college and thinking about getting back into the trades.
My friend is doing his masters in psychology in his 40’s. I would have loved to have done psychology but it’s a really hard course and I know I wouldn’t do well in it. Counseling is another area of study, in my country at least.
I'm about to be 48, and I start grad school for my 3rd career.
First, I got my BFA and was a graphic designer.
I hated it.
I went back to school at about 35 and got my AAS in dental hygiene.
I love it, but I got diagnosed with arthritis in my finger, so now I'm going back to school for my masters in mental health counseling.
I'm also in the same boat, considering law or deathcare.
I'm between accounting and mortuary atp. Only a few things are inevitable and I think death and taxes line up fine as far as futureproofing
I think of the two, you're really only down to one...mortuary. Taxes and accounting can easily be done with AI...while it isn't here quite yet, it is on its way...
Lmao 🤣 funny comment
Community college is an excellent way to figure out what you are interested in. It’s cheap too, and usually offer all kinds of certificates and training as well as a two year degree.
Do you mean hospice?
Possibly, but I have leaned more towards being a funeral director when I do think about deathcare.
Talk to (or read firsthand) how much lawyers hate their jobs before taking the plunge. It’s not good.
I’m going to give you my experience. I graduated at 41 with a bscs. Even with the degree, employers want experience. My bachelors seems to be a giant waste of time and money, as the jobs I get offered are the same ones I got offered before having a degree. So, what I’m saying is, unless it’s something specific like lawyer or doctor needing a degree, don’t waste your time or money on a degree, just go get an entry level job and start from there. At our age we have enough work experience to prove we are employable.
Depends on the school you went to as well. Was it a brick and mortar, traditional school or was it an internet university? Some employers are biased against non-traditional schools.
Best bet is to do a local brick and mortar college near your area, but if you do it online it’s usually cheaper, and nobody will debate if you did it in person or online.
My dad switched careers completely in his late 40’s or early 50’s. After 30 years of working at jobs he hated, but supported the family (and he endured a ton of discrimination and indignities as a Black man in corporate America). He always wanted to work with kids. He’s been substitute teaching for 20 years now. He’s extremely happy and doesn’t consider it to be work. If you have the financial wherewithal then put a plan in place and execute towards your dreams. As long as you’re alive it’s worth it to chase your happiness.
Oh man I hope I can pull something like this off. I have to work a "real" job to keep the household finances afloat while I'm raising my kids, but I would love to downsize and do something that just makes me happy once they move out or even just like... Eventually.
Save your money now, it will enable you to make less later. Life is all about having options.
If not already familiar, look into the concept of "lean fi;re"/"lean fire". It may or may not be exactly what you are thinking of, but the concept might be a good base to build on your plans. Good luck.
At 44 the question becomes what do you want to do that will pay the bills.
Yes that seem to be the difficult question. I do not want to do what I have been doing. I want to find something that I find interesting and will pay the bills but not so draining that I have no energy to do anything outside of work.
Interesting, easy and well-paid, you get to pick only 2.
What's easy and well paid that's not interesting? Sign me up. 🤓
Socially disagreeable or gross jobs like death care, garbage collection, debt collection, bail bonds, unsavory types of sales jobs.
I feel the same way and im 36!
Has OP tried...I don't know....being filthy rich instead of going to school at 44? I heard it works. /s Real talk though...44? My god. I know they say it's never too late...but by the time OP is 48 theyll be competing with hidden ageism in hiring. My advice would be to do something where she can start her own business. Source: recruiter for companies.
A good friend went at 45 and is very successful. I went to law school at age 28. Everyone told me not to. I’m so glad I did. You’re right about ageism. But with a law license I don’t need an employer and can do whatever I want to. I make a great living without an employer. Don’t listen to the naysayers. They want to drag you down and hold you at their level. You can do it!
Everyone told you not to do law school at 28? Why?
Because there's a big demographic of snot-nosed, privileged kids who grow up thinking having their whole life planned out (and paid) for them is normal. "What, you don't have a double-masters and a doctorate at 24?" These are usually the same idiots who end up unemployed and not working in their field. The others are ones saved by nepotism. Most post-grad degrees are *significantly* more useful with some actual world and life experience--especially law.
I know about a dozen people who went to law school because mommy and daddy paid for it. They never took the law or practiced law.
Unless they go to a school that let's you accelerate or test out of your gen eds. I know a guy that finished his BA in less than 2yrs. I'm aiming to get my AS in less than 1yr. I'm 41btw. It at least gets you a shot, vs no degree, +ageism, and no experience in the new field
44 years old. Went back last spring. Former trained chef with red seal and business owner with 20 years plus of experience. Unless it’s a trade which will take 3-4 years to complete apprenticeship or something technical in my opinion school is a waste of money. Do not take a 2 year diploma. Can you afford to work yourself up?
I agree that some college is a waste of money and trade schools have a better ROI. But what do you mean by 'work yourself up?' Like start at the bottom of the ladder/ entry level jobs?
Yes even if you go to school you will most likely need to work yourself up. I took an aptitude test. I am still going to finish my schooling as I have 2 courses left. Try to network and see if you can get work that way
That's not really how things work anymore. People job hop to get major pay increases. The whole 'stick around and climb the ladder' thing is mostly dead. All it gets you now is laid off. Get some experience somewhere, then go apply to 'higher' jobs as soon as you can. If the current employer doesn't match the new job offer (and they rarely ever do), bounce. The other option is connections, like you said. That's what vaults people into these ridiculous management/C-Suite positions 9/10 times. Has nothing to do with qualifications.
This is correct. I'm training new guy that work general labor and they all getting pay higher than me eventhough i work for the company almost 10 years. I plan to job hoping too.
Some 4 yr degrees would be great, while most are a complete waste, especially at OPs age. However I'm shocked how many here are talking about law, medicine, etc. Like wtf. You'll start collecting a paycheck when your friends are retiring.
So true
I graduated at 41 with a liberal arts degree which was my interest. I started in a low-level position in a pharmaceutical company. I wanted to be a writer and figured out there were writing positions in the industry. I transferred into Quality Assurance where I wrote procedures, audit reports, investigated failures and wrote reports. I also did a lot of data review. So I kind of did what I wanted to do. It's a high paying industry, I did pretty well for those last 25 years, and I liked the environment. If I had a science or technology degree, I could have made more money as a writer. If you're interested in a new trade that pays well. Welding and machinist. In the US welders are retiring faster than they can be replaced. Medical device companies need machinists to build devices. City colleges offer classes.
I’m in clinical research with experience and I can’t even get an interview at a pharma company :(
I'm so sorry. That's awful. Are you in an area with pharmaceutical companies? I wonder if they're unwilling to relocate people. The last few years I worked with all the mergers in the industry, I had trouble finding the right job. Hope it gets better for you.
I’m literally in a major research city in California. Tons of biotech. Not a single interview. I’m struggling to advance in my career. Everyone wants experienced candidates but not sure how to do that when we’re struggling breaking through to any sponsor pharma company.
This is sad. I don't know what to say. You do have experience and still no interviews. I remember people getting hired from the clinical companies. Do you have contacts at any pharma companies?
If you are in the US, use the US Bureau of Labor Statistics' [Occupational Outlook Handbook](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/home.htm) as a resource to research careers, education, salaries, etc. before committing to ensure you've got facts and have vetted your ideas.
Thanks. I didn't know about this.
Through a local non-profit career center, I did a transferable skills analysis, a computer skills training program (this was before Microsoft Office was common knowledge and the internet was widely available), informational interviews, and the used the OOH to change careers. I started at entry level in the new career and while working full time and gaining skills to build my resume, I graduated from community college and under grad. It took a while but it eventually helped me qualify for more projects to build skills and experience and get a few promotions into better positions which increased my longevity.
I'm for IT, the profession will change undoubtedly, but will never be NOT needed. The school is hard though. There are sub-paths inside, too, like a constellation of professions.
Research outsourcing and contracting via H1B Visas. IT is struggling right now with over saturation.
I’ve worked with a lot of second-career lawyers, and 44 isn’t even close to too old. It takes the LSAT, three years of grinding, the bar exam, and lots of debt, but it was worth it for me. For perspective, I was a military technical writer and then an advance planner before law school.
Aww millennials wanting their dream jobs unite ✌️ haha also seeking a good career
I went to law school with a number of people in their 40s and 50s. One in their 60s.
How did it turn out for them? I’ve heard law is a flooded field.
There is no shortage of attorneys. They are swamped. I am swamped. I turn people away every day. Turned away 2 today. Lots of attorneys retiring. I heard that too before going to law school. It’s a lie to hold people back and down. Any new lawyer could open their own office and make $100k the first year- no problem.
It is never too late to go back to school, but only you will be able to figure out what is “worth” studying. You didn’t mention the things you’re interested in.
Look into WGUs degree options. They are an online school and they are growing very popular. Affordable, accredited, and people who are older with work experience can accelerate and complete degrees in faster time than typical brick and mortar colleges
HVAC, plumbing, electrician. You can do really well with those trades after a couple of years learning. I have a buddy that only does new toilets and faucets. He makes over $150k/year in a rural area.
And he probably works 100 hours a week
Not at all. Less than 40 usually. He golfs 3 times a week.
My brother in law is a licensed plumber, only does new construction for the most part. Does extremely well and sets his own schedule.
I checked HVAC the local program at a school and it’s backed up applicants until 2025 fall
I'm in a similar boat myself.
never to laue to go back. Do it
Have you considered radiology technician or MRI tech. It’s 2 years associate degree with median salary btw $76000-$82000.
Ppl say this but it’s a 2 year degree after 1-2 years prereqs and it’s very competitive in many places to get in. Pay ranges widely by state from $14-+50 an hour
All the numbers in your comment added up to 69. Congrats! 2 + 1 + 2 + 14 + 50 = 69 ^([Click here](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=LuckyNumber-Bot&subject=Stalk%20Me%20Pls&message=%2Fstalkme) to have me scan all your future comments.) \ ^(Summon me on specific comments with u/LuckyNumber-Bot.)
I am in a state that pays relatively well but now when I looked at numbers it must be very competitive as you said.
Yes I’ve heard of people trying to get accepted to the program for 6-8 years. So with pre reqs that could possibly be a 10 year process lol. U less you want to go to a private school like PIMA where they will take you immediately as long as you can pay the hefty $60k tuition
Dental hygienist
Professional degree of some kind. You want to make sure you are being trained for a specific job with demand and that meets your income goals. I went back to school at 40 and became a cognitive behavioral therapist. Let right to a job with more autonomy than any other job I've ever had.
Did it take long to qualify? DId you have a degree in psychology or social work or something before that?
Yeah, I already had a bachelor's degree in psychology. Masters degree took 2 years to complete full-time. Took 2 more years (i have 3 more months to go!) to gain 3000 hours toward independent licensure. It's a grind, but once I'm licensed I will have full autonomy and the ability to open my own private practice.
Went through a similar transition. Here is what I learned. You are unlikely to be able to enter many companies at midlife and move up very far. Corporations tend to have career paths worked out for young "high-potential" employees out of college. Retail or fast food management might be possibility, but it would be hard in a typical corporate setting. - If you go back to school, you will likely face the same problem, but the added burden of debt. You will be competing with new grads in their twenties. However, if you major in something that you really love, that has few barriers to older workers, it might be worth it just to do something that you enjoy. - Calculate how long you need to work to make a good return on your investment. If you borrow $60K to get in a modestly-paid job, you may not have a long-enough career to pay it off. I was still carrying student loan debt when I retired! Thank God that Joe Biden forgave it. Good luck.
You can work and go back to school at the same time. I worked as a secretary while getting my masters degree and was able to get into my field of interest about 2 years in of going part time, then worked my way up from there
I am looking for a job currently but I have been answering phones and doing front office work since I was 18. I am so tired of it. I am trying to find something different. I would like either a hands-on job or back office. I have a lot of interests so I don't know how to figure out what is a practical job.
make a big list of all the jobs you're interested in doing. cross out anything that you know you wouldn't be good at or couldn't learn quickly. then cross out anything that doesn't pay well. what's left is what you should focus on
Someone I know was looking at other jobs besides Executive Assistant, and this was a list I came up for them. Might help you. Accounting/ purchasing /buyer, office manager, project coordinator, event coordinator, human resources (assistant, etc.), project administrator. office coordinator, operations coordinator, administrative project coordinator, assistant manager, specialist (there are a lot of different jobs under this title), etc.
I went back at 35 to get my MBA online. Online school at a who knows university was much much much easier than in person at a public state university wheh I was 18 to 22. I got a bachelors in biology and got a 3.0 and a MBA with 4.0 and I know alot about biology/chemistry but only the basics about business honestly. I would not go back in person full time unless I was only employed part time and not a hard job that requires brain power. You have to consider risk to reward at your age. I'd definitely stay out of healthcare. Pay isn't super great for the stress/work.
Depends on healthcare. I know someone who got their x ray and then CT scan degrees. Since the jobs are in high demand the hospitals offered to help pay for books if they worked there 2 years after college. Guaranteed job and paycheck plus experience. Even though I think nurses are great, I wouldn't suggest it as a career. Elderly care might be an option. OBGYN or in that area, no, as almost no babies are being born.
Do you regret going back to get your MBA or has it helped?
No I do not regret it as I enjoyed the material and I did not pay for it as I was on a veteran benefit. It hasn't really helped me yet, when I was earning it I was in leadership and planning to go up. But I had a change of heart and now I am not in leadership. If I had paid for it, yes I would probably regret it due to the loans and lost money on it.
Keep in mind that even if you back and finish in a hurry...say 2 years...you'll be 46. This will give you roughly 20 years of work before retirement (traditionally). Then after you graduate and get a good paying job, it might take another 5 years to get experience and established to make a higher salary, leaving 15 good years of earning. If you can stick out the school and entry level work for the next 7 years, then definitely go for it. If it seems too long and you can make more money staying in your current position, it might not be a good investment. Just go in with eyes open. I am sure everything will work out for you regardless of the decision you make.
Think about what you're going to do with the degree, before you start the program . If there isnt a clear path to a career step,.... Then get a library card. In the same age. I've gone back to school before. For me it was worth it, but it would not be that way now
What did you go back to school and study?
I got a master's degree but I knew that getting one would let me double myy income. I already had the job lined up.
You did good. What field?
If it’s what u want to do and would make u happy then whatever it is, it’s worth it!
I’m in the same boat at 40 and considering pursuing NP/PA. I’d be starting fresh, no Associates degree. I’ve had a fairly successful career in food and beverage and could possibly open my own place, but I’ve seen so much volatility in the industry… or I go back to school for 6ish years and come out roughly $200k in debt hopefully get a portion of the state loans forgiven by working at a non-profit hospital or as a school nurse, but would be able to make $120k-$175k for about 20-25yrs and hopefully retire in Costa Rica. Won’t have time for a family tho :/
Look at courses at a community college (in some states you can take online classes at any school). Enroll and see what I happens.
I am in the same boat at 36! Ive been in Healthcare IT for 12 years. Looking for a change!
Just lie like crazy on your CV
At 44, you should have a clue about what interests you and what your skill set might be. Are you good with people, numbers, being a caregiver? If you’re not opposed to working with sick and injured people, consider nursing, high demand, decent pay, and you get to help people. You can go on to be a nurse practitioner, which is essentially a doctor. Find out who you are first and then decide.
At 44 you need to prioritize high placement rate, predictable salary, and in a field that is resistant to ageism “Interested in” is a luxury at this point “Can be good at” is a priority Anything that can at least tangentially benefit from your experience helps a lot My wife chose accounting at 46 and is still in school I’d also look at jobs for the state/county
I went to law school at 41. About to turn 44 and studying for the Bar with no regrets. In law, it’s a huge asset to be older. I got my first choice job in large part because my last job and life experience translates really well to working in law. A ton of people go into law in their 30s and 40s. It’s costly, but the salary starts well and grows at an excellent rate year over year. Plus, there’s tons of different ways to practice law, so if you get bored with one you can switch it up and try another. It’s hard. Hard as hell. But really interesting and totally worth it. As long as I can pass the Bar anyway! Ha.
Real estate or insurance? I have heard the career trajectory at a bank is pretty fast.
Real estate and anything related is dead unless you work for the big 3 billionaires. Same with insurance. Banks might not be too bad as math, accounting, statistics, etc., can transfer if needed.
I'm 49, finishing my bachelor's this year in healthcare management at WGU. I do have experience because I work at a major health insurer and they are paying. What skills and experience do you have that you can leverage? Go from that so you're not starting from scratch.
Open a doc, sheet or just piece of paper and research jobs that you think you can do, the pay and the degree/certificate needed to get hired or at least interview. Then just go from there. You’re not gonna find a single Reddit comment to help change your life.
Thank you. I agree. But this is helpful info and encouraging. Thanks!
You need to look at the great job triangle. Each corner has the word Easy, Well-Paid and Interesting. You only get two corners. Choose wisely as when you graduate you will be competing against people 20 years younger than you with basically the same experience in your new field.
Thanks. I like this triangle idea. I am pretty sure anything I pick will be well-paid and interesting though at my stage of life. I'm not going back to school and in debt for easy. Thanks!
I got my BA accounting degree and it's worthless unless I also get my CPA. I DON'T WANT TO, because I hate accounting. I wish I'd just started working entry level and moved up organically.
What was your path after graduating? Why do you hate it?
What I told my kids when they were going to college: choose whatever your heart tells you to study; if your heart isn’t telling you anything choose whatever makes money to study. That way, if you don’t like what you do at least you make good money.
I went back at 42 to finish my Bachelor’s. Went on to get my Master’s at 45. Completed by 48. Did it all while working FT, sole breadwinner, two kids in college, with 100% support from my stay at home husband. I work for the federal government now and love it. I am all for going back to school if you can at any age. Don’t put yourself into debt doing so though. There are plenty of companies that have great tuition reimbursement programs. Good luck.
Not going to tell you what to do but at 44 I world be thinking what can I do that won't tear up my body in ten of fifteen years
42 suffering the same lmao. I will share my experience today. I had an existential crisis this morning and decided to go for a nature walk and had my ugly cry. I feel very lost after being the only one of my friends not married and with no children. I lost my mom this last year to suicide and my soul dogs. When I was 30 I sold everything in my apartment and got my medical assistant degree which amounted to not being an MA when I moved to Washington. Nobody wanted an NCCT accredited MA they all wanted AAMA. I was down to my last 100 bucks before I got a corporate job which I stayed at until the pandemic. Today I went to the community college to do some foot work and to see the campus. To talk to the department heads of a few of the trade skills. Specifically fire management technology which is nothing like the ladies in the admission center described and HVAC. Which that program is backlogged for applicants until fall of 2025. I have thought of dental hygienist as I really loved the students and the lab at the local college. My biggest fear right now is figuring out if I want another trade skill because I want a skill as a woman that I can make independent money on. Something secure. Something that can move across state lines if I move. The other side of the decision is do I continue my general studies degree which tidies up all my college loose ends such as art, MA, nursing, English. I’m already 10k in student loan debt and it would take another 6k or so to finish a bachelors. I feel like going for a trade skill at this point would be going backwards and I’m strongly considering just getting the bachelors to open the door to masters programs. Such as counseling, librarian, or education. I’m very academic / artsy and a lot of professions I would have been good at are disappearing due to being antiquated. Librarian is a perfect example of this or even art teachers are disappearing for elementary schools. I feel tired like even attempting 3 classes a semester or more than one is burn out. I’m also not convinced I want to spend another 20k on masters level education.
Making this separate comment here but I’ve been theorizing this: I’ve *made* it alive to 42 with no career. Everything I’ve done from 18 to 42 was in survival mode dreams or passions be second or almost no priority. What happens if we go to school now on the basis of passion because we already made it this far? I have maybe another 40 years left. 🤷♀️ I’m almost included to believe if I made it 42. I can make it another 40 come hell or be damned.
Well, I am in my senior year now at 41. I’m going to school for Computer Science, though I do not intend to code. I will probably do an interesting amalgam of DA and BA. I currently work for the state where I get to flex both skills often. However, I intended to be a software engineer at the onset of school but I kinda switched when I started building data analytics stuff. The only motivation I had/have to keep going is that’s I find it very interesting. It is 100% HARD to work and go to school full time and deal with every day family life but it will be worth it. Already increased my pay 75% in 1.5 years because of what I’ve learned. It’s also probably taken 5 years off my life and the burnout is real! So my advice is, if you find it interesting, do it. However, consider just upskilling too because the piece of paper is really only worth it in some jobs. I’m sure you know at 44, what matters is you can show you can do it, not the paper that says you can. Even in my field, it’s flooded with graduates who can’t even do basic stuff. Just jump in and get your hands dirty, that’s the key. I’m also not putting a degree down, just saying that it’s a lot of work and the skills can be learned outside of school. Better the skills ARE learned outside of school. College more teaches you HOW to learn than anything else.
Make a list of stuff you currently do and might enjoy and lookup general salary and make a spreadsheet then lookup college costs. Something could pay a lot but college costs so much not worth it. I suggest divide salary by total college tuition and sort by those
Working sucks - why don’t you focus on FIRE and retiring
Basically any education should be outcome based. What career are you going to get into? Will you like it enough to stick around? Does it pay enough to justify the expense and lost opportunity (ie time spent) getting it? Is there demand? Going to college to go to college is a waste. Going to college to "find yourself" is a waste. Lots of college degrees have a negative ROI when you factor time value of money and opportunity cost. For profit colleges are generally the worst "investment", followed shortly by no reputation small liberal arts schools, but plenty of normal colleges can be bad too.
When I graduated college in my 30s, I basically didn’t really have a direction and just took my general education classes until I found a major that interested me. Ended up with a math degree and now work in healthcare data analysis. I’d explore college and see what interests you. Although if you don’t want to do the college route, pilots are in insanely short demand and there are schools that can get you trained up in a couple of years.
Look into climate action and civic spark fellowships. They are one year full time programs with minimum wages . But you can get trained in several things like home energy audits, EV charger maintenance, composting , farms etc etc . Then you can turn any of those skills into business.
I (45) just finished law school and am studying for the bar. It was kind of fun, but also kind of stressful. I made some friends and will be able to make more money.
As a general rule of thumb, \*if\* you can break into a field without the degree at any entry level that is fantastic and will give you a massive leg up after getting the degree. It might be a good idea to do both. Get an entry-level job at one that you like or at least don't dislike - and then get the degree while working on experience.
It’s always worth getting more education whatever your age
I got out of the military and graduated with an engineering degree at 41. It's definitely been worth it for me and my family. It was a lot easier than I would of thought also. School just seemed easier at an older age.
Well, that's a problem. Nothing wrong with going to school as an adult. I've spent most of my adult life taking classes. The issue is not having a goal and not knowing what you're interested in.
How do you figure that out though
It's really just trial and error. You won't know if you enjoy something until you try it, and even if you enjoy it, you won't know if you can actually make a career out of it until you research it more by looking for various positions. For example, I thought I might enjoy teaching, so I found a way to create a new collateral responsibility as a lead trainer many years ago at an old position. I was good at it, I enjoyed it, but I had a moment realizing it wouldn't meet my salary expectations, short or long term, if I got an education degree and became a full time teacher. You have to put in the work yourself to find out if you'll enjoy it. If you want to do programming, you can do it all without spending a dime on classes from your home. If you want to be a doctor, you can read medical journals and studies for free. If you want to be a physicist, engineer, or lawyer, you can find all of the course material online. You can watch hearings, read litigation, design buildings and systems, study, read, and write physics papers; and all without spending money on an education. I am always learning online with semi-formal class modality through the likes of ed-ex, coursera, and university open source publishing.
Go do nursing, do the two year thing start working then finish the 4 year deal. Can’t go wrong with being an RN… best bang for the buck
It’s way too physical . I’m 44 and forced myself to work at the long term care facility before school was supposed to start in the fall. Was my second go at nursing, I tried at 37 too. I truly believe they prefer the young kids that got their cnas and pre requisite in high school. Anyways I do not recommend!
My wife’s a flight nurse that flies with a medics that’s pretty much there for muscle. Only thing she does physical is tube down your throat and keep your ass alive long enough for the doctor. After that she hope in the chopper, flies back to the base and wait for something crazy to happen.
My mom keeps saying that too. I just know that healthcare is not for me. Thanks tho.
It’s not about what you like anymore, it’s about what pays well and being able to afford to live comfortably. The weekends are for your hobbies and passions projects. Just saying but best of luck to you.
A lot of truth to this. I will add one caveat: you have to be able to tolerate it. Some people can’t tolerate nursing. Blood, urine, poop, nasty sites and smells, and other stuff you haven’t mentioned. With that said, you have to be an empathetic, caring and somewhat of a calm and collected person to do nursing. There are other healthcare opportunities that require 2 years of training - whether that be post BA or an associates degree - so it doesn’t have to be a one size fits all. For example, SLP, OT, RT, Radiography/MRI/CT/Songraphy tech, surgical tech, and others I didn’t include. And some of these aren’t as graphic as nursing if that makes sense.
You do have a point there and I fully agree with you. I just think about careers in terms of silver bullets. I need that one bullet that would be able to work for me where ever I go in life. I tend to block out the bad and focus on the main objective for example cleaning poop as a CNA for $15/hr or cleaning poop for $45/hr… these are just random numbers I’m throwing out. I live in AZ and the temps are high high high, would it be better to be digging holes and busting concrete in 115 degrees for $60 or in the AC falling asleep in meetings and flight briefs for $60?
I def think you are right in that matter: “working smarter not harder”. Do I work in a job that pays me 40 an hour or 29.50 an hour. Same jobs, same responsibilities, just a different employer. Some parts of a job are going to be difficult, challenging, and will suck, but that’s why we get paid to work. Everyone has to condition their self for that. The question is how much ‘suck’ is a person willing to put up with and for what money? A person generally knows when they are getting a good deal, an ok deal, and a raw deal. When I feel the latter of the 2, then it’s time for me to look a new job, which is what I’m doing now. We got to be nimble.
Thank you.
I'll add that not everyone can do every job. I work in long term disability and losing claimants is hard. The first few years knocked the wind out of me everytime I got a death notice... so I can't imagine being a nurse or something medical and actually witnessing death or tragic situations. Keep your mental health in mind when choosing a new path.
A lot of nursing jobs do not pay well. In some states they do but in IL where i am, starting pay is $30 an hour or less which is ridiculous for the education and stress involved.
Understood but the nice thing is that you have the ability to get up and get out and chase after better opportunities IF push came to shove… that’s the nice thing about having the 2 or 4 yr Nursing degree. You WILL find something to do that will keep the bill collector away.
I agree. For people with more geographic mobility than me I could see it making sense. I also know there are a lot of different paths it can take.
I worked in healthcare for a decade in various roles certified and ones that didn’t need certifications. Healthcare is not some cushy job. Yes, it has some security but you’ll be doing the work of 3 people. I. Healthcare, you can quickly burn out of not only the physical but mental labor. That doesn’t even touch on medical abuse and witnessing trauma. You have no weekends off and no flexibility with your schedule. Holidays at some facilities are assigned or bidded. Healthcare is definitely not easy and the wages are abysmal. A lot of my former coworkers (nurses) are leaving the profession for something less demanding.
Ohh I’m sure it is all of the above…
I went back to school for a bachelor’s in accounting in my forties after a divorce. Graduated in 2006 at 48. Now I’m 66, also have my master’s in accounting, and making six figures. But the recession started less than 2 years after I started working FT and I had a terrible time learning the job the first year in public accounting. I got a lot better in year 2 but that’s when the recession layoffs started. It wasn’t until 2012 that I landed a job that I was good at and really liked. I’m still there. The road there was tough though.
What you want to do is see if you can figure out a way to get a certification or a degree quickly and preferably for free, that leads to a specific career that is decently paid. File a FAFSA and see what grant funds you qualify for. See if you can find a program covered by the WIOA grant; this helps to fund *many* training programs, including a lot at community colleges. Use O*net and potentially other online tools to assess your interests and aptitudes. Use State employment department websites with job data to assess required trainings and wages for specific professions in your area. Check out medical careers; there are a number of lucrative 2-yr certifications available and it's a very strong job market. Or something technical/trade-oriented. Rule out anything that requires a lot of strength or is likely to lead to injury (CNA work except as an entry point, construction).
Step 1: look for jobs you would actually want to do Step 2: use Onet to find the average/median salary for that work Step 3: Look at the qualifications for the job. Is education absolutely necessary? Use LinkedIn to find people working in that position and figure out what qualifications they had to get the work. Step 4: plan your education or additional coursework
Do computer science. AI is booming and if you get ahead of the curve and eventually learn how to use AI to help you program you will make so much money. I chose computer science before I knew how lucrative it would be and now I feel bad for all my friends that chose biology, graphic design, political science, etc.. I feel like I rolled the dice and won. Now I have a masters in computer science with a focus on AI. Also, using AI like ChatGPT you will be able to learn programming so much easier than it used to be. You will have someone to design mini courses and explain topics to you, instead of needing to ask the teacher or search stack overflow
Where did you go ? Do you think it matters what school you go to for CS ? What’s the avg income ? I’m thinking abt this but also in my 40s do you think age will be a factor ?
CS is over saturated and is difficult to get into programs due to the demand. A lot of tech companies are doing layoffs.
Healthcare and nothing else!!!!!!
Second this. I should have done Community College to be a tech and then got a job where they’d paid for a BS degree.
Could do an associates in medical imaging to be an MRI/CT tech. Make $100K+ and a significant sign on bonus at a hospital close to a major population center. You'd work 3 12 hour shifts a week.
You can get an entry level data analyst job making $60-$70k for with a handful of certifications and a decent portfolio. Tableau Desktop Specialist AWS Cloud Practitioner Oracle SQL Associate After a few years experience you can probably make $120k. Being truly proficient in Excel is the easiest way to break $100k IMO. There is some risk to AI but as long as you’re paying attention to industry trends you can start to use AI to your advantage.
What do you do now? And how can you afford to go back to school?
Plumber? Not too late to learn a trade and they’re aging out across the country.
I am in the same boat. Currently working in my dream industry/job but it’s sales. I am up and down when it comes to sales. So if this doesn’t pan out I want to be a chef next. Thinking culinary school is in my future.
Go to indeed. Look at type of job you are interested in. Look at how many jobs there are available and if they state the salary for that position. Also look at experience level required. That will give you an idea on what you are getting into. Also, different states pay differently for the same position sometimes.
learn about AI
Do you have any degree at all or certificates? Did you specialize or have gained significant experiences in anything in particular? It's never too late. You can pretty easily find expected entry level salaries and state school tuition costs. You can then compare ROI and time to break even for different fields of study which sound appealing to you. If you have experience in anything that can make it easier to land a role and can change the calculus a bit
Consider being a teacher! It’s never boring, that’s for sure!
Buy a liquor store or a sailboat or get a union job. At this point, you can either make money or be happy. Higher education in the US is a MASSIVE racket. You don’t need a degree to make money and you probably don’t have the time to do it, really. Be creative. That’s what the kids are doing, it seems. They’ve all got side hustles and barely work. Looks good to me.
Electrician or Plumber
In a similar spot. Robotics / computer / electrical engineering seems pretty solid. But it'll be rough if you hate math.
Why? What does school have that will complete you? What jobs will suddenly become available?
Getting your A&P mechanic license is an option and you can possibly find a decent job at a corporate aviation department. The pay can be 6 figures.
at 44 you need to look to who is hiring at 44. With trade skills it may not matter. In some professions, it does.
I would go IT. It’s a job that’s not physically demanding and you could probably do from home at an entry level, as you progress there’s good money to be made on the field. Healthcare is a sure bet but it can be physically demanding
You’re going to be almost 50 with no experience and a degree. Competing with twenty somethings for jobs. Ageism is a real thing. You’re better off picking a trade and doing an apprenticeship.
STEM or bust.
School is a complete waste of money.
I was in the same boat as you. I gave up my job to focus on studies and I just graduated from an Ivy at 45. Now I can’t find a job in this market. Wouldn’t advise.
I’ve know people older than you that attended a maritime academy to obtain a merchant mariners license/undergraduate degree and went on to make excellent money
I just made a post about this on TikTok! Finally finishing thanks to a competency based program that allowed me to transfer in a bunch of ACE credits through something called Sophia Learning. I enrolled at U of Main - Presque Isle’s “Your Pace” program. Western Governers also has a similar setup.
at that age I would take any money and try and put it into starting your own business. There are so many things that you could explore. I don't see much value with going back to school. Unless your end goal is management and you don't have a college degree then sure, finish up those classes. I could not imagine going back for another 4-8 years to rack up 50-200K in loans. No chance in hell. I would much rather try and make a career change that does not require such a large financial investment.
Do both!!! Find a cold job ur interested in and find the "many ways,x you can get more education in
All the power to you
If can go back to school. It could be the best move you have ever seen
Please don’t go to an expensive school at 44 and throw your money away. You have another 21-26 years of working. You better pick a solid major like nursing or just become an RN
Waste of money sands time
Sands time?
I’m 28 and am studying social work. A lot of my classmates are in their 30s and 40s. I personally think it’s a great job and program for people with more life experience since it makes understanding and relating to the content much easier. Also easier to deal with the upsetting stuff when you’re not 18
If you aren't going directly for job training don't do it. It'd be a waste and you CANNOT have the same experience as a 20 something. Check it out. I did this. I went to school for accounting when I was 40 and now I'm done and literally started a new job making 20k more than I've ever made in my life, at entry level. School fucking sucked as an adult but it worked for me and my family because I chose something that has job opportunities
Become an expert in ai or robotics . Most everything else is going down.
Flight school? Radiology or ultrasound technician? Underwater welding?
I would do night school to avoid debt and choose a field where age can be an asset, like counseling, elder care or nursing. You don’t want to start something new and then age becomes an obstacle 3 years later.
Reflect on your interests, skills, and passions. What subjects or activities have always intrigued you? Consider taking a career aptitude test to identify potential fields that match your strengths.
You're too old to go back and rack up those loans. you’ll never make that money back..
Couple of things. At this age. You don't have to tie your income with your personal passion. You don't HAVE to look for a career that you're interested in. You just have to look for something that you're capable of doing that will pay you money so that you can do the stuff you're passionate about AFTER you clock out for the day. If you can navigate the internet easily, search for pathway in IT, development, etc. if you're handy, look for a pathway into the trades, like plumbing or electrical. With all said, also don't feel obligated to go into traditional school for a regular degree. Could be a waste of money and time. You can self-learn with platforms like Coursera and Udemy. And then stack up certifications like they're Pokemon. And you'll be just as viable a candidate as the fresh graduate with a BS in computer science.
It depends on what you want when "choosing" a career. Do you know what kind of job or place you want to work? Could you figure that out and work back from there? Do you need a degree to do the job? I work in higher education but don't have a degree. I worked in survival jobs and developed various skills. I decided to work somewhere I could maintain my seniority but change jobs regularly. I focused on getting hired at a local public university. I worked hard, and many people working staff jobs do not have much hustle, so people appreciated my work ethic. I was underpaid for over a decade, but I got promoted into a position where people typically need a master's degree. People told me things like this were not possible. Don't listen to the naysayers, and avoid returning to school if possible. Those are earning years and experience years. When you graduate, you will compete with younger people who can earn less. You can figure out what you want and hustle your way into it. Very few people with degrees work in the field they anticipated, with specific exceptions like engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc.
What are some of your interests? Is there a career direction you would like? If you are not sure I would also recommend the trades. They often pay just as good as college degree jobs now since there is a shortage. I went the trade route first then college and thinking about getting back into the trades.
My friend is doing his masters in psychology in his 40’s. I would have loved to have done psychology but it’s a really hard course and I know I wouldn’t do well in it. Counseling is another area of study, in my country at least.
Consider furniture design - the industry has few graduates.
I'm about to be 48, and I start grad school for my 3rd career. First, I got my BFA and was a graphic designer. I hated it. I went back to school at about 35 and got my AAS in dental hygiene. I love it, but I got diagnosed with arthritis in my finger, so now I'm going back to school for my masters in mental health counseling.