Is it too late to start again?

[jazzkat]

Every trade or profession has its own way of doing things, which you can only know if you are a member.

I would ask a few physios what the crack is for employing a newly qualified guy of, er, more mature years.

Yes, 'I know a guy' and I'm going to drop him a line later. Just wondered whether anyone on here had had any experience of this kind of thing. I'm going to contact the college as well as I'll have to make sure that my qual's and experience actually mean anything in this day and age.

 

[jazzkat]

Yes that's certainly true vern. It was more the getting new stuff to stick in an ageing head I was thinking of. Being organised is often what separates the good from the also ran

Hey who are you calling ageing...........oh yes that'll be me, the old guy

 

[gavroche]

[quote="jazzkat, post: 2972409, member: 6310"
I'm just concerned that at nealy 50 years old a prospective employer might not be too keen to take me on.[/quote]
I don't want to put you off but the fact is that, when over 40 , one is considered too old to employ in a new job. 20 years ago, my bank manager quit his job to become a lecturer in economics. He stuck it for a few years but could not cope with the tress. He now works as a cashier in Morrison and is very happy. He never looked back.

 

[CopperBrompton]

I'm just concerned that at nealy 50 years old a prospective employer might not be too keen to take me on.

Speaking as someone who has hired a number of staff, if I received an application from someone who'd given up a well-paid job specifically to train in this field, I would view their application very favourably indeed.

 

[MikeG]

It's a great idea but it is hard doing Uni stuff at that age. Unless it's formalising stuff you already are familiar with.

Actually, it's not that hard.

Mature students (I got my second degree when I was about 42) tend to be organised in comparison to the chaotic youngsters they're surrounded by. You also generally have much useful experience and good language/ writing skills to bring to the tasks, and if you can do it part time, as I did, you don't have to have endless wasted hours sitting around waiting for this-or that poorly planned parts of your timetable.

I would caution you that a degree of itself isn't likely to be a lot of use in an employer's eyes. They are generally looking for post-graduate qualifications for professional roles, and that could mean you are going to emerge from the process into your 50s (limiting your employment opportunities). This means that you are likely to end up self-employed.

Mike

 

[Brains]

Who said you are 50 ?
My Dad was was a self employed contractor from aged 50 onwards, his CV always had his age as 10 years younger.
He finally gave up work when aged 65 (or 80 in real years)

He always claimed you are as old as the woman you feel (and she was considerably younger)

 

[Over The Hill]

I made a big career change at 40 so I would say based on age, it is not a showstopper.

The things I gave most thought to were -
Job prospects - I partly chose the new path because I knew the jobs were there
Financial Commitments - You can live as a student on 4k a year but if you are an adult with an 8k a year mortgage then that rather messes up the balance sheet. You need to be able to finance the change or be aware of the costs. I managed to work while studying so could make the transition quite well.
Longer term prospects - Quite a few jobs require some physical effort. Over time this takes a toll on us. Will the chosen job be one you can do when you are say 60. Will those who do it at say 25 have moved on into management by the time they are older.
Is the job future proof- we live in changing times, really no good going into a job that will not be needed in the future.

Good luck with it

 

[biggs682]

Recruit for attitude, train for skills.

well said

 

[jazzkat]

I don't want to put you off but the fact is that, when over 40 , one is considered too old to employ in a new job. 20 years ago, my bank manager quit his job to become a lecturer in economics. He stuck it for a few years but could not cope with the tress. He now works as a cashier in Morrison and is very happy. He never looked back.

This is possibly plan B!

I would caution you that a degree of itself isn't likely to be a lot of use in an employer's eyes. They are generally looking for post-graduate qualifications for professional roles, and that could mean you are going to emerge from the process into your 50s (limiting your employment opportunities).

These are the things I need to research, thanks.

The things I gave most thought to were -
Job prospects - I partly chose the new path because I knew the jobs were there
Financial Commitments - You can live as a student on 4k a year but if you are an adult with an 8k a year mortgage then that rather messes up the balance sheet. You need to be able to finance the change or be aware of the costs. I managed to work while studying so could make the transition quite well.
Longer term prospects - Quite a few jobs require some physical effort. Over time this takes a toll on us. Will the chosen job be one you can do when you are say 60. Will those who do it at say 25 have moved on into management by the time they are older.
Is the job future proof- we live in changing times, really no good going into a job that will not be needed in the future.

Some very pertinant points there, thank you.

 

[BigonaBianchi]

At 50 its time to stop working for others, ride bikes, play guitars, and be a bum. That's what I do, and I'm an expert at it.

 

[CopperBrompton]

At 50 its time to stop working for others, ride bikes, play guitars, and be a bum. That's what I do, and I'm an expert at it.

I can't afford to be a bum, but I've certainly made big changes in my work-life. Took a big reduction in income, but have a much more enjoyable working life and a lot more free time.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I'm thinking of doing a degree in physiotherapy.
Doing the degree is really the way into the career. I'm not thinking of doing it just for the Uni experience, though it has to be said that I would easily get a better grade this time round.
Education is wasted on the young, lol!
I'm just concerned that at nealy 50 years old a prospective employer might not be too keen to take me on.

You could specialise in sports physio and work for yourself

 

[jazzkat]

You could specialise in sports physio and work for yourself

That is an option.

 

[ASC1951]

You could specialise in sports physio and work for yourself

IIRC you need to do the general physio bit first before specialising, but that is certainly a growth area. I wouldn't rush into setting up on your own, though. What a lot of physios do is to be self-employed within shared premises, each contributing to the rent/receptionist/website etc. And I can tell you from 35 years of self-employment that it is not stress free!

@jazzkat. Is it possible to identify the parts of your present job that you don't like and see if they can be changed before you jump ship? And ASC's Top Tip #728 - most organisations are under pressure to reduce headcount these days, so don't overlook negotiating voluntary redundancy.

[If it's a Quango, just commit an act of staggering but not criminal incompetence and be paid off with a non-disclosure agreement.]

 

[jazzkat]

IIRC you need to do the general physio bit first before specialising, but that is certainly a growth area. I wouldn't rush into setting up on your own, though. What a lot of physios do is to be self-employed within shared premises, each contributing to the rent/receptionist/website etc. And I can tell you from 35 years of self-employment that it is not stress free!

@jazzkat. Is it possible to identify the parts of your present job that you don't like and see if they can be changed before you jump ship? And ASC's Top Tip #728 - most organisations are under pressure to reduce headcount these days, so don't overlook negotiating voluntary redundancy.

[If it's a Quango, just commit an act of staggering but not criminal incompetence and be paid off with a non-disclosure agreement.]

Sorry ASC, I wrote out a long reply and when I re-read it I realised that if I was to be identified it would be the most creative resignation letter ever, so you'll get a simple reply!
Sadly there's nothing I can change. There is a recruitment freeze at work and with no one to take up my work I'd not get any voluntary redundancy. There are a good many incompetent staff in my place of work and none of them have been got rid of or been given any form of disciplinary for that matter, so there's no chance of that either.

I'm not so naive to think that any job is without it's stress.