I am 30 years old, and I am stuck in a job I hate (acccounting). Worse of all, I have spent years to get a master's degree in it and a lot of money in school loan too. But this job is really making me miserable, and I don't see light at the end of tunnel? Am I too old/too invested in my old career to change my career path?
2006-09-11 09:52:43 · 25 answers · asked by Anonymous in Business & Finance ➔ Careers & Employment
You are never too old to be happy. If you are in a job that is keeping you down that is no way to live. Do some research, find things that you like and could possibly use your current degree for. Your happiness should come before any comfortable job. Make sure you have something set up before making any rash decisions but start now and don't give up until you find what you are looking for. Good luck!
2006-09-11 09:55:18 · answer #1 · answered by poetic princess 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You're NEVER too old! If you're miserable, then you made a bad choice early on. The trick is to make the experience a positive. You should prepare before you leave your job for your new career, whether it is just saving money to support yourself during the hard times, taking classes, or getting some outside experience. Network even online with people in your new field. This will help both in preparation and expectation, but maybe even open some doors for you. You may have to take a step back to take a step forward, meaning that you probably have to take an entry-level possibly at lower pay to start. But since you have more life experience than others, you should expect to move up faster. Monster.com has some great career advice articles. See the link below for 10 worst mistakes a career changer can make. Explore their articles for other great advice. Don't be afraid -- I'm 30 and going through the same thing. It's been really tough, but I'm starting to see the light. Move towards the light!!
2006-09-11 17:03:51 · answer #2 · answered by Tiramysu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are NOT too old to change careers. The average person changes careers at least 5 times in a lifetime. My golly, you are only 30 years old. You have at least another 30 years of working life ahead of you.
I got my degree in marketing at 38 (I am a late bloomer) and graduated at the top of my class. This is after having careers in teaching & lab technology (7yrs), Quality Controller (3 yrs), production management (2 yrs), and sales (9 yrs). My future goal is to do my own business because I do have another 20 years of working life ahead of me and I am excited.
If you have an M.B.A., try doing some short recognized courses in another field e.g. finance, marketing, HR, general management. The advantage that you have is that you already know how to crunch numbers therefore working the budget or interpreting the financials for a particular department would be easy for you. Maybe you should try sales. The rewards are great and your loan will be paid of in no time.
Another option is to lecture (if you have an MSc). The opportunities that you have are numerous. You just need to identify what it is that you like to do and try to find a suitable career path along that line. Good Luck!
2006-09-11 18:57:14 · answer #3 · answered by Coleen W 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I know exactly what you mean when you say you feel stuck in a job you hate. I recently had that dilemma at 30 years old. What I am about to tell you may sound like a scam, but you can rest assure that it's not and you must have an open mind.
I am partnered with a one billion dollar company that just launched a new division positioning us in front of an 85 billion dollar trend. We're looking for a few key leaders to build a team right here in your area to take this division national and then global.
Are you coachable? Do you have what it takes to make enough money in the next 24-36 months to walk away and be done? Would a ground floor opportunity like that be of interest to you?
Go to jrobregon1.mywayout.net for all the info on how to take advantage of this once in a life time opportunity.
2006-09-11 17:32:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're never too old. What you should do is figure out exactly why you're unhappy in your current job - is it the accounting that you hate, or the company you're currently working for? Would changing employers help the situation? Is there some way you can leverage your degree to move into a different position or field? Is shifting to part time work a possibility? Once you've figured out why you're unhappy, figure out what will make you happy. Is it something you could do in your spare time? Could you go to work, put in your hours and then just enjoy the rest of the day? Or will you need to go back to school?
The key is to figure out what you want and how to get there, instead of flailing and feeling more frustrated and miserable in your current job.
2006-09-11 17:03:04 · answer #5 · answered by Rose D 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never too old to change paths, dear. You may want to do some serious thinking about where you want to go from here though. If you have student loans to repay then you will need steady work that will leave you money to live on as well as pay your debts. Life is too short to trap yourself into a career that you hate.
Make a detailed list of your obligations and evaluate how difficult a change of this magnitude will be. Your first duty is to yourself though. If you truly are unhappy with this career, do some research ~ is it the job or something else that you are wanting/needing to change in order to be happier in your life?
2006-09-11 17:11:38 · answer #6 · answered by Jen J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are certainly not too old to start over at something else. 30 is young. However accounting is many faceted and you may be in the wrong end of it. many accountants end up in various management functions where there accounting ability is a plus.
Treat your accounting qualifications as a jumping board into other careers.I have worked with top salespersons with accounting degrees and experience, also IT managers. At 28 I had an actuarial fellowship. went on to have a fun career, including sales, investment, and general management, but never as a practicing actuary.
Dont do what you dont like but dont thow away the strengths of your training. good luck
2006-09-11 17:07:05 · answer #7 · answered by Fred R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, you're never too old. I think you feel overwhelmed that you had invested so much in something that you had hoped you would like but never did. Well, I think everything you've learned in the field is still an accomplishment. Who knows, you may even get that edge because of that. 30 years old is still young. In the corporate world, however, there are those who prefer people in their early 20's. But if you really wanted something, nothing can stop you from getting. Just gather everything you have and work for that one thing that you truly want, that you truly are passionate about. :)
2006-09-11 17:09:27 · answer #8 · answered by Nadz U 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Thirty is not old...but is it the career choice or employer that has you looking for something else? Accounting is an exact science but a change of the type of business you work for may be a good start, or type of accounting...forensic accounting is a much more interesting and upcoming field with all the whistler blowers out there and will create new challenges and a change of scenery every so often!!
2006-09-11 16:57:36 · answer #9 · answered by Cherry_Blossom 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just started my 4th career and I'm 58.
20 years USMC and USN
12 years State government
12 years college professor [overlaps with some others]
Now I have a small home building business constructing homes for handicapped people - and this is a good place [occupation] for someone with your credentials
So, I guarantee you are NOT too old to start a new career
By all means get out of a career that you hate or are bored with
Sincere best wishes
2006-09-11 17:01:44 · answer #10 · answered by Prof. Cochise 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋