Changing careers at 36, after building a foundation in current industry?

Question

I currently work in IT (tech services, stuff like imaging, client support, rollouts etc) and have been for 12 years. I haven't reached mgmt despite doing fairly well and getting good reviews along the way. I was never a geek type and have little interest in techie stuff, I more fell into this industry. I really don't like what I am doing. Because of a huge merger, my job is about to go away. My choice is to try to leverage all of my 12 years experience, a recent MBA and PMP credential, into a new & different IT position, or change careers entirely. I know I'm not too old to change careers but it seems like a waste of all that experience and work to go into a whole new industry. But with all the IT offshoring and the extreme difficulty in moving into a different area of IT (the reaction to IT folks with tech services type experience trying to move into other areas is usually "not interested") changing careers might be best. Can't keep doing tech svcs, I'll hate life. Advice? Thanks!

Just want to add that what bothers me is the idea of starting over at the bottom rung in a new career with much less salary. Also have no idea what other career I'd want to go into, just that I don't like what I am currently doing.

Answer 1

My husband is 37 and is facing the same problem. I think we live in an age and time where this will happen to our generation. They say by the time we hit 50 we will have changed our careers at least two times. With your solid experience and background, you will be marketable in most other fields. We have been searching the classifieds from coast to coast and most job ads request an MBA or equivalent. You pretty much have your choice of what you want to do. Look for something simular to what you are used to, I'm sure if you look hard enough you will find it. Perhaps with all your experience and education they may have you in a position comparable to the one you are in now and then you won't have to start over. Trust me, you are in a good position, you are very marketable!

Answer 2

Career Change At 36

Answer 3

If you don't want to start a new career then don't start a new career. Just find a new employer.
Perhaps you didn't reach manager level because you weren't trained in management, or because you didn't make enough high up contacts, or even because the merger was planned long ago...mergers happen, people get bumped, it's normal...get your resume together and start looking. IT is in demand now. Bone up on certain aspects if you need to fit into a specific job or with a specific company. I'm sure there are all different kinds of IT jobs and where companies need different things on the job, find one you like and apply. Check out the jobs on many websites and see what the company does and what they want.

Answer 4

I think it's important to consult a career consultant to help you figure out what direction to turn. Look at your interests and hobbies too - maybe there is something in there that can direct you to the next phase of your life.
I have recently myself gone from working in the corporate world to working at a nursing home in a unionized position doing staffing - so the pay is half decent. It can be a bit scary making these changes - but I made a decision that has greatly increased my quality of life in that I'm so much more fulfilled in my work.

Good luck!

Answer 5

If you don't enjoy what you're doing, you've got a long way to go until retirement. Taking a small step back for a short while may not be as bad as you anticipate. Look around your company and see what other folks are doing that you might have an interest in. many company have an "assigned" IT function that supports a specific client gorup such as finance, manufacturing, HR, etc. That might be a way to transition into a position of more interest to you.

Answer 6

You'll have to go back to school to get an education degree unless trying to be a professor in which case you can apply but remember all teaching jobs are very hard to come by. I would stay where you are. Be happy you get to sit down at work and didn't end up like me - I've got a degree, been out of college for over a year & cannot find a job. I've been forced for the last year to work in a factory (120 degrees at all times) and do hard manual labor all because jobs are hard to come by. (and I've applied everywhere and graduated in the top of my class on the deans list)

Answer 7

the best thing i can tell you is to stay for a bit longer

its still $$ but sit down with yourself and a paper and think about what YOU LIKE TO DO
what interests you what makes you just smile

and look into what you need to do to get there
i went back to school at an older age and now own my company

it was very hard i left a good paying job with 6 weeks vacation a yr plus more benefits then i can count
but like you I WAS NOT HAPPY
it will be very hard at first
make sure you have spare $ in savings to help with bills while you are starting out

if you look into yourself you will find what truly makes you smile

Answer 8

Yeah, the cut in pay would suck, not to mention, the job change, and how it came about. Been there, I feel for you, it's difficult to experience, but you will make it through this tough time, you will. What about having your own business on the side.....a small, part time one, to see if you'd like owning your own business. It's pretty common to change careers though.....sometimes, your choice doesn't turn out to be what you thought it would. I would suggest browsing through hotjobs and your local paper to see what sparks your interest.

Answer 9

Go for it.

You are in a RUT and a RUT is nothing more than a coffin with both end kicked out.

Take a career assessments test and see what you want to do when you grow up.

Best of luck

Answer 10

I am in the middle of doing the same thing and its hard. Do you have any experience with PHP and MySQL databases for the web? I am trying to start a new business somewhat within the periphery of my old field, and need someone with the ability to create searchable web databases. I have a real solid idea and have been able to get government assistance developing the information for the database. I see this as something, if it takes off as being a multi-million dollar business. E-mail me.