Say you lost your job and were unable to find one in the same industry.
What new employment or professional field would you target?
This needs to be a field for which there is demand for workers and an openness to hiring those age 50 and above.
Further posit that you have some funds for additional education, but the use of these funds needs to be balanced against saving for your future (since you are unemployed, after all).
No jokes please about “I’ll take fries with that” or suggestions about working in retail.
The question is - what professional fields might be possible options.
I would look into radiology technician or another health profession, including physical therapy.
Accounting–including forensic accounting.
Computer Service Technician and get COMP TIA A+ certification, which is what you need as a start for a helpdesk. Look for a program that includes cooperative internships. This field is dominated by young men, but that doesn’t mean others can’t do this work.
Depends on your background and whether you have the energy/mindset to learn new things (and whether tech is something you feel comfortable w)…but Data science/big data/statistics is a growing corp buzz word - lots of Coursera/edX courses. People who have business sense/experience are valued if you add that tech skill on top because it is rare - like unicorn rare. I’m in a group like this and we can’t find good people - lots of tech people that dont have business skills.
I know a friend of friend who went back to school, I think to be a radiology technician. All of the kids in his class got jobs, he did not. It can be hard at age 50 because of age discrimination, yet it is so hard to prove.
If you have savings, I’d look at starting a business as well. Look at low entry costs options. Sales requires motivation and the right personality but options are available. Real Estate is one that fits both of those categories.
On the options above, you won’t have time to train as a physical therapist in your 50’s but physical/occupational assistant is available as a two year program and I don’t think age is a disqualifier as long as you are in good physical condition. You have to look at the state to determine the job market. Some states have stronger job markets for PTA/COTA than PT/OT and the pay is quite good.
I think it would be hard to be a physical therapy assistant. It can be a very physical job. My SIL is a physical therapist and finds that her back is not good enough for many of the jobs she would be required to do.
So I would think about the physical demands of a job and even if you are up to it now, how long would you be able to?
Before embarking on this path, I would think long and hard about the energy level required to start and maintain a business. This varies from person to person, but now that I am approaching 50, I don’t have the same energy level that I had at age 45. Starting a new business now would be a mistake for me. YMMV.
@fendrock , I’ll be interested in hearing the responses from members in the forum as well. My H fits your post description exactly. He was fired from his job, sued to get it back and won but decided not to return to that caustic environment. Add a cancer diagnosis, radiation treatment, chemotherapy, and he just completed the prerequisites for the PT Assistant program and applied 2 weeks ago for the PTA program. He goes for an interview on the 13th to see if he is one of the 12 selected for the program. If so, he will be in school for 2 more years and will graduate at 55 years as a PTA.
He was also looking into radiology prior to the PTA program. If this doesn’t work out, then we have to have a plan B. We are lucky enough that I can carry us financially for a couple more years, after that it may be ‘fries with that’ if this doesn’t work out. It doesn’t help that H is not a computer type guy at all…
If you are personable and like working nights and weekends, real estate may be an option.
The people I know who have been successful in residential real estate are women who have gone into it from a background in sales or development (fundraising). IMO folks who succeed in sales are generally persistent, do their research and are outgoing, friendly, and have the ability to charm. I know that isnt me–I couldnt even sell my Girl Scout cookies.
I would start with what you are good at doing/what comes naturally. My D is naturally someone who organizes things and can see the big picture and what tasks needs to be done to get there. She’s also naturally a leader. I’ve suggested to her she look into working as a Project Manager. There are certifications available for this. Lots of industries hire project managers and I don’t think being older would be a strike against you.
I prefer to be down in the trenches/immersed in the details. Despite a liberal arts background I’ve ended up in IT and discovered I have a very analytical mind. I love to work with data. I haven’t had issues with employment yet, but if I was looking for a new career path, I’d definitely look at big data.
H is consulting after leaving his job of 35 yrs. He got some business cards and set up a business email.
He is a member of some professional organizations and became an officer in one. He has funded himself to go to conventions and conferences to make contacts and get work. He then writes off the cost of the trips.
There are also professional groups of contractors he could join but has chosen not to at this time.
The secret of working for yourself is the tax write offs.
He is picky and enjoying the work that he chooses.
I contract for a guy that contracts his skills to large companies. It’s amazing to me that these companies use outside contractors. He makes a great deal of money. I honestly just fell into this gig through telling people I was looking for work. He gets work by hounding people and attending conferences. He is non stop. There’s been a few years he has pulled down a million bucks easy.
My artist daughter got many jobs through contacts she made at …Starbucks. A hundred regular customer a day. She displayed her work ,did their chalkboards and one thing led to another. Although she works a full time design job now she still picks up plenty of other work. She has a HS diploma. She makes good money.
There are also many,many contract jobs on line. She could do lots of film editing etc jobs if she chose. One job leads to another.
Talk to everyone you know, tell them you are looking for work, get on linked in and start networking. Join professional organizations. Look on line for contracting jobs.
The harder you work at it the more opportunities there will be.
I know a woman over 50 who trained to be a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) at her local community college and was hired right after she finished her course.
One of my friends was a certified jeweler for decades. The business finally folded and he tried a few different jobs–meter reader, postal worker and finally got computer certifications to go with his bachelor’s degree. He was eventually hired by the fed govt, which was his goal. He hopes to last at least 10 years so he can get maximum benefits.
I started a public health nonprofit at age 50 and have been running it ever since. My background is law, so it was a major switch for me. It has been an interesting journey and I am now involved at the national level for my nonprofit, and perhaps soon the international level as well. It can pay me as much money as I’m willing and successful at raising money for via grants and contributions. When the kids were in college, wrote grants and raised more, but now not so much.