I'm 34 years old and no career yet, is it too late to start? (Berkeley: co-op, day care)

[Butterfly79]

Hello,

I am 34 years old and have no career yet I had jobs in the past in health care setting doing Administrative/ Receptionist. But I had to stay home with my daughter for couple of years, now she is 3 years old and goes to day care. I had few temp positions here and there but haven't find anything stable. I fee like my days goes by and I'm getting older and didn't do any productive. Sometimes I think to go back to school and get my degree but not sure in what? Also, I am worried get a degree that I can't find a job right after graduation. I'm so nervous about this and not sure what to do? I hope I'm not the only one feels this way. All my friends have a set career for life except me.

[lerner]

You may have better luck with this in the Work and Employment subforum. But it sounds like a good place to start would be Administrative work, since that's where your experience lies and it sounds like you don't have any strong, specific interest in another field. Just from the browsing that I do on the internet, it certainly seems like there are many positions for admin work open on a regular basis.

[Butterfly79]

Thank you, I am applying for Admin, Receptionist positions but haven't had any luck yet.

[Tarzanman]

The short answer is no, it isn't too late. If you really want it, then you'll put in the time for it..... but it would help to be realistic about your prospects and the employment environment you will be entering.

Your best bet at your age (my age too) is to leverage your age as an advantage. Network with your peersstart off with a few months of schooling in your chosen curriculum and then transition as quickly as possible into a simultaneous co-op or part time job in your chosen field while completing your schooling.

It will take a lot of time and take more effort to finish your degree/certification this way, but if successful then at the end of 3-5 years you will have your degree/certification, a few years experience and a job prospect (converting the co-op into a full time position).

The riskier path is doing 2-4 years of schooling, graduating with little or no experience and having to compete for jobs with bright eyed, energetic, hungry 21 yr olds in the same field with the same qualifications that you have.

[otterprods]

I didn't start my career until age 30 and I was still ahead of many of my peers at that point, so no, 34 is not too old at all. You need to get into a job with a career path that is suited to your abilities and then just work at it. There are plenty of entry-level jobs that offer such possibilities, but not all of them. If you can't get into anything with a gainful growth path from wherever you're at now, then you may need a little training first. (emphasis on: A LITTLE) Employers are usually most interested in people who can learn and grow on the job, ad they won't want ones with nothing to offer but a degree. However, a degree or appropriate certificate does provide a level of assurance to prospective employers that you have certain skills that they can use right away and that you have some ability to follow things through.

[NoMoreSnowForMe]

My daughter is in payroll. She's been doing it for years, and is now 34. But, the great thing about payroll is that it pays really well after you get some experience, and you don't need a degree. You just get certified. Some companies require a degree, no matter what, like Google. But, my daughter does not have degree and she now works as a payroll systems analyst for UC Berkeley, making $112,000/year. She has about 15 years experience. In 15 years, though, you will only be 49.

If you have any aptitude for accounting, I think this would be a good path where you won't end up with student debt. Here's the link with info on getting certified:

Payroll Compliance | CPP & FPC Certification

When my daughter first started in payroll, she just did data entry. Then she took classes, got books, joined a study group, etc., to get certified through the American Payroll Association. She eventually got a job as a manager, then implemented different payroll softwares at different companies, so she learned how to configure the software, which the CA University system is now putting into place, so she is their payroll software expert now. But even if you just became a payroll manager, she was making $80,000 a few years ago in Monterey, CA.

First you get the FPC, then the CPP. Then you can even get certified as a human resources professional, which my daughter also did:

HRCI | PHR

It's a really specialized field and in high demand and pays well once you get experience. Wherever people get paid, payroll specialists are needed. Here's a quick job search to show you the types of jobs you can get at the CA universities. I chose this website because they list the salaries:

http://jobs.universityofcalifornia.e...cialist&campus

My daughter always had a hard time finding assistants when she had the manager job in Monterey, and she was willing to train her assistants. They were often older than her. So, it's not impossible that you could start out as a payroll assistant for someone.

Anyway, I have no idea if this is of interest to you, but there you have it. Good luck :-)

[Hatetheheat01]

Originally Posted by Butterfly79

Hello,

I am 34 years old and have no career yet I had jobs in the past in health care setting doing Administrative/ Receptionist. But I had to stay home with my daughter for couple of years, now she is 3 years old and goes to day care. I had few temp positions here and there but haven't find anything stable. I fee like my days goes by and I'm getting older and didn't do any productive. Sometimes I think to go back to school and get my degree but not sure in what? Also, I am worried get a degree that I can't find a job right after graduation. I'm so nervous about this and not sure what to do? I hope I'm not the only one feels this way. All my friends have a set career for life except me.

Hey,
You're not alone. I know how you feel. I am 34 as well and don't have a career either
I too am wondering if it is to late for me to go to college now at this point and make something of myself.
I wish I was younger. I'm not sure what to get a degree in either. I think the only thing that truly interests me as a career choice is- Psychology.
I think I could again see purpose in my life by helping people as a Therapist. But I think that requires more than 4 years of schooling

What are your interests?

[samirax4]

I agree it's never too late to start a career. I recommend going back to school it sounds like this might be an option, you will find that universities are not packed with 20 year olds anymore. Take some courses and see what it is you want to get into, perhaps an RN since you have worked in the field or something else in the field your use to. There are ton's of grants that you can use to go back to school as well. Good luck!

[eureka1]

What the others said. You can keep dithering or you can do something positive for your self and your family. Why not go to the local EDD and ask for vocational testing? It may help you make a career decision. And no, it's not too late. You have the perfect excuse if anyone asks about your late start- "I was raising two kids". Good luck to you.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Butterfly79

Hello,

I am 34 years old and have no career yet I had jobs in the past in health care setting doing Administrative/ Receptionist. But I had to stay home with my daughter for couple of years, now she is 3 years old and goes to day care. I had few temp positions here and there but haven't find anything stable. I fee like my days goes by and I'm getting older and didn't do any productive. Sometimes I think to go back to school and get my degree but not sure in what? Also, I am worried get a degree that I can't find a job right after graduation. I'm so nervous about this and not sure what to do? I hope I'm not the only one feels this way. All my friends have a set career for life except me.

There are millions upon millions of Americans (many of them in CA) between 18 and 35 who have had a disastrous start to their careers. Look at the unemployment figures for this age group. You are DEFINITELY not alone!