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I tried to change careers at your age and am still trying.
No matter what anybody says, most companies will prefer a younger, traditional candidate. I have all the required education, from a good school, plus many years of tangential experience. It's worth almost nothing.
What is worth something is direct experience in what you want to do.
While your background is not ideal, once you get a few years of direct experience, and you're a 44 year old mid-level employee, you'd find your situation much better.
Unfortunately, it will be hard to get the first job.
My suggestion is just hit the pavement as hard as you can and keep looking.
I get that it will be harder to get a job, although I don't know how a company will know how young or old I am since they often don't share birth date information with the hiring or interviewing managers. Mostly DOBs are used in background checks, from what I understand.
My main concern is wondering what sorts of life problems I might have to deal with starting my career at an older age.
I get that it will be harder to get a job, although I don't know how a company will know how young or old I am since they often don't share birth date information with the hiring or interviewing managers. Mostly DOBs are used in background checks, from what I understand.
My main concern is wondering what sorts of life problems I might have to deal with starting my career at an older age.
They'll know because of your resume.
Unless you're only going to put on your resume that you attended college from 2010 - 2018 and that's it, which I don't recommend.
Once you put that you've been in the military and you have a couple of jobs to include before that, they'll figure out that you are in your 30s at least.
Also, YOU might think you look like you're 26, but it's doubtful you do.
As far as starting a career at age 38, it's going to be awkward. And there's always going to be azzholes who will talk about you. In any case, you don't have a choice. I do have a choice and I still am trying to do it. So, you're not alone at least.
I'd also mention that there's a number of careers where a mid-life career change is not as uncommon, such as teaching, nursing, physical therapy, law. Etc. Just as examples. But in a hierarchy based field, it will be more uncommon and your age will be more scrutinized.
If you are interested in a non-hierarchy based field, I would try that. For example, if you became a counselor, less likely to be an issue, because it's a non-hierarchy based field ... relatively.
Unless you're only going to put on your resume that you attended college from 2010 - 2018 and that's it, which I don't recommend.
Once you put that you've been in the military and you have a couple of jobs to include before that, they'll figure out that you are in your 30s at least.
Also, YOU might think you look like you're 26, but it's doubtful you do.
As far as starting a career at age 38, it's going to be awkward. And there's always going to be azzholes who will talk about you. In any case, you don't have a choice. I do have a choice and I still am trying to do it. So, you're not alone at least.
I'd also mention that there's a number of careers where a mid-life career change is not as uncommon, such as teaching, nursing, physical therapy, law. Etc. Just as examples. But in a hierarchy based field, it will be more uncommon and your age will be more scrutinized.
If you are interested in a non-hierarchy based field, I would try that. For example, if you became a counselor, less likely to be an issue, because it's a non-hierarchy based field ... relatively.
This makes sense, and the awkwardness is definitely something I can see happening. I don't understand why my age would be professionally scrutinized. Does age have any bearing on my job performance? If you are talking about socially, then yes, I can see that. Also, I can see some employers being kind of judgmental about it. As for looking 26, most people guess my age to be around 24-25. 30 year olds think I'm a kid when I talk to them. It's just genetics. If you don't believe me, I'll send you a photo, lol. Then again, my appearance really isn't the issue here. I'm just explaining why I never assumed it to be a big deal in my social life. But I want to know what kind of pitfalls I might endure.
If the issue is more of a social one, I can deal with that. But if there are any official or life issues I might deal with, that's what I'm truly worried about. I do intend to get married one day. Maybe have kids, preferably not though. I don't know how that would work out though.
Don't overthink it about your age. I took a huge turn in my career after having children. I went back to work in a completely different field in my late 30's. You have a great history, leverage it to your next job!
Don't overthink it about your age. I took a huge turn in my career after having children. I went back to work in a completely different field in my late 30's. You have a great history, leverage it to your next job!
Yeah, but you have experience, kids, etc. I'm essentially starting fresh with only a college degree, some military and odd jobs in my early 20s.
This makes sense, and the awkwardness is definitely something I can see happening. I don't understand why my age would be professionally scrutinized. Does age have any bearing on my job performance? If you are talking about socially, then yes, I can see that. Also, I can see some employers being kind of judgmental about it. As for looking 26, most people guess my age to be around 24-25. 30 year olds think I'm a kid when I talk to them. It's just genetics. If you don't believe me, I'll send you a photo, lol. Then again, my appearance really isn't the issue here. I'm just explaining why I never assumed it to be a big deal in my social life. But I want to know what kind of pitfalls I might endure.
If the issue is more of a social one, I can deal with that. But if there are any official or life issues I might deal with, that's what I'm truly worried about. I do intend to get married one day. Maybe have kids, preferably not though. I don't know how that would work out though.
There are several reasons that I have been able to think of...
One reason is that a lot of companies look for the best candidate whether or not they themselves are a good company. So, they would reason that is 22 is a much better candidate than someone who is 38 because they still have 16 years to accomplish what the other person has not.
The other reason is social barrier you mentioned. Having a younger boss, peers who are much younger than you, etc.
Another big reason is lack of focus. When somebody looks at your resume (and mine too), they'll see someone who is trying to figure it out still at least a little. Which is true. But a lot of companies don't want to hire that person, because they don't want the cost of training them and having them leave. I've actually heard that in interviews.
The bottom line is that not many people have the balls or the desire to change careers after age 30 and so there's not a lot of precedent for people like you.
I'm not trying to discourage you, just trying to tell you about the obstacle you face.
This makes sense, and the awkwardness is definitely something I can see happening. I don't understand why my age would be professionally scrutinized. Does age have any bearing on my job performance? If you are talking about socially, then yes, I can see that. Also, I can see some employers being kind of judgmental about it. As for looking 26, most people guess my age to be around 24-25. 30 year olds think I'm a kid when I talk to them. It's just genetics. If you don't believe me, I'll send you a photo, lol. Then again, my appearance really isn't the issue here. I'm just explaining why I never assumed it to be a big deal in my social life. But I want to know what kind of pitfalls I might endure.
If the issue is more of a social one, I can deal with that. But if there are any official or life issues I might deal with, that's what I'm truly worried about. I do intend to get married one day. Maybe have kids, preferably not though. I don't know how that would work out though.
Age matters because they are going to see that you are 20 years out since graduating high school and if you haven't achieved much in those 20 years, they will see you as an undesirable hire.
You need to put together a story, that shows you in the best possible light, and talking about personal issues, retail and taking almost twice as long to graduate is not good and the type of story you want to be telling.
Make no mistake, HR and hiring managers are going to judge every little detail of your past and since it doesn't add up to that ideal candidate, they will immediately think something negative about you.
Do you have any desire to work with addicts in recovery/rehab in-patient facilities? They need people to work graveyard and it is a very hard position to hire for since very few want to do it. I know someone who was able to get her foot in the door this way. She said most people she works with already have master degrees. Competition is stiff.
Your job is to craft a story and past, to put yourself in the best light, while trying to land that first professional career job.
So if someone asks you why did it take you so long to graduate, you better have a better answer than "personal issues". That isn't going to fly.
It is a bachelors, yes. I guess my questions is what kind of life can I expect? Will I be working until I'm 90? Will I be able to have a full and active career at this point? Is it even worth it to start at this point?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Skyler0311
I'm just worried that at my age I would be professionally disadvantaged. I don't honestly know why, it's just a vague feeling that I have that starting so late could be a problem. I honestly don't know what issues there would be, specifically. I just thought it's a bad idea to start a career late.
You keep asking about starting a career as if you have other options, but I'm not seeing what they are. Do you mean starting a career as opposed to working in retail or something similar?
Depending on where you are, you could look at some temp jobs to see if you can get a feel for different areas of work and employers where you live.
Since you have some retail experience, you can look at jobs with companies that have manager programs, such as grocery store chains and department stores.
With a bachelor's in psychology and an interest in non-profits, you can keep an eye on domestic violence/ homeless/ runaway shelters/ halfway houses in your area for openings doing intake or answering the crisis line.
Look at doctors' offices who are seeking clerical or front office help and try to learn that end of the insurance business.
Or, you could see about getting a teaching certificate, if that appeals to you at all.
Presumably you need some sort of job, so I think you should stop worrying about how old you are and look for an entry level position that prefers someone with a bachelor's degree.
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