Any career ideas for starting a brand new career at 50 years old? (2014, jobs)

[AnywhereElse]

Originally Posted by Quantum

I think that STT Resident is reading a completely different thread than the rest of us.

Well, STT Resident and I appear to be reading the same thread. My husband and I are both over 50, almost 60, and both have jobs that would not match a list of things we enjoy doing but we need the money and we could worse jobs. To hear someone with such an extensive list of what they will not do, well, you can't have a lot of sympathy. Seriously, it became clear pretty quick why the OP is not finding a job.

Originally Posted by gardenpearl

Apply at some temporary agencies and let them place you. Eventually you will find an evironment and staff that will "click" and they will hire you. That's what I did at around age 30 when I got tired of bouncing around from waitress jobs to real estate, etc.

My 3rd temp gig "clicked" and led to a career in management in a corporation where I got promoted regularly and made a very good living. Was it always fun over the years? No, but it was better than the alternatives, many of which I had tried already.

Looking for work at age 30 is not like looking for work at age 50 but the temp agency is a good suggestion but the more flexible the applicant, the greater the chances of being employed. Plus, the attitude that you really want the job surely helps and need the job too.

Originally Posted by mattywo85

The biggest hurdle is your age. They won't say that too you but its true. It all depends on your experience, the field you want to go into, and who you know.

I don't think age is the biggest hurdle. To me, it is the list of all the things the applicant doesn't want to do. A lot of people, number one, is finding a job. I am not sure how anyone can survive on a part-time job and be picky about the type of full-time employment they would consider. I know a lot of times, the longer you are unemployed, the more realistic you have to become to survive yet being unemployed for some time hurts your chances even further. Doing any job until you find what you are looking for is better because it shows ambition and the need for a job. If you need the job, you are less likely to just walk off.

[statisticsnerd]

Originally Posted by Lizzyb23

It is not how much you know, or if you have the qualifications and talent, it is how you look and who you know that matters in this messed up world.

That, and if the person hiring thinks you are type of person he would like to have as a drinking buddy. So much of work is a popularity contest. There's no denying it, and it starts at the interview.

[Badwolf13]

You are never too old to go to college. enroll at a community college and the majority of your classes can be taken online so that you can have your days free to work. since this will be your first time going to school, you should be able to get some finance assistance such as grants that you don't have to pay back. since you are in California, community colleges have bogg grants for students with a limit income which will pay for your tuition and all you have to do is buy your books. Even that won't be a problem because a lot of college text books can be rented online for a fraction of the price than buying a new or used book. Just figure out what you would like to do, find a community college and look at their programs and go for it. you can do this. Plus, you are good math, you know how to pay your bills and count your money...what else do you need to know?

[Westchestermusic]

Originally Posted by gardenpearl

Apply at some temporary agencies and let them place you. Eventually you will find an evironment and staff that will "click" and they will hire you. That's what I did at around age 30 when I got tired of bouncing around from waitress jobs to real estate, etc.

My 3rd temp gig "clicked" and led to a career in management in a corporation where I got promoted regularly and made a very good living. Was it always fun over the years? No, but it was better than the alternatives, many of which I had tried already.

hi gardenpearl, any chance you can share the name of the temp agency you used. is it in the tri-state area? thanks.

[gardenpearl]

Hi - it was in CT back in the early 1980's and is no longer in business. However, I used several back then and they all worked similarly.

[bennett0261]

Have you thought about the Allied Health field, like occupational therapy assistant or a physical therapy assistant? These two fields are growing rapidly and pay well. Look up what these careers pay in California. Do you like helping people, if so you should really look into it. Also see if your local community college offers the these majors. The outlook is good for OTA and PTA's because of the aging population. I hope this was helpful! And good luck!

[ladydi7]

Originally Posted by WilsonWade50

I’m about ready to turn 50 , and I’m at that place in life where I need a new career that I can get into in a few months, that will pay well and hopefully last me for the next 15+ years.

Currently I work part-time doing a job that I don’t like , but I’m doing it just to make ends meet since I’m one of those many people that got hit hard by The Great Recession. I got laid off in 2010 and I have not been able to find good and steady full-time work since.

I don’t have a college degree. At this time, I don’t have a lot of money, my personal credit report is fried , my family and friends can’t help me financially, so I can’t afford to go to any of those career schools to start all over again. I really don’t have enough money to try to start a business on a shoestring and the businesses I could start (based on the books and magazines I have read), none of those businesses would work and be successful here in Los Angeles. I’m bad at math, so I can’t become a Bookkeeper or an Accountant or Tax Preparer. I looked up careers for people 50+ years old on the AARP website, but most of those require having a college degree and or money to go back to school to be retained in a new career.

Though I know that the real estate field sucks right now, but I know that as time goes on, things will pick back up again in this field. So right now, it seems like the only new career I could think of that I could afford to get into, is becoming a Real Estate Agent. I thought about going to school to become a Paralegal (something I could do and I think I could enjoy), but several friends of mine have done that in the last 2 years and mainly the schools are there to take your money and it is almost impossible to get a job as a Paralegal (here in California) unless you have at least 2+ years of experience working in a law firm . . . so then you end up in that catch 22, where the case is “How can I get experience if nobody hires me?”. LOL!!!

So what other career ideas should I consider (under my circumstances), that does not take too long to be trained/get into and does not cost a lot of money to get into the career and pays well? I live in Los Angeles, California, and I don’t won’t to relocate. Also, I'm not interested in doing any type of sales or commission work/careers.

Thank you for your help and ideas.

Hey Wilson, I just ready your post was wondering if you found anything/what are you doing now for a career. I find myself in the same situation right now and was hoping if there was any hope?

[joe from dayton]

Wilson hasn't made a post since 2012, so I doubt if he will be back to answer your question.

[cfbs2691]

[quote=mattywo85;28540465]The biggest hurdle is your age. They won't say that too you but its true. QUOTE]

This could not be more wrong.
I'm in my 50s myself.
The last (2) companies I worked for prefer hiring "older people" because it is perceived we have a better work ethic.
I'm now a recruiter and my coworker just placed a 72 year old over several younger people going for the same job.

[tassity22]

Originally Posted by WilsonWade50

. I thought about going to school to become a Paralegal (something I could do and I think I could enjoy), but several friends of mine have done that in the last 2 years and mainly the schools are there to take your money and it is almost impossible to get a job as a Paralegal (here in California) unless you have at least 2+ years of experience working in a law firm . . ..

Forget about paralegal. It is like that in Texas, also, and I've heard it's pretty bad everywhere for anyone who wants to get work in a law firm. The problem is that everyone wants to work in the legal field. It is considered "exciting" for whatever reason (even though it can be grudge work most of the time). Many law firms get thousands of applications every day. I got paralegal certification years ago, and found out most attorneys wanted to hire their family members or personal friends only, even if they weren't qualified for the jobs and had never been through a paralegal training program...in some cases, didn't even have any college at all. It takes solid connections to land a job like this.