#careerchange #feelinglost #midlifecrisis #findingyourpath #nevertoolate
Feeling lost at 36 and thinking that life is over can be a daunting and overwhelming experience. You may have spent years working in dead-end jobs, feeling like you’re going nowhere and unsure of how to break free from the cycle. But don’t lose hope – there are practical solutions that can help you find a new direction and create a fulfilling career path for yourself.
Understanding Your Situation
It’s important to acknowledge your feelings of frustration and disappointment. Feeling like you’ve wasted time in unfulfilling jobs can be disheartening, but it’s never too late to make a change. Take a moment to reflect on your strengths, interests, and values to guide you in discovering a career path that aligns with who you are.
Exploring New Opportunities
While it may seem like you’re limited by your age and lack of formal education, there are still plenty of options available to you. Consider looking into vocational training programs or certifications that can help you build skills in industries like technology, healthcare, or skilled trades. These programs are often shorter in duration and can lead to rewarding career opportunities.
Networking and Seeking Support
Don’t underestimate the power of networking and seeking support from others who have been in similar situations. Connect with professionals in your desired field, attend job fairs, and reach out to career counselors for guidance. Building relationships with others can open doors to new opportunities and provide valuable insights into different career paths.
Embracing Lifelong Learning
It’s never too late to continue your education and pursue your passions. Look into online courses, workshops, or community college programs that can help you gain new knowledge and skills. Lifelong learning is a valuable investment in yourself and can lead to personal growth and career advancement.
Staying Positive and Persistent
Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a successful career transition. Stay positive, stay motivated, and stay persistent in pursuing your goals. Believe in yourself and your abilities to overcome challenges and create the life you desire.
Conclusion
While it’s natural to feel discouraged at times, know that you have the power to make a change and build a fulfilling career at any age. By taking proactive steps, seeking support, and staying committed to your goals, you can overcome obstacles and create a brighter future for yourself. Embrace the journey ahead with courage and determination, knowing that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself and find true success.
Have you considered studying abroad? You can always get a visa it’s better than doing the reset, in some countries like Italy a year tuition is around 2k, and you can get a part time job and ask for a student fund or an Erasmus, sometimes the answer is starting from 0.
Have you thought of Trades?
What military jobs are you referring to that require years of time and money…? The years part is understandable, training for your desired MOS takes time, but you get all the training and experience while being paid, being provided living quarters, and food… Not to mention military service members have tons of benefits… I enlisted in the Army at 30 y/o, it is a respectable career with many benefits if utilized properly and intelligently, will set you up for financial success.
36 may be cutting it close on age limits and may require a waiver however, I’m pretty sure we just increased the age limit and I have personally seen men in their later 30’s enlist without issue.
Some people just get fed up with boring 9-5 jobs and want to be challenged / shoot guns and jump from planes for money.
Hey, have you ever thought of finding a niche in working for yourself? Maybe that’s your calling when the employment outside doesn’t interest you as much. Maybe that’s gonna take a while and it will be hard at first but if that’s what you enjoy, it will be more rewarding!
Do you have a job now? How do you pay rent etc etc?
I’m 41, overweight, in college, 52k in debt, working part time making 1700$ a month, I can’t even live paycheck to paycheck. Cheer up.
A bit of advice, sometime you need to incur debt to get out of debt. College is your best bet at this point. Yes, you’ll go in debt. But once you graduate and get a much higher paying job, you can make ends meet.
I went back to college in my thirties and studied Computer Science, currently make decent money working as a developer for a state agency, and have just enrolled in a masters program.
I started at a community college, went to a state school for my undergrad, and after my masters is through will graduate with less than 15k in debt. That’s debt I’ll be able to pay off quick with what I earn now.
Like you, I spent the first half of my working life bouncing around from dead-end job to dead-end job. Like you, I felt trapped in poverty. And, like you, I couldn’t imagine a way out. But there is a way out:
1. Make a list of the sensible career paths that are open to you. That could be computer science. It could be a trade, like becoming an electrician, or a welder. It could be nursing. It could be getting your CDL. It could be enrolling in the military.
2. Evaluate each one in terms of the steps it will take to get there. Take out a piece of paper and for each career path map out a five year plan including the time and money it will require to go through school, training, etc.
3. Pick one. Act on it. Those years will go by quicker than you think. On the other side of them, you’ll be forty, with thirty years of a good career ahead of you, and five years of demonstrated commitment to your own well being and success behind you. That will feel good.
I went to med school with a lady who was 55. She got board certified in two specialities. She said her first career was accounting. She was a rock. It’s all in your head.
Debt is your answer.
Have you thought about being an electrician?
What hobbies do you have?
capitalism claims another soul. mate, YOU ARE NOT YOUR JOB! If people make you feel like a failure, ditch them
Get a CDL. You can do very well and have a life. My father was making almost 200K in his final years at UPS.
Have you considered the trades? You can make decent money and not take on debt, or at least not take on debt that you wouldn’t be able to pay off. Also, where are you located? In my area we have programs that help people get jobs so they can improve their financial station.
I’m 35. I’ll be close to 39 when I get my bachelor’s and start a career in respiratory therapy, which in my area is in high demand and pays well immediately upon graduation. I could do it faster but happily discovered I was pregnant so taking an extra year to go easy on classes. (Also, RT is an AA degree in many areas and you should consider it!)
You can’t turn back time but you can start making the most of it right now. Old proverb: “the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is today.”
You should consider a career in the military. It’s challenging but it can set you on a path towards the success you’re searching for.
My buddy learned SEO/PPC at 45 and became a digital marketing manager and his previous career had zero connection.
Just become a beach bum and get lifelong therapy.
Real estate can make you rich. It works if you work it. Look into apartment locating, holding open houses in new construction inventory, and believe it or not even real estate media (so shooting photos, you can learn how on YouTube and then contract for AirBNB until you get your own clients). Good luck, you’ve got this.
Ask your subconscious mind. When it is quiet and you are rested and unemotional about the day, meditate. Clear your mind and ask it to tell you what you should do. Get a notebook and write down and explore any ideas that come to you. Do not limit yourself. Many people wasted time in their 20’s, 30’s and even 40’s. It is common now days due to this confused world that has so many distractions and negative energy that tugs our emotional health down. Be patient. Maybe learn how to sell a product you make for etsy. Become a treasure hunter. Learn how to blog and affiliate market, or how to flip stuff on eBay. Or become a fireman. Or maybe you can learn a skill like fixing elevators then move to NYC and start a small business. Think big and be patient. Until then, work and do something so you do not fall behind. I am hoping you find something that brings you the happiness you seek. And remember life isn’t all about money. Sometimes the best way to leave a mark is to make a difference and go unsung. Maybe that is with your kids, or helping elderly people. Those achievements are more rewarding than finances in the big picture.
How I feel at now 26 except I don’t even have being healthy/fit going for me
This is why it’s so important to educate young people about career paths. You absolutely shouldn’t be working a dead end job no longer than it takes you to find one that isn’t a dead end. Just Today I was reading an exchange where a guy was complaining about being a cashier and blaming capitalism because he has to stand for a living. People need to realize what a dead end job is and avoid them. Use them as a temporary stepping stone and find a viable path to a reasonable future.
OP really doesn’t need to be afraid of going into debt if he’s smart about it. You can do any trade and learn a skill while getting paid. You just need to view your first 2-3 years as your education. The medical field is full of people in their second or third career though. There are a ton of nurses doing this.
I’d recommend something like X-ray over nursing though. The pay is just decent but It’s a two year degree and should be cheap at most community colleges. After you graduate you know exactly what job you’ll be doing and you should have built a network of referrals and should have some good job prospects. Moreso there are subspecies like MRI and Interventional that pay more and offer on the job training. You can also do additional year long programs like Radiation Therapy or NucMed that offer more money and more opportunities. You can also find 2 year degree versions of those specialties if that’s definitely the route you want to go.
What you don’t want to do is take out a $50k loan for something general like psychology where you don’t even know what job you’ll be doing after graduation. People with incredibly high student loan debt often have no one to blame but themselves. Sure loan companies and colleges are predatory but many people want to live a normal life and have a nice car and nice appointment and not have to scrimp and work while going to school.
I went to college…. paid a shit ton of money and then all the jobs I qualified for were shit.
Join a union trade. Make 30-40 an hour starting… thats what I did. Now I make more money than I thought was ever possible in my wildest dreams.