[Misc] Career change at 36

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Been an estate agent for about 16 years and I've had enough. To be honest with you I've never enjoyed it, but it's not exactly the hardest job in the word so I've done ok at it and earned decent money. Have wanted to quit for years but because of mortgage/kids etc I've never wanted to take the risk of starting again and earning less money so instead I've changed job every couple of years in the hope of finding some happiness which I never have. The truth is I really don't like sales, it doesn't suit my personality at all but I've found it hard to get out.

I've struggled with it for years but it's really started to get me down recently. I've been suffering from stress quite a bit this year and I hate going to work each day - it is therefore also effecting my home life and I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful family so don't want to bring them down. With support from my other half we've agreed I do need to do something about it now as the way things are, people my age are going to be working for another 35 years or so which is a long time to be unhappy.

I fell in to estate agency as college/university just wasn't for me so unfortunately I don't have any qualifications or skills as such but i have always enjoyed being outside, practical and DIY etc. My brother in law is a brickie so I have helped him out a couple of times and I'm going to go on a part time course and work a bit with him at weekends whilst still working full time to hopefully train up to start working in the building industry. It will also mean that some of the experience I've built up in property will still go to a little use.

So I thought i'd put it out to the fount of knowledge that is NSC and see if anyone here has had a similar experience and changed career in late 30's/40's and how it worked out? Also any brickies/builders out there want to share their opinions on the job?!

 

[Common as Mook]

Firstly, well done for taking the leap. That's the hardest part accomplished!

I was made redundant at 33 from a career I absolutely hated. It was the best thing that ever happened to me and gave me the kick up the jacksy I needed to pursue something I would really enjoyed doing. A lot of perseverance and dealing with rejection, and I'm now in a job I love, and I'm generally a nicer bloke to be around (I think!)

Good luck and you will look back in 1/2 years and think it's the best thing you've ever done.

 

[Deadly Danson]

Complete change in career at 34/35 to become a train driver after quitting a nice (but completely different) job to go travelling. Best decision I ever made.

 

[Normal Rob]

With support from my other half we've agreed I do need to do something about it now !

My friend if that is the case i'm sure all will be fine in the end. It's a joint decision when you have a family, and you are clearly united and up for the challenge.
Good luck, it won't be easy, but you'll be alright

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

Quit a job I hated about 4 years ago to go travelling and then change career and I've not looked back since. Admittedly I was late 20s, but I don't regret it for a second.

 

[Bakero]

Quit a job I hated about 4 years ago to go travelling and then change career and I've not looked back since. Admittedly I was late 20s, but I don't regret it for a second.

What's the new career?

 

[Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ]

Trained as an Architect and worked as one in London and Costa Rica until about 30, then 4 years ago my wife and I opened a restaurant/food stand as a side that ended up becoming my full time job.

 

[Badger Boy]

36 is no age, you're a young man. Focus on your family and your life outside of work and keep doing what you're doing, learn some new skills and see what you fancy doing. A friend of mine is a dentist but hates it, he's doing a lot of studying at the moment with the intention of changing jobs as soon as possible but he's in a similar position to you, he needs to bide his time.

Good luck to you, Fareham Seagull and I hope you feel less stress on a daily basis.

 

[BNthree]

Complete change in career at 34/35 to become a train driver .

\

I've applied a couple of times but always fail the psychological test!

 

[Frutos]

I left my old job and career behind in May 2017 (I was 33 at the time) to move up to Northumberland to live with my partner.

Fast-forward to now and I'm in a completely different job and career, but one that I enjoy far more than I ever did my old job, and it is much less stressful as well. My partner and I got engaged earlier this year and literally yesterday we moved into the flat we've just bought together.

There have been tough parts along the way, but taking that leap is one of the best things I have ever done - sometimes it gets to the point where you NEED a change, and it sounds like you're there.

Go for it and don't stress too much if there are tricky patches - you'll get there and you'll feel much better in every single way when you do.

 

[BNthree]

So I thought i'd put it out to the fount of knowledge that is NSC and see if anyone here has had a similar experience and changed career in late 30's/40's and how it worked out? Also any brickies/builders out there want to share their opinions on the job?!

Well done and good luck! Keep some contacts with the estate agents you know and you could soon be buying properties to do up with your brother.

 

[dazzer6666]

Been an estate agent for about 16 years and I've had enough. To be honest with you I've never enjoyed it, but it's not exactly the hardest job in the word so I've done ok at it and earned decent money. Have wanted to quit for years but because of mortgage/kids etc I've never wanted to take the risk of starting again and earning less money so instead I've changed job every couple of years in the hope of finding some happiness which I never have. The truth is I really don't like sales, it doesn't suit my personality at all but I've found it hard to get out.

I've struggled with it for years but it's really started to get me down recently. I've been suffering from stress quite a bit this year and I hate going to work each day - it is therefore also effecting my home life and I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful family so don't want to bring them down. With support from my other half we've agreed I do need to do something about it now as the way things are, people my age are going to be working for another 35 years or so which is a long time to be unhappy.

I fell in to estate agency as college/university just wasn't for me so unfortunately I don't have any qualifications or skills as such but i have always enjoyed being outside, practical and DIY etc. My brother in law is a brickie so I have helped him out a couple of times and I'm going to go on a part time course and work a bit with him at weekends whilst still working full time to hopefully train up to start working in the building industry. It will also mean that some of the experience I've built up in property will still go to a little use.

So I thought i'd put it out to the fount of knowledge that is NSC and see if anyone here has had a similar experience and changed career in late 30's/40's and how it worked out? Also any brickies/builders out there want to share their opinions on the job?!

Can't offer a lot of advice, but wish you all the best - as others have said you've already done the hardest thing in stepping away. Don't underestimate yourself though - you say in your post you have no skills - that absolutely won't be the case if you've been in that type of job for that long - think about the things you were good at (managing customers ? Dealing with complaints ? Being responsive to questions ? Paperwork/admin ?)....I bet there are loads of skills - or characteristics - you've developed that will be useful in other fields - just need to find the right outlet.

 

[timbha]

Been an estate agent for about 16 years and I've had enough. To be honest with you I've never enjoyed it, but it's not exactly the hardest job in the word so I've done ok at it and earned decent money. Have wanted to quit for years but because of mortgage/kids etc I've never wanted to take the risk of starting again and earning less money so instead I've changed job every couple of years in the hope of finding some happiness which I never have. The truth is I really don't like sales, it doesn't suit my personality at all but I've found it hard to get out.

I've struggled with it for years but it's really started to get me down recently. I've been suffering from stress quite a bit this year and I hate going to work each day - it is therefore also effecting my home life and I'm lucky enough to have a beautiful family so don't want to bring them down. With support from my other half we've agreed I do need to do something about it now as the way things are, people my age are going to be working for another 35 years or so which is a long time to be unhappy.

I fell in to estate agency as college/university just wasn't for me so unfortunately I don't have any qualifications or skills as such but i have always enjoyed being outside, practical and DIY etc. My brother in law is a brickie so I have helped him out a couple of times and I'm going to go on a part time course and work a bit with him at weekends whilst still working full time to hopefully train up to start working in the building industry. It will also mean that some of the experience I've built up in property will still go to a little use.

So I thought i'd put it out to the fount of knowledge that is NSC and see if anyone here has had a similar experience and changed career in late 30's/40's and how it worked out? Also any brickies/builders out there want to share their opinions on the job?!

What a grown up, mature and sensible post. When you say you have no qualifications you are being too hard on yourself. You will have learned tons in your time as an estate agent, both good and bad and all that are transferable.

Everyone I know wants a good builder but is having to wait months to get the job done so there are lots of opportunities out there.

I wish you luck and congratulate you on a great decision. Your family want and deserve a happy dad!

 

[B-right-on]

Left an office job in 2008 when the credit crunch happened. Was petty handy and so started advertising Handyman services and specialised in gutters. 10 years later still going strong and love it, have a lad working for me full-time. Still stressful sometimes but much better than office work.

 

[beorhthelm]

going down the path of building trade, bricky, carpenter, plumber, electrician should be quite doable with a bit of aptitude and work. if you fancy something office based, try learning programming, .Net, C#, Scala in demand and jobs around the south coast, you can learn at home maybe get some experience on small projects of anyone you know runs a business wants a database or app written.

 

[SK1NT]

Good luck with the career change. 36 is no age especially when you think you still have about 30 years of work to go.

Funny that you are an estate agent, as that has always been a job i quite fancied doing, maybe that's because i work in IT, that anything looks fun

 

[timbha]

Bruno became a PL player at 36!!

 

[Knocky's Nose]

I've been through similar to you fella. I was self-employed in the Motor Trade for 14 years. Loved it to start with. Huge laughs, great money, jolly boys club, fantastic memories - couldn't wait to get up in the mornings. It then changed beyond all recognition and for the last 1-2 years I hated it. Hated going to work, I was miserable - with no enthusiasm. I felt trapped. I went home one day, welled up in tears, told the Missus - and she just said "change career!". So, I did some research and I bloody did!

I threw the whole car thing in aged 34 and started a business in high-end Audio Visual (a hobby of mine) and again couldn't wait to get to work. It was so exciting starting a new business doing something I loved - and the days flew by. I'd start at 7am, blink, and it'd be 7pm! I was driving an Aston Martin, flying First Class and all that bollocks within about 7 years of starting from nothing. Best move I ever made.

Just over a year ago it all fell to bits (thanks to the brand I was dealing in going down the toilet...) and I'm back to square one. I now shop at Aldi, not Waitrose, it's Center Parcs, not Dubai, and it's EasyJet, not Emirates. So, this time I'm 47 and starting all over again. Yes... FML, boo hoo, etc...

Shit happens. If you don't go for it you'll never know. It could work, it could fail. It could work, then fail. It could fail, then you do it differently and it works - but as long as you've been happy doing it, it's all worthwhile. It's a journey. Personally I might be on my arse for now, but I'm still smiling and have some great memories. You'll have them from your days in the Estate Agency game I'm sure, so don't look back in anger (I think that's been said before somewhere..).

One thing though is... don't be scared. Be a bit daunted, a bit nervous even - that keeps you on your toes... but not scared. If you have bills to pay, why not get a part time job doing something you love alongside launching your new venture until it gains traction. If it's outdoors, what about helping a dog-walker? Labouring? Evening shifts somewhere?

I wish you all the luck in the world, and remember that as long as you're doing something you love, it's not really work - it's a paid hobby

 

[Geestar]

Best of luck to you.

I have been trying to get out of the education system for a long time, very difficult!

Sent from my TA-1020 using Tapatalk

 

[Pogue Mahone]

Best of luck to you.

I have been trying to get out of the education system for a long time, very difficult!

Sent from my TA-1020 using Tapatalk

Are you a teacher? I was a full time Primary Teacher for 24 years, but had had enough two years ago, and gave it up. but am still a teacher, now working supply. The stress has lifted from my shoulders. I sleep well, and am substantially happier.

I work pretty much full time, and am employed by three schools so don't have to bother much with agency work (which is poorly paid, and which I resent). I love it - it reminds me what I always loved about teaching.