mid-life job change. what would you do?

[Taylortractornut]

I m practicing my site survey amd layout skills as in 20 to 30 years our landfill will be topped out. but it will need a sitter for a few years after that. Im working out a deal to be the future maintenance man of the County landfill that will be closing in the future. Im building up mygreen house business at the moment so I can have a pretty good job.

Cleburn I have a neigbor that was a Hyster mechanic. My blood boils anytime I have to work on a lift truck lol especially my small clark lift. Did you work for the Hyster plant out of Sulligent?

 

[ENG18LT]

Interesting responses. I too am considering a change but not for 5 years. As others above have stated less stress and more time home with family is worth more than high pay and high stress. I am counting the days to a much simpler life.

 

[techwrtr2]

The biggest question the interviewers had for me was , what have you been doing the last two years , no job listed !! And I replied school , tractor work (personnal bus.) , helping a local Yamaha dealer when he needed help , and mowing grass.

One of the most common pieces of advice for folks who lose their job and are without for a significant period of time is find something to do that you can put on your resume, even if it's non-paid volunteer work. Gaps in history are seen as bad, but that gap filled with activity such as volunteering at a scout camp for the summer etc shows you have some motivation to do.

Going to school - that explains the time easily. Rather than sit at home drinking beer and sucking off the government teet you took stock and made a conscious and active decision to improve your skills to meet a new job market. Once you're on my team, I am more confident that you are going to keep up with changing skill needs and if I need you to go to school for something, you'll probably do it.

Working a side job or two, again they may not seem like much but they tell me you saw a need (shelter, clothing, beans on the table) and did what it took to meet that need. Once you're on my team, it gives me greater confidence that if something comes up, I can depend on you to get the job done and meet our needs.

:2cents:

 

[techwrtr2]

Interesting responses. I too am considering a change but not for 5 years. As others above have stated less stress and more time home with family is worth more than high pay and high stress. I am counting the days to a much simpler life.

Very true although some times you have to do a lot of soul searching and planning to be sure you can afford to leave, will your current financial obligations be met? If not what next?

 

[ENG18LT]

I am fortunate to have made some good/lucky choices in the past, as has my wife. We are by no means financially independent, just a hard working blue collar guy that is willing to do what it takes to get back to a country lifestyle and a supportive (much smarter than me) wife that wants the same. It won't be easy, but worth it.

 

[techwrtr2]

And if you're planning ahead for how you'll accomplish it, you'll have a better chance of success.

 

[art]

Find the right job and you will never have to go to work again! I do wish "I" would have taken more time for my family but I didn't even realize it at the time! That is bad, catching up is hard to do, or can you?

 

[WM75Guy]

I spent 22 years as a firefighter/paramedic/peace officer, retired at 43, did a few things as we travelled around for my wife's career, and went back to college and graduated nursing school as an RN at age 50. I now work in the Emergency Department and love it, although I work harder as a nurse than I ever did at the fire department.

 

[QRTRHRS]

I never throw my "old hats" away so to speak. Or, like a hound dog, I keep chasing my tail.

Anyway, after mostly driving truck, I went back to school once again at 30 and got a two year degree in electronics which got me into AT&T but not as a tech but rather in QA and engineering support. A couple of spin-offs and 20 years later, I got laid off at 53 along with many others all qualified, perhaps better educated and younger. I had taken several classes over that time but never got to a bachlors degree nor did I want to go back anymore.

Looking at commuting or moving, I took a paid course to get my CDL. I had gotten out of it before that and never thought I would need it.

Ran doubles for a year and a half then went to work for a friend (bad move more or less) doing electrical work, something I first did as an apprentice at 15 one summer. Wished I would have stayed with that one. Anyway, having had several courses on electric, I did pretty well until my friend ran into some issues so I went back to, what else?, driving.

I had been driving a few more years when my wife and I decided to sell our horse business and move a bit south in search of warmer weather, etc. Thought I would do some driving but around me, local means out of town for only a day or two not to mention running the five boro's which I have long since had to do.

Picked up a production job in an aerospace firm starting up a new location, moved to QA four months later and been doing that three years now.

Going to be turning 62 later this year so I am thinking real strongly about taking SS while finding something part time to pay my medical. Local school bus company does that. Does not pay much but it may fit right in. Local so I would save my hundred bucks a week on gas and give me plenty of time to mess around the property, maybe hit the flea market to sell some of the junk I no longer need.

One thing I am seeing is that while employers will hire older workers for the experiance we bring to the table, they don't understand that forty hours is enough, no OT thank you very much. Which is kind of why I want to pull the plug at 62.

 

[DKCDKC]

I retired at 55... Jumped at an early retirement package from my corporation when a reorganization was going to screw up my job. I'd been there 20 years, and leaving was hard, but I am delighted I did. I moved to the country, built a house and got settled in, then went back to work in the nearby small city, a totally different job that let me actually help people and do good things. Loved it. But left it a few years ago to focus on my farm, family and a ton of volunteer work. I'm having a blast.

I have been most fortunate - indeed blessed - to always have jobs I liked, to have found good jobs whenever I needed them, and to have been paid decently. I will never be rich, but I am able to stand on my own, take care of my family, do a bit of traveling, and enjoy wrestling with Father Time.