Suggestions for a Mid Life Career Switch

tik tok on 23/04/2019 - 15:30

G'day. Asking for a friend.

So this dude is in his late 30s. Has a family. Couple a kids. A nerd - IT Manager or something. Used to be a programmer.
Now has midlife crisis and wants to switch his career but doesn't know what to do.

Some of his requirements are :
No long hours/night shifts (8 hour shifts).
The profession shouldn't require physical fitness as he wants to avoid a lot of physical exertion. Is a fit bloke otherwise.
Doesn't know his passion yet, so is willing to give a go to a few careers in the next 2 years before settling down. Ultimately wants to feel motivated to go to a job.
Needs to pay at least minimum wage when he begins working and expects to get decent coin in the next 5 years.
Wants nothing to do with IT - keep computers at a minimum.

So Fruit picking is out. Panel beating is out.

I recommended becoming a property manager as it has manageable stress and doesn't involve a lot of physical exertion. Can't escape computers really.
I also want to suggest becoming a marine welder or a trucker - but because I live in the outback, I know trucking can turn extremely dangerous extremely soon.

Does someone know the pros and cons of a marine welder ? Carpenter ? Joiner ? Boiler maker ?

Any other suggestions ?

Education & Work

Comments

  • dust on 23/04/2019 - 15:54

    Is he the family's breadwinner? If so, would a career switch impact the family? And would he be open to either a career break or just a new job?

    In my experience, I've found that people leave jobs not because of the work but because of their team. A new job/career break could solve this without having to start all over again.

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:07

      He is. Earns considerably more than his partner. But has savings to sustain them for a year.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 16:11
    +1

    So this dude is in his late 30s.(…)

    Now has midlife crisis

    Late 30's is too young for a mid-life crisis.

    Source: I'm 36.

    Re: following your passion, it's really not all that it's cracked up to be. One of my collegues, who has a phd in mathematical physics, recently quit his job to work in a bicycle shop. 2 months in and he looks and sounds completely miserable.

    • crentist on 23/04/2019 - 16:35
      +1

      Hey now, don't impose your contentment on others. Never too young or old for a crisis.

      • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 18:15

        My level of contentment is inversely proportional to the amount of time I spend on ozbargain . I've been spending a lot of time on here lately :(

    • elgrande on 23/04/2019 - 20:52
      +1

      Thank you JJB, I thought late 30's was young too!

    • funnysht on 02/05/2019 - 18:16

      i hear he shouuld get some decent programmig skill (ask this op), with a maths phd he should be highly employable in banking/data analysts

  • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 16:59
    +1

    Summary - he wants a job that isn't physically taxing, accessible, guaranteed starting pay and good financial progression.

    You know there's only one such occupation.

    • mskeggs on 23/04/2019 - 17:41

      I’ve got to agree with tshow on this one.
      His wants are very high, considering his long list of exclusions.

      Perhaps he can come up with a business idea that satisfies his wants, as I think the position he wants is unlikely to exist.

      Even if he found a job with his immediate needs in mind, few are going to offer rapid financial advancement for people unwilling to work more than 8 hours or physical work, and he has largely excluded white collar by avoiding computers.

    • [Deactivated] on 23/04/2019 - 18:16
      +1

      You know there's only one such occupation

      Ozbargain mod?

      • JIMB0 on 23/04/2019 - 18:56
        +1

        I was thinking dole bludger.

        • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 00:43

          I have been told that I'm not eligible - not accessible.

          I have been told it is "so difficult, stressful and time consuming" to chase up Centrelink - physically taxing

  • Gandalf the Thrifty on 23/04/2019 - 17:02

    Would someone take on a 30 something apprentice for marine welder, Carpenter, Joiner, Boiler maker ?

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:09

      Seems like a common occurrence based on google-fu. Even the gov gives out incentives to employers taking in adult apprentices.

      • Gandalf the Thrifty on 24/04/2019 - 13:33

        Interesting, maybe electrician then as they can make serious money.

  • crentist on 23/04/2019 - 17:16

    I've kinda early/mid-career switched into a programming role from engineering r&d with physical products. I can see how sitting at a pc all day can get maddening, but I think it depends on a number of factors, which he might be able to change simply with a new job in a new company, not necessarily a new career.

    Ask him about these things:
    -Contact with people: is he happy with the social aspects of his role? Does he talk to anyone, or too many people, or the same boring idiots? Does he want to talk to more/less new/familiar people? Some people like a personal bubble, some like friends, some like meeting new people.
    -Type of environment: does being inside a dark and quiet office all day annoy him? Does he want to be outside, or in a factory? Modern open office or cubicle? A noisy, busy place, or somewhere quiet and contemplative?
    -Consistency of environment: Is he always in the same office, same desk? Or does he move around the building, or visit customers in the field often? I used to be able to maintain sanity by shifting between office work and factory/laboratory work. These days I'd substitute working from a cafe or something, anything to break monotony.
    -Type of tasks: Basic maintenance and monitoring from a PC, or using his brain, or getting on his hands and knees hooking up cables? Dealing with customers or executives or managing employees?
    -Consistency of tasks: I'm getting bored writing this so fill this in yourself

    I'm sure there's a world of difference between an IT manager, programmer, field service, or sales. He might not like dealing with computers at all, or he may have an easier time dealing with them in a completely different way that lets him keep his current salary.

    If there's an industry-related reason for a switch, that's another thing to consider. I find I miss the work at old jobs, but part of the reason I left was because of limited career opportunities and earning potential etc. From the outside, IT sounds about as flexible and available as careers go, but he might feel stressed by the threat of outsourcing and prefer the security of something like marine-welding enough to handle lower salary caps, career growth, employment opportunities, geographic availability etc (pure speculation I got no idea about marine welding).

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:11

      Contact with people: He'll go with the flow. Doens't actively seek a social circle. But happily participates if there is one.
      Type of environment: Doesn't matter. Anything which challenges him and his need for motivation.
      Consistency of environment: Always in the same env. But look at the first point.
      Type of tasks:He is almost a rocket surgeon. I guess the draining is getting to him now.

  • orangetrain on 23/04/2019 - 17:32

    There's a lot of non IT/long hour jobs on job sites. We don't know what your friend likes as there's many different kinds.

    I understand long hours and possible burn out from being an IT manager but maybe they should demote themselves or take a holiday?

  • zoombie on 23/04/2019 - 18:23

    Join a political party. He will be PM within 5 years!

  • wordplay on 23/04/2019 - 21:01

    wouldn't the suggestions of marine welder be out given the bloke wants minimum physical excertion. all I can picture is crawling down into bilges and anchor lockers.

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:12

      I don't exactly know what marine welders do. Was hoping someone one here is/or knows one ? and can shed some light?

  • elgrande on 23/04/2019 - 21:36

    I have had a few careers and can advise that they have all had their challenges.

    Changing careers before knowing what you think you want to do could be dangerous.

    I would reccomend trying something new within their field, as IT has alot of different areas, or perhaps try for a goverment role where standard hours are more likely. They could use this time to think more about their future options.

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:13

      Would you mind listing some of your experiences with the career switches ?
      Yeah, I recommended the same thing - 'Dude as far away from computers as possible'.

  • Quantumcat on 24/04/2019 - 10:45
    +1

    Tell him to move to Canberra and take a public service job. Less rewards but more relaxed working atmosphere and less pressure

    • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2019 - 11:14

      more relaxed working atmosphere and less pressure

      I've come in contact with a few civil servants in my time and every single one look bored out of hismind! Nice people but so apathetic.

      • Quantumcat on 24/04/2019 - 11:23
        +1

        Sounds like that's what he's after though

    • tik tok on 24/04/2019 - 12:06

      Yeah, but which stream of work? Since he wants to move away from IT, doesn't really want to apply for IT related jobs. Rest of PS jobs need some sort of experience ?

      • Quantumcat on 24/04/2019 - 12:46

        I was assuming part of it was getting out of the high pressure rat race of private industry —- maybe being in a lower pressure environment will mean he doesn't mind computers so much.

      • Quantumcat on 24/04/2019 - 12:51
        +1

        Here are some other ideas that may have been said already. They'll all require a period of training at TAFE or equivalent and won't pay as well as IT

        • Property manager/real estate salesman
        • Horticulture (physical labour but not as much as being a brickie for eg)
        • Chef (same as above)
        • Child care manager (but may require some years as a regular worker)
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