I got divorced 5 years ago after a 25-year marriage and was a stay at home mom. I got my real estate license 5 years ago and 3 years ago, I got my real estate appraisers license. I want to find another career due to this horrible economy as I am out of money. I just recently enrolled in an online class to earn a degree and learn new skills so I can make a career change. I have found it impossible to find any work. I have searched job sites and applied to everything that I can. I am either over qualified or under qualified. I am doing everything I know how to do to make it and I am losing hope. I do not care if it is full time, part time, work from home or temporary. Does anyone have any suggestions that would help me find a job? I just need something coming in…
| a career change at 50 | Hot Conversation |
August 31, 2010
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Permalink: http://www.vibrantnation.com/work-money/a-career-change-at-50/
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Thank you, Mimi. That's where I find my Mom now, too - in my heart. Her good advice is always there. It sounds like your Mom had words of wisdom that we all could use. Thanks again.
Wow these comments are making me think about my own attitude, and maybe it's exactly what I need to do. I realise now that I may actually be hell-bent on reinventing the generally happy partnership I had for 29 years before I ended it. My head tell
I don't have any advice but I wanted to let you know that you are not alone...I am in a very similar situation in regards to my financial future..I haven't filed for divorce yet but I have consulted with several lawyers..I seem to be in the same bo
I think words are really important when you are trying to understand the how and why of this situation. Making "blanket" statements like and using words like "pity" and even "love" require a lot of subjective interpretation.
Maybe breaking it down
I went through the challenge of changing. I suppose it depends on what you are expecting. I was management with a federal agency.. I worked evening shift, every weekend and holiday, I knew that was not for me again. I applied everywhere finally I applied to a temp agency. Within a week they had me in a clerical position, still on evenings, but no weekends. The pay is only 1/3 of my former pay, it is a long term job and a chance to grow in a new field. You did not indicate what you are studying or what direction you wish to go. A temporary agency will give you a chance to try some new directions.
Thanks for your response. I tried temp agencys…But lack the experience in MS office, Excell….I am going to school for an AA in administrative assistent. I just wanted to have something to put in my tool box. However, I am not sure which direction I want to go in, I just want a job, anything to pay my bills…
I made this suggestion on another thread, but I have seen a lot of ads lately for jobs in the medical field doing the insurance coding, I think they call it ICD or IDC something like that….perhaps a technical school near you has a quick course in that…if you can type, there are usually medical transcription jobs available, and my daughter started out at an insurance company in their customer service area and has steadily moved up to a great career in insurance and finance….some of these customer service jobs are looking for someone to work second or third shifts, but sometimes there is a shift differential in the pay that pays a little more for those shifts….I just think hospitals usually need a lot of help and usually run their own job listings on their websites, as opposed to putting in the newspaper etc….just some quick thoughts…
Be cautious re: medical coding. I just became a Certified Medical Coder, and I am finding there are NO entry level jobs, and I am looking all over the country. I decided to pursue this direction because I bought the hype that it is a field with availalbe jobs. I also have an MS degree and experience in health care, neither of which is helping me. The brutal truth is the job situation is awful, and worse if you are older, well-educated and experienced. Even if you are willing to take an entry level job, they don’t want you. I’ve been working for over 40 years, through many economic ups and downs, but have never seen things this bad.
This is also the worst I have ever seen the employment situation…I only mentioned the coding because there have been several jobs listed in the last couple of weeks in my area….I have also found jobs that were previously full time are now part time so they can avoid paying benefits etc. I am in what I think is a hospital saturated area, within a half hour drive there are 5 hospitals, and they usually have a wide variety of jobs available…..perhaps a foot in the door at a larger organization, with then inside information on future available jobs, might help in this situation…
Yes, you will see coding jobs, but the kicker is about 98% want 3 years of experience, and the others want 1-2 years…….they are adament. I’m looking in every possible place coding skills could be of value. Job hunting is my job now.
I hear you there….I have relocated my living situation, but still have to commute 40 minutes each way and have been trying for over 2 years to find something in my area….it is just the most frustrating thing…it is the first time in my life I have not gotten a job I wanted easily….there are so many applications for every job it is ridiculous, one guy told me he gets 60 applications for every job he posts….I am taking steps to build a home-based business, hopefully I can be successful at that…
Where I live, the usual response is over 100 resumes for almost any job announcement……..with highly educated/experienced people applying for any and everything. People who are hiring, who haven’t been hit by a job loss, seem amazed by it. Seems some are still somewhat oblivious to what the real situation is. Also noticing that almost all employers use online apps these days, in addition to asking for resumes, and that means one has to fill in dates for everything, so one’s age is obvious, and one can be rejected on that basis and never know it. I’ve even had some that asked for high school dates! I’m over 60, so this is really disheartening for me. I look young, have tons of energy, but I need to get in the door to demonstrate that. Meantime, I keep plugging away…….
Hi Coleen,
I feel your pain somewhat. I am 61 and was laid off almost 18 months ago and have had a problem finding a job in my field, insurance, for any decent amount of salary. But, I read some of your responses, and I also agree to try the hospitals and go on their sites and see what is available in the clerical end. I once had a wise old aunt tell me.. if you stay in the health or the food industry, you can always find work. ” We all need to eat and we all get sick “. She was right, my sister is a nurse, my niece and nephew work in hospitals and none of them lost their jobs. My niece and nephew both moved up to better paying jobs and were trained. This might be a thought. Good luck !!
Thanks for your feedback. I have been on hospital job postings in my area and the like. I have created job profiles on every job site I can find. I have been applying to everything from cleaning toilets to real estate appraisal job postings. The problem is I am competing with much younger people that have been breast fed on technology, and people with a higher appraisal license than mine… The laws changed with regard to my license level and now all of the sudden, I am no longer qualified to appraise the same properties I once was qualified to appraise, according to the current licensure laws…I will need a bunch of college credits to upgrade, and lack the funds to do so. I have applied for college grants and assistance. My debt will still be higher than what I will earn….I am willing to learn a new career but no one wants to give you any training, learning curve, or half a chance….Also, things are so impersonal anymore. Everything is done on line now. This process is very cumbersome and difficult. What happened to the day of going into a business and asking them for a job? I am realizing that my years of being a stay at home mom, my life experience, professional experience in real estate in the past 8 years means absolutely nothing. I feel like that 18 year old trying to find a job, but no one wants to take a chance, due to experience….Mean while, 25 years of marriage as I managed the house hold and raising 2 successful children mean nothing. My husband was gaining experience and tenure ….My ex has a great job making 6 figures, while I can’t even get a minimal wage job. I am sorry I don’t mean to sound like I am self pitting, but it is the reality for a woman who wasted her life thinking I would live happily ever after taking care of kids and a husband. I sure was naive!!! ….and yes, I am feeling very angry and bitter at the moment.
If you haven’t done so, check out your area community college(s). Most have women’s centers, who can help women in your situation. Yes, everything is impersonal today, but that isn’t going to change. Yes, you need to get on top of technology, because that isn’t going to change either. It’s brutal out there, and hundreds of thousands of competent people are unemployed. Frame your years at home, describing the skills needed to run a household…..management of people and complex schedules, budget management, setting priorities among competing interests…..stay at home moms are managers……will an employer buy this? Maybe, and if the person you are talking to is a parent, they will get it. We were all somewhat naive, but even those who weren’t are suffering today. Nothing wrong with a little self-pity…..venting is good for the soul.
Thanks for allowing me to do so….
Have you thought of becoming an independent/captive home insurance agent?
No I have not. What is an independent /captive home inurance agent?
An independent insurance agent is one that sells plans from different home insurance companies like say The Hartford, or Geico, Progressive, etc; A captive insurance agent is one who sells the policies of only one insurance company, like say just The Hartford.
Oh, I see. I actually got my license through Aflac. I gave it 3 months but had to cut my loss and try to find something else that paid me now. I was spending a lot of time and resources to generate lead and not getting anywhere except a large gas bill….
Hey Coleen1 I was just curious if you were able to find anything? There might be something as a <a href: “http://www.captiveadvisors.com”>captive manager</a> which is similar to the independent home insurance agent.