I’m almost 50 and bored with my job – is it too late to find a new career?
APPRENTICE star and West Ham United vice-chair Karren Brady answers your careers questions.
Here, Karren gives advice to a reader who wants to learn how to be more resilient like her very confident manager.
Q: I’ve been a legal secretary for 25 years and I earn a fairly good salary now, mostly because of how long I’ve been in the job.
However, I don’t enjoy the day to day of my role – there’s no room for growth, every day feels the same and I’ve become pretty bored and frustrated.
While I’d love to retrain to do something different and exciting (though I’m not sure what that would be), I’m almost 50 and wonder whether it would be better to just suck it up and concentrate on getting to retirement age.
What do you think I should do?
Dani, via email
Firstly, it’s never too late to change industries – and you definitely don’t need to “suck it up” until retirement!
Your career should be more than just a means to an end.
Think about what genuinely interests you.
What activities do you enjoy?
What sparks your curiosity?
Then start exploring job roles in those areas.
Look on LinkedIn to see what roles are out there, and be open to possibilities you may not have considered before.
Talk to other people who’ve made career changes later in life and see how they navigated the process.
Their experiences might give you fresh ideas, as well as the confidence to take that first step.
Thanks to your years of experience in your current role, you’ve built up a wealth of valuable skills that are highly transferable to other areas.
Of course, the idea of changing roles can feel daunting, but imagine how different your life could feel if you pursued something that genuinely excites you.
Manage your finances carefully if it means a salary cut, and be realistic about what you can afford.
However, you’ve got nothing to lose and so much to gain.
Good luck!
- Got a careers question for Karren? Email bossingit@fabulousmag.co.uk.