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I made a total pivot from R&D biotech consulting to product manager in cyber security tech at 35. Anything is possible with correct positioning.
Currently, I am trying to hack how to move to group PM roles without adequate PM experience.
Community Builder
Here’s what you’ll do if you don’t pivot- stay miserable for the next 20 years. Depending on whether you have children or not, you’ll set them up to see that it’s okay to settle for less than what you dream of. I don’t know about you, but for me those are pretty big stakes. So, I would 100% explore. A sensible career pivot could take sometime but to me it’s worth it. And I’d not even go to the courses etc. till you are clear on the next step. I’ve a career change blueprint that I could ping over. If you want, let me know.
Would love to see your blueprint if you’re still sharing! Thank you for your hard work and generosity!
It’s never too late to pivot! There are several options as well. Is it possible for you to get a certification (most certs. are a few weeks long if you’re willing) in something that will enhance your current skill and catapult you into a more desirable role/state of mind within your current industry or perhaps a different industry? Or perhaps go after your passion, become an entrepreneur but 1st build enough equity to replace or exceed your current income. I’m pivoting into the tech side of my field it allows more flexibility.
This is very good. Look at your choice. Choose well and everything is good.
I am currently doing the Harvard Seven Stories exercise to try and figure what my best next move would be (I’d recommend looking it up). I reckon you will have plenty to write about and that could help direct you to a more fulfilling role / sector. Best of luck.
Thanks for recommending it! I’ve printed the exercise :)
You have 15+ years of professional experience on your side. Don’t discount yourself - there’s plenty of opportunity out there for you in a hot job market right now. Change is good - education never hurts. The day you stop learning is the day you stop growing.
DPM1: I’ve been in that spot. You are right, they are not thrilled with academic experience. They want real experience.
I didn’t get it too: until I became the hiring manager. A lot is at stake to bring someone new (and expensive) to let them try out something they learned at school. Why not just give that same learning opportunity to someone internal? And if I were to look internally, I would also prioritize the person who learned it in school AND found ways to apply it at work. So, they can now show me the theory AND a real life working example.
I speak from the receiver’s end too: I’ve made moves after applying my theoretical knowledge at work, and am able to substantiate with a real work example.
Rising Star
It's not too late to change.
In many cases you wouldn't need a whole different degree. Online courses, bootcamps, certifications, or even just your current skillset could be enough.
My sister felt similarly about her industry at one point, but switching employers made a big difference, and over 10+ years later she's still in her field.
Taking the Clifton Strengthsfinder and similar assessments are a worthwhile exercise.
Could you be experiencing depression?
Life coaches, career coaches, and therapists may be a useful resource. DM me if you want some recs.
Book recs:
-Living Forward
-So Good They Can't Ignore You
If you share more specifics about your current situation, likes, dislikes, and passions, the group may be able to offer more targeted suggestions.
I’m currently feeling the exact same way, you’re not the only one! It’s scary to rip off the security blanket. Especially (for me anyway), I’m such a pragmatic and sensible person, I always try to make great financial decisions but that line of thinking has left me paralyzed. The unknown and risk of failure is truly frightening as well. I have no advice but can say you’re not out there alone. Best of luck!
Education is the best way you can reinvent yourself! Difficult with work and family but as they say where there is a will there is a way!
I pivoted careers at 39. I would just say you need to figure out where you want to go first then you can plan how to get there.
I agree with the above whole heartedly. But also don’t pigeon hole yourself into thinking the next move has to be perfect or the final move. Just make a good move with some flexibility and an opportunity to grow your skill set (and personally) and you’ll continue to provide yourself options into the future if the next move isn’t a perfect, permanent fit.
Agree - never too late. 40 isn’t that old! Haha I’m 37 so right there with you.
I would say don’t spend the money on college but definitely Udemy and free/inexpensive certifications and training.
Also most importantly - start a side project. My wife and I started dabbling in real estate a couple of years ago. Now we own two cabins that we Airbnb. And the hope is some day to leave corporate.
Pro
I can help - I take people through a guided process to explore - dream and discover the path that will light you up. If you’d like to know more - send me a message and we can have a chemistry call.
Could you message me, I would love to know more.
I can relate to not knowing if you’re unhappy with your current job vs your profession. I am still navigating these feelings and have no clear answer for you but based on what you’re saying it seems to me you’re not happy with where you are. It is important to look at your current state as a whole picture. Your job is a part of your life but not the whole thing. Think about what you enjoy doing, what makes you feel pike yourself. When you’re browsing through job listings, what sparks your interest? What excites you? It’s ok to venture into something new and different and it’s ok to walk away from a job that is robbing you from your happiness. Also, take your time. This is a big decision and those are big questions, make sure your decisions are not based purely on emotions. You got this! 💪🏾
Don't go back to school. Leverage the experience you have and repackage it to fit the narrative of the positing you want. Differentiate companies use different labels for the same terms.
Have you been responsible for a task to completion? Congrats you led a workstream.
Do you edit your emails or other people's work? Congrats you are experienced in quality assurance.
Do you explain to your colleagues how to do things or die new people the ropes? Congrats you are a trainer in your field who excels in breaking down complex ideas and onboarded new employees.... etc
Try to understand what roles or day-to-day functions would fulfill you and then come up with a list of skills that you’d need to excel in that role. Use the internet to build those skills through blogs, online workshops, online courses, etc. You can get certifications to prove your competency and then network and apply away to the jobs you want. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself, and the opportunity cost of not doing so is even greater if you don’t enjoy what you do now.
I’m 40 and left a professional job in the past six months to start a home service business. I make far less money at the moment but know this gives me flexibility and options. I encourage you to really question your inability to take a pay cut. That’s a real problem for most professionals. But it’s a self-imposed problem. We start living lifestyles commensurate with our incomes rather than really thinking through our spending decisions and sticking to what makes sense. Then we get trapped.
I decided I’d rather have less money when I retire but be able to enjoy the next 20-30 years doing what I do than being miserable the whole time desperately waiting to retire. Because when you’re desperate to retire, you’re often just trying to get out of your job rather than into something new with retirement. This change in my life was predicated on the idea that by owning my own business, I can have the flexibility to explore different things to find what I really enjoy. If I’m scraping by for the next five years but that allows me to hone in on the things I love, can do really well, and keep doing and making money at for the rest of my life BECAUSE I WANT TO, I think that’s a better plan.
But if you’re not interested in being self-employed, as others have said, there are plenty of options out there. Typically, you need to start interviewing at lots of places so you can find places you might want to go next. View every job as an opportunity to develop rather than a final position. New job, stay for two years, then level up to the next thing. You’ll learn more and probably increase your income in the process and, hopefully, speed up your retirement if you’re investing all along the way.
You’re never to old for another degree, you can spend the years moving forward or spend the years being unhappy & stagnant. If your current situation makes you unhappy enough to write about it then you know the answer.
Absolutely never too late! You have a minimum of 20+ years of work left!! My wife used to always talk about her dad becoming a lawyer at 40. I've just done my pivot at 44! Go for it!!
Would you mind sharing how you accomplished this and what your old role was vs new role ?
I wouldn’t stick it out. You could be working for 25 more years, which is a long time to feel “meh” about your life. If you “play the tape forward” I think you’ll see you’d regret sticking with the boring, safe choice over trying something new. You can always go back to your current field if the new direction doesn’t work out, but I bet events will unfold to bring you more in alignment with a career that resonates. Have you meditated on what makes your heart joyful, or what you loved as a child? Personally I’ve found that that’s the best way to find a direction. (I’m currently transitioning from an attorney to part time yoga teacher and hoping to make the full leap soon!) Best of luck! Be brave! Save up a chunk, leap and the net will appear!
I think you should get to know yourself. That introspection will lead you towards your true interests. I do agree that education is typically the best way to make a change, but it doesn’t have to be a degree. Certain careers require training and/or certifications. Until then you could just apply for jobs that seem interesting. I’m sure you have plenty of transferable skills. Good luck!
I had a graphic design degree originally and did that for about 7 years. Then at age 30 went back to school and got another bachelors degree in engineering in 2015 (took 3 years). And my career has improved but not as much as I would have liked.
My recommendation would be to pivot using other resources. If I could do it over again - I would have continued in design but shifted to a business focus and maybe attend Seth Godin’s AltMBA to get real world business actions. And leveraged myself into a creative strategy/biz ops position while building my own side biz.
Good luck!
Seth Godin’s approach is a fast track to burnout.