Any one change careers that required complete retraining?

[supernova]

I simply cannot find work in my previous field. It genuinely feels like everything has dried up: contacts, recruiters, let alone leads just aren't there. Recognizing this situation, I'm considering switching to a career which is a complete 180 from what I was previously doing.

While I have a very solid idea about what my new job will entail, I need facilities and equipment that looks like it will be available much later than I originally planned. So in the meantime I am considering going to school to get the training I would need to make me more credible to the new industry. The facilities I would need would not be available until next winter. If I start school in the fall, I could be 1/2 way through before the facility I need comes online.

Does this sound realistic to you? Have you gone for retraining for a second or third career? How did you manage it and how did you keep body and soul together while you did? I'd appreciate hearing stories from others who have done what I'm about to do.

Thanks.

[DaveJ]

1. Well

I'm not necessarily the best advise-giver, but it's been like 12 days and nobody's replied. I'm surprised this forum is not more active. I feel like a freak posting so much in this forum, but it seems to me, jobs is the most important issue of our time, perhaps the most important issue overall, since it is how we occupy most of our time, usually subservient to others. Yet for some reason this forum gets very little activity. Go figure.

Personally I do not have much experience being trained in anything. No job has ever given me training, I guess they never felt the need. I tried taking Java classes when I was unemployed, but now I know no company will hire me just because I'm "me" and not some automaton, so about the only way I can get by is taking it to the street level. I'm starting a site that is pro local economy, better than sites that a big team of bratty 6 figure corporate programmers take years to create.

Bottom line is I don't know. I can't depend on the system for anything, personally. I am totally unable to behave in the clueless generic way I'm expected to behave, and as a result I may very well be homeless and do better work than corporate automatons from a cave or something.

[supernova]

2. Thanks for replying

:hug:

I hear you about being a corporate automaton. The older I get the less I feel like wearing the mask.

I feel like I'm really being pushed into having my own business, I've been through three different lay offs since 2002. Been there, done that and really not looking for a repeat performance of that particular lifestyle.

Here's the thing. The more I think about it, the more I like it. Having a boss who "gets" me, is just the beginning.

[whathehell]

3. I've been in real estate sales and some other things..Now I'm getting certified as an ESL Teacher...

Working in Eastern Europe (Croatia, specifically) is one of my goals.

[raccoon]

4. Complete retraining is one thing when you're 30 (I did that), another thing

when you're 50+. At least that's the way it seems to me.

There may be some things an older person can get retrained for and have a reasonable chance of getting employment...but IMO they are few.