Almost 30, too late to go back and study?
Almost 30, too late to go back and study?
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Discussion

aaronflan

Original Poster:

5 posts

247 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I'm almost 30 and over the summer I've contemplated about going and doing some sort of course in health and safety as its an area which interest me, boring I know!.

I currently work with a large fuel group, the hours are long and really don't allow me for time to study or part take in even part time courses unless self study is an option in my own time.

Has anyone else here decided to take a step in a different career direction or job role?

I've a Degree which is Computing related but never really put it to work unless it was for little projects I took on myself Website building, but found it increasingly difficult to find a job role in that area successfully back home. I do have interest in also furthering my I.T qualifications but it would be that of a Network Engineering path.

Gargamel

16,349 posts

290 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
quotequote all
aaronflan said:
I'm almost 30 and over the summer I've contemplated about going and doing some sort of course in health and safety as its an area which interest me, boring I know!.

I currently work with a large fuel group, the hours are long and really don't allow me for time to study or part take in even part time courses unless self study is an option in my own time.

Has anyone else here decided to take a step in a different career direction or job role?

I've a Degree which is Computing related but never really put it to work unless it was for little projects I took on myself Website building, but found it increasingly difficult to find a job role in that area successfully back home. I do have interest in also furthering my I.T qualifications but it would be that of a Network Engineering path.
HS&E top jobs in the Oil Sector are very lucrative and well respected. A ever there are Fat lads with Clip Boards, but at the senior level there is some really innovative and cutting edge decision making.

Certainly not too old, many professions require continous ongoing professional training.

mu0n

2,348 posts

162 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I’m approaching that age and been in my industry since leaving college. However, I’ve had an interview for a completely different sector, doing a completely different job… starting from scratch. The interview went really well and I’m just waiting on dates for some aptitude tests.

The money I’m on now is decent, and I’ll be taking a big cut, but I’m more concerned about the bigger picture and where I’ll be in 10 years’ time.

I wouldn’t worry too much about age, more about what you have to do to be happy or happier.

Go for it.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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Over 35 years of your potential working life left, if you can afford to do it, and it will mean you doing something you enjoy, then why the hell not?

MrAdaam

1,094 posts

195 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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Top lurking.

I'm doing a degree in the evenings at a local University. It would be worth having a conversation with your employer to see if they'd accommodate your needs here with regards to time off and I'd suspect this would be well received should you be doing something related to your current role. In my instance, I'm an IT Administrator and will be studying towards a Computer Science BSc.

aaronflan

Original Poster:

5 posts

247 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
quotequote all
Thanks for the replies so far.

My current role for the company I work with have a policy of no part time staff so leaving work or paying to do a course at the open university while I work seems the only option. I've already put hint toward them sponsoring me for a career in a different role within the company. The thing is they already have a couple of guys doing this, one due retirement soon.

I suppose i'll just have to weigh up the pros and cons of my future, i'm leaning towards the pros though and may have to get a part time job just to see me through it.

Mr.Chips

1,237 posts

243 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I quit my job as a school laboratory technician when I was 28. Went to university for 4 years, degree plus PGCE. I have now been teaching for 20 years.
Quitting my original job and doing a degree was the best decision I have ever made. You have just got to make your decision and then go for it. I had a lot of family and friends telling me that I was mad to give up a "steady" job, with a regular salary, for an uncertain future. Inevitably, all of them now accept that it was the right thing to do.
Good luck, whatever you decide. biggrin

Fromaffar

1,849 posts

227 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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Do what you want mate. Literally. You're a long time dead and in 10 years time you'll look back and think about how young you were and what could've been. 40 years after that you'll be partially disabled and waiting for death at any moment.

rog007

5,829 posts

253 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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Fromaffar said:
Do what you want mate. Literally. You're a long time dead and in 10 years time you'll look back and think about how young you were and what could've been. 40 years after that you'll be partially disabled and waiting for death at any moment.
But on a brighter note...

If it feels right and you can balance the books, do it. Good luck!

IanA2

2,897 posts

191 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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I didn't start University until I was 24. Nearly forty years later I think I should have waited a bit.

Fromaffar

1,849 posts

227 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
quotequote all
Perhaps this explains what I mean a bit better


stevenjhepburn

291 posts

158 months

Wednesday 21st August 2013
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After a couple or four false starts I went back to university last year at 27 to do a Masters. I'm now two weeks away from starting my project management career!

jumpingjackdan

293 posts

160 months

Saturday 24th August 2013
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Not too old mate. My colleague did her degree at 50ish. Go for it. When I interview people I like to see some get up and go with regards to self-development.

Mojooo

13,291 posts

209 months

Sunday 25th August 2013
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Fromaffar said:
Perhaps this explains what I mean a bit better

Ops going to die soon, no one gives a toss, his life is irrelevant? Or soemthing else?




As everyone else has said, its not too late. Guy at my place took a 50% drop to work with us but used it as a starting place and got promtoed to almost where he was paywise withi n2 years.

Jasandjules

72,580 posts

258 months

Sunday 25th August 2013
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When you leave Uni you will have 30 years of working life left. You have (if you left school at 16) only completed 14 so far.......

iphonedyou

10,409 posts

186 months

Sunday 25th August 2013
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OP,

I was 22 when I made the decision to go back and study. So I know I was younger than you, but perhaps this will help your decision anyway. I was working in air traffic control and making really great money. Never had to worry about financials but the job just wasn't for me. I'm ambitious and I couldn't see it taking me where I want to be. So I left.

Went back to university, got a job working in a shop run by a fella who owns lots of shops and was my ultimate boss for my part time job while I was finishing school. Huge pay drop, student loan, silly customers, the works. Did that and worked in a ski shop over the winter. Worked hard at uni, got a job in a QS firm in second year, placement year, final year and graduated into it. Then left for London and a grad scheme.

Now on more than I was in air traffic and very, very happy with the job and prospects.

Do it. It's not easy, but it'll be worth it. You owe it to yourself.

JDFR

1,219 posts

164 months

Tuesday 27th August 2013
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I know of a couple of people who embarked on a medical degree aged 30; never too late and as someone else said, 35 years of working ahead of you. If you think you will enjoy it, go for it.

Sir Fergie

795 posts

164 months

Tuesday 27th August 2013
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Straight reply to the tread title question

No its not too late to go back and study.

Lots of people have gone back to Uni and done other courses to retrain over the years.

I believe - for example - theres a guy on here whose OH trained up to be a doctor in her 30s, my next door neighbour did her nursing training originally through one of the older systems of nursing training but she has gone back since and done her degree in Nursing.

Go for it if its what you really want to do - and best wishes for the future whatever you decide to do.

Its never too late imo.


ellingtj

306 posts

303 months

Thursday 29th August 2013
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My brother left his IT manager job and went back to uni 4 years ago to do dentistry, he was 31 at the time.

MrBrightSi

2,926 posts

199 months

Monday 2nd September 2013
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Im a 25 year old apprentice engineer, ive had 2 very crappy years luck wise, operation to my ankle to repair damaged sustained at work, then ive just had 4/5 weeks off for a hernia (2 weeks were my own holiday).

My employers are deeply pissed with me and im starting to think im not going to be good at this career, i love engineering and machinery and the job itself, im just not very good. Im surrounded by 16 year old trained apprentices who are in their 60's who aren't willing to suffer me.

I think going back to uni would benefit me as i left a while ago thinking it wasn't for me.

Pretty lost with it ahaha.