Hi - thinking of a job switch, although I’m about 7 years or so from retirement. This would be to create more flexiblity - possibly travel more and/or relocate near to where kids are (1600 miles away - we love it there).
Current job is wonderful - challenging, great colleagues, nice salary. But I’m looking for a new adventure - wondering if others have done the same and if you saw any pros/cons?
Thinking about some risks - new job could be bad; may need to cut into savings while finding new one. Maybe bit harder to get hired - perhaps - since not 25 Current job is very supportive with good health benefits - if a health issue arose at a new job, may not provide continued employment.
But…adventure! Travel (if job remote). Beautiful nature. Seeing my kids more (#1).
Hi Joylynne,
I was just about to post with a similar question. I am wondering how the job market is for us older people. I have seen my younger colleagues jump easily to other companies.
My situation is a little different than yours. I am just disappointed with my current work environment, due to recent changes, but there are pluses to stay so I am curious as well. I hope you get some great answers. I will be following.
I am about 3 years from retirement, unless I continue to like my job.
In the last 10 years I have changed my jobs 7 times. Last year was my record - 3. I guess I was trying to find myself. There were something wrong at every job, until I landed my current job.
I changed my profession (skills) slightly at every job and finally ended up with something I like, and it happens to be a desirable profession now.
An obvious downside is having to get use to a new place (new boss, new colleagues, new way of doing things), but it can also be energizing. It really depends on what kind of person you are. You may lose out on your 401k if you don’t stay longer than 3 years (many companies have 3 yrs vesting) and vacation days (you can also negotiate ahead of time).
Many companies do not ask for your birthdate now. You can exclude some work experiences to not make your age as apparent. I would polish up your Linkedin profile to impress your potential employers.
I am not finding my age as an issue when looking for new jobs.
Good luck.
lia_b- I have to say, I went from thinking “who would hire me?” last summer to listening to some encouraging family members and talking to my grad school career placement center - things have changed a lot! My career placement advisor suggested going on LinkedIn and finding people with jobs similar to the one(s) you’d like, then reaching out to them to do a quick info interview (or just ask questions through LinkedIn messenger).
It’s been really enlightening! I’ve met a bunch of people who have been pretty enthusiastic about my skill set (initially pretty surprising!). I’ve joined some groups and met folks via Zoom meetings. I’m not ready to actively look for a job or apply, but laying the groundwork has been fun.
I’d suggest - reaching out to your undergrad or grad school career center; upgrade your LinkedIn profile (I got professional head shots - so fun and so much better!), upgrade your LinkedIn work history/bio, and redo your resume. Remove dates from your education and leave off first few jobs unless absolutely critical. I’m working on the resume now and my school’s career center will review.
Good luck and hope others might want to share their journeys/ideas!
oldfort - thanks for sharing!! That is inspiring. I also find the idea of a new location (even new type of career) exciting and energizing. And I really love my current job! It’s just the challenge that is intriguing (and possibility to move to a new place).
Did you find some freedom in the concept that you will not necessarily be doing the new job for 20+ years? While 5 days a week can be long at something you don’t enjoy - having a retirement fund and the option to scale back to - say - part time in a few years I am finding provides a little more freedom in considering upsetting the career applecart!
I.e., it’s not for decades, so easier to consider change…
Twelve years ago, my husband took a new job. He could have retired 5 years or so into that job…but he really likes it…and while sort of retired, he continues consulting with that company.
My dad was able to request a transfer from one location to another in order to move closer to us. He was able to get them to pay the moving expenses and worked there for 5 years before they decided they didn’t need him there. They asked him to move back and he retired. It worked out GREAT but my mom needed COBRA for a few years. They figured it was equal to the moving costs so they were happy.
My H made a major job change 4 years ago. Was the best decision ever. We joke that it felt like he was leaving a cult now that he actually has great work/life balance. We didn’t know what he was missing ; )
On the flip side, I think it is skill/job dependent. I have a friend who has been looking to make a change and has been searching without any luck for 8 months. She’s been on a bunch of interviews and has gotten some offers, but not anything that is enticing enough when looking at salary, perks, vacation time, flexibility, etc…
I’ll throw out a question for you - is there any flexibility with your current employer to morph the role, which it sounds like you enjoy, into the perfect balance? My husband’s employer has been super flexibility with people because they don’t want to lose them!
I’m 62 and still working full time. I don’t dislike my job but wish I had made a switch 7 years ago at 55. There did come a point when I realized that I had waited too long (for the purpose of my state pension) to make changing worthwhile. I would love a new adventure now! I’m thinking about retiring within a year but doing something different part time to cover health insurance costs till I’m 65. So while I might get a new adventure, I wish I had done it earlier.
You sound pretty satisfied with your job and perks. The only drawback is “freedom”. Is it possible to work hard, save $$ and make retirement happen a little earlier?
I think it also depends on your field. Are there WFH opportunities that you are qualified for or would be happy with?
“Late-stage” is relative. At 62 now, 55 does not sound “late”!
My husband is looking to retire from his current job with the state in two or three years when he will have 20 yrs in and be eligible for a pension. He does not love his job and is looking to do something else. The 20 yr pension is not much, but he feels like if he doesn’t get out then he will be stuck waiting until 30 years and he would rather do something else with those 10 years. I will probably have to go on the ACA/Obamacare but I think we can make that work. He will definitely be looking for another job or start a business or something. He’s just not that happy with his current job and our nest will be pretty empty by then with the last one most of the way through college so a good time to make a change when he is in his 50s and can still do something else.
My husband changed jobs at 63. That said, he was headhunted and not looking, and also one of his conditions of moving was a 5 uear employment contract in case things went south (the contract was unusual for the employer).
You sound like you love your job so much plus all the benefits. Is there a way to create more of what you want there? Transfer offices for that adventure feel? Scale back work while still getting benefits to enable more travel? WFH, which could mean working from where your kids are? Or anywhere else the travel bug sends you?
I have neighbors who WFH, and they’ve started combining work and vacation where their kids live. They get an Airbnb for a month and spend two of those weeks working and two off. They get to see their kids a lot that way, and getting an Airbnb for a month wasn’t that much more expensive than getting it for a shorter time.
DH retired last year and has gotten a job – ready for this? – bagging groceries. No benefits and crappy pay, but it is so much less stress, the right amount of physical exertion, we get a discount on food and did I mention less stress? He loves being a part of the neighborhood and seeing people he knows. I don’t think this is the kind of change you had in mind, but, yeah, it’s amazing how a change can improve your outlook.
Sounds like you don’t have any such new job yet. May be better to look for a new job and then compare it with your current one if you do get an offer. Leaving your current job without a firm offer seems like a bad idea.
DH changed jobs 3 years ago; an old colleague had been trying to get DH to join him at his current company. DH threw out a number and told him he’d only do it if he could be a remote employee; it was one year before covid. It allowed us to move where we wanted. DH was the first remote employee they’d ever had. Kinda funny now; the whole department went remote 2 years ago, and they decided to remain remote permanently because everyone wanted to move. The team ended up moving out of the northeast and to their individual retirement destinations. If you’re looking for a change you probably have more pull than you think; maybe your employer would consider remote or partial remote.
Somewhat similar story – I’ve been applying for jobs in a different region both to improve my work environment and to “go back” where our kids and extended family all live. At 60, in a field where there are lots of young people with “fresher” experience, I have gotten to the “finalist” stage a few times but not gotten the job. I’ve chalked it up to age – why invest in someone who has 7+ years left in their career when you can get someone just as qualified who has potentially 20+ years?
But now, reading about the folks who have been successful in making such a move, I’m starting to feel, maybe it’s really me and not my age!
I enjoy the day-to-day of my current work but am fairly marginalized in my work environment and out of sync with our surrounding community. My spouse and I are considering retiring in 5 years and relocating so I’m not “stuck.” But, as I think about the end of my career, I’d like to be in a professional environment that values my contributions and that won’t happen in the current setting.
My older brother is 66 and just in the last year or two got a new job, but he said he got upwards of 60+ rejections. He is in tech. He did finally land a remote position with a startup and enjoys it.
Knowing I could leave my job in few years actually make my job more enjoyable. I am happy with my title (position) and pay. If I do not get promoted again I would be happy. I share my experiences with people without worrying about if I need to get credit for it. My job is still intense, but I don’t feel as much pressure. I think the fact that I don’t have to worry about losing my job or having to get ahead just makes me more relaxed. It is the first time in a long time I am enjoying my job.
@Youdon_tsay I’ve been saying that right now my ideal job is a zoo ticket taker. Just sit there and take $$$ from happy families going into the zoo. I want something low stress for sure! We went to Mt Airy a few weekends ago, and we saw a guy walking around with a Llama. H was in heaven. I told him that would be an ideal job for him someday, even if it didn’t make any $$$. He would just walk around with a llama and talk to everyone who was happy to see him. He is ready to retire from teaching, but he knows he will miss the kids.
I love this thread because when we “retire” we will still need to work until we reach medicare age (about 10 years for me). We will just be able to take our pensions and move elsewhere. As long as the new job makes ~50% of our current salary, we should be fine. And for H that basically means minimum wage. Neither of us want anything big or stressful. H’s lifelong dream is to work at the Biltmore House - a night time security guard would be ideal, but he’d love to do tours too. So the plan is to go there first. I just have no idea what exactly I want or can do. There are no zoos in Asheville lol.
Current job is very supportive with good health benefits - if a health issue arose at a new job, may not provide continued employment.