Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

My current job tends to focus a lot of attention on "career goals" which I see as pointless because it is EXTREMELY hard to move up here, and I wouldn't want to anyway. I was asked what my career goals were the other day, which got me thinking. I am 36yrs old and can honestly say I feel like I missed my calling and have given up on a career and have just been focused on having a "job" to pay my bills. I am currently working in the corporate world (which I do not like at all) and I most defenitely do not consider my position to be my career. I truly believe having the mind frame of it just being a job, is part of the reason it is so hard to come here, because I get no satisfaction out of what I do, and I have no interest in it all.

I'd like to start moving towards my career goal, but feel it's too late. Am I wrong?

Do you believe the career you are currently in is the career you wanted?

Message edited 11/7/2007 7:53:52 AM.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

no it's never to late..... i am going to be 32 and though ny nursing would never end and when that did and all the other life fast balls i was given i thought the same thing... but now at this new job i can see myself there for a long time. which in it's self is scarry... why i don't know. hope this helps a little

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

you're never too late

my mom was a stay at home mom and actually went to school in her mid thirties to become a nurse


as for me, im in the track of my career and what i aspire to be.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Funny you say this... I have a friend who is 36 and has a new career goal every 6 months. He went from a secure, good, gov't job, to deciding he wanted to be a teacher, to deciding he wanted to go into Peace Corps, to then deciding he wanted a gov't job afterall. Throughout the process he accumulated TONS of student loans and credit card debt (he started with a ton of credit card debt) and is really no better off than he was.

We keep saying "Greg acts like he is a trust fund baby that can keep trying new things with no consequences, he is getting too old for this".

While I never thing its too late to start a career and have fresh goals, you have to be reasonable about how you live your life while trying to achieve them. He was a 33 year old that took an entire year off of work to student teach, didnt get a part-time job or anything, and then decided he didnt want to teach.

Message edited 11/7/2007 9:11:20 AM.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I sure hope not, because I'm 40 and am in the process of changing careers! It is going to take me a couple of years (I need to go back to school), but I think it is the best choice for me at this stage in my life.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Figure that you have another 30 years of work to go. Unless you want to join something like the police or the military in which I think they have age limits for new hires -- go for it!

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I am 37 and I have a career. I think you can have career goals at this stage, but it doesnt always involve upward movement.

For example: I have been a classroom teacher for almost 12 years. I have ZERO desire to be an administrator, supervisor, principal, superintendant, etc. However I have career goals. I would like to keep up with current practices in education. I would like to learn more about the population of children I serve as it is changing from what I have been used to. I would like to participate in conferences and lectures that many of my colleagues do not. But I ALWAYS want to be in the classroom as long as I am in education.

The only way I would ever change careers is if I come into a huge sum of money and can start a business from scratch without worrying about financial ruin if I fell flat on my face. At my age, I prefer financial safety.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Posted by melbalalala

Funny you say this... I have a friend who is 36 and has a new career goal every 6 months. He went from a secure, good, gov't job, to deciding he wanted to be a teacher, to deciding he wanted to go into Peace Corps, to then deciding he wanted a gov't job afterall. Throughout the process he accumulated TONS of student loans and credit card debt (he started with a ton of credit card debt) and is really no better off than he was.

We keep saying "Greg acts like he is a trust fund baby that can keep trying new things with no consequences, he is getting too old for this".

While I never thing its too late to start a career and have fresh goals, you have to be reasonable about you live your life while trying to achieve them. He was a 33 year old that took an entire year off of work to student teach, didnt get a part-time job or anything, and then decided he didnt want to teach.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

No.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Well, where do you want to be 10 years from now? A 46-year old working in corporate, miserable with her job, or a 46-year old who has achieved or is working toward her career goals?

Don't let yourself make excuses for what you really want to do. Age is not a good enough excuse, IMHO.

Go for it.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

It is not too late. I am 36 years old and I have been working for the same private company for the past 8 years, and I hate it with a passion.

This past may I took a major step in my life and went back to school to get my BS degree in Business Management, Economics and Marketing. I am hoping that the degree I get from this school will help me advance in my career....and make the money I deserve....Also hopefully find a company that I like to work for.

All I can say is that it is never too late. Take the chance....

Scott

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I went back to school at 34 in a totally different field. I just graduated at 37.

No, it's not too late to do what you want. The only limit is yourself. But it does require commitment and dedication.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Yes, go for it!!! ( I am a nurse and love it). Years ago my mother thought about going back to school when she was 40, and decided that it was too much. I can tell that she regrets it because she hates her job. I was young when she thought about this, but I wish I wouldve encouraged her to do it, because it would've made her happy in the long.

FM anytime about nursing questions!!!

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

No! I am 36 and work at a law firm as a paralegal in an intellectual property law firm . The money is really good, BUT, I really can't stand it. I can't imagine doing this until I'm 70. I just applied to NC State last week to major in English (to be an English teacher for middle/high school). I will attend part-time in the evenings so I can still pay the bills. Will it take awhile going part-time? Sure, what I don't do much at night except plop on the couch and watch TV. I might as well be doing something productive.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Posted by mitabtrfly

Posted by Kara

Well, where do you want to be 10 years from now? A 46-year old working in corporate, miserable with her job, or a 46-year old who has achieved or is working toward her career goals?

Don't let yourself make excuses for what you really want to do. Age is not a good enough excuse, IMHO.

Go for it.

I want to be a Nurse. The thought of going back to school is scary but I am going to go for it.

THANKS!!!

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

Posted by Kara

Posted by mitabtrfly

Posted by Kara

Well, where do you want to be 10 years from now? A 46-year old working in corporate, miserable with her job, or a 46-year old who has achieved or is working toward her career goals?

Don't let yourself make excuses for what you really want to do. Age is not a good enough excuse, IMHO.

Go for it.

I want to be a Nurse. The thought of going back to school is scary but I am going to go for it.

THANKS!!!

Go for it. Never let fear win!! It will be tough to go back to school and work (if you're planning to work still), but you can do it!

My DH is getting his masters part time while working. It's really tough, but we both know it'll be worth it in the long run!

I really do hope you have the courage and strength to follow your dreams!!!

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

never to late ~ I am 36 and thinking of other options for my goals coming up in the future ~ We are going to start a family so going back to school might not be an option for me right now! but I say go for it! good luck!

Message edited 11/7/2007 10:20:28 AM.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I'm going back to school as well. I'm 40. I think I may want to be a sports agent. I'm a pretty good negotiator.

My doctor thinks I should get a job as a patient advocate because of my experience with my brother.

Either way, I will have a career and it won't matter how old I am.

I have a good job that pays well but it's not my career. I'm not a lifer..

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

You are never too old to follow your dreams.We all get off course sometimes and mAybe it is just that we need to be in a different place both mentally and spiritually in order to see those dreams come to pass.
I decided after my son was born(iwas 36) that i wanted to follow a dream of mine and have been attending night school for a year and a 1/2 now,with hopes of completing in june.It is certainly hard some nights but i keep a picture of my son on my notebook to remind myself of why i am doing this.I hope to give him a better life someday and buy a home.
Remember the only thing worse than failure is regret.so follow your heart and good luck to you.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I just turned 29 and applied to Stony Brook U last week to become a teacher. I have my AA but had children so I never went back for more, plus I never "knew what I wanted to be when I grew up"... now I know.

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!!! Go For It!!!!!!!

Re: Is it too late to start a "career" or have "career goals" at the age of 36?

I still don't know what I want to do when I grow up!

If there is a will there is a way!