Career Change - Advice Sought.

[AdrianR]

Gentlemen.

I'm 45 this year. Without going in to long stories, I am currently unemployed and looking at options. I'm looking for help, opinions & advice to help me arrive at a sensible decision.

Middle management pays far, far better than being a mechanic - and that's important when there's a mortgage, wife & kids - but having been an office-jockey (in facilities management) these last 15 years I am beginning to wonder whether I should go for retraining in to some type of widely-valued manual skill. I have a bachelor's degree in Management & IT Systems, but the non-manual career poles are often long & greasy.

In my mid-late 20's, I worked as an auto-electrician and grease-monkey (sort of service-station oil, filter, tire, muffler guy), as well as a service and installation tech for draft soda dispense systems (that was for Pepsico). In other words, I am reasonably mechanically-minded with some decent practical experience.

So, I am thinking of trying for an apprenticeship in diesel repair - not necessarily light automotive but more the truck/bus/marine/industrial field. I'm thinking, if I could buy my way into a diesel repair shop (to provide the hands on experience and pay) I could also go to school, then after 3-4 years I should see qualifications.

Low pay aside, who thinks this is a good idea?

I'm thinking 'yes' because it gives me a solid skill that can be used where ever I wash up where there are diesel motors. But 45 is kind of old for starting at the bottom and I'm wondering just how much competition there is from the young guys and whether I would be even given a chance in employment.

Any one have an opinion?

[Dubbya]

I'd hire you. The main reason is that, at 45, you are more likely to be both serious about being there(wife, kids, mortgage, etc) and reliable(your history in management says that someone trusted you enough to promote you a few times).

I'm a chef/confectioner, but the logic of management and the reasons that we choose one candidate over another remains the same at entry level.

Just my two cents.

[Stubblefield]

Diesel/heavy equipment would be better than light automotive/repair, as it is more interesting work, tho you may have a bit more competition for jobs. But given the options (and that you have a realistic view of the field) I'd go with diesel/heavy equipment.

I was an auto mechanic for a few years, and spent a little time servicing heavy equipment--Heavy equipment is far more fun.

[Dubbya]

I was an auto mechanic for a few years, and spent a little time servicing heavy equipment--Heavy equipment is far more fun.

+1
I paid my way through college working on heavy equipment. All I have to say about that is yes, it is fun to work on.

[bamafan64]

Since you're mechanically inclined, put in applications at local chemical plants and refineries. Where I live, they typically work 4 ten hour shifts per week with rotating on calls for nights and weekends. The pay is usually pretty good. At my refinery, they make around $70-90K per year.

[BEAR DEN]

I'm a little older, not by much and I've worked physical jobs since I was 16. Went to college graduated and did nothing with my degree. I make pretty good money even though things are tight right now everywhere. Here lies the problem...my body hurts all the F#*&ing time. I've had 3 surgerys to mend me and they have never gotten me back to 100%. My only goal with retirement is that I can use my body at all. That's the truth. I can still hear my mother telling me not to get a physical job, use my management degree from college. Enough of me..mechanic is physical, just remember that when you decide.

[PaulX608]

After 17 years in the dental lab field making crowns and bridges, including some management experience, I've recently changed careers after three layoffs in 2½ years. I'm only 38, but just a high school education. I'm a week into my new career making lenses for eyeglasses. I'm currently working as a technician, but I'm on the fast track to lab management. I've got 5 more weeks of training, and it's pretty intensive. It's all a bit scary and my wife is still out of work(we've always worked together and all three times we've been laid off together, too) but I think this new gig suits me. My only advice is the same I did for me. Find something that interests and challenges you yet still draws on some of the skills or experiences of what you did in the past. Mature, level headed, seriously motivated guys like us should be an asset to any job to which we apply ourselves. Best of luck to you.

[scottish steve]

My first instinct is to recommend a post-grad in marine management/ engineering systems or similar and go with the really big companies. you could get waaay out of the office, while still being at work in a management cpacity. Oil rigs, tankers and the like.

[DirtyDave]

If you know that you want to do this, can make an acceptable living from it and figure it will take you up to retirement, go for it. The biggest disappointment you may face will never having tried.

Given your background and management experience, you may go a lot further than you imagine.

Good luck.