From Mechanic to Medical Doctor: Changing Careers at 47

[AARPLynne]

Carl Allamby made a midlife career change after 25 years as a mechanic. He decided to trade his socket wrench for a stethoscope and chase his dream of becoming a doctor. He went to medical school knowing he’d be one of the oldest students, but that it would all be worth it to become a doctor. Would you consider switching careers later in life?

[LydiaN586309]

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@AARPLynne wrote:

Carl Allamby made a midlife career change after 25 years as a mechanic. He decided to trade his socket wrench for a stethoscope and chase his dream of becoming a doctor. He went to medical school knowing he’d be one of the oldest students, but that it would all be worth it to become a doctor. Would you consider switching careers later in life?

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I think it is remarkable what this gentleman was able to accomplish.  But as for me, I knew what I wanted to do for a living/career by the time I was 12 years old.  Everything I did in high school was to prepare me for college and my college curriculum led to my accomplishing my goals.  I have been working in my chosen field of endeavor for over thirty years and I'm still happily working.  So I have no desire to change careers.  But maybe once I retire, I will pursue some of my hobbies more fully; hobbies like art and travel.  It's always good to have something to look forward to.

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[wilful]

Hi Lydia    - Would you mind telling us what is your career?

Curious wilful

[2Papa]

I really have no desire to switch from my current career (retiree)!  😉

[GarygR942412]

I went through my entire 25-year Navy Career knowing that this was just the beginning for me.  Just prior to retirement, while I was stationed in Europe, I obtained a second bachelors degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland, European Division.  After retirement, at the age of 45, I entered graduate school to obtain a doctorate in clinical psychology.  I completed all requirements for a Psy.D. about 7 years later, and was licensed in the state of Hawaii at the age of 53.  After about 14 total years as a trauma therapist, I burned out and then pursued a career teaching English in thailand until the age of 75.  Multiple careers need not be scary, but an adventure, challenge, and opportunity.  I'm now 79, still living in Thailand and enjoying every day.

[Brightpool]

I didn't have a career until I was in my early 30s. Until then, I worked at jobs I could find at the State-run Job Service. My longest employment by the time I was 33 had been about 1-1/2 years.

By that time, I had been working in an integrated circuit manufacturing company for about 2 years and had held three positions in the company, one of which had been a promotion to a lead position on the line and partly because of watching the in-house job board for jobs of interest.

After another year or so, I found my career in technical communication, but didn't know, yet, that would carry me for most of the rest of my working life. I lasted at that company for a total of 9 years before they started severely cutting staff at that plant (roughly 50 percent of the plant, over all). For the last 2 years, I had been a supervisor in the documentation department, which cut 2/3 of that staff based on seniority, from 32 persons to 10. My 9 years didn't stack up very well against others who had 2 decades or more at the plant.

After using a few months to finish my bachelor degree (almost 41 years old, now), I finally landed a job in customer support at a well known software company.

I thought the job might get my foot in the door toward moving into their documentation department, but they had slammed that door shut for me, which I found out after several months of responding to the job board and getting an e-mail that pretty much said, "...don't call us, we'll call you."

Another company bought that one and cleaned house. They got rid of anybody who made more money in job grades (translation: had been passed over for chances to move up for whatever reason, and that's another long story) and I was one of those.

I did one or two more stints in customer support in my 40s before I decided I had to get back on track and accept only assignments that used my skills as a technical communicator. I started relying more on temporary employment agencies to find contracts for me. After a few contracts, one of which hired me and later let me go because of mistreatment and misunderstandings from an abusive supervisor, details of which I won't go into here, I finally landed a contract that led to my final, full-time employee position that lasted just over 8 years, counting the 11 months on contract before they hired me. I was 54 and that was a good company.

When they had no choice but to lay me off at 62, because the head count in the programming department was getting too low to manage projects without losing yet another programmer, I decided it would be a good time for me to quit jumping through corporate hoops.

Technical communication was not the perfect career for me, but it was still a good one. It used my talents, kept me engaged, and ultimately provided the basis for a good retirement so far. Not great, not perfect, but good.

Enjoy!

[retiredtraveler]

After losing my IT job at age 51 and spending a year trying to get another IT job, I went to a community college for 4 months and became a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) after passing a state exam for that certification. Entire process took about 7 months.

   That's a field I would encourage other seniors to go into. There is a huge demand and a job is pretty much guaranteed if you're in an area with multiple hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and companies that provide in-home care.

    Even though it was a total change from what I did before and physically and mentally demanding, it was the most gratifying work I'd ever done. I actually had people thank me for helping them in their hospital stays incliuding seeing some of them 'on the street' at a later date.

     Of course, it did not pay well, but I was in a good place financially so the lower income was no problem and I worked full time with bene's.

[AARPLynne]

@retiredtraveler you gave me a brainstorm regarding the CNA credential. I have a friend who retired from industrial engineering and is a newer type 1 diabetic. So you can imagine she's coming from a different place managing the disease, an engineer's perspective. I'm wondering if by obtaining a CNA she could start a business as a diabetes tutor. Does that make sense? Anyway, it's food for thought!

[retiredtraveler]

@AARPLynne

I sure don't know about being a 'tutor'. A CNA is simply a grunt that helps with patient care in medical facilities, nursing homes, or home health care. CNA's are not allowed to do anything 'medically' unless specifically trained in a couple of areas. In the hospital, I was allowed to do EKG's. Of course, I had nothing to do with interpreting them. 

    A certification gives you no medical background other than some 'book learning' (some background on various conditions and basic medical terms), and then, what you pick up on the job.

    CNA's can't dispense medical advice or do any treatments.

[smetro]

My eldest daughter trained in a for-profit "college" as a CNA, wound up with the certification (on paper) but NO job nor prospects for one.  She owes the government over 30K for her efforts.  I think this scam should be shut down - no job, no pay for the so-called "education," period.  She is now a stay-at-home mom, but my only worry now is IF she wishes to go back into the job market someday, then what?!?

[retiredtraveler]

"....My eldest daughter trained in a for-profit "college" as a CNA, wound up with the certification (on paper) but NO job nor prospects for one. She owes the government over 30K for her efforts.....".

There has to be a reason why she chose to go to a 'for profit' and 'no job nor prospects'. I'm in the Chicago area. I went to a community college and I believe the whole program, books and all, was somewhere in the $700 range. I assume that option wasn't available to her. As far as jobs, in the Chicago area, they are endless. Home health, hospital, nursing home, assisted living facilities. 
    You say she has certification 'on paper'. Does that mean she didn't take the state test which means she is not actually certified?

   I just don't see how becoming a CNA is a scam --- there is an immense demand for them, everywhere. There is more to this story. 

"......She is now a stay-at-home mom, but my only worry now is IF she wishes to go back into the job market someday, then what?!?.....".

    If I recall correctly, every state has a period of time where the certification is lapsed. It is different for different states. If she never worked in the field, most likely she would have to start from scratch. That is, do the schooling all over again and again take the state exam. She should have been aware of all this before she got into school or learned about it when she took the state exam.

[wilful]

Excellent story!!

I not only considered, but did switch careers later in life.  I switched from finance (working for corporate America) to real estate (soon owned my own business).   Had 5 kids when I made the change.  I was 37 at the time.   Best move I ever made.