I'm trying to decide whether to reboot, pivot, or go back to school.

Anonymous

August 9,2023 at 3:42PM UTC

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I'm trying to decide whether to reboot, pivot, or go back to school.

I've just begun my job search after a ten-year career break. I'm also 60, recently divorced, and just moved to a new city/state to start over. At what point do you give up the stress of trying to get back on your former career path and focus on marketing your skills to fit into a different role in the same field, or go back to school/training and change careers entirely?

I'd like to hear from other women who have done this successfully.

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AnonymousAugust 9,2023 at 4:22PM UTC
Yep, did that. Worked in corp for 30 years. Went back to school to finish my BA. Done, with honors! Then I "cost too much; overqualified." No interest due to age. Started my own business. No support, even from networking groups (which tend to be cliquey). Now after 10 years trying to get back to corp with an entirely different skill set at 63. Good Luck to you.
AnonymousAugust 10,2023 at 12:38PM UTC
It’s obviously discrimination of your age not your experience.
AnonymousAugust 9,2023 at 4:46PM UTC
I restarted at 43 ..
back to school and graduated with honors
Told after "great experience, great asset" but from the SAME organization.... "Overqualified and not an option despite my skills" (???)
Hang in there...it will work out!!
Grisel Scarantino, Career and Work-Life Fulfillment CoachAugust 10,2023 at 5:28PM UTC
The answer to this question really depends on where you want to take your career.
Would you be happy and fulfilled if you returned to your previous career track? Or are you at a different stage in your life and want to use your transferrable skills to transition into a new career path?
If you decide the latter calls to you, it doesn't necessarily mean you have to go back to school.
I help professionals who are at a career crossroad and know they want to take their career in a different direction, but they're not sure which direction to take, or even whether they want to go back to school. Once they find clarity on their new career direction, most of them find out that they don't have to go back to school. They can simply retell their professional story that highlights their skills and qualifications aligned with their new career path.
So, I encourage you to first determine where you want to take your career before making the decision on whether to go back to school. If you need help sorting that out, I'm happy to chat with you over a complimentary call.