I Fear That At My Age -46- It May Be Too Late For A Career Change. Am I Too Old To Retrain?

Question: I saw a therapist for 6 months when my wife and I separated 3 years ago and found the experience very helpful. Since then, I have felt increasingly disenchanted with my choice of profession - I am an IT consultant to medium/large size businesses. A good friend and colleague half jokingly said I'd make a great therapist. Little did he know that I've been considering this as a real possibility. The thought of starting over again is exciting, though also daunting. While I no longer have the financial worries that go with providing for a young family, I fear that at my age -46- it may be too late for a career change. Am I too old to retrain? I expect it would take some years to establish a practice. Thanks, Paul

Answer: Hi Paul, Like many people in your age group, it is not unusual to be considering a change of career if you are no longer satisfied with what you are doing. It sounds as if the counselling helped you look at your whole life in a different way. I suggest that you see a Career Counsellor to have some career planning advice. This would help you look at your skills, interests, personality, values and a wide range of issues in your life which can assist you to identify what sort of career would be best suited to you. You are certainly not too old to retrain - the most important thing is your motivation to make a career change. Good luck.

Answer provided by Dawn Vincent, Counsellor