"I Have Never Once Regretted It": People Are Getting Real About How They Changed Careers Later In Life, And I Needed This Today

While the US unemployment rate remains low, I'm coming across more and more stories of workers struggling to find a new job.

Twitter: @Tr3_GK

They're not wrong for feeling this way — while the labor market saw an increase in new jobs in September, overall, the number of job openings in the US has fallen back to levels not seen since early 2021.

As more industries face layoffs, like tech and media, I also see more conversations around career pivots and changes.

Of course, career pivots come with their own battles, too, but to give me and everyone else in this boat a little hope that they're not impossible, I thought I'd ask older adults in the BuzzFeed Community to share with me how they successfully made significant career changes, even if later in life.

From executive to career coach, teacher to nurse, VP to photographer, there was a whole host of interesting career shifts. And honestly, it gave me a little hope that things get better, even when it's tough.

Here's everything they shared:

1."I was a full-time consultant working at large consulting companies like Accenture. I was burned out, so I went to work at several smaller consulting companies. One day, I woke up and thought I was in California, but I was actually home. I realized I spent more time on the road than at home. My blood pressure was off the charts, and my doctor told me I needed to change professions, get off the road, eat right, and exercise. So, I decided to change jobs."

2."I'm applying to medical school as a first-time non-traditional applicant in my mid-30s. I've worked in healthcare for almost six years and was a teacher before I found my calling in medicine. I had to take all the required science courses while working because my undergrad degree wasn't in a science discipline."

—leager129

3."I graduated in 2000 with an elementary education BS and in 2007 with a master's. Then, the 2008 housing crisis happened. I had two little children, and schools were closing all around the area in upstate NY. I subbed and applied, but there were no full-time tenured track positions for me. In 2014, I ended up working at Starbucks for grocery money. Then, I applied for a hospital position and became a recreational therapist. After working through my imposter syndrome, I realized I am a teacher and can teach my patients life skills, social skills, and coping skills. I've worked in acute inpatient psych units for 10 years now. Five years ago, I decided to go back to school. One class at a time, a divorce, a pandemic, giving up my full-time position and benefits later, I will have a BSN, RN in May of 2025!"

4."I'd been working in the same industry for 17 years, and a layoff was the furthest thing from my mind. Then it happened; the rug was pulled out from under me. I took some time to reflect and decided to go into public service and revisit a career path I had wanted when I was young. I applied to multiple jobs every week, and after getting many interviews and even second and third interviews but no job offers, I decided to up my game."

"I went back to school, finished my degrees, and started volunteering in the field where I wanted a job. It took about a year, but I got hired at my dream job. Without volunteering, I would have never gotten my foot in the door. Now, I get to help youth and families have better lives."

—homeyhouse36

5."I spent 20 years of my life in restaurant management, and in 2016, I lost the love of my life to an opioid overdose. Three days after his funeral, I enrolled in school. In 2020, 20 years after graduating high school, I earned my bachelor's degree in psychology. Then, in 2022, I earned my degree in addiction counseling. Two years after that, I became the admissions manager for a nonprofit rehabilitation treatment program. I run the department that screens, admits, and assesses all of the patients who enter treatment for alcohol and substance use disorders. I am one exam away from earning my certified alcohol and drug counselor level three credential, and today, I just completed the first week of my master's in social work program."

6."I went into retail at 30 years old. I'm 50 now, and before that, I worked in security for seven years at a mental health facility. Eventually, after getting an education in retail management, I now work as a nonperishable training manager at a grocery store. The job entails training new department managers, inventory control, supervision, price management, and customer relations."

"I am very much a people person and enjoy making customers happy, with my regulars often excitedly approaching me for daily specials. The worst part of the job is turnover. There are not enough full-time positions for good quality employees, and it's hard to develop a passion for the job at the lower levels."

—doe3507966

7."After years of getting increasingly pigeonholed into a career I was never sold on to begin with, I quit and went to grad school full-time in my mid-30s. I was trying to succeed at a job that was a bad fit on a good day (college alum affairs —you kinda have to be a perky extrovert, and I'm an introvert with a resting bitch face), but impossible to navigate in my then-current mental state. The year before, I had randomly applied to and been accepted by a master's degree program, but I deferred. I knew I was headed for a performance improvement plan, so I emailed the program coordinator, asked if there was room for me in the next cohort, and gave two months' notice so I could focus on my exit. At that point, I didn't really have a plan for what I was going to *do* with the master's; I just knew I needed to leave my then-job."

8."I worked 12 years for a government state agency never to be named. I had 10-hour days writing agency policy, piloting programs, and testifying before our state legislature. Then, after my mentor retired, I stopped getting raises and promotions. I went back to community college to take classes toward the CPA exam. Now, I work for a university, seldom do 50 hours/week, and my pay has doubled. I should've made that move sooner. Truly, if you get no promotion/meaningful raise in three years, it's time to leave."

—icyraptor647

9."I'm 44. My whole career had been the 'management track' — get in with a company, figure out what I need to do to get promoted, do that thing, get promoted, and do it again. I changed jobs every 6-8 years because a company was going out of business, there was restructuring, I was getting a better offer somewhere else, etc. Always growing, always getting better titles, higher salaries, bigger teams. At my height, I was a director of over five states with a team of 50; we invoiced probably $15M per month. My family was very proud."

10."I worked for a national manufacturer as a project coordinator. It was a good job, but I wasn't management (nor did I want to be), and yet I was always held accountable when things in the project didn't go to plan. Yet, not managing the staff handling the project was a never-ending battle. The perk of the role (due to COVID-19 and afterward) evolved so I could WFH whenever I saw fit, which was most days during the week; I only needed to make an appearance occasionally. While I had benefits, the pay was much less than I should have been paid. I decided to start a side hustle in 2021 as a food photographer with a home studio. I basically started working two jobs."

11."I spent 32 years working for the same company. At 52, I was laid off. I was VP of marketing for a large financial services company in the NY area. I submitted my resume and went on several interviews, but was clearly considered 'too old' to be hired. I decided to start my own business, and after a few years of starting and stopping, I now own and operate a successful real estate and architectural photography business. The work is rewarding and still interesting to me."

—Anonymous

12."All throughout my 20s up to my mid-30s, I worked admin jobs that wouldn't get me anywhere. After getting laid off from working at the front desk in a dental office for five years, I took a temp job at a hospital. I was answering calls at their help desk. I was told I likely wouldn't be made permanent as I had no IT background. I put everything into it, and I was excited to learn. The IT Director saw my potential and gave me a chance. I studied hard, got my certification, and became their only female desktop technician at age 35."

13."I worked in IT from 1984 to 2004, working my way up from a programmer to a director of software development. I changed companies a few times but was at my last one for 14 years. We were paid a lot of money with great bonuses and profit sharing. Eventually, it wasn't worth the stress, pressure, and adverse effects on my home life. My daughter was on an individualized education program and I was navigating all of that, trying to help her be successful in school. I already had a math degree, so I left my lucrative career, went to grad school to get my teaching license, and I'm now in my 16th year as a high school math teacher helping hundreds of students be successful in school. The 75% pay cut that I initially took was absolutely worth it. I LOVE my job. And my work/home life is balanced."

14."I was in the Air Force, then became a farmer in my 40s. I retired and then became a pastor. I am retired again. Now, I volunteer. I love my life. I still have a little place in the country. I am now in my 70s, loving life, and still have my first wife."

—Anonymous

15."I worked jobs while my husband was in the military. Then, I became a farm wife, canning all our food. When our children left home, I started teaching using that degree from years ago. Around the pandemic, I started writing — something I had always wanted to do. Holding that first book in my hands was a rush. Also, every book since. I'm loving life. I think the thing is to find something you love. Nothing says you have to have the same job for a lifetime. I'm in my 60s."

—Anonymous

And lastly:

16."I worked in a small medical office for 17 years — seven years in a clinical role and 10 years at the front desk. Eventually, a combination of factors led me to switch fields. When I first started, the atmosphere was friendly and casual. The partners were fun-loving and often treated staff to perks like lunches, a summer party with games they designed, creative bonus opportunities, and more. However, about five years before I left, a new office manager was hired, and everything changed. She had a dismissive and condescending attitude and shifted to a more corporate approach. Gradually, all the fun events disappeared, until the only remaining one was a dull Christmas party each year."

Do you have an interesting story about changing careers? Tell me all about it in the comments or on this anonymous form.