Korean Job Discussion Forums

Cohiba · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

Do you think it is possible to go back to school at 40?

Is it possible to completely change career paths and
be successful?

Can one overcome employer prejudice against age?

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

no.

nope.

Not a chance.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

When my ex-wife's sister married a guy from Taiwan the mother-in-law signed up for courses in Chinese history at the university. She was 65 at the time. She did quite well, too.

I think there are only two limitations. One is your view of yourself and the other one is other people's prejudices. Only you know your talents and ambitions. If they are strong enough you can overcome the limitations other people try to put on you.

My advice: Gather up your gumption and do it. If anyone gets in your way, just say, "Pa-tooey on you!"

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

My mom got her Phd when she was 43.

Friend of mine married a K-gal in '98, came back to the world and started an MA program at 37. Finished up last month. He is 41 now.

I just got accepted to an ASU MA program and I'm 40.

You can do it.

Bo Peabody · Joined: 25 Aug 2005

[deleted]

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

I worked with a guy... late 50s. He was a professor at a Toronto area college and became a technical writer. Totally shifted careers. Yeah 40 is nothing.

Old fat expat · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:34 pm Post subject:

Do you think it is possible to go back to school at 40?

Sure it is possible. There are many 'mature students' at the university I graduated from. Some of the mature students do quite well, there are even some that excel. I achieved a first class Masters in four years beginning from undergrad papers-no cleps. First two years doubled my load-A average.

Is it possible to completely change career paths and
be successful?

Two questions here. First, yes-a complete change is certainly possible. Why not? Secondly, what do you mean by successful? Also bear in mind that it has been clearly shown that it takes about 10 years for someone to become an 'expert' in their field of study/work ('The role of deliberate practice in the acquisition of expert perfermance'-Ericson,Krampe,Tesch-Romer). So be preparred to have to work for a while to achieve what you consider to be success. But the real problem is:

Can one overcome employer prejudice against age?

This is real. The only thing that I can suggest is not to rely on employers for your 'breaks'. Figure out a way to get your training and start your own business. I have experienced age predjudice at the university as well as corporate business. There are all sorts of reasons for the prejudice-but unfortunatly it exists.

Make sure you understand why you want to make the change, and that you are preparred for the long term struggle you will have to endure to get back to where you are. If you make it, it is all worth it. If you fail, you may regret your decision (perhaps), so make sure that it is the right choice.

mithridates · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:10 pm Post subject:

It's definately possible though it depends on the person. Ofttimes when you hear stories about these people that have decided to go back to school when they hit 40 or more it turns out that they have a bit of a history of being curious about new things and improving themselves and that going to school again is only a small part. It's quite rare that you'll find someone who has been completely stagnant decide one day to suddenly re-educate themselves, unless they've had a really strong realization in that area. But yes, it is possible and the less time one's brain has spent dormant the better. It's kind of like muscular flexibility.

mithridates · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 5:11 pm Post subject:

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

magicwolfman · Joined: 01 Sep 2005

Please, dont let the optomists fool you, it is way too late. You might as well bye your grave plot now.

VanIslander · Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 7:33 pm Post subject:

In Canada it's a well known stat that people change professions FOUR times on average over the course of their work lives.

And most people retire between ages 60-65.

So 40 years old is obviously a time to re-tool.

As for prejudice based on age, many professions are biased against twentysomethings as too immature and lacking in experience. It really depends on what kind of jobs you are talking about.

huck · Joined: 19 Jan 2003

My mom did...got divorced at 46...went to nursing school....she now has her Master's and she teaches classes at 3 different universities around where we live, and works at a special hospital for children who have been abused or abandoned or can't live with their families for whatever reasons....

If you have the desire, you can always change. I think the amount of determination and effort that you put in will decide if you're successful or not.

numazawa · Joined: 20 Mar 2005 Location: The Concrete Barnyard

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

I first set foot in university at 37 & emerged with an MA at 42. It turned my life around in various good ways.