Korean Job Discussion Forums

beckett · Joined: 22 Jul 2009 Location: Ireland

a career change ?

I am just wondering what peoples opinions on this are?
I am 25 and don't think I want to teach english for the rest of my life.I like the job and am relatively happy but it's just not where I saw myself ending up. I don't want to be a doctor or anything like that. Maybe thinking about law or engineering. I am thinking by the time that I am 28/29 I would want to be getting myself back in university.

Maybe being a teacher in home country could be an option (this would only require 1 year back in uni) so the age for going back to university increases with this option.But I am not entirely convinced its for me.

Anyone have an opinion on this?
Have you (or know anyone who) has made a significant career change in their late 20's / early 30's?
What I wonder is why would someone hire a 30 something year old if their is a 23/24 year old with the same qualification?

Anyway cheers to anyone who chips in with a comment.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

25 is too young to have even chosen a career, in my opinion.

Personally, I never want to have a career. If I am still doing something I don't like, for money, by the time I'm 40, then I will consider my life, to that point, to have been a failure. (Not trying to rag on the 40 year olds doing this, it's just how I feel about my own life).

English Matt · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

I'm soon to be 28, have been in Korea for the last two years and will be leaving in 7 weeks to pursue a new career.

As regards your question......it's never too late. For instance, I met a 55 year old woman a few years ago who had just completed her PhD in Osteoarchaeology and had just got a job with the UN investigating mass graves in newly independent East Timor.

Don't become a teacher if you don't want to......it's not worth the time and money to get stuck doing anything other than something you have a passion for.

Why would an organisation hire a 30 year old over a 23 year old? I'd say the question should be the other way around. At 30 you are more mature, have a wealth of experiences to draw upon, and probably have picked up more skills along the way. Don't let worries about age get to you.....some organisations (like the UN) won't even touch you at 23.

As long as you use your years wisely and can show how your experiences have contributed to make you who you are now (and why that is a good thing) then there's little reason to worry about age.

caylia · Joined: 03 Mar 2010

Forever · Joined: 12 Nov 2009

anytime you want is fine.

But you don't want to leave your jeb job opportunities until its too late.

I turn 35 this year and will leave next year.

I have been teaching English most of my life, and want a career change - PLUS I want to go back to my home country.

I will go home and go back to Univ to get a second degree and start a new career in my home country by the age of 40y.o.

AsiaESLbound · Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Location: Truck Stop Missouri

It's not uncommon in this day and age for business and finance people to change careers into teaching or even become police officers or nurses or truck drivers. There are experienced lawyers over here teaching young children too. I'm wondering when the certified American public school teachers are coming as they experiencing layoffs these days. Better come to Korea soon if wanting to go or try to keep the job you already have, because lots of qualified public school teachers may be on their way over.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/21/education/21teachers.html?scp=1&sq=teacher%20layoffs&st=cse

I too have a huge range of experiences, but never could hunker down a solid stable career that progressed into bigger and better things. I'm 36, but can't figure out where I'm going with this and where I'd be at age 40. I'm just going with an opportunity to travel and save a little money. It's really not that bad, but you do want to self study about teaching and about the chosen age group even though you know what teachers do due to having gone to school ourselves many years.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

OP. Many people constantly change jobs (or get new careers) during their working lives. This is the modern 'flexible' approach to the staying employed game.

Don't fret. If you are white, bright, flexible , and have a positive attitude to life - you can go almost anywhere - and do almost anything.

Incidentally, I started work at 14, and I've had 1 major career, 2 self employed businesses - plenty of fill-in jobs, and I've been teaching TEFL for a few years. I don't think of TEFL as a life-long career - and neither should you. Incidentally, I didn't attend university until I was 32 - and this has never held me back in gaining employment.

Go for it!

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

I just turned 26 and I want to go in for a career change too. I also feel/worry that I'm too old. I'll be 31-32 by the time I finish a second degree, but that's just the way it is. Onward.

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

Degrees don't equal jobs, especially in the current labor market climate.

You have to really ask why you are changing careers. If it's for money, you really have to look at whether going back to school and loading up on more debt, is going to pay for itself. At the end of the day, your chances of being wealthy whilst working for some one else, are almost nil.

Moldy Rutabaga · Joined: 01 Jul 2003 Location: Ansan, Korea

Easy for us to say. There may be financial reasons for or against a career change, and implications for spouses and children. But all things being equal, I don't think you're ever too old for a career change. I've worked with people who decided to be ESL teachers in their 60s. People start new jobs, take up new activities, start hobby businesses in their 70s.

There is no shame in deciding you don't want to be an English teacher any longer if you've outgrown it. Do something related, or do something different. I started my last degree when I was 39.

Good grief, I thought I was so old when I was 25! All the 18-year old girls I thought were too young to date. Fool!

Solarian · Joined: 12 Nov 2009

I'm 24 and I think I'm too old for a career change. There's the 41 year old that thinks he isn't. It's all personal, you make the decision for yourself, no one can make it for you.

Ruthdes · Joined: 16 Oct 2008 Location: Seoul

English Matt · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

morrisonhotel · Joined: 18 Jul 2009 Location: Gyeonggi-do

neandergirl · Joined: 23 Jun 2005

The best advice I ever got on this question came from my terribly bright, younger sister. She listened to me hem and haw about how old I was and how old I'd be when I finished studying and asked the question that put it all in perspective - "How old will you be if you don't do it?".

I applied the next day. I may be older than dirt but I love my work and have never had difficulty getting hired.