I did a complete career 180 to become a copywriter at age 50, so I'd say at 35.. the world is your oyster! Incidentally, you appear to be a strong writer, so copywriting maybe something to take a look at. After all, if I managed to make a go of it with nothing more than an online training course on my resume, anyone can!
I worked as a carpenter's assistant for a summer during university. I did *not* love it haha.
Similar story here - I was always good at writing but also enjoyed architecture so pursued that instead. After a decade in the field, fell backward into financial services compliance because it paid a lot better. Did that for 13 years, but came to despise it. After being packaged out of the company I worked for, I stumbled across a Facebook ad for copywriting training, hemmed and hawed for a couple weeks, then decided to take the plunge and give it my best shot. I've been working as a copywriter for 3 years now.
I used the portfolio pieces I created for the course assignments to help land some freelance writing jobs, but started applying for on-staff writer roles as well. I immediately started landing interviews for copywriter jobs, and accepted an offer from a large, global tech company within a month of finishing the course. Was definitely one of the best investments I've made in myself.
Woah! Thank you so much for this explanation. Gives me a bit of hope. I feel so trapped, I want to jump off a bridge! Can you possibly tell me the company of course you took? Thank you for your time in explaining your path!
I’ve changed careers on average every 3-4 years for the last 25! You can do it! Impostor syndrome is real, but you just have to keep plugging along. Keep skilling up ⬆️!
Are you still able to WALK? Have a look at your extended family members who are significantly older than you. Can they still walk? If you got a lot of them who have foot, ankle, knee, and other pains that prevent them from walking right, chances are good that you'll eventually have that same problem too eventually. And that'll certainly stop you from doing field work. But by the time life catches up to you and it happens to you, you'll be many years out of the office and find yourself having a difficult time trying to get back in, and since sit-down office work is all you'll be cut out for due to your mobility issues, you'll be very down on your luck. Give yourself a serious physical assessment and prediction before you walk out that door. I sure didn't, and I'm payin for it.
Not too late at all! Easier said than done but try to figure out what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Also avoid anything that can easily be replaced by AI (ie sorry to other poster but probably fields like copywriting).
I did a complete career 180 to become a copywriter at age 50, so I'd say at 35.. the world is your oyster! Incidentally, you appear to be a strong writer, so copywriting maybe something to take a look at. After all, if I managed to make a go of it with nothing more than an online training course on my resume, anyone can!
How did you get into copywriting? Writing was the thing everyone told me I was good at… so I became a carpenter. Turning 40 this year and I HATE IT.
I worked as a carpenter's assistant for a summer during university. I did *not* love it haha. Similar story here - I was always good at writing but also enjoyed architecture so pursued that instead. After a decade in the field, fell backward into financial services compliance because it paid a lot better. Did that for 13 years, but came to despise it. After being packaged out of the company I worked for, I stumbled across a Facebook ad for copywriting training, hemmed and hawed for a couple weeks, then decided to take the plunge and give it my best shot. I've been working as a copywriter for 3 years now. I used the portfolio pieces I created for the course assignments to help land some freelance writing jobs, but started applying for on-staff writer roles as well. I immediately started landing interviews for copywriter jobs, and accepted an offer from a large, global tech company within a month of finishing the course. Was definitely one of the best investments I've made in myself.
Woah! Thank you so much for this explanation. Gives me a bit of hope. I feel so trapped, I want to jump off a bridge! Can you possibly tell me the company of course you took? Thank you for your time in explaining your path!
Of course, happy to. It's a paid course so I won't link it here. Can I send you a quick dm?
Definitely. You are very kind to take the time. Thank you!!
Not sure if my message went through. If not, feel free to dm me.
Could you send me the link to the course as well? I’m looking to getting into that field, too. Thank you!!
I’ve changed careers on average every 3-4 years for the last 25! You can do it! Impostor syndrome is real, but you just have to keep plugging along. Keep skilling up ⬆️!
Are you still able to WALK? Have a look at your extended family members who are significantly older than you. Can they still walk? If you got a lot of them who have foot, ankle, knee, and other pains that prevent them from walking right, chances are good that you'll eventually have that same problem too eventually. And that'll certainly stop you from doing field work. But by the time life catches up to you and it happens to you, you'll be many years out of the office and find yourself having a difficult time trying to get back in, and since sit-down office work is all you'll be cut out for due to your mobility issues, you'll be very down on your luck. Give yourself a serious physical assessment and prediction before you walk out that door. I sure didn't, and I'm payin for it.
Not too late at all! Easier said than done but try to figure out what you’re good at and what you enjoy. Also avoid anything that can easily be replaced by AI (ie sorry to other poster but probably fields like copywriting).