Hello, first time poster here (gulp)…
I am a mature career-changer moving from a completely unrelated field (Teaching/education) to Graphic Design. And I have a young child too! Just wondering if there are any other older career changers (esp. 40+!) who are taking the plunge like me?
(I’m sure there are, but I often feel like everyone starting in the creative industries seem to be twenty-somethings with no family commitments!…lucky them! 😂) Thanks in advance!
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- @Claire Pettifor by the way, your illustrations are so lovely!!!!! 😀
- @Claire Pettifor hellooooo Claire! Or should I say, Hallo! 😁You are brave moving to a new city in a new country AND changing careers - what we’re you doing before?It’s so nice to hear from people like you. Hopefully this network will help lift you and find work too. Definitely contact me at any time if you want a chat or to share anything! Xx
- Hi Anna - I feel you! :) I'm also 40+, with two young kids, living in a new city (I moved from London to Amsterdam with my family about a year ago), and decided to use the move to also change things up in my career.For me, I've found it unexpectedly intimidating job hunting when everyone at my level in the industry feels half my age. I've had a few deflating interviews recently where they were expecting more experience at 'my age'.Without a creative network, I've been unsure exactly what kind of portfolio work to include, or how to get constructive feedback when I need it. I found The Dots last week, and it's been a revelation! It's so good to be able to read everyone's stories and have the opportunity to connect with people like you who're in the same boat, and experiencing similar things.Keep up with the juggling! I'm a big believer that it's worth the insane hours and vats of coffee to get to where you really truly want to be. And whenever you hit a roadblock or just need to bounce ideas around, holler. The Dots seems like the perfect space for it :)
- @Brooke Steinberg hello Brooke!I know it’s so scary…but I guess it’s never too late to follow your dreams, right?!Ooh advertising…I think I might have to pick your brains at some point! 😬
- Late to this thread but me too! I work in the strategy/media of advertising but currently doing a part time evening design course to get some formal training and a portfolio going alongside some occasional freelance gigs (mostly for friends and family but gotta start somewhere!). I don’t have kids but am the breadwinner at home so I can somewhat empathize! But it’s great to meet others in a similar spot as changing careers this late in the game I find soooo scary. I keep flip flopping on how brave I am to totally switch or if there might be a way to work on both sides part time or something.
- SO happy with the amazing response to my question! Thank you everyone! 😁
- @:::Viktor Juhasz-D::: by the way, I absolutely love your coffee shop branding design! Add more projects please! 😁
- @:::Viktor Juhasz-D::: hello Viktor! Thank you so much for connecting. Your story is so interesting (by the way I LOVE sourdough! Yum!) and I can relate to it in terms of staying in a career that is ‘safe’ for a long time even though it isn’t providing any feeling of satisfaction. I’m so happy for you! I hope I find a creative job in the future that will give me that feeling of fulfilment! 😄
- Hi Anna!So I was a sourdough baker for 5 years. Mostly night shifts. At the beginning of last year I quit. I totally burnt out. I also turned 40 last summer. I'm an eastern european in London without a kid but I do have a boston terrier who is five. I'm also lucky to be with a really supportive partner who helps me to follow my dream.I have a BA Film diploma so I started to update my knowledge last year about graphic design, animation and editing.I must say it is refreshing. It feels like I was lost in a fog in the last few years. Working alone during the night, making around a hundred loaves is definitely like being in a fog. Endless night after night. It's not easy to make a decent living in London and baking paid me really well but it also blindfolded me. Kept me in this fake comfort. I'm only saying this because it was a routine job to me and my job was safe even -specially?- during pandemic. But I still chose this highly risky road to be a freelancer to be a creator.And nothing makes me happier.Footnote: so far I had only two (2) clients last year. So I think I'm insane. :DBut I wouldn't change it back. Was there a question? Or am I just in the mood to write? Ok I checked your post again. Yes there are. I am one of them.
- @Solomon Gamra hello Solomon!
- So am I :)
- @Sandrine Bascouert hi! Thank you so much for that…very encouraging! I agree that I feel older starters have a lot of skills and knowledge that could benefit a company and client! I also don’t think I would have had the confidence in my twenties to put myself out there!
- Hi Anna!A bit same here - and also a bit different: I started from scratch late in my 30s after a life in retail that made me miserable. I am also childless but being a late comer and knowing what life has in store for you make you more aware of money worries than younger people out of school. You have to earn the money, and fast!That also implies that we're probably less maleable, less naive, and less prone to being taken advantage of. Or maybe I just wish it was! :)I also think we're better at negotiating and at put ourselves in someone else's shoes (client's ones)There are lots of advantages, I think, I wouldn't have survived in that industry if I started in my 20s - particularly freelance, unless that's the kind of skill they teach you at school!
- @Chanelle Edwards I love it! Like a pig in the proverbial! 🤣
- @Anna Goldfinch I will have a look and watch it- thanks! How are you finding the course?
- @Chanelle Edwards sorry my phone auto corrected your name earlier! Chanelle- not Chantelle! Xx
- @Chanelle Edwards Hi Chantelle! Nice to hear from you!Like you, I am also still learning; in the last few months of my GD course and also self- teaching at the same time. I also love the ideas side of things just as much as the actualisation and think my ideal role would definitely include both!Getting a mentor is a good idea I think! Did you attend the Dots webinar on that the other day? I missed it but believe it has been recorded and you can find it on here.Thanks for the tips - I haven’t contacted anyone yet but will do when I’ve got my portfolio together!Keep in touch x
- Hey Anna!👋🏾Mature career changer here too- in my early 30’s with no kids yet- but still finding it difficult and have no idea what I’m doing! Especially as I’m self taught and still learning. I did study fashion design but it feels like completely different worlds…. Also think that I’m really just interested in storytelling/campaigning and the research/ideas part more than actually designing which has made it even more confusing! I’m personally considering finding a mentor/coach asap…Have you contacted anyone in any film/tv marketing or creative departments like sky/bbc creative - universal pictures ectr - for advice, feedback or job opps? (just seen your film and tv posters). I’ve heard Netflix usually hire mid or senior levels but could be worth reaching out to someone there too
- @Albert Baralonga Hello!!! 😀
- @Ben Catchpole Hi Ben!Life is good but very busy juggling everything. How are you?Nice to ‘meet’ you!
- @Albert Baralonga HELLO! 😄
- @Mihaela Bender Yay! Amazing! Some good things have come out of the pandemic!More Remote and flexible working to name another!
- @Irena Mestrovic Stajduhar ooh ‘pivoted’ will have to remember that buzz word! Note to self: must be more trendy! 😂It’s good to have a few strings to your bow! Think I might also not be just one thing!
- Yes!! Well, I'm trying to move back to a more creative environment. I totally get where you're coming from, it feels a bit like that to me too sometimes. I'm actually pondering a shout out for collaborators for a project that I'm working on (a blog/website by and for people who are middle-aged, technically 40+) but was wondering how many people in that age bracket would be prepared to collaborate because I'm assuming that everyone will be mid-career or senior but I bet there are absolutely loads who are just starting out on their passions.Would be very happy to connect with you!
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