Date: 05/09/2012
Topic: Personal Advice & Life Coaching
Fanchon44303 asks
Hi,
I am 61 years old. I just have been laidoff. Thinking about going back to school to get a marketable job in Medical Assisting? Should I do it?
This question has been retired and is no longer accepting answers.
cjgolden On 05/11/2012 wrote:
The questions is, "Why shouldn't you do it?" If you have the financial resources, and time (which apparently you do have now), it seems to me that you will be following a dream that you have, perhaps, had for a while. This is the time to pursue those dreams and travel your path in a new direction. You are not "reinventing" yourself, but bringing out a side of yourself that you hadn't in the past allowed to flourish. In the Yin and Yang of life, when we have a dark moment (being laid off from one's job) a bright spot always appears. In this case that bright spot is allowing you to add a new skill with the joy of going back to school and learning something new and exciting.
I say, "You go, girl!"
This is a great opportunity to find out what you really WANT to do now in this next phase of life. So often we do what we think we SHOULD do. However, if you know that this is what you want to do, then absolutely go back to school! I have many clients over 50 who have gone back to school to start a new career later in life. It can be very exciting and invigorating. I would normally tell a client to make sure that the new job for which they are training is viable, but in your case, I know for certain that anything in the medical field is needed and will continue to be needed for many years to come. Good luck with your new endeavor. Let me know if I can help you in any way.
I would first search agencies and job markets first to see how many jobs are available and the payscale for this retraining. I live on the spacecoast in Florida, and as soon as all the people got laid off at Cape Canaveral everyone was retraining in this field and medical coding because it was quick and people thought medical fields will always be in need. I too thought of a career change at 53 years old because I was unhappy i my workplace. I found no jobs for this field in my area. If I found a job because there was so many trained the payscale was not there for me. Please do your research before you invest in money and time. Also I found most ads were wanting someone with atleast 3 years experience....I don't want to discourage you but research your area and placement! Best of luck, Brenda
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