Is it a terrible idea to start a fresh career in Engineering at 38 with no family safety net?
Posted by VitaminsrImportant@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 28 comments
Hi everyone,
Looking for some honest perspective from anyone who’s been a mature student or works in engineering.
I’m 38 and honestly pretty stuck. I currently work part-time in hospitality and have had absolutely no luck finding any other decent jobs. I live in a house share, don’t own a home, and don't have any family or parents to fall back on if things go wrong. (I do hold dual UK/EU passports, though).
I’ve got the chance to go to uni to study Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE). I am absolutely in love with the subject—I've always genuinely loved maths, physics, electronics, and languages, so this feels like a perfect fit rather than just a random choice to escape my current job.
Financially, the stars have aligned quite well:
My tuition is fully covered.
I get a bursary that will cover my rent in the house share and basic food. Crucially, I don't have to pay a single penny of this bursary back.
I’ve got enough personal savings tucked away to handle any extra expenses or emergencies while I study.
Because I don't have a mortgage, kids, or a career to lose, it feels like the perfect time to just go for it. But starting completely fresh at nearly 40 with no family safety net is still pretty daunting.
Has anyone here done a major career pivot like this in their late 30s? And what is the UK job market actually like for older EEE grads—will my age hold me back when applying for graduate or entry-level engineering roles in a few years?
Thanks.
FeDUpGraduate87@reddit
Go for it! I'm 38 and wish I could do something else! 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️
You'll regret it if you don't!
KonkeyDongPrime@reddit
Go for it. Try and get some industry experience during the summer holidays, or a sandwich year. You might get the opportunity to complete the degree part time after a sandwich year.
Sounds like a great opportunity. If you can handle the maths and the amount of graft goes into an engineering degree, you will be fine.
oh_f-f-s@reddit
I mean... if it's funded and something you love, those are two major ticks for me.
I'm not an expert but STEM jobs are also in high demand no?
And making a massive assumption here, but I'd guess it would pay more than a hospitality job.
Seems like a no-brainer to me.
It'll be tough though. I supported my wife whilst she retrained and it was hard going but worthwhile
DeemonPankaik@reddit
Not all STEM jobs are in high demand, but electrical engineering is for sure. And is well paid.
No_Sleep8629@reddit
Process techs within the chem/petrochem industry definitely arent in demand lol
ProfPMJ-123@reddit
Honestly I’ve no idea what the job market is for mature entry level EE grads, because it’s not at all common.
But I hire a lot of graduates and it wouldn’t put me off at all. Indeed I’d probably see it as a positive - someone would really be in love with the subject to make a change like this later in life.
I would 100% say go for it. It’s a great subject, and while the jobs market is a little depressed at the moment, it’s still good and that’s not likely to change.
TapWaterDev@reddit
You have at least 30 years of working life ahead of you... thats plenty of time for a pivot to pay off.
Best of luck bro
Inevitable_Thing_270@reddit
I can’t give advice on engineering specifically.
What I can say is that 38 isn’t that old. You’d have years of a working life left after retraining.
It sounds like you’re actually pretty set up for doing this, with the offer, the tuition covered, bursary, no dependents, etc.
It’s an area that you enjoy, so what’s stopping you? Is it that it might not work out? But what if it does?
If it doesn’t work out:
- you gave it a shot at something you thought you’d enjoy
- you learned stuff from the experience that you can continue to use in life (there’s always some take away from experiences)
- you still have your experience in hospitality so can look at jobs in that field again if you want, or start looking at other things.
-
If you don’t take this opportunity, the result will probably be you’ll keep wondering “what if”. So unless I’m getting the wrong idea from your post, and actually you love working in hospitality, then go give the engineering things a go
Ultimately, ask your self where you’d prefer to be in 5 years? Same job, or same type job as now and maybe wishing you’d taken the opportunity before, or stepping out your comfort zone of the known and possibly getting into a new field of career that you enjoy?
Good luck
AttorneyOk4808@reddit
Do it bro, you'll hate yourself if you don't at least try.
yorkspirate@reddit
What do you see 'going wrong' with this idea ?? Worst case in 6months time you realise it's not for you and go back to working hospitality or whatever else to pay the bills
In my opinion it would be a terrible idea not to have a crack at it.
eca3617@reddit
I've a lot of respect for engineers. I honestly believe it's tip top in terms of work and national importance.... Genuinely, we're screwed without engineers.
A tangent here but here we go, I've not been able to stop thinking about it...
I'll keep this as short as I can, this is aimed at you not upvotes. If you read it in full, cheers
... I've worked 12 years in the ambulance service working support roles, I'm just moving up towards paramedic. I was an army medic before. I bumped into this paramedic on a shift the other night, she was about the same age as me. She had 5 kids, single mother, from a rough estate, no GCSEs leaving school, ex stripper ffs.... But somehow she ragged herself up to paramedic. I was genuinely impressed.
This is a bullshit comment. It doesn't give service to the graft she put in to get to where she is, but she did it. And she's good. And mate, honestly. If she can do it under those circumstances, you can. If you truly want to do it, do it.
pb-86@reddit
OP I did this in my mid-late 20's and I now work as a senior nuclear engineer. I have people working for me that include graduates and apprentices so let me tell you how it is.
First, it's a lot of hard work. You need to really shine to make up for your lack of experience vs age. However, you have maturity on your side. When I was in college against I was the oldest there but I knew the stakes and knew what it meant to me. There was no way I wasn't going to be the best.
Second, you don't need to go as far as you think in education. I got a HND and at the end of it companies had contacted the college looking for newly qualified engineers. Since I was top of the class I had a few local companies to interview for. I never went back to complete my BEng. I have debated it several times, and thought about doing my masters but given I'm now earning a significant amount in a job I love it seems pointless.
Make sure you study up on maths and physics. Also excel and cad software. Seems obvious but that's the job.
Lastly, and I mean this, there is a significant amount of work in the UK and not enough decent engineers to do it. Wages are going up at a decent rate and once you have a couple of years experience under your belt you'll be incredibly well sought after. Look in to contracting, you'll find yourself earning £30-£50 an hour on some fascinating projects. If you're single, and not tied down you can make more in remote areas or abroad.
Happy to answer any questions you have.
Kickkickkarl@reddit
Go for it.
Decard_Pain@reddit
I don't wish to be rude but you're in a pretty shit place right now, you have the opportunity for something very significant and you also love it?
Why the hell haven't you gone for it already?
allenysm@reddit
I started a physiotherapy degree last September at 43, I have a family and yes it’s been challenging but totally worth it. Your degree sounds fully funded and with no attachments life is basically telling you this is an incredible opportunity, so yes go for it!
Don’t worry about the age gap: mature students are seen by lecturers as reliable, have their priorities in order, are punctual, and will actually turn up and do the work. The crucial thing is to ensure you succeed at your interview for the degree: most courses will do this to weed out the chancers, the misguided, and the unsuitable. Good luck!
Any-Republic-4269@reddit
You have thirty years of working life until you retire, let's be honest, so well done! Do it
LycheeSilent4571@reddit
That’s what I’m thinking too! I’m in a similar position, and retirement is still far away. Why would I spent another 30 years working minimum wage and not having anything to show for it
srm79@reddit
I tried it at 34, graduated at 37 with a 2:1 and couldn't get a job or on a grad scheme. I also found attitudes in uni were very ageist, some lecturers would say it's too difficult to learn as you get older and other students think you don't know how to use tiktok and snap chat.
The good thing is that I did manage to get into a better career anyway, having a good degree in a technical subject means employers trust you with more complex projects and progression is available for the most capable. I now work in housing as a contracts and project manager
QVRedit@reddit
Engineers are always in demand…
KittyHalfEyes@reddit
Yes. Age not an issue. Rather normal in engineering world. Whats important is, knowing way around tools. And keen eye for fault finding. Do the level 2. Which is faster. and then you can do level 3 while you are working. Lot of companies take people with L2 certification. And pay for L3 courses through the company contracts.
My background is property maintenance and then vehicle maintenance. At 43 got a job in automation and robotics. Took nearly 10k pay-cut. Well worth it though. Currently Doing some courses to move up.
notanadultyadult@reddit
Go do it! Follow your dreams. It seems like your stars have aligned. I’m currently planning to follow my dream and I’ll be 37 if it happens.
Confident_Yak_1411@reddit
Go for it dude. I have nothing to say about job prospects in that particular field.
All I can say is that with your financial situation sorted (tuition covered and bursary), there is no downside to just going for it.
The more qualifications and experience you have the better your opportunities will be.
Hospitality will always be there to fall back on if you need it to be!
Fair_Condition_1460@reddit
I'm not sure what industry folks will say, but hell yeah brother, follow your passion before you're dead.
I'm not in EEE, but in my field I would see a mature candidate going into junior role as showing dedication, more wit and experience about them, and probably destined to fast track themselves into several promotions. You're a better bet than a snotty child and probably more output for same cost for the initial years. I would love to hire you and I could defend it on those grounds.
So. Over to the actual EEE industry folks for inside views.
Love this for you. I started in IT late 20s, and will be retired at 52~. I got a similar recognition as a mature but junior candidate and rocketed up.
jnpesquire@reddit
You could spend the next 30 years working part time in hospitality, or you could do a degree and at worst spend another 30 years working part time in hospitality, with the other possibility of not working in hospitalilty.
Sea-Still5427@reddit
Go for it! You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. If you write a list of pros and cons, there are no cons. In a difficult market, the best way to use your time is train or gain qualifications for when things pick up, because companies have been underinvesting in staff for years now.
Can't speak for EEE but I did something similar in my early 30s and it changed everything.
Square_Quarter_229@reddit
There’s a critical shortage of electrical engineers in the UK at the moment, so this would be an amazing pivot. Getting bursary covering everything is almost as good as winning the lottery. You should definitely go for it!!
metlson@reddit
I've worked with people who've made a similar pivot before as chemical engineers (wasn't in the UK) but they restudied, completed a graduate program and are working as an engineer.
If it something that appeals to you go for it. Being able to work in a field you enjoy is really a blessing. My main recommendation would be to join a relevant engineering institute and go to events to meet others on the field and network. It can help you find out about engineering placement opportunities which are really useful while studying
Best of luck
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