I could really use some advice on changing careers.
I've been in printing for 23 years and have noticed the steady decline in the industry over the years due to the growth of the internet. I make a good wage and am currently 44, but I'm afraid I'll be in a similar situation as several who have been in a trade all their lives. Lose their job in their 50's with no additional skills but their trade. They end up taking a lesser paying job, burn through what they've saved in 401k until retirement and then try to make it off of SS. I don't want this to be me. I've thought about schooling, but I work 2 jobs and I would not have the time to dedicate to school. What I have thought about is getting some certificates. I've seen some online classes where you can get the lessons and a certificate for free, but I don't know what is legit and what is going to be a scam. If there are legit classes to take online, can I get some recommendations on some of the best (hopefully free) and what should I be putting an emphasis on? I'm assuming MS Office and computer classes would be a priority since most employers are going to assume most will have these skills. As far a career field I'm looking into, not a clue. I'm a 44 year old who does not know what I want to do when I grow up. My part time job is a Sterile Processing technician at a local hospital. While a nice part time job to have (great 401k and PTO even for part time), it would not pay the best. I've recently created a resume and cover letter and thought it would be good to add some certificates or additional skills I've acquired. I also do not have a Linkedin profile which seems to be a must these days. I've never been a job hopper (10+ years at 2 print jobs and 11 years part time at the hospital). My skills with printing have given me my technical and troubleshooting skills and processing instrumentation for surgeries at a hospital requires attention to detail, with a heavy emphasis on technique and documentation. I think these are skills combined that would make me a great candidate for several employers.
I've reached a time in my life when I need to go beyond my comfort zone and push myself as I have the need and desire to learn and grow. Any thoughts would be appreciated as I'm sure there are several on this site who have gone through something similar in their lives.
