"Smart" Degree Options for Middle-Aged Non-Manager Type :)

Discussion in 'General Distance Learning Discussions' started by Nodaclu, May 20, 2017.

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  1. Nodaclu

    Nodaclu New Member

    Hi all,

    I'm coming back to the forum after an absence due to my wife's health issues, and since I've been away, my priorities have changed somewhat. Because of this, I'm hoping to get your thoughts / opinions / advice.

    I'm a 47 year old male, who has been in HR for about 15 years, but I'm very burnt out on it. I feel like this might be the time to pivot into something new, and at this stage of my life, my priority is a little less on "doing what I love", and a bit more focused on pursuing a degree that will allow me to essentially start fresh as I'm nearing 50.

    I'm acutely aware of the age-discrimination issues I might face as an older worker in a new field (I've mildly run into it here and there already).

    What I'd really like to get some ideas about, is what degrees might be wise for me to pursue, that would lead to work in a field that is open enough that job opportunities will be readily available to me.

    Here's an example of what I mean:

    One of the jobs I've had in HR was as an Analyst. I kind of liked that kind of work, and transitioning into a Business Analyst role seems like it could be a doable thing for me. I see those types of positions available all the time. I'm assuming that a general business degree, combined with my background, might be enough to allow me to get into that type of role.

    Can anyone share any other jobs/fields like that, where jobs are plentiful and wages are decent? If so, what type of degree would I need to finish to be able to pursue one of those jobs?

    Hope this makes some sense, and thank you in advance for your help and advice!
     
  2. BusinessManIT

    BusinessManIT Member

    Educational Credentials

    What degrees have you earned, if any? A business degree may be your best bet. However, be prepared for some intense age discrimination no matter which way you go.
     
  3. Nodaclu

    Nodaclu New Member

    I'm 80 units into a Psych degree, which I plan to finish by the end of the year. Because of that, I know I have to realistically look at Master's degree options - likely an MBA, MS in HRM, or an MS in I/O Psych.

    The age discrimination thing is incredibly discouraging. I have a backup plan to deal with it, but was really hoping I could avoid it until age 60 or so.
     
  4. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

  5. BusinessManIT

    BusinessManIT Member

    Agree with Kizmet

    I second Kizmet's advice. Penn State's online World Campus is outstanding and well regarded. I earned a graduate certificate in Geographic Information Systems in 2009 there and enjoyed it a lot. There are quite a few interesting Master's degrees that one can earn entirely online there.
     
  6. cookderosa

    cookderosa Resident Chef

    for consistency, I'll throw the same advice in here that I did in this thread on IC. My money is on transitioning into a community college instructor's position as soon as your MBA is finished. With your background and experience, you'd be a fantastic catch.
     
  7. Nodaclu

    Nodaclu New Member

    Thank you all!

    I love the idea of Penn State, but they might be a little more than I can handle cost-wise.

    I also love the idea of teaching at the CC level - if I can find work. I know that, here in California, those positions are tough to come by. On the other hand, I'm willing to move almost anywhere in the country, so I have that in my favor. :)
     
  8. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    Age discrimination, isn't this against title x in the USA?
     
  9. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

  10. AlK11

    AlK11 Active Member

    Yes it's illegal. But hiring managers aren't stupid. No one is going to tell you that you're too old or too young for a job. They'll just say, we went with someone who has more experience or we felt another candidate better fit what we are looking for. They can discriminate in a whole bunch of ways without you or anyone else ever knowing.

    Also I second looking into degrees in data analytics or data statistics or business statistics. I think those would fit well with your current experience but also different enough where it's a change. I've actually been looking at those programs since my current job and what I'd like to pursue as a career has me dealing heavily with data and statistics. The problem I found is that almost all programs are geared towards people in a business setting and that's not me. Georgia Tech has probably my favorite one I found. Affordable, good school, I liked the classes listed on the program description. Check it out.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 22, 2017
  11. Nodaclu

    Nodaclu New Member

    Took the words right out of my mouth. I've worked in a few places where the hiring patterns made it crystal clear that the company's priority was to hire recent graduates with little to no experience, so they could pay them a lower wage, and "mold" them into the type of employees they wanted.
     
  12. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    People often know, or feel the discrimination but it's impossible to prove.
     
  13. AlK11

    AlK11 Active Member

    I don't mean to hijack this thread, but I'm going to do it anyway. I am a young college womens volleyball coach. The profession is predominantly male. I'd estimate that 90% of the head coaches are males. Im not ready for a head coach position so I look for assistant positions. I completely stopped applying for jobs where there is a male head coach and 1 male assistant (most programs have 1 head coach and 2 assistants). If the head coach is a male and the assistant is a male, they're hiring a female for the open assistant position. For equality purposes it seems everyone is "required" to have at least one female on staff. Is it messed up, annoying, and flat out wrong that all these places hire unqualified females over qualified males like myself? Yes. Can I do anything about it? No.

    Didn't mean to get completely off topic, but I felt it was a good example.
     
  14. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    You can do something about it. Those who evolved will survive so change your gender.
     
  15. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    In defense of Tuvel I think

    Philosopher Mylan Engel (Northern Illinois) has written up a very useful analysis of the articl:

    I just finished reading Rebecca Tuvel’s excellent article “In Defense of Transracialism” in which she argues [yes, ARGUES] that the same sorts of considerations that rightly support transgenderism apply with equal force to transracialism. Her argument runs as follows:

    1. Generally, when a person genuinely and sincerely self-identifies as a member of a socially constructed category, we should recognize and respect that person’s self-identification.
    Given 1, it follows that:
    2. People who sincerely self-identify as a particular gender should have their self-identified gender be recognized, accepted, and respected (regardless of their chromosomal structure or the external or internal genitalia). [As Tuvel puts it: “Thankfully, there is growing recognition that justice for trans individuals means respecting their self-identification by granting them membership in their felt sex category of belonging.”
    Likewise, given 1, it also follows that:
    3. People who sincerely self-identify as belonging to a particular race should have their self-identified race be recognized, accepted, and respected (regardless of their ancestry or color of origin).

    The point Tuvel is making is this:

    Just as gender identity has RIGHTLY shifted from an emphasis on one’s sexed biology toward an emphasis on gendered self-recognition, racial identity should shift away from ancestral ties or color of origin toward an emphasis on racial self-identification.

    Tuvel concludes: “If some individuals genuinely feel like or identify as a member of a race other than the one assigned to them at birth—so strongly to the point of seeking a transition to the other race—we should accept their decision to change races.”
     
  16. AlK11

    AlK11 Active Member

    I think this also solves our problem of age discrimination. If the OP feels like he's 25 instead of feeling like he's 50, then there shouldn't be a problem.
     
  17. Kizmet

    Kizmet Moderator

    I have been self-identifying as a Princess of Nigeria for a while now (thanks to the Prince) but I have to admit that I'm getting a little impatient, waiting for all that money to get deposited into my bank account.:sigh1:
     
  18. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Well, this thread took a turn for the silly....
     
  19. AlK11

    AlK11 Active Member

  20. Phdtobe

    Phdtobe Well-Known Member

    Is that an opinion or a fact?
     

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