r/GetEmployed • u/C-Kasparov • 16h ago
48m, unemployed again. What did you do? What would you do?
I'm 48m, worked as a research professor for 6 years, then normal professor for 3 years. After losing my last two positions due to changes in the University strategic plans, I decided to change careers and got a second masters in finance in 2023.
However, since then I've struggled to get even an FP&A position. I've been more unemployed than employed and I my last job as a data-entry accounting clerk position ended a few weeks ago.
I'm completely lost. Any finance jobs appear unattainable. I'm considering giving up on any career and just get a menial job that will pay most of the bills.
Were you in a similar situation? Know others who were in a similar situation? What did you do?
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u/Upbeat-Fondant9185 10h ago
Go menial. Enjoy the lack of stress and easy work. In those types of jobs it’s incredibly easy to climb up to a management position in no time just by being slightly more than competent.
The pay isn’t great but it’s better than no paycheck at all and you can job search while you have this money coming in. Or just wait out this cluster we seem to have found ourselves in.
I did something similar. Left a respected career for one that people look down on but is simple and was available. I’ve ended up staying in it because I kept getting promoted. Now I’m more financially secure than I ever was before and I’m oddly content.
Someone with your intelligence and drive would thrive in something like that. And who knows, it could lead to something you’ve never even considered.
It may also be worth considering relocation. There are a lot of small cities out there with a lot less competition for jobs and are cheap as dirt to live.
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u/fineokayalrightsure 6h ago
What was the menial job?
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u/Charzu_tjegulf 6h ago
Factory worker. It was my first job post Stem degree, driving a forklift, operating cranes, shoveling stuff.
Honestly, the pay was great for me, 25% better than my next job - base, add the overtime and it was way way better and I should have never quit, I just didnt know it then. With a stem degree I was in a solid position for a management job after 5-10 years experience.
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u/OkIron6206 15h ago
Are there any Community Colleges nearby? How about Cancer Centers?? They’re always doing research (clinical studies) as well as the connecting hospitals. What about Pharma? I do see those jobs on LinkedIn and there is a subreddit r/biotech you can check out. Like the economy, many are downsizing but if you keep looking eventually you’ll find something. I actually posted an Eli Lily job there a month ago. At the very least, you will be able to ask questions of the research persons there (I am in commercial). It’s Been Hell, this job market. It’s not just you. Best wishes
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u/TrainingLow9079 14h ago
If you want to work in finance keep applying, but you may need to broaden the type of jobs you apply for (with different customized resumes of course). You'll have to see where you're most competitive. When I was last searching I applied for different types of jobs. Couldn't get any interviews in government but got a good number in higher ed.
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u/Indian_finance_rebel 12h ago
unfortunately I am younger than you - 39, so while I did have a stretch of unemployment in the begininng years, didnt face the same issue since then - well its because I didnt want to take the risk of unemployment.
But, what I would do depends purely on my financial situation.
If I have enough money, I will wait for the job I want, while lowering the standards I am looking for to fnd the match.
If I dont have enough money, I will get whatever job I can get my hands on immediately - doesnt matter what.
Unfortunately, I dont know your specifics to tell what I would choose, whether you have depends and whether you have someone you can depend on and uch - so that is entirely upto you.
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u/Express_Judgment2198 9h ago
CFO here... Every corp finance (not accounting) job post I've ever had done has had 100+ applicants. Someone with no finance experience other than a degree is competing against people with years of experience and is unlikely to make even the first cut.
My advice... If you really want to work in finance, you need to get a personal recommendation/referral or you need to start from the bottom and take analyst/junior roles. You can prove yourself as an analyst and move up faster than others when people start noticing your masters and actual job experience combination.
My above advice assumes you are interested in corp finance. If you are a specialist (ie quant), a direct path may be more achievable.
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u/svenproud 15h ago
Im sorry what?! You got a finance degree at 48? I am 32 with an MSc in Business Administration and have 0 chance to land a job in finance, im like 6-7 years to late.
Finance is one of the most competitive fields in the world where you need to be super young and have the strongest network of all.
Cant tell you what to do, but I suppose anything teaching and research related should do the trick for you.
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u/Sad_Trick7974 9h ago
What field of research/discipline?
What country?
So you left academia already 3 years ago at 44/45 and the career switch did not work for you
A teaching position and/or contacting a PI and offering your free time to write a grant proposal may get you back into academia if you would want to?
And/or offering your research services and skills to the commercial and/or government field?
Or are you asking for another career switch which worked for others?
Would career counseling help for you?, to get more insights into available jobs?, is there a career center where you live?
Good luck!
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u/OverworkedAuditor1 7h ago
FP&A is a competitive field.
The competition you faced should be expected don’t think it’s some clerk position.
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u/Level_Initial_9511 1h ago
Can you be an influencer and teach people what you know? You're a professor after all.
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u/Desperate-Action4684 1h ago
Hike the Pacific Crest Trail… wish I had done this when I was your age and in a similar position
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u/FoldAdministrative98 16h ago
It’s hard for everyone! You are not alone. Terrible job market in a lot of areas. Chances are you’d be good at vlogs on YouTube. Maybe start a monetized channel in finance or your research area?
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u/Sweet-Present2234 15h ago
keep your head up....try substitute teaching hs. If you like it, teaching is a solid profession with time for side hustles or other pursuits.
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u/cowgod180 15h ago
Are you Gen X? Do you have a Ph.d?
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u/Cultural_Structure37 13h ago
He’s 48, so what other generation is he?
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u/cowgod180 13h ago
I meant idk spiritually Gen X. He sounds like he might’ve played Sega Saturn in the 90s btw, especially if he did post-doc work.
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u/3znor 14h ago
Wealth management. Take your SIE. Find a Schwab Fidelity Merrill or a bank program.