Job prospects for 40+ year old entering industry?

[TxGlenn]

I wanted to get some thoughts on the job prospects for someone over 40 years old entering the job market. I am currently 39 and have an MIS degree but am not happy with my career and am considering going back to school for an engineering degree. I have settled into my current (and comfortable) role that is unfulfilling and not very IT-related and my skillset has not kept up with the industry. I really have no desire to go back to school for anything IT related. I would love to have a mix of office and field work to get me out from behind a desk at least part of the time. I enjoy Math and Science classes and am considering Chemical or Environmental engineering.

So, what are the prospects for someone 40+ entering the job market? I don’t have industry experience, but do have solid business experience. I live in Houston, TX so there are plenty of Oil & Gas companies here should I decide to go that route.

Thank you for your time,
Glenn

 

[bimr]

If you can afford to take a break and go to school, you job prospects will probably be better than at present. 40 years old is still young and that should not matter.

 

[chicopee]

At your age, may be you should consider being a surveyor and get licensed in your state of preference. Surveying courses have a lot of math, at least when I took this, three semester, engineering course back in the early 60's, and you get to work outside. By the way, I am not a surveyor.

 

[TxGlenn]

Thanks for the responses.

Does anyone have any recommendations on any publications I could be reading or anything I could be doing to help determine which area of CHemical Engineering I'd like to go into? I just blindly jumped into things my first time around and want to avoid repeating that if possible. Job shadowing people in different industries would be ideal but does not seem like it's a realistic possibility...?

 

[rmw]

I don't know exactly how to recommend the search terms, but a search of this site would reveal this topic having been discussed many many times. I'd recommend you make some kind of attempt to find some of those older conversations. I know there is information in there that you are looking for.

rmw

 

[codetector]

I recommend you to have specific skill in your field. You should focus only on one topic, suppose corrosion specialist, safety auditor and so on.

Based on my experience, in my country people with those specialties get higher salary or income compared with engineer with no specialty.

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