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Can I Restart My Career at 45?

Archana

Archana Deshpande  | Answer  |Ask -

Image Coach, Soft Skills Trainer - Answered on Dec 07, 2024

Archana Deshpande, the founder of TransformMe Life Skills Coaching, is an image consultant, soft skills trainer and life coach.
She has been working with individuals and corporate organisations for more than 10 years during which she has helped professionals and students improve their soft skills, build confidence and enhance self-esteem.
An engineer from the PDA College of Engineering, Gulbarga, Archana had a successful career at Reliance Communications. But she has always been interested in teaching and training people. So she pursued a postgraduate diploma in teacher’s training at Pune’s Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies followed by teaching assignments in schools at Visakhapatnam and Mumbai.
Archana also holds an international certificate in image consulting and soft skills training from the Image Consulting Business Institute, Mumbai.... more
Ahalya Question by Ahalya on Nov 07, 2024Hindi
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Career

One of my office collegue left the job from our office 2 years back for better opportunity as our office conditions were declining. He joined in a lesser pay job which he had to leave within 6 months. Our company is one of its kind in India and with this experience of 20 years and having an ae above 45 years, he is struggling to get another job. Although I am still in this office but I know I have to face the same situation. I am from Biology Background but bo experience in wet lab or teaching. Our job is totally online job. Is it possible to restart at the age of 45? If yes, please guide what can I do now so that I am self dependent before I leave this job.

Ans: Dear Ahalya,
This is the best time to be an entrepreneur in India!! There are enough problems to solve on this planet, look at these closely, see where you can help and become part of the solution. With your experience and your area of expertise, see where you can bridge the gap, this is where you can become self employed and self dependent!
Look around, grab the opportunities that come your way and move forward with courage....any age is a good age, age is just a number, trust me.

If teaching interests you, then please go ahead and teach, there is a severe dearth of good teachers who can shape young minds!!

Don't let fear cloud your judgement ... fortune favours the brave!! Prepare well and take the plunge!! Best wishes to you..
Career

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Dear Mr CHandu, I am 53 yrs now and an BE by qualification. I have been working in IT industry (14 yrs) and from 2007 have been working in IT Security profile as GM. In 2015 I left the job over an partnership offer which did not materialized but i lost the job. I started an start-up ecommerce company with a good concept which was liked and appreciated by the franchisees as even today they are running a grocery store which was setup by me, though my business shut down due to non funding and was cheated in the name of funding. After long gap I did join the company but lasted for just 8 months and now again am job less. I have a good start-up idea in healthcare which is workable and have been appreciated by people to whom i have brief though i M yet to launch due to funds issue, Though people are trying to find the funding after hearing the biz idea. My wife is working and have 2 kids in 12th and 10th Std respectively. Pls advice.
Ans: Dear Mr Dinesh,
It looks like you have been through a lot after getting into business on your own. Your children too are at a critical stage in life which requires funds for higher education in the next few years. The first question to ask yourself is - what is the priority in your life? Is it financial stability for the family esp for the kids? Or is it the pursuit of your business? The second question is - what is the current status of your household finances? Is there enough savings to manage the household, upcoming education expenses, other expenses (travel, medical etc)?
If you are shaky, it may be time for you to consider taking an assignment which offers you a fixed remuneration and also flexibility to work on your idea. You say you were in the field of IT security. Can you consider an assignment which might take 2-3 days per week managing and overseeing the IT security for a company which cannot afford a full-time professional?
You may also want to consider getting incubated in a good healthcare incubator in your city and also apply for a start-up funding grant from the government of India and/or local state government programmes.

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Patrick

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CAT, XAT, CMAT, CET Expert - Answered on Apr 09, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jan 31, 2025Hindi
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Hi Career Experts , I am into my 45th year & am a qualified Mechanical Engineer + Full-time MBA in Marketing . Am based-out in a Tier-3 City & am supposed to stay back in my base location only due to family obligations . Worked for 16 Years but had to quit my job in 2021 due to incompatibility issues & not able to absorb / cope-up with the surmounting pressures that are rampant in the corporate world . Since then , have not been able to settle down with a Job although reaching-out & following openings on platforms like LinkedIn actively but all in vain . Had even tried exploring starting-out on my own but risks and insecurity have held me back . Have been somehow managing with my savings & investments done , but that may not go a long way . Success it seems is elusive on all fronts probably due to my age , work-gap , location constraint , maybe some other follies as well etc ? Looking forward to some specific advises pls. (do's & dont's) which may restart and reignite my career , which is in a complete state of mess . Thanks & Regards !
Ans: When you are looking for a job, check multiple sources. Linkedin is one of them. Check placement agencies, connect with your former colleagues, your friends, your batchmates from MBA college who themselves could be in decision making position. You may have to reskill yourself with some short courses. Simultaneously you could look at starting something on your own based on your interest. Could be investment advisory or some small business.

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Asked by Anonymous - Dec 02, 2025Hindi
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My married ex still texts me for comfort. Because of him, I am unable to move on. He makes me feel guilty by saying he got married out of family pressure. His dad is a cardiac patient and mom is being treated for cancer. He comforts me by saying he will get separated soon and we will get married because he only loves me. We have been in a relationship for 14 years and despite everything we tried, his parents refused to accept me, so he chose to get married to someone who understands our situation. I don't know when he will separate from his wife. She knows about us too but she comes from a traditional family. She also confirmed there is no physical intimacy between them. I trust him, but is it worth losing my youth for him? Honestly, I am worried and very confused.
Ans: Dear Anonymous,
I understand how difficult it is to let go of a relationship you have built from scratch, but is it really how you want to continue? It really seems to be going nowhere. His parents are already in bad health and he married someone else for their happiness. Does it seem like he will be able to leave her? So many people’s happiness and lives depend on this one decision. I think it’s about time you and your BF have a clear conversation about the same. If he can’t give a proper timeline, please try to understand his situation. But also make sure he understands yours and maybe rethink this equation. It really isn’t healthy. You deserve a love you can have wholly, and not just in pieces, and in the shadows.

Hope this helps

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Mayank

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IIT-JEE, NEET-UG, SAT, CLAT, CA, CS Exam Expert - Answered on Dec 04, 2025

Career
My son will be appearing for JEE Main & JEE Advanced 2026 and will participate in JoSAA Counselling 2026. I request clarification regarding the GEN-EWS certificate date requirement for next year. I have already applied for an EWS certificate for current year 2025, and the application is under process. However, I am unsure whether this certificate will be accepted during JoSAA 2026, or whether candidates will be required to submit a fresh certificate for FY 2026–27 (issued on or after 1 April 2026). My concern is that if JoSAA requires a certificate issued after 1 April 2026, students will have only 1–1.5 months to complete the entire procedure, which is difficult considering normal government processing timelines. Also, during current JEE form filling, students are asked to upload a GEN-EWS certificate issued on or after 1 April 2025, or an application acknowledgement. This has created confusion among parents regarding which year’s certificate will finally be valid at the time of counselling. I request your kind guidance on: Which GEN-EWS certificate will be accepted for JoSAA Counselling 2026 — a certificate for FY 2025–26 (issued after 1 April 2025), or a new certificate for FY 2026–27 (issued after 1 April 2026)?
Ans: Hi
You need not worry about the EWS certificate. Even if you apply for the next year's certificate on 1 Apr 2026, the second session of JEE MAINS will still be held, followed by JEE ADVANCED, which will be held in May. JOSAA starts in June. so you will have 2 months in hand for fresh EWS certificate.

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