Facing the truth about a career that you do not want to give up

Today I looked down the barrel of the proverbial gun.

Finally.

And a bit desperately.

Ever since I went to see career analysts in 1979 about what sort of career I should follow (when I decided to leave teaching), I have been committed to IT (or DP - Data Processing as it was known).

Ageism has forever been the problem with the industry. When I went to see about getting on a training course in 1979, I was told that I was, at 31, already too old. They did not quite understand my follow-up question as to where I should collect my pension, as I was obviously already entitled to it.

I persisted, I found another training course, after qualifying and after weeks of searching I found a company that would take me on, I moved, learned new skills, became as proficient as I knew how - eventually my job has taken me to seven countries.

Unless the management is so bad, it is impossible to do your job well, I have always relished the challenge. It has not always been good times, in fact there have been some really bad times, but it was where I belonged, where I wanted to stay, where I wanted to see out my professional life.

Then came the heart attack in 2008, my job disappearing while I was in intensive care, the dozens of applications since, and the endless rejections. Then there was the nonsense at P&G when they took me on for all of one day.

Still I kept applying ..... in vain.

Three weeks ago I decided to see if I could make something of a living as a freelance translator. I went on the off chance to see a language school in Frankfurt to see if they could give me some advice on getting certification. They were more interested in seeing if I were good enough to freelance for them. I took a test. Yesterday, I got a really nice letter saying that they were impressed and would I sign this contract ....

The money will probably be nothing special, the freelance nature of the work leaves me all sorts of problems with medical insurance and having to deal with accountants (ugh! I would more likely trust politicians, which is saying something). But it is work, I can do it well and from home, and as long as my wife is working as well we can pay the bills ....

Truth is though, I shall miss IT. The career analysts thought it was the ideal career for me all those years ago, and they were right. Pity so many employers out there lack that insight!