What is a good career field for someone who needs to start over?

[Cynette]

Since your current career description doesn't sound too specific or limiting, I don't think you need to totally change your career field - as long as you had enjoyed the type of work you were doing up until now.

I have to agree with everything Ed said above. Your age should not be a factor, especially if you focus on what you have achieved / accomplished and what you can offer.

Keep busy now, your self esteem will depend on it! Volunteering is a great way to do that. And sometimes it leads to a paying job and sometimes it opens up an area of interest that you may not have considered before. You also need to spend a dedicated amount of time in researching opportunities and writing and tailoring your resume to match those opportunities.

That said, to me, the most critical thing for you to do is polish and grow your network. 9 of the last 10 people that I know who have recently gotten jobs, got that job because they knew someone (who knew someone...). Only one did it the old fashioned way by submitting a resume. Sign up on an online professional networking site such as LinkedIn, and start making connections with people you know, have worked with and so on. Get your address book out and start reconnecting with those people you knew throughout your 25 years of experience. The chance is great that someone you already know has a open position that would fit you to a T!

Good luck!