Hey everyone,
I’m 29, based in Australia, and currently work in SaaS/product management.
I’ve been with my current company for about 3 years as an Associate Product Manager. Without going into every detail, I’ve had a rough experience around role clarity, career progression and promotion pathways. I’ve repeatedly asked for a proper job description, KPIs and a clear pathway forward, but it has felt like a lot of vague promises and not much actual structure.
For context, I’m not unqualified or brand new to business/product work. I’ve worked at several agencies and client-side as a BDM, and I also have:
– Bachelor of Commerce
– Diploma in Business
– Diploma in Management
– Advanced Diploma as a Business Analyst
– Certificate from an Australian university for completing an AI for Product Managers course
– Certificate from an Australian university for completing a Product Manager course
On top of that, I’m honestly worried about the future of product management. AI feels like it’s going to make it harder and harder to stand out, especially for people who are not deeply technical or already in senior PM roles. I’m not saying PMs will disappear, but I do worry the market will get more competitive and harder to break through in.
At the same time, I’m at the stage of life where I’m thinking seriously about the future. I’m in a relationship, I want to get married, have kids, buy a home one day and build a stable life. I don’t want to drift for another 5 years in a career path that may or may not pay off.
So I’ve been thinking about going into a trade as a mature-age apprentice, specifically carpentry, with the long-term goal of working towards a carpentry licence and eventually a builder’s licence.
I should add that the trades are not completely new to me. I did a few years of carpentry and site labouring when I was younger, so I understand the basics of site work, early starts, physical labour, tools, trades, and how different it is from an office job. I know it is hard work and not some romanticised “escape from corporate” fantasy.
I also know it would likely mean taking a pay cut at first, starting from the bottom again, and being older than a lot of other apprentices. But the appeal is that it feels tangible, practical and potentially scalable long term if I work hard, learn properly and eventually move into running jobs or my own business.
For anyone who has done this in Australia, especially as a mature-age apprentice:
– Is 29 too late to start?
– Is carpentry still a good pathway if the long-term goal is becoming a licensed builder?
– How hard is it financially at the start as a mature-age apprentice?
– Would you recommend it to someone leaving a corporate/SaaS role?
– Is there a smarter trade or construction pathway I should consider instead?
– Would you stick it out in product/tech and try to move companies, or make the jump now?
I’m not afraid of hard work, but I want to make a smart decision. I’m trying to think long term, not just react emotionally to a bad job situation.
Any honest advice from tradies, builders, mature-age apprentices or people who left white-collar work for the trades would be appreciated.