Interviewing for a Correctional Officer Position with a County Jail at 45 - Looking for Honest Insight
I’m 45 years old, in good physical and mental health, and seriously considering a career change into corrections.
Right now I have a decent-paying job, but there’s no retirement or pension offered. Most of my extra money has gone toward helping my kids with college tuition, two are currently attending college and my youngest is about to graduate high school. Because of that, I really haven’t been able to build much retirement savings.
I’ve read plenty of negative comments about being a Corrections Officer, and I can definitely understand why some people feel the way they do. But I’m hoping to hear from people who can share both the positives and negatives honestly - especially:
- people newer to the profession
- anyone who started around my age
- and especially veterans who’ve put in the years and can give real perspective
From the outside looking in, it seems like a solid opportunity with good pay, benefits, retirement, and room for stability later in life. I’m sure some people will think I’m crazy for wanting to start this at 45, but I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity.