Retraining...at square one

Bendigo

Like so many others I'm in a rut at work. I am 36 with 2 young children and earn £17k pa.
I want to retrain and think long term for once in my life. I wish I'd done this years ago but hey ho.

The thing is, I don't know where to start. I don't think anyone would pay me £17k to train so will have to get educated in my own time. Without spending £1000s on courses, where's the best place to start?

It is a bit vague, I know, but I'd consider any decent career, within reason, to train for.

Thanks in advance.

Kate78

Okay, I don't have any answers (yet!) but a few questions:

1. What sort of area of work are you in at the moment? Do you want a complete change or to branch out within that?

2. What kind of qualifications do you have already?

3. Do you have any interests that you would like to incorporate into paid work?

4. Is there anything that you would no way want to do?

5. How much of a pay cut are you prepared to take?

Just to get you started

Oldernotwiser

I would suggest that you make an appointment with a Nextstep Adviser (often arranged through JCP) for careers guidance.

Bendigo

Kate78 wrote: »

Okay, I don't have any answers (yet!) but a few questions:

1. What sort of area of work are you in at the moment? Do you want a complete change or to branch out within that?
Supply Chain and Account management at a large co. HQ

2. What kind of qualifications do you have already?
6 GCSEs and 2 A levels

3. Do you have any interests that you would like to incorporate into paid work?
I do alot of charity work. My ideal role would be paid event organiser.

4. Is there anything that you would no way want to do?
Nothing that involves nights.

5. How much of a pay cut are you prepared to take?
Due to my commitments only up to £1k

Just to get you started

I know it's really vague but I have gone from job to job but want to think long term, and if retraining and taking a new direction is teh case then I'm up for it.

Oldernotwiser

Bendigo wrote: »

I know it's really vague but I have gone from job to job but want to think long term, and if retraining and taking a new direction is teh case then I'm up for it.

The obvious place to start would seem to be looking at courses with the OU.

Bendigo

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

The obvious place to start would seem to be looking at courses with the OU.

I think I will. Daft question but do you have to pay for them?

Kate78

Bendigo wrote: »

I think I will. Daft question but do you have to pay for them?

You will have to pay for them, but since you don't have a degree already, you should get some help towards it. Here is a link to their eligibility checker. Although I'm not sure that they do the kind of course you're looking for.

A little bit dated, but useful fact sheet about how to get started in this career area.

Hmmm... another way to approach your change could be to look for a kind of position that's similar to the one you have now working for a charity and maybe move sideways from there.

Bendigo

Kate78 wrote: »

You will have to pay for them, but since you don't have a degree already, you should get some help towards it. Here is a link to their eligibility checker. Although I'm not sure that they do the kind of course you're looking for.

A little bit dated, but useful fact sheet about how to get started in this career area.

Hmmm... another way to approach your change could be to look for a kind of position that's similar to the one you have now working for a charity and maybe move sideways from there.

Thanks for your help. I'll do some investigating.

Person_one

Do any of the charities you volunteer for have an opportunity for you to get involved with events management at all? Assisting the paid person or organising something small? Nothing looks better on an application than experience! Its even hard to get onto some training courses these days without a really good application.

Bendigo

Person_one wrote: »

Do any of the charities you volunteer for have an opportunity for you to get involved with events management at all? Assisting the paid person or organising something small? Nothing looks better on an application than experience! Its even hard to get onto some training courses these days without a really good application.

I'm currently orgaanising an event for Macmillan Cancer Support. I'm not even sure there are such jobs that exist that pay a decent wage. I think I just need to sit down and investigate things a bit more.

I'm 36 and still don't know what I want to do when I grow up !

Judas

I think you are actually in a very good position.

Charities have a vast of event manager/co-ordinator positions on a number of levels from entry to senior director level.

These barely need degrees etc and instead focus on being target driven and a professional qualification.

My suggestion would be to look for a fundraising position in a charity; start getting experience of fundraising and broach the possibility of what development they will give you towards the professional qualifications.

http://jobs.macmillan.org.uk/job_details.aspx?ref=MAC-P-00368

Here is an example of such a job.