I dont know what I want to do when I grow up

Pthree

Problem is I'm 37 in two weeks!!

Warning: rambling post I think I just need to get it off my chest!

I need a career change, I got into it by accident and although I am alright at it, I am not brilliant, but I do try to put 100% into it and try to do a good job. Which means I work long hours, so that everything gets done. But I'm not happy, I feel like I am constantly falling short (in everything not just work) of where I should be. I have a pretty decent wage, therefore I am scared to make any changes.

On my last birthday I promised myself things would change, I would spend less time working, less time moping and actually do something I enjoyed even if it was just find a hobby that I'm good at, something to switch off and actually enjoy rather than just go through the motions.

I feel more unsure where I am going now than I did 10 years ago, just a bit of failure.

I do suffer from depression for which I am on medication which seems to be helping but in all honesty I think I have a case of the "cantbearsed's".

I go to work, I come home that's it, I have no social life, I come home on a Friday and very rarely leave my flat until Monday morning when it all starts again. I have cut myself off from friends as apart from work I feel I have nothing to talk about, I bore myself!!!

I know I cant carry on like this but I don't know what to do about it.

Dunroamin

I'd make an appointment for an interview with a Careers Adviser (or you can speak on the phone or by internet). That's what they're there for.

https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

onlyroz

What are your qualifications? Could you afford to (e.g.) undertake a part-time degree with the Open University? This would enable you to keep at your current career whilst gradually gaining the qualifications to persue a new one.

AllyS

OMG are you me???? :rotfl:

I am 35 soon and I feel the same way I am half way through an open uni degree but I still don't know what I want to do when I have finished! Wish we had better career guidance when we were younger.

Anyway no advice, accept open uni is great! but wanted you to know you are not alone

gingin_2

AllyS wrote: »

OMG are you me???? :rotfl:

I am 35 soon and I feel the same way I am half way through an open uni degree but I still don't know what I want to do when I have finished! Wish we had better career guidance when we were younger.

Anyway no advice, accept open uni is great! but wanted you to know you are not alone

You ARE me. I too am 34 and doing an OU degree and wavering over what I want to do. It's hard!

joannaspanner

No you're me, I'm 31. I think I want to be a funeral director, need to look into it !

Pthree

Thanks for the replies.

The careers website doesn't seem to be working properly at the moment but I will try again later.

Qualifications, I don't have any apart from GCSE's, I left school at 16 and started work straight away, then just stayed in the same profession moving up every time I changed jobs (I'm a PA so I have done Pitman certificates) I have thought about getting some more qualifications but am at a loss as to what in, and anything I do would have to be evenings or weekends as I couldn't afford to drop hours or see my boss let me have time off unless it was directly to do with 'work'.

I have done so many of those career tests but most of them have come up with Admin as my ideal role - great! One did suggest an artist and I liked this idea I do love to paint but am totally rubbish at it and its for relaxation only although I haven't actually done it for a couple for years, perhaps I should start again...

I don't actually remember much of the careers advice I was given at school, I think I was given the option of nurse or hairdresser neither of which I fancied much, although if I don't know now what I want to do, how I was supposed to know then I don't know!

P3

meritaten

Well - there is Admin and there is Admin! have had a variety of temp jobs and some have been so boring I couldnt wait to leave while others have been either exciting or satisfying!
I would guess you are a PA hun. Why not try to move into an area where your Admin skills would be appreciated?
even I, just with fair qualifications and some experience, could probably get a job as Office Manager for a small concern or Administrator for a small charity (I actually did that job temporarily, and it was really satisfying as I believed strongly in the worth of the charity).
Perhaps you need to peruse the job sites? find out a little more about the Admin jobs advertised at the level of wage (or more) than you are getting now?
Perhaps one of them will 'strike a chord'! you like art you say - any admin jobs going in that field?

podperson

This was me a few years ago. I'm still in a cacky admin job but at least I'm now working towards what I really want to do.
If you have no ideas at all then maybe think about things that you enjoy doing - you say painting so could you look at getting back into this again, look for evening/weekend classes in your area or even just set aside some hours at weekend to explore it and try new things. Also don't think that an arts-based career has involve creating masterpieces to sell in a gallery, it can involve many forms - eg there's illustration, design-based roles, teaching, even publicity/curator style areas.
Apart from that, maybe think about things that you fancy trying or things you'd want from your ideal job - eg do you like working with people, do you like being outdoors, do you like admin, making things, organising people etc.

mytimetoshine2012

It's me too! I have been lurking and not posting on here for ages as part of hiding from life (such as it is). I am 34 soon and Ialso realised last year that I was in a rut and had a mini breakdown on NYE.

We were facing a very tough year financially and I had stern words wirh myself, joined MSE and managed finances well but remained miserable, overweight (comfort eating) and depressed. I am also at uni and realise that I am on the wrong course but it is too late to change, life seems a bit 'meaningless' and empty and IT need to find something I'm good at. Despite the name there ain't much shining going on.

Fast forward 6months nothing changed untilall hell let loose with a close family bereavement, a health scare for me and then another health scare for both of us. My mindset has changed. Oh and I have started attending church as a way of being involved in the community, I hate my course but I will finish and take careers advice in the meantime (thanks for the link btw). I have also taken the plunge and suggested drinks and meeting uo to friends which I haven't done for over a year. Not sure if it is helping yet but I'll let yiu know.
Thanks for posting, I was beginning to feel like a freak for not having my liffe in order at my age so it's nice to know I'm not alone!

Mtts

Ilona

I tried lots of jobs when I left school, could never decide what career was best for me. Then I got a job driving a van for a garage, delivering spare parts, and then a company trained me up to be a driving instructor. It was then I had my light bulb moment, I wanted to be a lorry driver. I did a course and got my HGV 1 licence, and drove trucks for the next 32 years. I loved it.

What I am saying is don't be blinkered, think about what you are interested in. It could be anything. You don't have to do jobs thought of as women's jobs, you can do anything you like. You don't have to do a job similar to what you are doing now, it could be something completely different. I wanted to be a brick layer or a car mechanic when I was younger. I tried girly jobs but I didn't like them.

Good luck OP, think outside the box.
Ilona