mid-life retraining

andrewf75

Hi all,

I'm in my early 40s and am looking at retraining for a new career. I do an office job which I am bored with and don't want to be doing til I retire, but I have got kind of stuck. My salary has reached around 32k, but I am not qualified or specialised enough to command anything like that on the job market. I've started looking around and all I'm really qualified for is entry level positions on 20-25k competing with new graduates.

I’m quite open minded as to what kind of career I want, but does anyone have any tips on what professions are in demand and are easy to retrain into at my age? I think teaching and accountancy are common ones to switch into for a second career, but what else?



Thanks!

nicechap

National shortage of paramedics.

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/faqs/faqs-ambulance-service-team

Downsides: Shift work which long term is bad for your health and social life, its rarely like the TV images - you deal with a lot of social problems; generally very poor management

Upsides; now band 6 pay, respected by vast majority of public, occasionally get to make a real difference to someone.lots of autonomy.

Elfbert

What sort of office work?

Apprenticeship assessors seem to be in demand (my other half is one) and you need experience in a role before you can really assess it, so you can't really do the job as a grad straight away. Plenty of businesses want business admin/IT/management/team leading/customer service type assessors.

Might not be for you, but worth a look?

lippy1923

Have you spoken to your boss about it? Maybe there are courses they can put you on to train you up in something? You never know, there could be room to move sideways in the company if not upwards.

System

National shortage of truck drivers. I was offered £34/hr to do a 6hr shift on Xmas Eve.

Downsides: Silly o'clock start or finish, 11-15hr days/nights.

bugslet

Tarambor wrote: »

National shortage of truck drivers. I was offered £34/hr to do a 6hr shift on Xmas Eve.

Downsides: Silly o'clock start or finish, 11-15hr days/nights.

Probably couldn't get that now though. Round Widnes average wage is £9.00 an hour, south east 12.00. My drivers earn 40+k a year on Euro work, but that's definitely not 9-5.

Is there anything that interests you? I'm working at the moment but at some point I'll be winding down, currently I'm doing courses in garden design with an intention of qualifications . In fairness I intend it to be a top up on savings income, but I'm also not wanting to work full time later on.

andrewf75

Thanks for the ideas.
bugslet - garden design/horticulture is also my passion and I'd love to do something like that, but I know the pay is low. Might be an idea to do the RHS qualifications anyway though. Also wildlife/conservation with the same issue. Have one small child with another on the way so not the best time for taking a drop in salary!
I don't hate my job, just feel stuck in a rut.

bugslet

Ah yes, with children then it's often a suck it up thing until they are older.

On the gardening thing, depending where you live, going out on your own can bring in a fair whack during the summer months and tick over in the winter months if you can get some commercial contracts. If you have ability/qualifications to do garden design as well, that puts you ahead of all the weed and cut grass only types. Or garden design could be a side gig and see if it has the chance to be an earner for you.

I do tend to working for yourself, but realise it's not for everyone.

Bit left field, but I've just rung for an appointment to see the dental hygienist and the next appointment is March! She works for herself and operates out of various dental practices rather than having premises herself. Staring down peoples' gobs wouldn't be my cup of tea, but I'm sure it's satisfying for some.

DigForVictory

If you enjoy gardening then well worth evening classes or something as it's very family friendly hours, pays better than white goods repair (my bloke abandoned me & my elderly washer as he got more paid hours doing even *basic* gardening) & once you have a reputation, word of mouth is the best advert going. The only real problem is as always the weather, but you can justify some really pretty thorough waterproofs, woolies & wellies for business use. Company name on the polo shirt etc - all OK by the taxman.

Can you afford the basic power tools for hedge maintenance, & are there any plant nurseries who work with training folks?

Also if you gen up on pruning this month, you could be gently building an alternative line of work within months as many folk view it as a dark art and/or are needlessly under-informed & thus overenthusiastic.
Best of luck!

andrewf75

I like the idea of working for myself doing gardening work so I think I will look at doing some qualifications. Guess there is no harm in it even if it ends up for a longer term plan.

Masomnia

andrewf75 wrote: »

I like the idea of working for myself doing gardening work so I think I will look at doing some qualifications. Guess there is no harm in it even if it ends up for a longer term plan.

Good luck Andrew :beer: