Re-training at 40 - which industry/role?

jdw2000

Hi all,

Up to now I've worked in London in various roles that don't require professional qualifications.

However, for various reason, I now want to do something different. I would like to re-train or acquire skills for roles which will see me for the rest of my working life. Only problem is - I have absolutely no idea what to look at!

I do not mind re-training or having to get qualifications (within reason). And I don't mind paying for it if necessary.

What I am after is:

- A role that I can do into my old age
- A role which there is demand for, or a skills shortage of, so that I will always be able to find work
- Nothing physical. Because whilst that's fine now, it probably won;t be in 10/15 years time when I am getting on a bit.



I hear there's a shortage of computer bods... Any other professions I should look at?

NotRichAtAll

Driving train bus, what are you doing now?

Fireflyaway

I'm 37 and had the exact same conversation with my husband last night! I'm fed up of just having ' jobs' and wish I had a proper career. I feel like a bit of a failure. Like you I have no clue what to pursue. There are websites where you can answer questions and suggestions are made based on your answers. I tried several but didn't fancy any of them....
Follow something you enjoy not just what is in demand. At our age we might still have another 30 years of work left!
Do you want to work with people or do something more practical? Is salary important or job satisfaction? There are shortages of nurses and teachers but I think you would have to really want to do those jobs.

jdw2000

NotRichAtAll wrote: »

Driving train bus, what are you doing now?

I put together conferences, and have previously worked in telesales.

Don't fancy being a driver...

jdw2000

Fireflyaway wrote: »

I'm 37 and had the exact same conversation with my husband last night! I'm fed up of just having ' jobs' and wish I had a proper career. I feel like a bit of a failure. Like you I have no clue what to pursue. There are websites where you can answer questions and suggestions are made based on your answers. I tried several but didn't fancy any of them....
Follow something you enjoy not just what is in demand. At our age we might still have another 30 years of work left!
Do you want to work with people or do something more practical? Is salary important or job satisfaction? There are shortages of nurses and teachers but I think you would have to really want to do those jobs.

Certainly not a teacher (I hate kids) or a nurse (I hate wiping my own backside, let alone someone else's!) Yikes!

A computer programmer or something... something where I can always get a job because I'm in demand... but I could also conceivably work from home at some point...

A job where I can grow old and not run the risk of having to report to a person half my age (something which I would find mortifying).


I'm happy to pay for certificates/training.

jdw2000

Fireflyaway wrote: »

I'm 37 and had the exact same conversation with my husband last night! I'm fed up of just having ' jobs' and wish I had a proper career. I feel like a bit of a failure. Like you I have no clue what to pursue. There are websites where you can answer questions and suggestions are made based on your answers. I tried several but didn't fancy any of them....
Follow something you enjoy not just what is in demand. At our age we might still have another 30 years of work left!
Do you want to work with people or do something more practical? Is salary important or job satisfaction? There are shortages of nurses and teachers but I think you would have to really want to do those jobs.

Do you have links to those sites, by the way?

jdw2000

Nothing that involves touching other people.

Owain_Moneysaver

jdw2000 wrote: »

Certainly not a teacher (I hate kids) or a nurse (I hate wiping my own backside, let alone someone else's!)

There are different sorts of nursing and other healthcare professions. In something like audiology you would work with kids sometimes, but the worst bodily fluid you'd encounter would probably be earwax :j

jdw2000 wrote: »

A computer programmer or something... something where I can always get a job because I'm in demand... but I could also conceivably work from home at some point...

Computer programmers aren't always in demand, and much of the work can be off-shored at short notice.

jdw2000 wrote: »

A job where I can grow old and not run the risk of having to report to a person half my age (something which I would find mortifying).

That rules out IT, and to be honest most industries, especially if you are retraining at 40; you will find yourself reporting to 25-year-old graduate managers.

jdw2000

Audiology sounds re-searchable...

Radiographer (they earn lots, I hear)?

Optician?

jdw2000

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

There are different sorts of nursing and other healthcare professions. In something like audiology you would work with kids sometimes, but the worst bodily fluid you'd encounter would probably be earwax :j



Computer programmers aren't always in demand, and much of the work can be off-shored at short notice.



That rules out IT, and to be honest most industries, especially if you are retraining at 40; you will find yourself reporting to 25-year-old graduate managers.

If I'm reporting to someone younger as a means-to-an-end, short-term, because I am retraining, then fine. Anything other than that, not fine. And as I become more experienced in whatever I am doing I fail to see how I will be doomed to report to someone with a spotty face for very long.

jdw2000

In a nutshell, what I'm looking for is:

something I can train for, that's a bit specialised, in demand, and a respectable job I can do until I retire.


Radiography (which I haven't researched and know naff all about) seems to fit that criteria...?