Is it worthwhile retraining at 37?

LadyDee

How about signing up with a temo agency? You could well come across a job in a field that really interests you, and maybe point you in the direction of a new career.

Neil_Jones

I did a modern apprenticeship last year at 36 and turned 37 during it. So you're fine at 38 to retrain.

You can always retrain in things that never go out of fashion, stuff like Customer Service (the rise of technology is all very well but its no good when it dies and you have to fall back on a pen and a piece of paper to maintain a service!), maybe admin and basic IT skills.

But yes the concept of a job for life went out the window years ago for most people, there are exceptions but realistically we have to change and adapt and do new things. I worked in a retail IT support environment for 13 years, that was what I did, I liked it, I was good at it and I was happy there. Things changed and now I work in a similar customer facing position for the local authority in their libraries - chances boosted by the fact that was there I did the apprenticeship.

theoretica

n1guy wrote: »

If I could do any job I wanted would I do my current job? Probably not. What I do love about it is the firm I work for and the guys I work with.

Is the company shrinking, closing or changing? Are there any opportunities to retrain for roles that it does still need?

snowqueen555

I am in a similar boat, kinda tired of struggling, moving around in jobs paying below £20k.

There is an adult learner loan you can take out (similar benefits as a student loan), it is definitely worth retraining, but the problem you get as you get older is finding a passion, and also living on reduced income.

zagubov

The current job market is set up for people to re-train at all ages.

There are few jobs that have very high job security, outside the health or education services, and they would require more study and would have their own challenges.

Even the army and the police undergo shrinkages these days.

For a start I'd go back to the OU and find what other courses they have apart from IT and find out more about them. Consider doing an Open course that lets you mix a range of subjects, as that's the big bonus of the OU. I'll come clean here and say I've been an OU tutor.

Actually reading through your posts, what's the job market for dietitians near you?

robatwork

n1guy wrote: »

I've no interest in promotions or progression, I am happy just going in doing my job and going home with no stress.

If you find this mythical role, let us all know please.

What every company pays you for is to take on some stress.

Rock star, paid millions. Stressful performing and boring. Stressful being recognised and badgered everywhere.
HGV driver, paid £500 per week. Stressful driving
Care worker, paid £300 per week. Stressful being responsible for people
Receptionist, paid £300 per week. Stressful with people shouting on the phone when you're filtering calls. Stressful when you've signed for a delivery and there's a box missing or part damaged.

I could go on...

TELLIT01

You potentially have 30+ years to go before you reach state pension age, so the basic answer is "Yes, retraining can be worthwhile". Before you go that route though you have to decide (a) what areas of work interest you (b) is training available in that area of work (c) is the type of work which interests you one which is available. Once you have determined the answers to those questions you will be in a better position to proceed.

Monkeysocks42

My son is a personal trainer. It's not the training people that's the hard bit, it's the sales side of it. He is employed at a gym on minimum wage and then he gets commission on his PT sessions. He is constantly being pushed by management on targets, his pay without commission is rubbish and client's cancel at a moments notice so he can never anticipate how much he is going to earn. This isn't a career you can do just because "you enjoy going to the gym".

On another note though, I am 42 and having progressed in my career to Exeutive Assistant in a law firm where I sat on the leadership team, I have chosen to start all over again in a new career. There was the realisation that I have more years left to work than I have already worked and I couldn't face being an Assistant for another 20+ years!

n1guy

So much to think about folks. As I say jobs/careers I never really worried about, I work to live not vice versa.

ACG

Im 34 so not a million miles behind you. I hardly think I am over the hill and if I wanted to do something career wise, I would go out there and do it. You still have potentially another 30 years of working left.