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AIBU?

Retraining - what did you do?

30 replies

mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:06

just wanted to hear your stories really if you have switched careers and retrained/qualified In something else?

I'm 35 and my job is ok, I like it some of the time but it's incredibly stressful and thankless and I just don't know if it's what I want to do forever. I've been qualified a couple of years in my current job but lately I keep thinking I'd like to be able to work for myself and also earn much more money than my current profession allows.
I'm still toying with ideas but I'm thinking maybe retrain in beauty therapy? Or semi permanent cosmetics? Basically something which involves a skill and that I can work for myself with.

I know 35 isn't old but I guess I always thought I'd be settled in my career by now not looking to start all over again.

Have you switched career directions? Mind sharing your stories? I've got a cuppa coffee and settled down for a good read and Sunday morning chat with you all! :)

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yesterdaysunshine · 23/10/2016 10:08

I think a few people switch careers at that age, often because it coincides with small children, so I wouldn't worry about that.

I think beauty sounds a great suggestion as it's something you can do around other roles until you build up a client base :)

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ItMustBeBedtimeSurely · 23/10/2016 10:10

I'm a student nurse after being a sahm for 6 years.

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Skaarsgard · 23/10/2016 10:12

I'm interested in this too as I'm a similar age.My job is physically demanding and I wonder how fit I would be to continue in 20 or 30 years.

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JenniferYellowHat1980 · 23/10/2016 10:17

I would've thought self employed beauty therapists are ten a penny. Sorry.

I'm a teacher thinking of going into radiography. The thought of a second degree, low income for three years and a £60k+ debt at the end with interest kicking in while I study is intimidating, but I've been seriously looking for alternative careers for the best part of a year now (and toying with it for several more) and opportunities for non-specialist graduates in my discipline are scarce. And rightly so really. Nobody just steps into a career overnight even if they did make the right choices the first time.

Otherwise, is a different branch of your existing career an option? I had never seriously considered it before but there may be an opening for a post at a small Indy school. Previously I would have scoffed at that but when you think about it, it's little different to providing any luxury over and above basic needs. I would love it if behaviour hadn't driven me out of state schools but with weak heads bribing disruptive kids with Mars Bars while the middle ability, quiet ones struggle is not something I can change alone unfortunately.

Anyway. I think if you want a credible new direction with good earning potential you have to be prepared to retrain.

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yesterdaysunshine · 23/10/2016 10:17

Oh there are plenty of people who do ten a penny jobs and make a living out of it, trust me.

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user1472419718 · 23/10/2016 10:20

You should look at costs of training, and any salary you would lose out on whilst training (can you train part time/ evening courses so you can earn whilst training?) Would the new career pay be similar to your current pay, and would you need to adjust your lifestyle to compensate for that?

Also look at what kind of experience you would need, and how to get that. Could you chat with friends in that career, possibly do some work shadowing? Do you have the minimum requirements to get onto a course that would train you in the skills you would need?

In addition to the practical skills you would use in the job, if you would like to work for yourself, consider if you would need to develop additional skills in managing your business finances, and also how to promote your business in order to gain clients.

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CurlySusanFox · 23/10/2016 10:22

You must try and retrain into something you are passionate about.

I'm on a course and it shows how many people think it's a doss job and something you can get rich quick on.

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JenniferYellowHat1980 · 23/10/2016 10:22

Oh there are plenty of people who do ten a penny jobs and make a living out of it, trust me.

But in a saturated market, do the 'earn much more money' as the OP hopes to do?

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:24

@Skaarsgard what are you considering switching to?

I'm similar in that I think I can do my job another few years perhaps but if I'm already getting fed up of it then a couple of years down the line I'm going to wish I had something else so if I start training in something now I will have.

Yesterday sunshine yes you're right I could slowly build up clients on the side of my full time work until I had enough income to leave my day job and then just work for myself! Or at least that's the dream!

I'm thinking beauty because I think I'd enjoy it, and also because i think the industry is just going to continue to grow and grow.

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Babyroobs · 23/10/2016 10:24

I have been a Nurse for 30 years and am almost 50. I am desperate to leave and would like to retrain for another career but as pp says the thought of paying for another degree course, having no income for a few years etc is hard. if I leave it another 8 years until all my kids are non dependent then I fear it will be too late. On the other hand I am trying to be relalistic that I cannot carry on as I am.

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Prisencolinensinainciusol · 23/10/2016 10:25

Would you be able to take a break from earning while you retrained? I am in the middle of retraining in podiatry, though I'm having to take a break for a while.

There are a lot of options once you graduate, lots of people have private practices. All sorts of different areas to specialise in.

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haveacupoftea · 23/10/2016 10:27

I would love to retrain too but I can't think as what. Its the dream isn't it, being your own boss.

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:28

Jennifer yellow hat yes I agree- I'm prepared to retrain but I need to be able to do it around my full time work as I just couldn't afford to study full time.

I'm a business trainer for a large company so it's all very corporate and thankless. I don't think I'd want to do this on a self employed basis though which is why I'm thinking of switching direction completely.

Have you decided on the radiography route in the end?

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Peanutandphoenix · 23/10/2016 10:29

I've kind of retrained I went to college for 3 years and trained to become a chef I did that for 5 years and then last December I completely changed jobs and now I'm a care assistant in a dementia nursing home I've done my care certificate and now I'm waiting to start my NVQ's so that I can get promotions and work my way up to being a senior carer the end goal is to go to uni and do my nurse training. I'm really glad I changed careers because I love my job.

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:32

Babyroobs what do you fancy doing?

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:36

Haveacupoftea exactly! Work the hours you choose, earn as little or as much as you need to be comfortable. I know working for yourself will probably also be stressful but at least you're doing it for you not for someone else!

What are your ideas so far? Or what are you good at?

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User543212345 · 23/10/2016 10:39

I retrained as a sports massage therapist 6 years ago after doing a very serious and soul destroying legal/financial job that had very long hours and made me thoroughly miserable. My training was at weekends over a year, along with requirements to do practice hours and write papers so it couldn't really have been a shorter course. Most people on the course continued working full time whilst they studied.

I ended up not going anywhere with it as I became really ill but a few of my classmates have done quite well and seem happy. One was already a beauty therapist and as she now had a new skill was able to set up on her own, which worked well around her having small children; another works in the trade association as well as doing self employed work in a number of city clinics; another works part time for a professional sports team.

I really enjoyed learning the new skill and wish I hadn't ended up so ill I couldn't work.

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:48

I suppose another option for me that is more aligned with my current profession and skill set is coaching but I don't know how much demand there would be for that, whereas I know there will always be a demand for beauty- like it or not society judges us all on how we look so I believe there will be a demand for beauty for a long time to come?

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mya83 · 23/10/2016 10:50

Sweary godmother I'm sorry it didn't work out for you Flowers

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Skaarsgard · 23/10/2016 22:57

@Mya my problem is that I cannot decide! I go between contemplating completing higher qualifications in my current job in the hope I could progress down a related field-or retraining completely. I dont think I can afford to give up work to study full time unfortunately, so that kind of puts the brakes on most of my ideas. I had thought about copywriting/journalism but I think that is now just a bit of a pipe dream unfortunately Sad.

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Openup41 · 23/10/2016 23:44

I am in a similar position to you and closer to 40! I feel stuck in a job I dislike.

I would love to retrain but face challenges;

  1. Do not have fees to pay for a course
  2. We have too many outgoings for me to give up work to study
  3. Even if the above were not issues, the industry I would like to move into favours 20 somethings.
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user1468539146 · 23/10/2016 23:56

I am over halfway in to retraining to teach. I worked for the NHS for 20 years previously.
I'm in Scotland so no course fees but it took a while to get used to no salary.
It's the best thing I ever did tho as I love being in school

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JoJoSM2 · 23/10/2016 23:59

My beautician used to be physio :) The training took quite a while and she worked part time while she did it. She now drives a big car with a massive boot full of goodies to her clients' homes ;) I think she really likes it now although complains that some days are mega long and busy whilst others very quiet.

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yellowDahlia · 24/10/2016 13:15

I feel I'm in a similar position to some of you, especially OP. I like my job but I don't love it, and worry that in a few years time I'll be fed up and want to do something else completely but will have to start from scratch. I could do what I do self-employed but again, like you, just don't have the passion for this.

I daydream about doing something garden-y for a living. Maybe simply a gardener, or a garden designer, or have a wee nursery... gardening is the pastime I enjoy the most and I would love to do it all day, every day! I'm seriously considering doing an RHS qualification and this would obviously be alongside my current PT work. And then I wonder if I could spend the other half of my working week doing garden work, and build things up from there.

My main fear about all this is, if I turn the pastime I love into 'work' will I stop loving it?! Would gardening then be more of a chore than a passion? Perhaps the grass is always greener (no pun intended!) and the reality would not be as enjoyable as I think. I suppose then I could just go back to the Dayjob, and keep gardening as a recreational pastime only... I also wonder if people would think I'm mad to leave behind a 'proper' career with a big company and a decent salary to work for myself with plants!

OP perhaps it's worth considering the coaching side of things - couldn't you use your employer/existing contacts to retrain and then pick some kind of specialism in this field? It might offer better career/salary prospects, especially with your experience?

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Spudlet · 24/10/2016 13:57

I left a job at a charity where I was the public affairs officer and am planning to study for the Institute of Linguists translation exams (I have a languages degree). I would be self employed (probably via agencies) so hoping it will give me some income and brain activity while also fitting around DS.

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