If you had no qualifications

[WashedUpDriedOut]

and you were nearing 50 and you needed to retrain to develop a career that would, in tome, bring you £50k per year for the next 15 years, what would you do?

[ComtesseDeSpair]

I’d learn a trade. And I’d probably enjoy it more than my desk job.

[Egghead68]

Same

[Smallsteps88]

No qualifications? At all? You’ll struggle to get to £50k in the next 15 years let alone for the next 15 years. If it was that easy no one would stay in school beyond legal age.

[JoJoSM2]

The people that I know who retrained to improve their careers, all had a good level of education and qualifications beforehand.

If someone gets to 50 with no qualifications, they probably aren’t the learning type.

Why ask?

[tectonicplates]

Computer programming, although it is quite a male-dominated industry. There's always a need for good programmers and salaries are high.

[tectonicplates]

@JoJoSM2

The people that I know who retrained to improve their careers, all had a good level of education and qualifications beforehand.

If someone gets to 50 with no qualifications, they probably aren’t the learning type.

Why ask?

Wow. You don't know the circumstances of anyone's life.

[Smallsteps88]

@tectonicplates

Computer programming, although it is quite a male-dominated industry. There's always a need for good programmers and salaries are high.

How quickly after training would you reach £50k salary and how much would you have to spend on training. How long would training take?

[NotThatKindOfDoctor]

You’re never too late to gain qualifications. I used to teach a Russel Group university and regularly had mature students and they always, without exception, did really well.

If you decide to go to university you don’t need A Levels as a mature student, speak directly to the Faculty you’re interested in and find out their process for applying and what experience they would accept in lieu of qualifications.

I had a student on my constitutional law course who was 58, finished the degree at 61. She want doing it for a job though, she’s always just wanted to complete a law degree.

Good luck with whatever you decide, and good for you!

[billybagpuss]

@tectonicplates

Computer programming, although it is quite a male-dominated industry. There's always a need for good programmers and salaries are high.

Mostly needs a degree and in DH office gender is split pretty equally.

[Dinosauraddict]

Train driver - you can get a £50k starting salary, and don't need a degree or anything. (This is not my career btw, but I have a friend who did it.)

[tectonicplates]

So, why can't the OP study for a degree? I can't believe how negative everyone's being.

[NotThatKindOfDoctor]

*wasnt doing it for a job.

Sorry for the gibberish, I was just irritated by the negativity of some of the posts and wanted to get a more positive opinion to you quickly!

[CherryPavlova]

I think if I was fit and healthy and didn't mind learning alongside youngsters, I'd maybe train as an electrician or plumber. I knew a senior teacher who gave up his job to become a train driver because it was better pay and conditions. I'm not sure they quite make £50 K but not far off after a few years experience.

[tectonicplates]

@Smallsteps88 I know that was a hypothetical/incredulous question, but I know numerous programmers and they all earn ridiculous amounts of money. A degree takes three years, and there are probably some intensive two-year courses somewhere. The main thing is to be interested in it. There's a shortage of programmers and most people are earning high salaries within a couple of years of graduating. Sorry if that disappoints you.

Why is everyone being so down on the OP? I think you just can't bear the thought of an "uneducated" person making their life better and maybe doing better than you.

[Smallsteps88]

@tectonicplates

So, why can't the OP study for a degree? I can't believe how negative everyone's being.

She can of course, but there’s no point anyone telling her she can walk into a degree or £50k salary job with no qualifications. Let’s be realistic rather than give false expectation. She’ll have to do something to get a university place, then she’ll have several years of studying, and once she graduates she is unlikely to land a £50k salary straight off. So £50k for the next 15 years is an unrealistic goal.

[Smallsteps88]

[quote tectonicplates]@Smallsteps88 I know that was a hypothetical/incredulous question, but I know numerous programmers and they all earn ridiculous amounts of money. A degree takes three years, and there are probably some intensive two-year courses somewhere. The main thing is to be interested in it. There's a shortage of programmers and most people are earning high salaries within a couple of years of graduating. Sorry if that disappoints you.

Why is everyone being so down on the OP? I think you just can't bear the thought of an "uneducated" person making their life better and maybe doing better than you.[/quote]
It wasn’t actually a hypothetical/incredulous question. I’m just setting out on restraining right now and I would very much like to earn £50k and I’m asking how realistic it is. Not sure why you think an answer to the question I asked would disappoint me you clearly have a chip on your shoulder. I’m an “uneducated” person so I’m living the reality of trying to get a step up. I’m not being a downer on the OP, I’m just not living in MN cloud cuckoo land where you can do anything you want. Real life is somewhat different.

[AriettyHomily]

You can or at least could pre covid pick up a PA / EA job in London nor of 50k, you don't need qualifications but you do need experience to command that level.

is it for you OP? Have you worked / do you have any experience? Can you afford to put yourself through uni?

[tectonicplates]

She can of course, but there’s no point anyone telling her she can walk into a degree or £50k salary job with no qualifications.

As someone has already mentioned above, you don't need A-Levels to be accepted as a mature student. It's only up to age 21 or so that they're really strict about your grades, otherwise they look at your work experience and/or reasons for wanting to study or change your life.

I did a degree in my 30s as a mature student. There were people with no GCSEs and they still did well.

[Sertchgi123]

Plumber.

[ComtesseDeSpair]

Programming is also a lot like, say, law. Only a select few people with a law degree end up earning the big money in a prestigious firm - plenty more work in small highstreet practices or in advisory capacities for charities or local authorities and so on. It’s the same with programmers - some earn a fortune, others work in relatively low paid IT jobs.

[Smallsteps88]

For example, it’s all very well saying you can do a fast track degree in two years. And I’m sure many do, but if you also have to work full time to cover all your bills then you’re automatically out of time to fit it all in. Yes there is student finance but that isn’t always generous enough to keep your home and life running.

[OrangeLavenders]

I never finished school. I earn around that as a PA in London (£55k). I now work outside of London earning £30k with better flexibility in hours etc

It's very easy to get into.... I started earning 25k at the age of 17!

[tectonicplates]

We don't know anything about the OP's situation. Maybe she actually has a lot of money, or has just got an inheritance or something.

[Smallsteps88]

Yes, I’m sure that’s why she needs a 50k salary.

[OrangeLavenders]

I find it bloody depressing that people could be so negative about ANYONE wanting to better themselves. A masters degree is possibe in that time frame, if that's what the OP wanted!

Stop writing people off. It's shit. Anyone could be with no qualifications for a number of reasons. Abuse, physical, sexual, emotional. Bereavement. Just piss off with your assumptions. I'm not saying any of those apply to the OP of course but you just don't know people's life history