Help me choose a new career

[Cookie1989]

Hi all

I currently work in a low paid NHS role, I want to go to university and I was thinking about studying to become a midwife however, I think this might be a mistake. The reason for this is the obvious way NHS staff are treated, the low pay for the risk of people’s lives in my hands etc..I don’t think it’s the best career move, I think there are thousands of other careers that will pay better money and will be less stressful, jobs where you aren’t responsible for saving lives.

Help me to figure out some of them please? If you enjoy your career and have the potential to earn good money, please tell me what your role is..

Thanks!
😊

[Xenia]

I love being a lawyer but do have pretty high A level grades etc so whether you could would depend on things like that.

[BubblesBuddy]

In terms of returns on degree studied, after 5 years, nurses and midwives do averagely well. Not as well as doctors but better than a lot of arts grads. Bringing life into the world isn’t risk free but it’s better paid than paramedics. So if you are not up for any risk, the NHS as a professional, may not be the way to go.

According to the IFS, Return on a degree is best for doctors, dentists, economists, engineers, mathematicians, pharmacologists and physicists. Then linguists, politics students and vets! So if you could do any of these from a top university, that’s the way to go. All those mentioned are better than Law, apparently. Many of the careers mentioned can employ all grads who qualify. Law has way too many grads for the jobs available. You should think about your qualifications and where they could lead you.

[Dubya]

I think a huge factor in whether to pursue something like midwifery is whether you would be able to work shifts, as well as the other considerations. You do have a lot of responsibility but you are trained and do have the support of colleagues, the pay isn't terrible but the conditions can be at the moment. Personally, I would wait a bit and see what changes are afoot in terms of funding, training and staff numbers. What other things do you enjoy? There are some well paid jobs which don't require a degree, but a professional qualification; or if you are lucky on the job training. HR can be an interesting career choice with good prospects if you have the right professional qualifications or are willing to work towards them, or something in finance. Every (biggish) business or organisation will have these departments, so lots of opportunities and different environments. It can be quite competitive at entry level though, but not impossible.

[BubblesBuddy]

I am CIPD but most companies that train for this now recruit degree holders. Working your way up isn’t always possible now. However I agree it’s worth a look. To get on the bottom rung as a HR assistant you will be competing against people with all manner of degrees though.

[OntheWaves40]

OP I’ve been trying to get in a low paid NHS role as I know the NHS has ladders to climb (unlike my current company) and I’m stuck in a rut. Albeit a rut the works around DC so I have to keep going.

Bubbles that’s very interesting to know. I was looking at social work. Is there a website with this kind of information on that tell you which profession is worth retraining for?