If you were going to retrain in a whole new career

[WhatFreshHell71]

what would you do?

Money or time not a problem.

Possibly an actuary or maybe an accountant. I have thought about doing ACCA but I’ve done too many exams in the last few years and am just burnt out, I’ve lost enough time with my family to exams.

@Mackerz do you mind if I PM you about retraining in HR? I'm at a bit of a career crossroads and HR has been suggested to me a few times.

Archaeologist who is top of her game at the study of food in ancient history - growing, preparing, trading, eating (who ate what), disease and parasites in food, etc. I heard that someone did their phd on a square metre of poo and waste from a Roman midden! That must have been fascinating.

Farming

If was being practical, bioinformatics. Otherwise, theatre costume design!

Full time quilter

I'm nearly 50 and am halfway through my adult nursing degree. Love it!

I'd become a doctor. I'm 41 though and assume it's too late/too expensive/too time consuming with kids. I wish I'd thought of it as an option when I was younger as I know I'd love it.

@MushroomTree

Of course! I’m heading out now but will reply to you both tomorrow.

Law for definite.

Midwife 🙂

A statistician. I'm kind of working towards it at the moment but sadly I think I'll be too old to actually do it by the time I'm finished!

Architectural historian

I'm nearly 50 and am halfway through my adult nursing degree. Love it!

Lolimax this appeals to me too but I'm not sure I could make it work financially, plus I'm even older than you!

Cormac your thirties is absolutely not too late for what you want to do, and psychotherapy/counselling training generally allows for the fact there are lots of mature entrants so it’s part-time study (allowing you to work as you train).

Occupational therapist or academic (history or education) or an educational psychologist.

Used to be a lawyer.

I am right now doing just that. Counselling

I'm 45 and I just retrained whilst working in the new field, I'm a serial retrainer

I've never actually stopped working specifically to retrain though, always done new qualifications part time while working or on the job.

If I were to change direction again I'd do a psychology masters and then related professional training - this could be realistic as it's closely related to what I do now and my current employer employs psychologists, but on the other hand having retrained and changed direction twice already is probably enough!

I did want to be an educational psychologist in my teens, for some reason, and it would actually tie most of the strands of my various career directions together to a certain extent...

Never say never, I guess

Too old in your 30s?! Get away @CormacMcLaggen! You've barely started one career so far!

Consultant in public health (but I already retrained in my 30's and actually love my career)

Here also to say @CormacMcLaggen - no way is 30s too old. For quite a few careers it’s considered the perfect time. If you qualify by 40 you still have 25 years of work ahead of you!

Physicians Associate but I think I would struggle with the responsibility (anxiety) or play therapist.

Anything with high barriers to entry, such as a profession you can't do without proper qualifications, such as an actuary or architect or solicitor or liquidator. I'm professionally qualified, but it means nothing because my profession isn't protected/regulated so literally anyone can set up in business, whether they've experience or qualifications or not - a real race to the bottom.

Law.

But I'm in my 50s and feel exhausted just thinking about the hours involved.

Occupational Therapy but I cannot afford the degree costs, the childcare and loss of earnings. It makes me sad and frustrated.