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Original poster

is 25 too late for a better life?

67 replies

LittleLeaps · 10/05/2020 10:52

I am 25 years old, I have 2 beautiful children, me and my partner rent a small 2 bedroom flat, my partner works full time and I work part time in a low skilled, low paid job that allows me to work around my partners working hours. It doesn't pay much but enough for me to pay some bill's and whatever the children need.

Due to some bad life choices, a serious lack of self confidence, severe anxiety and depression and the fact that I have never known what I wanted to do in life I have found myself with very few useable qualifications (I do have GCSEs at A-B grades, I got Bs at AS level but did not complete the full A level and I do have a level 3 degree in plumbing but I didnt do an apprenticeship and so that's pretty much useless now). I do enjoy learning, and I am lucky in that I do find it quite easy to learn new things. I want to get a job that I am respected in, that I won't be embarrassed to tell people what I do, and that pays a little better than minimum wage. Is 25 too late for me to do something about this? And has anyone got any suggestions as to what sort of job I could do? Or courses I could take?

OP posts:

userxx · 10/05/2020 12:12

Jesus, I'd kill to be 25 again. Makes the changes and enjoy your life.

CloudsCoveredTheSky · 10/05/2020 12:13

25? You have to be kidding. I'm almost 40 and half the people I know have changed career/country/partner/hobbies multiple times since that age.

I know some who were still dossing about living off their parents.

I know some that died a year later.

I know some who had great jobs/marriages and are now unemployed/divorced.

You never know what's coming so you just have to go for the things you want to do. You're a long time dead.

CloudsCoveredTheSky · 10/05/2020 12:14

Also please don't be embarrassed by your job. Anything that puts food on the table is nothing to be ashamed of.

Mumof1andacat · 10/05/2020 12:16

At 25 my friend was single living in a council flat on drugs and drink most weekends.by 35 she was a qualified nurse (1st class degree) married to a lovely man, has a selection of hobbies (horse riding and sewing) lovely house, pets and thinking about her masters degree. So things can change. She worked hard and had good support from her husband, friends and work to achieve.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/05/2020 12:24

What about something like a lab technician in a hospital? A friend of mine has just started to work there, you learn on the job and she's finding it really interesting. The pay is low initially but you can progress and work your way up. She's finding it very interesting as well.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 10/05/2020 12:24

Just realised I repeated myself there

Toilenstripes · 10/05/2020 12:28

Nursing or a pharmacist? Mid-wife? There’s so many great opportunities out there! Best of luck OP.

WaxOnFeckOff · 10/05/2020 12:28

I'm nearly 55 and still wondering what I'd like to do Retire mainly now as I've worked since I was 17.

Unless you want to do a trade or something like nursing or teaching, school qualifications really aren't that relevant.

Have a think about what environment/working style you'd like. Do you want to be outdoors/out and about or based in an office or workplace or work from home. Do you want to work with people (adults/children/caring) or computers or with a skill or whatever. Do you want shifts, 9-5, flexibility etc. Does money or job satisfaction take priority (if you need to make a choice)

That might allow you to narrow down and then think about what you need to do to get there, can you do some on-line courses, do you need to change your PT job for something more relevant, is there a specific amount you need to earn. When you know that, it might be that you could complete your A levels now if that's what is needed etc.

My SIL retrained as a Podiatrist in her late 40s as she was working as an assistant, sick of knowing more that the person she was working for an making a fraction of the earnings. That did require going to Uni though so they had to be financially stable.

My Dh has done loads of jobs and gone back to college/uni twice and also completed an OU degree, he's ended up driving ambulances for fairly low pay but loves it. Opportunities to be a paramedic etc but he declined.

lekkerkroketje · 10/05/2020 12:29

If you liked and are good at the theory side of plumbing, why not look at an access course for engineering. It's better paid and more family friendly hours than health care with better promotion opportunities, and still uses the science. Something like building services is like plumbing on steroids, electronics is micro plumbing, chemical engineering is factory plumbing, computing is on-screen plumbing trying to find the digital leak, aeronautical is plumbing in the sky... A lot of companies are desperate to look more female friendly in a male dominated field, so it's possible flexible working might be more possible there than in healthcare, although that would depend on company obviously. It sounds like you're actually capable of dreaming a bit bigger than a bit over min wage!

NotInTheMorning · 10/05/2020 12:35

If you’re interested in healthcare have a look at this website: www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/

There are lots of ideas and there’s a tool you can use to find careers that might suit you.

superstressy · 10/05/2020 12:36

If you don't do anything about the confidence then how do you expect to move up. Those at the top exude confidence. Work on that first.

onesmalldog · 10/05/2020 12:41

LMAO!

Sorry OP but you'll see why when you get to your 50s!

You haven't even started yet!

Honestly - you're good.

Namenic · 10/05/2020 12:42

Look at jobs boards - to see what is available in your area. I think frontline nhs work - eg hca, nurse can be v stressful and have hard rotas. Be sure that you can cope with that.

I’m not sure how stressful pharmacy is. But if you are interested then maybe do night school for science a levels? There may also be lab technicians (nhs or research). Or electronics.

I switched from healthcare into IT in my 30s. Good work-life balance, flexibility, work from home. It was an effort learning things in my spare time - and it did help that DH is in the industry.

Doingmybest4u · 10/05/2020 12:44

You sound extremely bright and great at learning / exams. You are in no way too old - I like to think you’re never too old.

Won’t be easy with kids / commitments, but it’s possible. NHS admin / management is an option. You can start near the bottom (£20k p/a) without lots of qualifications (make your applications sharp and articulate) and work your way up to £35k within 5-8 years if you work hard, are great at what you do and generally make yourself indispensable. Look at pathway tracker / scheduling coordinator roles as examples on NHS jobs. I would still apply even if you don’t have every prerequisite. There are also more practical roles in maintenance etc if you’re more practically minded. Take a look and good luck x

AJPTaylor · 10/05/2020 12:52

Decide what you want to do, be ambitious. Then plan backwards. You have a massive advantage in that you qualify for degree funding and haven't wasted that on doing something at 18 that doesn't interest you now! Bet you could do an access course in September if you put your mind to it.

Ninkanink · 10/05/2020 12:53

It’s never too late for a better life. Depending on what you define as better, of course. It’s too late for me to do what I could (and probably should have) done. But it’s still possible for me to take small, decisive steps to make life better for myself.

CloudsCoveredTheSky · 10/05/2020 12:56

"You have a massive advantage in that you qualify for degree funding and haven't wasted that on doing something at 18 that doesn't interest you now!"

That's so true, sometimes I wish I had waited for a bit and got some experience before I wasted my time on my pointless degree that I put zero effort into.

Bargebill19 · 10/05/2020 12:58

You can retrain at any age. Just make sure that whatever you do - it makes your heart sing. Good luck.

MitziK · 10/05/2020 13:01

You'll make a fuck ton more money with plumbing, electrical work or suchlike than you will as a healthcare assistant or handing out the prescriptions at Boots.

There is always Medical engineering/technology as well. An MRI doesn't install itself. Or run without people able to maintain the network.

Ninkanink · 10/05/2020 13:01

Or, find a profession that pays well, that plays to your strengths, and resolve to make a decent living. Then earmark some of that money to pursue the things that make your heart sing.

Most people don’t work in jobs that they love or that make their hearts sing. It’s still perfectly possible to have a good life, in fact in many ways it comes easier when you have money, and therefore, choice.

Lostvoiced · 10/05/2020 13:03

My mum went to university at age 30, when I was 5. She used to take me into the library with her when she studied (I was a shy, quiet child so I just sat and read).
I got to see my mum graduate.
To this day it's one of the things I'm proudest of her for because she showed me that it is never too late to return to education.
I haven't been to university, mostly due to financial reasons, and I'm 29. I am keeping myself open to the idea of going to uni. It's not too late at all!

Look into some paths you might take towards an education, you can absolutely do it!

misscockerspaniel · 10/05/2020 13:12

I am twice your age - you are a mere seedling . You say you want to work in a pharmacy? What I would do is look to see what openings there are in your area - there are always a few jobs going where I live especially for those who want to train up. So, checkout your local pharmacies and hospital. Trust me, you are not old.

TeaAndHobnob · 10/05/2020 13:13

I would look at how you could get onto a degree course OP. If you have AS levels, you might be able to do A levels in the evening, or the equivalent of an access course.

You can take a degree part time if you need to, your uni may well have subsidised child care that you can access. Don't worry about fees, they will come out of your earnings like a tax when you graduate.

I would give serious thought to a degree which opens doors to earning a good wage. Not enough young women think about that, imo. If your want something healthcare related there are loads of jobs which will pay a really good salary. Don't take the default option of a nursing degree without really giving it consideration. It will be years before you earn really good money and you'll have shift work to deal with.

CorianderLord · 10/05/2020 13:17

Of course not, I turn 25 next week and still feel like I'm barely an adult... lots of my friends have gone to uni/started new careers between the ages of 24 and 29.

GreyGoose1980 · 10/05/2020 13:19

Are you interested in plumbing OP? If not then you I would not continue down that path just because you are qualified as you are only 25. I career changed at 26 and got a basic entry level post with funded on the job training. Find out what you are most interested in. Your existing qualifications show a level of attainment and transferable skills. If you are interested in healthcare find out how your existing qualifications count towards entry requirements.

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