I want to change careers. What can I do?!

[RoxyTheProssie]

Just that really. I've worked in HR and charity governance since I graduated from university a decade ago and lockdown has made me realise I really cocking hate it. The only thing I like about it is the fact it is flexible and family friendly and I have a young DS.

I want to retrain but I haven't got a clue what I want to do. Literally not a clue.

I am not competitive or particularly thick skinned so I think I'd be useless in any kind of high flying corporate type job. I am introverted and hate working in an office - my current role is great because it was home based (pre lockdown).

I love: cooking and food in general, animals, being outdoors, writing, politics. I would have been interested in journalism but I think I've missed the boat there now and in any case I don't think I could have coped with the hours or the competition. I would also love to work in ecology or conservation but again I feel like I've missed the boat and my degree is in an arts subject.

Any ideas? I have a bit of money I could throw into retraining but I just don't even know where to start.

Tree surgeon?

I think I'd be useless at that, I'm so clumsy I'd probably end up sawing off my own arm!!

Why don't you start a blog documenting the things you like. Write for yourself and bit an audience. This will help you hone your thinking and let's you be creative. With your background could you be a teacher? I know you're introverted but like a lot of introverts we draw on our extrovert to get through the day.

I know you're introverted but like a lot of introverts we draw on our extrovert to get through the day.

I don’t - I’m one of those take me as you find me and preferably bugger off and leave me alone types of introvert.

This is good OP - you’ll find lots of things to think about:

www.beafreerangehuman.com/

Any small local charities or 3rd sector organisation in the green / ecology / conservation line? It's a growing sector and I imagine some would bite your arm off for someone with your skills, even if you want a change: this could be a way to pick up other skills as charities/3rd sector usually rely on a skeleton staff who can turn their hand to anything. Pay in charity/3rd sector may be less than you are used to, but it might be rewarding in other ways. And with your HR skills, perhaps you can convince them to be family-friendly.

As you have experience in governance, would compliance or auditing appeal? I don't mean financial auditing - there are other kinds, eg auditing against ISO standards.