Retraining at nearly 40

[Missushbb]

Has anyone successfully retrained at almost 40? I have a degree but was made redundant over 10 years ago, and have fell in to admin role after that, part time now which suits with the kids but money isn't fantastic and I am bored to tears. I think the boredom is really making me feel quite depressed sometimes. I'd love to retrain in something else, has anyone done this at my age, I'll be 40 next year.

My DH qualified as an OT the year he turned 40, after a career in the City. He wanted a change of direction and to feel he was doing something more meaningful. I think the life experience he brought to the role really worked in his favour, and he does still find it fulfilling after 15 years.
I also changed direction at 43, after taking voluntary redundancy from a job I'd been in for several years. Not a complete change, but differences enough! The way I see it is that I probably still have almost 20 years of work ahead of me so why not give it a go if it's possible??

I'm retraining as an Educational Psychologist next September after 16 years in teaching (10 as a HoD). It'll be a long slog as I have to do an MSc first, which I'll do part time whilst working.

I'm 52 and one year into a masters in psychotherapy having gotten my degree in 2018. There are others on my masters of similar age. Others younger and I've got to say the older ones tend to be very focused on getting the most out the masters than those who are nearer their 20s. For me it's a good age to do it as it brings both earning potential and personal satisfaction to me. I have my children nearly reared and so they support me hugely in this.

Thanks for the comments everyone. Has anyone trained in IT? Interested in that. I really need to have a good think and decide what I'd like to do.

I was a SALT and retrained as a teacher at 40. I really enjoyed the year at Homerton. I'm a farmer now though

@RLGGG

Thank you so much for starting this thread! Its lovely to hear others experiences. I'd love to retrain, have had a very fulfilling career through my 20s and early 30s but have another area I would love to retrain in. We've just started our family so all being well will be late 30s when I start training. Have a good role model, my mum retrained In her late 30s and has a long and distinguished career in the medical sector 😊

Did you mum retrain in medicine? So good to hear all these positive stories

Thanks for the comments everyone. Has anyone trained in IT? Interested in that. I really need to have a good think and decide what I'd like to do.

Op, be worth you Checking out some if the bigger companies like Microsoft/apple etc. Often they are looking for people with career skills who then retrain in IT...

I'm starting a degree in occupational therapy next month and I'm 40. Have been working as an OT assistant for 8 years and now both kids are in school, the time felt right to go for it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do OP

I think 40 is the perfect age to retrain! I changed career in my early 30s, through volunteering/work experience. I did Myers Briggs, thought about my strengths, made a shortlist, spoke to some people in the fields, got some experience in 2 fields, then made a decision. The decision process took about 6 months. I could have gone into more depth but I had already left my career so I needed an income eventually...

My advice, in no particular order;
-talk to people in the field (people who like the job)
-go with your greatest areas of strength
-look at what it involves on a day to day basis; do you LOVE it (I think you really have to, to stay sane...)
These above 2 are the most important imho.
-think about work/life balance/working style (what hours, geographical locations, team/lone working are you happy with), what does it offer in 5, 10 years time
-be prepared for it to take time to train, start earning at a decent level and become experienced and confident
-do not underestimate how tiring (and rewarding) learning and remembering new info is, do not underestimate the scale of the challenge full stop (for many years after I said I'd only change careers once, now I'd consider doing it again...), do not hold back from your passions, make it your decision, have an open mind about what it could be, it might even be a career you never considered!
-do consider income, how much do you need/want to earn, what level do you need to reach
-be really sure it is what you want to do
-have a look at Ikigai : )

Remember no job is ever 100% perfect, there are always tradeoffs.

@Yellow1793 wow poop view of nursing. I've been a nurse since 1987. It's been an amazing career. My career has allowed me to travel the world. I've been a staff nurse, a ward sister and a senior sister. I'm now a nurse educator on £50 k plus a year. I've laughed and cried in equal amounts over the course of my career.

It's not clear what job you do but boy you don't sound happy.

@Yellow1793

To all those who have retrained as nurses- please tell me what’s good about it? I’ve done 20 years in the NHS (not a nurse), and I’d PAY my DC NOT to do nursing. It’s the worst job in the NHS. Lowest glass ceiling, worst shifts, no breaks, rushed off their feet, ever increasing responsibility with no additional pay and working for an organisation that throws you under a bus if you ever make a mistake —when you’ve worked 13 hrs with no break—. And the pay is utterly shit. I only ever see nurses on MNwho like their jobs. All the ones I know IRL wish they’d done something else or have given up —because you don’t even earn enough to pay for childcare—. Tell me what’s good about it?

I’ve been doing the job for 29 years and totally agree. It’s a shame as it’s a critical job. In my experience and particularly for very sick or chronically ill the nurse is the most important person to the patient, their recovery and experience. And yet we treat them like shit. All the AHPs where I work are on 2 pay bands higher than the majority of nurses.

I'm early 30s but am thinking of retraining so following with interest! Has anyone been to a careers coach?

@Yellow1793 I have to disagree. I am a HCSW in the community currently, absolutely love my job as do most of my colleagues. I have just been offered a place to do my nursing degree through the open uni and am hopeful I will get a job back in the community on completion. I’m in Scotland though so unsure if this makes a difference but worked in England before I got this job and did hate it and the pay was at least £2 lower than it is here

I remember reading Finding Your Element.