What job or career would you aim for if you could do ANYTHING?

[BleaketyBleak]

Posting as think it might be an interesting discussion, and keen to hear ideas I may not have though of.

I need something to aim for and throw myself into to distract away from health problems and infertility. (My health means plenty of jobs are unsuitable for me personally, but still would enjoy reading about other people's ambitions and adventures)

What would you do if you were free to do anything?

Astronaut. ESA ran a recruitment campaign last year and I was tempted to put in an application... then I remembered I was pregnant (and didn't meet most oh the criteria)

Landscape archaeologist

Operatic contralto

Educational psychologist or occupational therapist. I'm pretty sure I can't make either of those happen with my MFL degree and zero experience!

Actor

Medicine. If I'd made better choices I could have been a consultant by now. But retraining even on the fast track, plus 2y of foundation training and up to 8 of specialty training would do me in, with the nights. I'd probablt be a physician, or an anaesthetist. It's irrelevant really as I'm not prepared to take a paycut and spend 8 years to get back to where I am now . I also would have loved to be a librarian, but it turns out you can collect/categories books as a hobby 😊

However, medicine/law aside, there are very few careers you can't u turn into in later life, and I think it's great when people make a move well into their adulthood whether by circumstance or choice, and you just see someone hitting their groove. Life offers many chances!

I would love to be a performer in Cats, Starlight Express and similar shows.

An atelier at Dior. Or an alternative wedding planner.

Musical theatre actor

Anything that involved me working for myself and doing something creative.

Play therapist or Educational Psychologist

defense / weapons scientist
geneticist
biochemical scientist

Fantasy world : Professional cricketer. Opening batter for England in the Ashes.

Real world : Commercial pilot. I started flying many years ago and I absolutely loved it. I was working toward my PPL when it became apparent that I would never be able to gain a CAA Class 1 medical certificate, so that was the end of that, sadly.

I think I'd like to work in an archive, but then I'd get frustrated at always helping other people do their own research and never having the time to do my own.

I would have loved to restore antiques. I have repaired a few things under guidance and found it fascinating and rewarding, but I don't think I've got the patience now to devote the time to learning all the tricks of the trade. Also, those sort of workshops are always freezing cold in the winter.

@SisyphusDad

Composer of classical music, a calling for which I have zero ability and zero experience!

Composers are my favourite people.

(Completely ruthless, though …)

Always been fascinated by forensics! But science was never my strong point in reality at school

@Georgeskitchen - I bet you're not too old. I work in the train industry and I know we regularly have people in their 50s retraining as conductors. You should check it out!

Nothing. I wouldn’t work if I didn’t have too. My dream job would be having money but not working😂

Always wanted to be a forensic psychologist, but science was never my strong point. Find it fascinating, but as anything else, sure it’s incredibly tough too.

Interesting how many people want my job (party/wedding planner): super-stressful, long hours and there’s nothing like clearing up someone else’s vomit at 4am after a 20 hour day to have that “job satisfaction” moment.

Serial killer profiler or florist

I'm currently in the process of changing careers and when it came to a choice between trying to be a writer which could potentially never happen or play therapist I've decided to aim for play therapist. I remembered my dad's advice - "do what you're best at". I work with kids and I know I'm good at it. The writing I'll try when I retire.

I'd love to do something in the music industry, on the techy side of things. I love mixing songs but I'm very much an amateur! I wish I could do it properly, or maybe do the sound editing for films/TV. It's fascinating!

Architect
Anaesthetist
Something in Palliative care (could be achievable in this lifetime!)

Pipe organ builder

Fine art restoration!

Unfortunately I struggle with anything more artistic than stick people, so probably not in this lifetime...