If you were 27….

[Yebbie]

And could train up, get a degree, do anything really (apart from relocate!) to start a new career.. what would you do?

I’ve drifted from admin job to admin job for years and I’m so bored and unfulfilled. I work very flexible 3 days per week at the moment which is ideal whilst my kids are young but I want to start working towards my ‘real’ career. I just don’t know what I want to do!

Dh earns well, so it takes the pressure off me and I can really work hard to get where I want. But I would like to also be a high-ish earner eventually, 40/50k ish.

If you want to do the OU access course then they will be able to give you great advice about going forward. You can also do access courses at your local college, who will also give advice.

You don’t necessarily have to do a degree in the subject to do that as a job. You could do English or art or anything that interests you and then do a qualifying post grad course, if you wanted to. Both Law and Education would allow you to do that, as would other careers.

Whatever you choose to do will be a hard slog sometimes so make sure that it’s something you care about. If not, you’ll struggle far more.

I’d use your admin skills and move to being an EA for a private company. The decent EAs in our company are on nearly £100k supporting the very senior people.

It’s a huge amount of diary management plus things like writing out board papers, committee papers etc so if you have good organisational skills plus enjoy writing it could be good.

Personally I wouldn’t go back to uni, I think if you’re able to get “in” on the job the work experience and network you’d meet would be way more valuable.

I did something similar. Felt like I couldn't progress without a masters. Honestly would not bother unless you get a guaranteed career at the end, it was tedious and set me back 30% in wages which I've only just recouped almost a decade later.

My only recommendation would be absolutely do not choose a passion focused degree, or one for soft skills. They're just not worth the time or money you have to invest atm.

I'd go for a very hard skilled area - ideally with funding opportunities and a skills deficit - dentistry, podiatry etc.

If you wanted to move into development/IT then don't bother with a degree, there are lots of short accelerator courses which will give more hands on experience in a shorter time for less cost. Often you can find them sponsored by employers and with future job prospects.

Well you could do anything at all.

What do you want to do?

What career would you have now if you could snap your fingers?

These are the real questions see, because what I would do would be totally different to the next person, depending on what we want. You ask me and I'd be looking to marry rich instead of work, so yeah... it's about what YOU want from your career.

You've worked, you like working and want a career, it's too vague. You need to know what career and what it is you love so much about working.

There's not one career I want because I simply do not want a career. You do. Which one?

Give us your top 3/top 5 fantasy careers - could be anything. Footballer, makeup artist, train driver. That'll help you focus on what things you really enjoy.

BTW my relative is a photographer mostly with brands and she works a normal working week, other people do e.g. school photos, those creative photo shoots with families etc - it's not all photographing weddings. If you've got a talent there it could at least be a second string to your bow e.g. a part time thing to start with while you see if you like it.

I haven’t read the full thread, but if I was 27 again I would aim to be a book editor at one of the big 5 publishers. You don’t actually need a degree, although a 1 yr course in publishing or something would help. The route is basically:

• internships (which are tricky to get, you’ll probably need to work unpaid or take work thet doesn’t interest you just to get words like editing and publishing on your CV)


• a paid job as an editorial assistant (£24k)


• sub editor


• editor


• commissioning editor


• then you can either stay there or keep promoting up into management.

Now I know someone will be along in a minute to stay that publishing pay is terrible and it is - but as soonas your have big publihser names on your CV you can also do freelance editing in your own time and self-published authors will fall over themselves to pay you £1k to write a few pages about how you would improve their book. So you can either do freelance work in own time, or semi-reture and do it from home.

Or I’d try to get an admin job for a TV company / film studio / Netflix etc and promote from there.

Degrees are the entry path to traditional careers like law accounting medicine etc but if you are already married and DH in stable job etc I personally would go for something more fun / less long hours.

Content writing/ editing

If it's about money then what about selling property? For commission? The jobs I saw women doing on britain’s million pound houses or something like that? They sell property to very rich people by finding out what the people want and matching them to and showing them around properties, then they get a commission which must be huge! I'd do that!

I'd love to have done art therapy

Have a look at www.open.edu/openlearn/

Lots of free short introductory courses from the OU on there. Try a few - including subjects that you've never considered before - and you might surprise yourself.

I would learn a trade, but one with mostly inside work as I don’t like being cold or wet, so plumber / electrician. Paid apprenticeship rather than an expensive degree and plenty of decently paid work at the end of it.

I was going to say editing/proof reading/content writing. If you enjoy reading and writing, then those might be options for you.

However I would add that there are other training options out there, lots of commercial qualifications like CIPD, etc. and your local college will offer hands on diplomas and qualifications too. If you want to take a totally different tack than admin, then something more practical like plumbing (good money to be earned there) or hairdressing etc might suit you. Don't limit yourself.

I’d do psychology if it were me. Fascinating and good career opportunities.

Or a good counselling qualification.

boring admin crap

Um, admin covers a variety of things, and most interesting jobs involve it... ditto looking at spreadsheets. Publishing definitely does. I think you are doing down the skills you have learned tbh. Use them to move on.

This: www.rics.org/uk/surveying-profession/what-is-surveying/why-become-a-surveyor/

Average pay 60k. There's a shortage.

I went back to study for a degree at 34. Any degree would have done but I studied law and became a lawyer. Money was good but work was stressful, long hours and hard work. Maybe consider social work, nursing, journalism, vet nurse, IT?

If I could have my time again I would be an anthropologist, certainly doesn't meet your no relocation criteria! I also am interested in public health but apparently my maths (or lack there of) would not suffice!

What are your interests, what would you like to be doing at my age (late 40's) once your kids are adults? I do like my admin job but I earn rubbish money even though I console myself that I'm doing it for a good cause

I studied later in life to be a social worker.

Surly you must have some idea ?

Well, at the risk of creating competition my plan is to retrain as a residential surveyor. Shortage area, flexible, good pay. Helps that I find the housing market fascinating and enjoyed working as a site inspector/ sample courier before.

Should have RTFT, @SusiePevensie beat me to it

I do think it depends on what your skills might be - good with people/sociable/outgoing might be relevant for physiotherapy ,photography ,selling houses .

And for people saying plumber ,electrician etc you need to have people skills ,some practical ability and a good head for figures and technical stuff .And be prepared to keep updating those skills .And be able to work in a small team out in the field as it were .

And dorrit is right admin covers a variety of things, and most interesting jobs involve it... ditto looking at spreadsheets. I think you are doing down the skills you have learned tbh. Use them to move on I also agree on not bothering with a degree but building on your skills - could you move into a field where there's a broader range of activity but requires admin.

My suggestions are - librarian (though might be limited jobs +you'd need a professional qualification ) or work in a funeral directors.

And I wouldn't get hung up on a "career" ,IME progression requires managing people and moving away from the job content that attracted you in the first place .Don't underestimate the stress that comes with high paid career and the freedom that comes with reasonable ,interesting work that you can switch off from .