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Original poster

What career would you retrain in if money wasn’t an issue

44 replies

olivehater · 27/10/2022 08:12

Work for the NHS part time in a good clinical career I have worked hard for. It’s so niche I feel like there is no where to go from it. I just can’t see myself doing it forever. I am also getting disillusioned with working for the NHS.

I am in the fortunate position that I don’t really have to work. I do it as couldn’t be a full time sahm. Right now my three young kids are my focus. The job is basically a few days a week break from that life. Using my brain etc.

I would love to have a second career when the kids are older. But no idea what I would do. I am not bothered what it pays. What have other people changed their careers to? Sometimes I think I would be quite happy working in a nice dress shop or something.

Looking for inspiration.

OP posts:
TottersBlankly · 27/10/2022 09:28

Mature study and retraining board, here!

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Hope you find something inspiring!

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 27/10/2022 09:33

I would have liked to be a picture restorer. The meticulousness, the necessity of researching the right matériels and the manual dexterity and concentration really appeal to me, and at the end, you have helped to preserve a work of art.

I expect in reality it is as just as cut throat getting a job as what I used to do ‘in real life’!

Klarwen · 27/10/2022 10:13

Funnily enough I wonder about retraining in a HCP role - radiographer, audiologist? So that's no help. (Is this a terrible idea?)

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

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Original poster
olivehater · 27/10/2022 11:24

Klarwen - I would never be a mature student in a clinical NHS role. It’s exhausting. I was a radiographer. The early years are tough. Long anti social hours ( I use to do 24 hours “on call” which in reality was not far off a 24 hour shift) . But I was young and full of energy and wanted to make as much money as possible. I have since gone on to specialise and am in a more comfortable hours role but it took a lot of work to get there. Lots of studying, all well before I had kids to worry about. Could imagine doing any of that at this age.

OP posts:
LemonSwan · 27/10/2022 11:31

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 27/10/2022 09:33

I would have liked to be a picture restorer. The meticulousness, the necessity of researching the right matériels and the manual dexterity and concentration really appeal to me, and at the end, you have helped to preserve a work of art.

I expect in reality it is as just as cut throat getting a job as what I used to do ‘in real life’!

Omg I love this. I watch YouTube videos on it and it’s so relaxing.

In reality though your fingers would be fucked. I have calluses on my writing hand still to this day from decades of art when younger. I have rarely drawn anything for over a decade.

mjf981 · 27/10/2022 11:38

If I independently wealthy, I retrain in meteorology. I love analyzing weather statistics and tracking the radar. My dream job is to be a meteorologist in the midwest of the US - tornado season would be thrilling.

Original poster
olivehater · 28/10/2022 07:55

Some very niche answers here. I wish I had a random niche interest!!

OP posts:
Theblackdogagain · 28/10/2022 07:58

Radio presenter but I think I haven't the voice for it.

Boohooyouho · 28/10/2022 08:00

Architect. I only realised in my late 30s that it would be the perfect job for me but with a huge mortgage and three kids retraining isn’t an option.

KangarooKenny · 28/10/2022 08:01

I’m a nurse, but wish I’d been a paramedic. I’m not going to start the training now.
‘I’d really like to have been in the police, but it’s too PC for me. I’d like to be the Gene Hunt type !

ThorsBedazzler · 28/10/2022 08:04

Costume design. Id love to work in wardrobe for TV or film or theatre. Making costumes, fitting clothes.

FeralWitch · 28/10/2022 08:07

LemonSwan · 27/10/2022 11:31

Omg I love this. I watch YouTube videos on it and it’s so relaxing.

In reality though your fingers would be fucked. I have calluses on my writing hand still to this day from decades of art when younger. I have rarely drawn anything for over a decade.

Show quote history

I go to art classes with a young woman who does this for a living. She’s fascinating to listen to, I’m slightly in awe of her massive skill and knowledge.

I also love Lucia on The Repair Shop.

Ineedhelp1981 · 28/10/2022 08:08

Air hostess - I love travelling!

cushioncovers · 28/10/2022 08:09

Archeology. I love history. But even money wouldn't help my useless menopausal brain. I can't seem to retain anything anymore.

BankseyVest · 28/10/2022 08:12

Vet, I had the lace home at 17, so needed to work, I couldn't afford to put myself through uni, but I always wanted to be a vet

BayCityTrollers · 28/10/2022 08:13

If money wasn’t an option I would do a job I enjoyed, maybe OT assistant or similar. I’m a nurse Ward Manager and the stress and responsibility is overwhelming but right now I need the money and don’t have the energy to retrain!!

InsertSomethingMotivationalHere · 28/10/2022 08:14

I'd be a a zookeeper. I live by a well-known zoo and visit as often as I can. Would be my actual dream job.

Helenloveslee4eva · 28/10/2022 08:14

Something crafty.
there is an awful lot of gold work needed on all those C111R heralds uniforms etc …

FifteenMinutesOfMeTime · 28/10/2022 08:16

If money wasn't an issue or if I was at least ten years younger I would study neuroscience. I hate my job and suck at it but the money is decent and the company I work for is very family friendly and offer a lot of job security.

LooksLikeImStuckHere · 28/10/2022 08:17

Architect here as well, although I would refrain as an Educational Psychologist if I had the money because it better fits what I’ve done so far. I’d probably be a rubbish architect.

FindingMeno · 28/10/2022 08:18

Alternative therapies.
Or nursing so I could put my skills to good use in developing countries.

FeralWitch · 28/10/2022 08:18

I’d work at Monkey World, with the chimps.

lifeinthehills · 28/10/2022 08:19

I'd like to train as a GP and go work in an area where there are shortages (probably a small, out of the way village). I am familiar with the unique issues facing these communities, so know what I would be getting into. I just can't face that many more years of study at this stage, so it's just a dream.

Pung · 28/10/2022 08:22

If money were no object I wouldn't pursue any career at all. I'd be a full time dilettante.

Traynorbird · 28/10/2022 08:25

I was in a similar situation about 8 years ago. Ideas I had were:
Occupational therapist (seems interesting and varied, but the training takes quite a long time)
Do a master's in writing for children (a hobby of mine)
Do a master's that follows on from my main broad based biology degree (I'm interested in evolution & ecology & hoped to get something that led onto doing field work or work in natural history museums)
I ended up spotting a master's in science communication while I was looking and did that. Now I teach it to undergraduates, which is kind of a career diagonal for me as I was previously a primary teacher.
I loved being a student again and am really glad I did it. I'd say that being a university teacher is great, but unless you have a real passion for research and are willing to do it unpaid there's no real room for progression.
I'm now thinking I'd like to / might need to because of cuts make another change, so reading the thread with interest 🙃
Good luck with your search!

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