Career change/upgrade early 40s-help please!

[ladybirdsaredotty]

I've been working in social care since I graduated...a long time ago. I'm not as badly paid as some but I need to earn more now, plus I'm getting a bit sick of it! My degree is a biosciences-type one (2:1) but is obviously quite out-of-date.

I'd like to get a postgraduate qualification but I've got 3 primary-aged children so can't faff about with something that won't actually get me a job. Some of the things I'm most interested in (midwifery, nursing, teaching) come with quite rubbish working conditions, especially at the minute (no offence if you do one of these jobs-they're the ones I respect the most and I'm totally supportive of the strikes). Also, I love the idea of these jobs and the theory but wonder if the actual jobs might be quite overwhelming-I'm essentially an introvert although not shy and quiet. I like the idea of research/teaching within these areas but I'd obviously need experience first.

I'm also interested in genetics, psychology, neuroscience but even if I did an MSc in one of these subjects, it wouldn't exactly guarantee me a job at the end.

Occupational Therapy is often suggested on these threads but I'm not sure I'm that interested in it! I'm also used to getting enhancements for nights/weekends etc but I know I'd be better off financially in the long run to change to something like this.

I feel like I go round and round in circles with all this (I could write an even longer post on all the ins and outs of each potential career!). If you've changed jobs/careers at a similar age, how did you decide what to do?

I have a supportive partner but he works shifts so everything also comes with added logistical childcare issues!

Thanks for any replies 😊

Yes, fair point! Thank you.

Apologies, I missed this earlier...

SALT training would be too far away for me to manage, as none of the three universities that are near to me run that course! I've looked at physio but I think it might be too, err, physical for me 😆

I currently work with children as a support worker 🙂

@ladybirdsaredotty

I work in Consumer Insights which is basically market research and understanding consumers. Psychology and neuroscience are quite relevant as you're basically looking to understand why people's attitudes and behaviours, and how you can influence what people think, feel and do.
I started out on about £25k per year on a graduate programme near London but have worked my way up and currently earn £108k. I left the UK a couple of years back but have friends there in similar roles who are earning about the same as what I am getting now.

Thank you so much...weirdly a large part of my job sounds kind of similar in that the children can exhibit challenging behaviour and therefore we're trying to improve that for them (obviously with the wider team, too) by understanding why they're reacting like that and trying to find other coping strategies.

(Or trying to put preventative measures in place to stop them reaching that point in the first place, of course.)

I think NHS biosciences would start out on a much lower salary than you are currently on.

What about training as a Probation Officer? There is a national shortage so they're recruiting lots of trainees. Starting salary is higher than you currently earn. Work is Mon-Fri and you should be able to work at least 1 day pw at home.

Thank you. Yes, although if I was then working full time then I guess not. Although I'd then have to pay more childcare than the £0 we currently pay (not including all their clubs etc of course). But the pay progression might be better-I'm at the top of scale now. And so I continue to go round in circles being indecisive!

Interesting, thanks. I'll have a look although not sure I could hack it!

You may find it helpful to browse some of the threads on the Mature Study and Retraining board, here:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

Will do, thank you!

No I meant a full time wage. I think you’d probably be starting on a nhs bang 3 or band 4 until you’d done all the qualifications and gained experience.

True. I'm currently between top band 4 and bottom band 5 I think (equivalently), which is ok with the additional bits for shifts but yes, would be a pay cut initially, especially without the additional stuff (potentially)...