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Original poster

Easy well paid career change for 40 year old with a Masters Degree.....

109 replies

tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 21:55

I hate my job. I am a Pharmacist. It's stressful, undervalued, underpaid and the demands on us as a Profession are getting more and more and more with no increase in wages. I'd like to change career but at 40 with 2 kids I don't feel I have the time, mental ability or motivation to fully retrain. I enjoy being home but my current job doesn't allow me to do this. I love cooking but that doesn't earn alot of money and I don't have patience to make it look fancy. Any genius advice?

OP posts:
MBL · 20/12/2023 22:01

How much money do you need to make?

Medical writing could be for you if you like writing?

LittleMrsPretty · 20/12/2023 22:03

I am also a Pharmacist. what sector do you work in?

Get a job at a children's hospital, the demands are so much less than in community or in Adult trusts.

I think it will be really hard to get another job that is as well paid especially if you are experienced?

FaiIureToLunch · 20/12/2023 22:04

Medical writing and editing is a really well paid job! I’d do that! You can pull in £60-80k if you have the right degree and experience.

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Bundeena · 20/12/2023 22:07

Do you definitely want to totally leave pharmacy - it seems a career with very varied opportunities available? I have a pharmacist friend that used to work full time across two different (both pharmacy) jobs. She loved one, hated the other. Years on she now only does the one she enjoys (primary care related).

toomuchfaster · 20/12/2023 22:09

I'm also a pharmacist and looking to change but unfortunately I think we are pigeon-holed! I need to earn a reasonable salary so can't afford to re-train and we don't seem to have any transferable skills. I've been looking for a couple of years and haven't managed to leave pharmacy.

Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 22:12

toomuchfaster · 20/12/2023 22:09

I'm also a pharmacist and looking to change but unfortunately I think we are pigeon-holed! I need to earn a reasonable salary so can't afford to re-train and we don't seem to have any transferable skills. I've been looking for a couple of years and haven't managed to leave pharmacy.

toomuchfaster it's a horrible situation just now and only getting worse. Nothing I look at seems to be an option to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
tooneedyme · 20/12/2023 22:14

LittleMrsPretty · 20/12/2023 22:03

I am also a Pharmacist. what sector do you work in?

Get a job at a children's hospital, the demands are so much less than in community or in Adult trusts.

I think it will be really hard to get another job that is as well paid especially if you are experienced?

Edited

I am in Community Pharmacy. It's horrific! I'd like a position like that but the training terrifies me and I'd need to start at the bottom of the ladder band 6 then advance?

OP posts:
Haggisfish3 · 20/12/2023 22:16

chemistry teacher? Bursaries to train and often can negotiate a higher pay rate for experience and being a. Chemist!

SausageCasseroles · 20/12/2023 22:18

OT? Mental health nurse? Other ahp?

ginoohginoginelli · 20/12/2023 22:22

SausageCasseroles · 20/12/2023 22:18

OT? Mental health nurse? Other ahp?

All of which would require retraining as they are entirely different careers.

What about a clinical research role?

LittleMrsPretty · 20/12/2023 22:23

Do you have any other qualifications, I think some of the CPPE courses are equivalent to the diploma so you would be eligible to apply at 8a.

toomuchfaster · 20/12/2023 22:24

@SausageCasseroles all those require retraining.
@tooneedyme yes, you'd probably have to go in as a band 6, although lots of trusts are desperate so you could try negotiating up the band?? Most band 7 posts require several years of hospital experience.

SausageCasseroles · 20/12/2023 22:24

Gino - well yes but could be an option?

astridforty · 20/12/2023 22:26

Clinical Lead at a PMR supplier or Clinical Engineer for NHS.

Product Manager for PMR development

TurnthePotatoes · 20/12/2023 22:28

Haggisfish3 · 20/12/2023 22:16

chemistry teacher? Bursaries to train and often can negotiate a higher pay rate for experience and being a. Chemist!

Not the likes of anything beyond 50K though?
What's 'well-paid' to you OP?
What about being a private pharmacist?

GreyDuck · 20/12/2023 22:30

I'd also advise you to change sector. From all my friends, community is hell at the moment. I'm in primary care and enjoy my work (mostly).
If you can't afford to move completely, could you get a part-time role and build experience that way? Primary care and GP tends to be much more open to part-time / flexible working. There's a Facebook group called Women in pharmacy, you might get some useful advice from.
I work in a difficult to recruit area, and we tend to take experienced community pharmacists at top of band 7.

Hairofthemonster · 20/12/2023 22:31

Compliance or another role in big pharma. Well paid and good perks.

Doggymummar · 20/12/2023 22:34

My mum was a pharmacist in doctors surgery, she loved it and retired at 55 on full NHS pension. When she retired she took a practice manager's job in a nearby surgery until state pension kicked in. Would something like that work?

GreyDuck · 20/12/2023 22:39

Being a cppe tutor or lecturer appeals to me. NOT a pre-reg tutor though.

Forcedoutoflurking · 20/12/2023 22:40

Sorry no advice but curious to know how a pharmacy job is so stressful. Is it not just about dispensing medicine?

Swishyfishy · 20/12/2023 22:43

What about working directly for a drugs company? Research? Sales? Manufacturing?

LittleMrsPretty · 20/12/2023 22:46

No Dispensers dispense, A Pharmacist clinically checks every prescription, manages staff, runs services and offers patient advice. All while being interrupted 20 thousand times because nothing can operate without a Pharmacist.

erinaceus · 20/12/2023 22:47

Pharmaceutical industry?

SlB09 · 20/12/2023 22:50

Our practice manager came from community pharmacy. Absolute vertical learning curve but she's enjoyed the change and comparable salary negotiated.

LittleMrsPretty · 20/12/2023 22:52

Was she a Pharmacist?