Retraining at 46

[GarlicAndTangerines]

Hi all, not sure where to post this (MN please move it if it needs to be somewhere else!?) but I'm a failed academic, long term chronic illness and becoming a mother suddenly created a 10 year gap from when I was last working in my usual field. I think there's no way back now and I'm terrified that I won't be able to work and earn to bring my child up. What the hell can I do at my age? I'm educated to PhD level in my field but I can't see a way back in unless I spend another 3-4 years (or more, who knows!) sitting at home writing (unpaid) for publications to boost my CV. I'm anxious and scared about the future, can I retrain at this age?? I've thought about studying to become a doctor, I mean I'm already a doctor, but a doctor of medicine. I'd be very old before I even graduate from medical school... I just feel like my whole life is ruined. I need a proper job at some point soon. Anyone else been in this situation at my age? Thanks for reading.

What’s your PhD in? Thought about teaching?

What sort of salary band are you looking for?!how are you managing now?

I'm from a humanities background. I used to teach at university, but I was aiming for another research post ideally with a bit of teaching attached before I vanished into the world of illness.

Anything between 30-40k would be ok. I have a business that just about keeps me afloat, but it's just that, it's my bread and butter but not what I trained for at all.

Op you’re not a “failed” anything. You have a phd, which is far more academic success than most people. I’m currently studying for a level 7 post grad diploma and it’s nearly killing me. I’m sure you’ll find a job once you decide something that interests you. Look on indeed by location and just see what local jobs there are. Good luck.

I've spent the last decade searching for jobs everywhere, but there just aren't any in my field. I'm educated to a sort of PhD in 'nothingness' that nobody wants. I can't even get a post doc position because they all require an awful lot of publications which I don't have (for reasons mentioned above). I really am a total failure.

Many jobs will be happy with any phd so don’t worry about looking in your specialty. With a PhD you will have great research and writing skills for a start. What about copy writing or proofreading roles?

Could you get a masters to change your academic direction slightly? And then you'd have a more up to date qualification plus your phD to dive back into a research position. Expensive I know though.

Do NOT go into teaching. I'm a primary teacher with 20 years' experience returning to uni in September!!! Education is screwed by our government.

And my DH took a career break after his post doc to be a SAHD and did scientific proofreading, so papers, grant applications etc. After 5 years he jumped back into work into the private sector. It wasn't well paid though.

No great advice OP but you have definitely not failed. It's a very very tough career path to follow. I'm in a similar situation - mid 40s, mid career academic. After a 20 year unspectacular career I feel this year my luck is finally running out. Have recently received my redundancy notice and unless I secure additional funding soon that's it all over. Feeling strangely ambivalent about it all. No idea what else I can do. The thought of starting again is daunting, and taking an inevitable wage cut won't be easy. Know that you are far from alone. And you have certainly not failed.

I don't know what to advise specifically, as you've got a goal in terms of salary perhaps search for jobs using that along with industries of interest and browse the requirements looking for key words and transferable skills that you can reference in your CV. Then build a CV and apply for things. Repeat that process interatively until you get some ideas. That's my guess anyway.

Another guess is the temp route, possibly considering lowering the bar a bit to get inside some companies for an idea of what potential there is for development within the company where you want to get to, or you might just get experience that justifies investment in some education in a specific area to boost earning potential. That pretty much describes my progress within IT, since my 20s. I can't imagine I'd have learnt the skills I have prior to landing my first role, it'd just have been expensive, dull and very risky! I learnt via a combo of on the job and during my own time.

Are your fears about getting a similar job to before realistic? Have you tried going for jobs to prove it decisively?

Yes I did look at those sort of jobs many times a few years ago, I could look into it again.

Well I haven't thought about another MA but I did think about doing another PhD! But I have a young toddler, I wouldn't cope... Another MA I suppose I could do, but it feels SO much like a failure going back so many years. 24 years back in fact!

I know, I know, I ideally just want to carry on with a research post. I agree education is totally screwed!

Is it research you're in since you say the funding is running out? It's just so hard isn't it, so sorry you're in a similar position!

Civil service? Research for TV programmes or MPs?

As somebody who is REALLY struggling to see the light at the end of the tunnel with writing her dissertation, I say you really have not failed. I'm about to fail. Was finally diagnosed with ADHD and was supposed to get a big support package but all the moving parts took so long to link up that, other than mental health support, I'm on my own.

You know how to study, research, analyse and synthesise and write. You probably taught too. You've raised a child with all that entails and you've built untold levels of resilience from years of chronic illness. You have not failed, you're just a bit directionless at the moment.

What do you want from a job beyond money to live on? Stimulation, work life balance, meaning, stability, variety, opportunities to progress, strong prospects for further training, teamwork or working individually? Which of these would you prioritise higher or lower than other things?

Well you never know, you might do better than you think! What's your dissertation for? A masters?

I'm just after mental stimulation really, money means very little to me other than I need enough to pay my bills. If I found the job of my dreams and they only paid me 25k I'd take it!

Yes, I have always had a research post. I do a small amount of teaching (my choice, I quite enjoy it). Thought I was doing better the past three years or so - managed to be PI on a couple of grants for the first time etc. But finding it impossible to secure new funding while meeting the objectives of the work I'm currently funded to do. It all feels a huge mess at the moment in my mind. I can't really see a way forward with it at all.

Oh crikey you've had a PI job and still can't see a way forward, that's terrible... What area are you in?

@GarlicAndTangerines it's for an integrated masters in nursing. A relatively new course that a few unis started offering around Covid or later. I was a Covid baby nurse 😂 just need this diss out the way and a couple of other things and I'll be qualified. Starting to feel a bit hopeless though.

Maybe you should be a study skills tutor! Help those of who aren't stupid but cannot plan assignments 🙄

I hope you find something interesting anyway

Research for TV is possible but they're all very stressful jobs and I have a young toddler plus illness to deal with so I didn't think it was suitable for me. I also don't have research experience in the right subject areas for the jobs that come up... I'll look again though, it's certainly an option!

Just focus on what your goal is at the end and you'll manage it. Study tutor is definitely an option, it's effectively what I used to do for my university student, as most arrive without a clue as to how to study, do research, think critically and to actually answer a question!

@pitterypattery00 Oh crikey you've had a PI job and still can't see a way forward, that's terrible... What area are you in?