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.

Bid Writer?

Are there any charities associated with your subject that could employ you?

Civil Service

I'm probably going to have to leave Academia soon thanks to underfunding and job cuts. It's hard to come up with ideas for post-academia life.

Health sciences. Was lucky in the past to be employed as a research associate on some big grants lasting several years. I'm now a research fellow employed on several short grants, each funding a percentage of my time, and it's all a nightmare.

@pitterypattery00 well I'm sort of envious!! I know that won't make your situation any better, but I never got as far you did. I just had many years of session teaching behind me before I did a PhD and then nothing.... What I really need is a mentor to get me writing again, but I find that I have no motivation to get started when the goal of a job is still so many years away. Pathetic isn't it, some people retire at 50 and I won't even have got started by then!

@Revealingall yes bid writer is an idea, but they seem very stressful jobs... Nothing suitable in civil service. What job are you doing in academia? What are you going to do afterwards? It's so difficult isn't it! 😫

@spookehtooth I'm absolutely rubbish at all of this, I have no idea how to sell myself, but yes I have tried over the years. I'm awesome at helping others do it though, but do it for myself - nope! I really need a mentor to help me...

Sorry I can't remember what else you asked and I can't see your question when I'm typing a reply.

I'm a Senior Lecturer. Had a brief stint as Course Leader in the past.

I've no idea what's next. I'm burned out totally. If I could get pregnant I'd be a SAHM for a while to be perfectly candid! But that would take a miracle.

Currently looking at jobs and nothing appeals. Might just take an extended break when my current contract ends in a few months.

Or keep my hand in with online tutoring until I decide.

I’m afraid I don’t have any advice, just hopping on to say I am in much the same position, totally
confused. It feels like gaslighting on a grand scale. I know I’m capable and clever and there’s loads of things I could be good at… but I need a chance to get started and that seems to not be very available to someone my age and with a slightly haphazard cv.

Funding bodies need people to assess applications. I know someone who did this for epsrc straight out of bachelors. And unis have non academic roles, including some that value academic experience. If you can survive a couple of years while you retrain that gives more options. I know exactly how you feel about going back to MA as I’m considering the same thing myself to try to get more industry relevant qualifications. It feels ridiculous. My instinct is that an additional qualification more worthwhile for a specific profession that requires it, like medicine or accountancy. Or if it just gives you the structure and motivation to write the things you want to write anyway, that would be a positive.

You said you’ve got a business, that’s amazing, even if it’s not related to your field it shows talent and hard work.

Cant imagine how much harder illness and motherhood make this situation. It’s not your fault or your failure. It sounds like you’ve done amazingly well despite really challenging circumstances.

@Revealingall are you in a humanities subject? Being a SAHM is hard work... I think I'd rather go to work and get a rest. Everything seems greener on the other side doesn't it!

No, not humanities.

Yes, I'm sure being a SAHM is hard work for many women but as someone whose wanted children for decades and it's never happened, I think I'd be quite happy to savour every moment with my children were I to get that miracle.

@Revealingall Oh I'm sorry to hear that. I was in the same situation, unable to have children and suddenly had a true miracle at 44.5 years old. I don't know how old you are, but I do hope you will have your miracle too!

@Uol2022 thank you! Really appreciate hearing about other people in my situation. How old are you? I identify with what you say, capable, clever, all that, but I never even got a contract during all my years of teaching, only ever got sessional hours here and there, not even a lecturer job even though I started out when I was 20 years old teaching at university level. At 46 it feels like a joke, I did obviously miss out on the years 36-46, but still... Yes I think the additional qualification really for me would just be in order to get the motivation to write, but then again I keep thinking 'what the heck??', perhaps it's just time to give up and try a totally new avenue of work. A place where we are actually appreciated for all our education and hard work instead of being treated like trash and paid absolutely fuck all. Sorry, rant over 😂!

Are you in a university city? We have a temporary jobs office here that covers all sorts, from research grant writing, project management, PR, just a huge range and I know lots of people with your sort of situation who have started there and found a way into interesting roles that have the benefit of being linked in to the university community. You may already have thought of this if relevant!

I am not sure retraining as a doctor would be feasible from a humanities background at mid-40s. Have you looked at the A level Chemistry syllabus? I did GCSE back in the day and there is no way I could launch into that without going right back to basics. That said, you are probably cleverer than I am!

Good luck!

Agree, a uni job or Civil Service: go in as HEO and work up to SEO. Flexible working and career break isn't a problem.

Worth getting some career advice as well - does your old uni offer it? Or check out https://www.amazon.com/What-Are-You-Going-That-dp-022620040X/dp/022620040X/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

@joan12 No, I'm sadly not in a city at all... I'm not sure where to look for those sorts of temporary jobs that you mention, there must be stuff online but I don't know - I really never seem to find any job description that even vaguely resemble my experience! I don't seem qualified for anything, literally anything!

Oh I know exactly what you mean, and yes the chemistry syllabus would probably be absolutely greek to me, it was just a thought really, not a very realistic thought!

Thank you, lovely story, maybe there's hope yet.

I sometimes fantasise about something out of "left field" for me...an NHS SLT apprenticeship (hard to come by!), opening a restaurant or shop etc. I don't think I can make any decisions in my current headspace. It could lead to a mistake at a crucial point for pensions etc.

I've noticed I'm playing the lottery a fair bit these days as well. Trying to afford some breathing space!

Hi, popped in to share my similar story as it might help you to know it is possible to get back in again after a long break.
I did a postdoc after my PhD, then went into pharmaceutical consultancy, which I hated, and gave up to become a SAHM. Sixteen years later(!) I managed to land a job that I was very overqualified for, as a research assistant in a local institute on a temporary contract. Six months later I was able to apply for a postdoc position in the same institute, which I’m still doing now, two years on.

What helped me was doing lots of things while a SAHM; volunteering work, including running clubs at the local school, running a small business and picking up bits of editing and proofreading.
I’m at a lower level than I’d have been without the huge career gap, and the pay is rubbish, but I’m very happy to be back working in the field I qualified in.
Anyway, don’t talk yourself down, I’m sure you can do it too!!

What about working for one of the research councils? Most of them allow home working if they are not close to you (Swindon) and I know they are finding it hard to recruit at the moment.

@Itisnearlyspring that's a great idea, where do I find these jobs? I've looked at UKRI and there's nothing, just a few scientist roles and some senior management roles. If they're finding it hard to recruit it must be that we (or certainly I) can't find the jobs?

@Fruitflylady that's a lovely story, and I would do the same if I found the opportunities that suited my experience. I'd be happy with a rubbish salary as long as I could work in my area of research.

Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but what sort of research do people do in “humanities” academics? Does it have any application to practical things in the real world eg sociology that could be applied to government policy? I am thinking of people who taught me in my languages degree at University and it was all deep studies of a particular poet’s work, or comparative theses on film from a particular era or genre. While all very commendable in the academic world, what areas of the business or civic world could Research in your field apply to? This might help narrow down areas where people might be willing to pay you?

I was going to suggest you do the exams to be a solicitor as that can all be done remotely now, but don’t sound like the stress would be right level for you.

@WatchandWaitorNot Not a stupid question at all as this is exactly where my problem lies, hence a very difficult time finding jobs that suit.

3 years ago I was actually head hunted for the job of my dreams, but it sadly fell through partly due to the pandemic... I doubt I'd get headhunted for such a thing ever again!

Was the job of your dreams an academic one?

What sort of bodies fund research in your area? Do they maybe have other business interests that you could get involved in?

To be honest, I think that you are placing too much emphasis on advertised roles. What you need to do is network and engage with people who might realise that they have opportunities for you. You must have former colleagues you can start with?

@WatchandWaitorNot Yes it was... it was a research post which was going to lead into a Post Doc Position. It was honestly the most amazing job I could ever have dreamt of. I cried when they contacted me. I then cried when the pandemic came and took it all away.

AHRC mainly, probably some others - maybe ESRC sometimes, it depends.

I agree, I've literally just been sitting here thinking I should just pick up the phone and call people I know, or at least call people in the departments I know of around the UK. Some of them would probably open a door for me! Although I must admit I did try this a few years ago... I'll have to try another tactic!

Try to find a hook to hang your contact on. So don’t call up and jump straight into “I need a job” . Instead, say “I’ve been reading about x topic or development, thought you might be interested to k ow that …or reminded me of when we did xxx together, how is that going, did you see that Joe Bloggs has just published on xxx”. Also, use Linked In, find those people, look at what they are posting about, who their contacts are etc, what other people’s career histories are, to get a fuller picture of what is going on that you can pick up on.

@WatchandWaitorNot thank you, really appreciate your encouragement and advice. I'm absolutely rubbish at this type of networking... it's just so fake and I really don't know how to do it! In any case I've been thinking about who of my x-colleagues still work in academia and are still in this country and there's really none. They're now spread out all around the world... so I'd have to contact people who don't know me which is even harder, but as a start I'll sit down and write a list of people who I could try to network with!