If you had time on your hands to retrain for a new career at 50, WWYD?

[babyunderblanket]

What would you do, or what career would you recommend to someone knocking on 50 with a solid but uninspiring work history mainly in sales & marketing looking to retrain for the final 15 or so years of their working life to be challenged, inspired, earn a reasonable wage and have a good work/life balance?

I have a lovely job but am BORED TO TEARS there's just not enough work to fill the days so decided I should use all this spare time training for a new career rather than surfing the internet & browsing mumsnet 😬

Any suggestions? Arts degree from decades ago but otherwise not qualifications or technical expertise but very open to ideas.

Virtual dominatrix.

What are your skills?are you good with people? Interested in health? Techy?
My friend mum retrained as a nurse at 49 and she loves it,is very vocationally satisfied
Think about your skills,demeanour, interests match that to a career

Psychologist

Speech and language therapy

Having the dame conversation in my house, but for different reasons. I was thinking about becoming an electrician

Social worker

Teacher

Minimum 5yr to qualify. Get onto a 2yr conversion course then 3yr Clinical Psychology (DClinPsy) which is fierce to get on Plus you need experience prior to commence DClinPsy

How much money do you need to earn?

Could you start your own business selling arts and crafts if you’re arty and don’t need a specific income?

otherwise less intense training than some occupations but employable - book-keeper?

id also love to retain into a trade in a fantasy alternative life - eg electrician, plumber. It’s interesting I think and always needed.

Or handywoman? You could also make things and sell them too

I'd retrain as a tiler.

If the amounts I was recently quoted to retile a tiny downstairs loo are anything to go by, I could work half the year and still be living in clover.

Plus it looks quite fun.

I was in a similar position in my late 40s and chose to train in primary teaching. I chose it for having the same holidays as my kids, the opportunity to lose the long commute and an industry which is non ageist. Whilst I got the same holidays as my kids and a local job, I wasn't prepared for the workload and how totally exhausting teaching is! I did 3 years as a class teacher and now do supply and tutoring. However, a friend of mine who did an arts degree, taught for 5 years then set up a children's art clubs business and is doing brilliantly (16 kids at @ £20 per session, 6 sessions a week). However, I don't think she could have done this without training to teach because so much of running any group activity with children is about classroom management which only comes with teaching experience. Alternatively, nursing would be equally rewarding, non ageist and less stressful and exhausting as teaching.

Some great suggestions although I'm really not sure I'm up for a 3+ year pathway to entry level so whilst some of these are very appealing I do need to be realistic Interesting to see social worker & speech and language therapist as both were on my list of dream jobs many moons ago. Teacher, no thanks too many broken teacher friends.

I'm a people person: I like helping people, I like making a difference, I like being useful! I also enjoy copywriting. I like storytelling I don't mind presenting or standing up in front of a crowd, I'm the go-to person for meet & greet whether it's a homeless person or a CEO. Stats & analysis would bore me senseless. I'm utterly useless with my hands so a practical trade or arts & craft are probably best avoided

Social worker sounds like a good fit? And I’m sure you’ll have plenty of work!

so, what are you waiting for. No time to waste. Start finding out about potential courses asap!

Ok so get a job or volunteer in role were SLT and SW work, to get experience and a realistic overview of role
Explore what you need to do to apply, is your degree enough to apply for a postgraduate as opposed to undergraduate degree

What about some kind of events management type thing? You can do all sorts of courses if you have a local college

Or counselling?