Can I better myself career-wise from scratch at 51? It's probably too late isn't it?

[WearsBlackEatsChocolateAvoidsPeople]

Although I have a good life in many ways I have always had deep sadness that I missed the boat career-wise. The years have sailed by and I've done sod all about it. I'm very angry with myself if I'm honest.

I really did not enjoy school and my GCSEs were not that great, you could say that I scaped by. I have always felt that I am quite uneducated and I didn't have the confidence to pursue further education (much to my annoyance now).

I left school at 16 and went straight onto a YTS scheme at a local opticians. From the age of 16-25 I worked at 3 opticians and did enjoy it. The last opticians I worked for (large chain) wanted to train me to become a qualified dispensing optician but I turned it down as it meant block training in London and tbh, I was too scared to travel to a large city on my own (yes, I know 🙄). I left at 25 as I no longer wanted to work during weekends and I started working as an admin assistant within the NHS and again I had the opportunity to progress but I did not push myself and remained in admin.

I had my first dc at 32 and my second at 35. I decided to leave the NHS at 35 and became a SAHM for a year but somehow 8 years sped by (I did very much enjoy being a sah parent though).

For the first few years after this time I set myself up as a dog walker but it fizzled out over COVID as many if my clients started WFH, so I became a PA for a disabled lady and had been doing this job for that last 5 years until very recently but she has now moved away and tbh I no longer wish to work in care as it's poorly paid and quite hard work (emotionally and physically) so I have not looked for anymore PA work.

So I find myself at 51, in peri with a couple of chronic health issues which are getting worse with age. I am unemployed and not knowing what to do with myself. I do help care for my mum, she has Alzheimer's. I will need to do something part time for a while but my poor dear mum won't live forever and I will need to continue working once she goes into care or is no longer with us.

I would love to learn a new set of skills to put towards something resembling a career/satisfying job but I'm not sure that a) it's even possible at 51 and b) my peri mushed up brain can handle learning anything new?

What on earth could I possibly do? In all honesty due to my health issues (digestive issues and endometriosis/adenomyosis) I would ideally like to work from home for at least part of the time but again not sure how doable this is in real life.

I would love to learn something such as coding but maybe at my age I'm being a little over ambitious there?

Any ideas or similar experiences? Has anyone retrained at a later age? Or should I just give up dreaming?

Oh, should add that I really don't have a lot of money to throw at this which will probably be one my biggest stumbling blocks.

I started an access course you get it free if on universal credit etc with open university I am doing it in law and business but there are other course options. I am finding it easy just having self discipline to study is what I am finding hard.
anyway it might build your confidence it is doing mine so far
its part time now’s you can study for a degree after but get a loan etc or just do it and just to give u confidence

I’m sure there are loads of things you can do. I am about to turn 47 and working towards a complete change of career to healthcare. I started an OU degree a few years back and also hospital volunteering. What do you like and what are you good at? Start from there. Maybe some careers guidance?

Thank you, I have often thought about doing something with OU. I am in receipt of Carers Allowance but sadly it doesn't allow me discounts on anything.

I am interested in most things healthcare related. If I could go back in time I would have studied to become a dietitian or physio.

Yes u will get it free

Hey OP, a lot of your post resonates with me. I too left school at 16 with a few GCSEs then fell into a YTS job in an office. Floated for a bit, had two DC in my 30s and was a SAHM for six years.

I'm now early 40s and got made redundant earlier this year. Feeling a bit lost as need something to work around family life. I'm doing one of these courses for now - they're free

https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/

Perhaps you could do a couple of free courses and go from there? Definitely never too late to start again in this day and age!

Look at Supermums - you can train to be a salesforce admin in about 6 months for a couple of grand. You should be able to earn the best part of £30k by the end of the course and if you do a follow on course your income can grow significantly over 5-10 years. I haven't done it but have employed someone who did it.

You can do it! I am doing something similar, late 40s, I wonder too where the time has gone but I reflect on raising 2 children and I also really enjoyed the time with them when they were younger. I did mostly work in that time but could not push my career until now. Studying and working is challenging, especially with brain fog but I am so determined....the younger childfree me that didn't push enough, is forgiven, don't be angry with yourself.

Why is it too late to do it? You can get apprenticeships, there is some funding available. You’d be qualified and working for 10 years at least. If you really want to do it start the journey. I’m going for it. Life is too short