If you had to start completely again at 54

[MisguidedOptimist]

what would you do?

As a woman who has been rinsed financially by her stbexh, was a sahm to five kids, no skills and is looking to rebuild from scratch but is ambitious and wants to earn good money, where would you start?

I am lost. I want to train. Build a career. Be self sufficient. I would like to aim high as I may as well. But it’s all new to me!

What direction?

Something like admin type training? That's where I would start.

I’m not convinced by book keeping. No advancement.

I agree with the idea to get in somewhere sizeable with lots of scope to move up.

I would look for an admin assistant type of role. Then while doing that learn some computer skills. Maybe in that role find a process that can be improved and do it. I’ve done this quite often which helped build my computer/tech skills.

Civil service is a good option- less ageist than lots of places and the way they assess applications and interviews means you can bring in experience from areas of life other than work. Excellent pension.

ChatGPT is really good for this kind of dilemma.

But these are the sort of careers that you can upskill relatively quickly, have a decent salary and a good pension. Bookkeeping and social media aren’t particularly easy to get into and there’s very little real progression.

How computer literate are you?

We’ve recently taken on a couple of men in admin roles OP’s age. One is ex postman and one is ex lorry driver. Both have career-swapped due to physical demands. They have shockingly poor IT skills. Don’t know how to send a document to the printer, don’t know how to accept a calendar invite, don’t know how to google etc.

Do you have gcse maths?

I dont see how you can do book keeping without basic maths skills.

GCSEs and A levels and a degree in English lit

With bookkeeping could one or progress to accountancy?

And there are not many options for women our age with little work experience or qualifications.

Have you considered online tutoring?

z

Classroom assistant then train to be a teacher, if you've got a degree in something that is taught in schools? Anything worthwhile takes a few years, if you're starting from nothing.

Not really, not in a limited timeframe.

Worth looking here as well. I've done a couple of courses through them - really good online content and they do some business/admin type stuff that would get your skills up to date and might help you get your foot in the door.

https://freecoursesinengland.co.uk/free-courses-1/?gclid=CjwKCAiAlMHIBhAcEiwAZhZBUpKPmWLasv-GNTBsaVwU7YyPnDcdx-wZtATzu3DdRy6sQzyaIWB5DBoCWz0QAvD_BwE&accid=5092&kw=free%20courses%20in%20england&matchtype=e&network=g&campaignid=21201803681&device=m&devicemodel=&loc_physical_ms=9196425&loc_interest_ms=&placement=&creative=764021713634&adposition=&random=6565310467087956556&utm_feeditemid=&utm_device=m&utm_term=free%20courses%20in%20england&utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=searchads&utm_content=autos_volume_search_searches&hsa_cam=21201803681&hsa_grp=173151795782&hsa_mt=e&hsa_src=g&hsa_ad=764021713634&hsa_acc=8772894239&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_kw=free%20courses%20in%20england&hsa_tgt=kwd-854097543790&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21201803681&gbraid=0AAAAABMKMvTicOblsr3TxiKCjx84GJFoJ

How about learning BSL. You can start learning online for free and once you have a basic qualification it can open doors to BSL support work. Once you have a job they will support you to train to a higher level. There is a real shortage of BSL support workers in education and once trained the pay of much better than regular TA work.

What did you mean by arms length body? I also need to retrain and someone suggested civil service to me too so interested in any advice

You could look at the jobs pages for some of the bigger third sector organisations, see what’s available in your area. This one is for NACRO, and I’m sure there’ll be loads of organisations to look at if you put your thinking cap on.

nacrojobs.engageats.co.uk/V2/Vacancy/Index?enc=HRIqN026cS+vCbCYvrmuUlRuC79/39yknYl6JyVFAq0mun48UhH8QAr+8i5zlZ1Iopg1CFFQVvSCOnD76tE5697cs+NZYbkYpVmUd+mthuk=

Childminding

It wouldn't have to be your entire career but it's pretty hard to find tutors for A level English Lit. Maybe even routes into teaching in sixth form colleges perhaps?

Our 6th form college told us it was literally impossible to get a qualified supply teacher when my daughter's A level English Lit teacher went off long term sick... and at a big sixth form you would have liked minded colleagues, share planning etc

It’s an organisation that isn’t a government ministry or department, as it usually has more specialised staff (plus the usual administrators like me) - it has decent pensions, you aren’t a civil servant but you’re a public servant, and a ministry is usually a shareholder in your organisation. Some examples would be Highways England, Natural England, Coastguard, HSE, CPS, DVLA, Met Office, Prison and Probation Service and a hundred or so others! And all advertise jobs on the Civil Service Jobs website.

Civil service take people with no previous experience. I just got a job there aged almost 60.

Book keeping is good, training is around 1 year and you can work for yourself while you upskill