To believe 24 is hardly too old to get into a new career?

[Bunraku]

In the past few years I have become interested in the human body, regarding how and why people die and the different ways in which it can happen.

I spent my younger days badly asI thought I wanted to work in IT but I actually hated it. I moved on to care work which I enjoyed but I stopped after becoming pg and never went back because the pay was not worth returning for with childcare expenses.

I have since decided that I would like to become a Anatomical Pathology Technician but I have no idea what sorts of qualifications I need or where to start really. Everyone I have spoken to has either indicate that they think there is something wrong with me for wanting to work in a morgue, and others have told me that it is too late for me to acquire the required qualifications because I should have decided this at school.

So aibu to think that being 24 does not mean I am too old and to think that there is nothing wrong, or weird about the path I want to follow?

And finally, would anybody be able to point me in the right direction?

Hah, of course 24 isn't too old. You've barely started your working life! You've still got 40 ish years to work, might as well choose something that interests you.

Can't help you though.

Can't point you in the right direction, but 24 is certainly not too old, and if it's something you're interested in and really want to do, then do it. If other people think it's odd, that's their problem, not yours.

Google is your friend...

NHS Careers here

I changed career at 43 so no, you're not too old by any stretch of the imagination!

Of course it's not too late! But how long it will take you will depend on what subjects you took for A level - if it's sciences, that will give you a head start. If not, you'll probably need to work on those first.

YANBU. I am 34 and retraining. I wasn't ready before now.

I have a friend who does autopsies - i can't remember what her job title is. She loves her job. She retrained for it at 28, and I've honestly never seen her happier.

Go for it :)

def not too old. im in my 30's and currently retraining. also you are not weird. it is an extremely important job, and i take my hat off to you for wanting to pursue it. def look at nhs carrers website but also nhs jobs website. they sometimes have trainee positions available. you could also approach your local hosp for some voluntary experience. not sure what the policies are for that particular area but its def worth asking. go for it, and good luck

HAHAHA! I mean that in a nice way, of course 24 isn't too old, anyone implying it is is a nob.

Go you, sounds like a great move for you

24 seems pretty young to me and a good time to think about retraining. I knew a doctor who had previously been an English teacher. Finding her vocation meant that she had to go back to school and take sciences (literally, she had to sit in with the school kids as there was no FE option here). But she has never looked back and will still have over a 30 year career in medicine.

Bunraku- certainly not too old for a change, in fact, it may be an advantage to be slightly more mature when working in a sensitive area. The only thing I do think though is it doesn't show that much initiative if you can't find out what qualifications you need, or how to go about it- one MNetter has found that for you in 10 sec of googling, and if you are really serious about this, then making contact with the local hospital mortuary head might be good as you could then ask if you could visit/observe a few times before deciding if you want to go down that path; they may also know of local vacancies coming up.

Errr....let me think.....
Errrrr......

NO!!!!!!

hahahaha

24 too old?! How utterly ridiculous. You have been speaking to some narrow-minded people.

Get some careers advice and go for it

I am also a bit confused as to why you are asking us? You are computer-literate so get googling...

Go for it! I know of people who've started on a new path decades later than you. Take no notice of the nay-sayers, find out all the information you need and make a start on what you'd like to do

I am twice as old and I reinvented myself as journalist and travel writer. Now I am writing food reviews. It's flipping exciting!

Good luck on your new adventure.

24 definitely not too old as everyone has said. Know lots of people who changed career in their 30s & 40s (doctor to actor seems a popular choice for some reason!)

Punk did you do a journalism course or just start writing?

No not a single course. I read, then I wrote. Entered comps and then pitched ideas. Bit of bravado really. Thank God for the Internet and email!

Oh gosh no. I have a friend who totally retrained/re-invented themselves at 40 years old. Go for it.

I have a friend who at 31 quit his job and started a degree in maths so that he could become an actuary.

Never too old until they nail the lid shut.

I only started my first career around 24.

Changed again about 38.

And again last year at 41.

You're never too old!!

Whaaat?! 24, you're still a baby. Go for it. I'm retraining as a midwife at 31. Go for it :-)