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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if you were going to retrain, what field / industry would it be in?

131 replies

scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:10

I have just turned 40. My background is in law. I find high street private practice deadly dull and boring and would like to retrain. There are LOADS of things I am interested in, but would love to hear ideas about what others might do.

OP posts:
splendide · 06/08/2017 19:13

If I were you I'd go in house I think! Maybe train as a cosec? Priviate practice is gash, high street doubly so.

For me, hmmmm. I quite fancy midwifery if I didn't have to worry about money.

Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:14

Yes I did wonder about in-house. I live rurally so that might involve a move.

What is cosec?

OP posts:
Janika · 06/08/2017 19:14

Heating engineer and plumber.

luckylucky24 · 06/08/2017 19:15

I would probably go into social work or midwifery.

Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:16

Janika what do you do currently?

I love hearing what people do and what they would LIKE to do.

My 90 year old Gran I think (unless I made this up or dreamt it) really wanted to be a carpenter in her day.

OP posts:
Mayhemmumma · 06/08/2017 19:16

Counselling. Long expensive course but it would open up more opportunities for me as a social worker.

Decaffstilltastesweird · 06/08/2017 19:16

I always thought I'd like to learn a trade, like, gardening, carpentry or training as an electrician. Either that, or something to do with food; baking maybe, (as in artisan bread making, rather than cakes).

I also thought about going back to university to get a pgce to teach modern languages at secondary, but I imagine it could be extremely stressful. All the teachers I know seem to be very stressed at the moment.

splendide · 06/08/2017 19:16

Company secretary- I've been looking into it.

I'm in house now and I'm so much happier than when in private practice. True that it's harder rurally I guess although I do quite a lot from home.

Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:19

splendide - could you PM me with some more info please? i.e. where I start looking.

Probs obvious from my username but I am in Scotland.

Decaff - what do do currently?

OP posts:
Decaffstilltastesweird · 06/08/2017 19:22

scottish

I'm a sahm now, but before that I worked in admin. My degree was in languages and politics though, which is why I considered teaching languages.

frasersmummy · 06/08/2017 19:23

I'm in IT now..I wish I had worked harder at school and went into law..see the grass is always greener

I'm too old to retrain for law now..I volunteer with kids and would retrain to be a primary teacher

Janika · 06/08/2017 19:27

TA currently (past 15 years) but have had loads of other jobs before the kids came. Fed up now with the job and fancy getting out there in my white van meeting different people every day and doing something useful and rewarding. It's harder than people think to get qualified.

Glowerglass · 06/08/2017 19:28

Podiatry.

NoKidsTwoCats · 06/08/2017 19:29

Chocolatier!

More realistically, maybe a cat behaviourist Smile

Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:29

frasersmummy - that is funny I am considering IT training!

OP posts:
Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:30

Law is interesting academically but as me and PP said, high street private practice is really shit

OP posts:
donajimena · 06/08/2017 19:32

I'm hoping to do an environmental health degree. There are so many different paths it can take you.
Housing
Public Health
Food Hygiene
I am still waiting to hear about my late application! I'm older than you Smile

ReinettePompadour · 06/08/2017 19:34

I'm starting university in September to study Radiography.

My background is law too but I fancied something more worthwhile. I got a bit fed up of the constant battles between clients and their ex spouses, especially where the children were concerned.

I went on maternity leave and never returned so been sahm for a while. Its probably easier for me to go back to university than some but I know now is the best time to do it.

Ni58 · 06/08/2017 19:35

I'm a teacher but if I could start again, I'd have joined the navy or been a pilot.

Original poster
scottishtreehugger · 06/08/2017 19:38

what I would really like to do is work in politics. Not as an MP or MSP, but in that field.

OP posts:
NoKidsTwoCats · 06/08/2017 19:40

What about doing campaigning/advocacy for a charity, OP? Working within the field of politics to bring about change for a cause close to your heart :)

peachgreen · 06/08/2017 19:43

Interior design, set design or make up artist. I'm currently in communications. Retraining was my plan B if we weren't able to have children - but I'm 16 weeks today so communications it is! My interior design love will be fulfilled when we move into our new house (although spending your own money isn't as good as spending someone else's).

Camomila · 06/08/2017 19:44

If I could start from age 18 again I think I should have done a science degree...not sure what kind though...I like the idea of working in public health and epidemiology.

As it is I'm about to start a MSc and then hopefully will do a PhD in sociology/social policy so there might be a chance to do some public health stuff but from a sociology basis rather than a science basis.

ziggzagg · 06/08/2017 19:45

I'm in Social Work currently and love it but if I had to pick I have become quite interested in Immigration/ Human Rights LawSmile

ThisIsNotARealAvo · 06/08/2017 19:46

I'm a teacher and pretty happy doing that, but if I was really going to go for it I'd love to be a wedding planner, work in a museum of have my own coffee shop.