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

[scottishtreehugger]

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.

It sounds silly but I know I should have been a doctor. I love all things medical and feel so at home in a hospital or medical setting. Life didn't work out that way though.

Would love to work in art conservation/restoration.

Nokidstwocats - i'd love that; again would mean relocating.

Peachgreen - congratulations :-)

The more I think about it, the more I think relocation might be necessary.

Was in customer service management - retrained as a hairdresser - best choice ever

stubble - is retraining a possibility for you?

I feel I should really have been a vet! But the retraining would take a LONG time and cost too much.

posytottykins - what was your motivation?

I am 37, and I was a mechanical engineer until I stopped completely to take care of my baby (now 7 mo).
I am thinking about retraining but I have too many ideas too!
From most to least reasonable:

• Specialising a bit more in software coding
• Patent Engineer
• Studying Sociology / do research
• Studying Politics
• Neuro biology

I'm a secondary science teacher and really enjoy it.

However, if I could go back in time, I would have joined the police - I still wish I'd done it sometimes but I do love teaching!

I'm 33, no degree due to previous serious ill health. I do admin. Thinking about retraining too. Possibly to be a midwife. Just want to do something more useful.

what I would really like to do is work in politics. Not as an MP or MSP, but in that field.
I worked for an MP when I first left uni, made me hate politics and in a completely different field now! But the work was interesting and the idiot I worked for is no longer in Parliament So you don't run the risk of working for him! The best site to look for jobs like that used to be: www.w4mpjobs.org

I'm a social worker. I worked in child protection which while interesting was extremely full on once my first son was born, and challenging to do part time with such strict timescales. I switched to adult social work, at the time I was burnt out from cp and couldn't wait to get out but now I miss it. I find adult social work dull in comparison which sounds awful but there we go. I could easily switch back to cp I think as they always need more workers but I'm scared to make that commitment now I have 2 children.

I'd love to learn a trade, I'd like a job I can leave at the end of the day rather than working on assessments until midnight. DP is a bricklayer and his work day ends when it ends. I just don't know what trade and what has earning potential. I'd also like something where I could be physical and not stuck at a desk.

I'm a teacher and whilst I loved it for the first 10/15 years, I detest it now.

I know a lot of accountants and they seem less stressed and earn far more money than me-I think I would consider that!

Cyber security. I have it down as a Plan B2
Science or math teaching (6th form level) (Plan C).

Colleague suggested a business idea to me 2 months ago which terrified me but I know we should pursue it (Plan B1)

scottishtreehugger, instead of training as a vet.... what about something like a vet nurse? Or a horse physio? As for politics: I think the MP's interns all basically work for free or near-as. But parish councils are crying out for good people. What about being a (Scottish equiv. of) magistrate, too boring?

Background in law but had enough now too especially given the changes around the corner following recent report from a certain Lord

Looking to re-train in counselling. Volunteering and hopefully a part-time degree to kick start it

Never too late !

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

@Ni58 You can join the Navy as a civilian seafarer up to the age of 99! My friend has just done it at the age of 50! They do various apprenticeships (wages are proper rubbish for the first 2 years but reasonable on qualification). Apparently many of the apprentices are in their 40's!

Spanner - thanks for the link I will check that out.

Letseatgrandma - fair play considering accountancy; wouldn't be for me, lol.

lljkk - love the sound of your plans, and particularly the structure of them! Vet nurses are really badly paid so I wouldn't do that I don't think. It would need to be something which didn't involve a pay cut. And I think you're right about interns, and although they do employ paid staff too, the pay is not great. Horse physic is a possibility though; that would be interesting and not desk bound. Cyber security sounds interesting though!

What I really want is something very well paid, highly stimulating, with a minimum of retraining required. Can that be too much to ask????

ROFL

I am far too stupid but I would love to be a midwife

I would love to have studied history at postgrad level and then used it in a conservation or archive sort of context.

(And then also developed a sideline in solving historical mysteries - cool down-to-earth legit ones rather than any Dan-Brown-style pish)

caveman - I totally bet you are not stupid!

Secondary teacher and do like my job v much but if there had been better job information during school one of these:

Art/ fashion historian
Anthropologist
TV production/ sound
Interior Designer
Children's presenter

I am far too stupid but I would love to be a midwife

Why are you too stupid? I know someone who is now in her 2nd year training to be a midwife. She has 0 gcses and did a foundation year at university before moving on to her midwife course.

If you really want to do it then have a look online.

The foundation year will usually offer you the opportunity to take gcses in English and Maths at the same time but cannot be used at any other university other than where you sit the course.

An access course you already need grade c gcses in English and Maths but you can use the access qualification to gain a place at most universities.

I'm a self employed aesthetic nurse, am more than happy in most aspects of the job . I would of been a medic if I could have my time again.

scottish how funny that you would like to be a vet. I'm a vet and I hate it. as do the majority of my friends. Absolutely no way I would pay full fees to train as you would literally never be able to pay them back on a vet's salary.
Currently trying to decide what to retrain as too.

3 boys what do you hate about it? I know a couple of vets and they like it and are well paid; although I know the profession generally is not as well paid as the public might think (as with lawyers).

Are you farm or small animal?

I retrained twice after spending 20 + years as a hair dresser, had my own salon and got bored!
Firstly as an accountant and then as a pyshcotherapist/counsellor, both of which I stil do and love BUT I always wanted to be a criminal profiler.