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.

Some fascinating posts here....'!!

Interesting how many people are saying...' what I really want to be is an X',and then someone saying...'I'm an X and I hate it'!!

Perhaps an interesting topic would be...the greatest misconceptions about my job are-

It really is interesting . At 40 I'm willing to retrain but realise it would be my last shot, you don't want to retrain and get it wrong!!

I think alternatively I'd have liked to work my way up in a min threatening non peopley job where I get to use my brain. Not sure what but something that pays well like it seems on mn is often the norm ;)

My friends with the best work/life balance I know are OTs locally.

I think realistically I'm looking for just a "job" rather than career change but it seems so rubbish to think we'll be be oke forever! (Non high earning husband as again seems par for the course on some mn threads.)

I can't really leap into a well paid role!

I have a learning/developmental disorder which led to MH problems. When I left college I had never heard of Occupational Therapy, and attempted a nursing course before randomly deciding to switch to Marine Biology (had dreams of working with sharks). MH became worse and I spent the next 10 years working in care and trying to sort myself out.
Have become an Occupational Therapy Assistant and really wish I'd known about the job 20 years ago because I would have been able to get a bursary to train! Am now in a job I love but can't afford to qualify. I am in a really interesting section of it though (neuro rehab), and am learning from an excellent OT, so learning-wise it couldn't be better 😊

Oh yes my amazing OT friends with flexible hours/enjoy the job etc trained at 18 when degrees were free . I so wish I had!

I'm a geologist turned civil engineer, specialising in flood defence. I'd like to train as a Humanist Celebrant eff. I retire. We had wonderful naming ceremonies for both dc and I'd like to help other non-religious people mark their own significant life events.

I've got a law degree & do high level PA work. Id love to do hairdressing or a job based outside and active.

Accountant or quantity surveyor.
I'm a nurse (dull). Tried my hand at teaching, liked the creativity but found behaviour management hard.

@scottishtreehugger hated paperwork and live rurally, wanted flexibility and somthing that used my excellent interpersonal skills(I can talk for England but also just love people) - but couldn't commit to 3 years at uni as struggle with childcare (kids with special needs) - could do hairdressing at local collage 3 days a week - have actually always loved doing hair :)

Anyone have any ideas for me please? Currently teaching in FE Science but my face does not fit. Been bullied by colleague and management have ignored. Think I will be edged out in next year or so. Background in Secondary Science - could not go back to schools, would kill me mentally and physically. Have experience of accountancy practice unqualified and was badly paid and overworked there.

Will be 50 very soon and no idea what to do if I get shoved out, I had a formal capability too this year so won't even get the chance to move into another teaching job were I made 'redundant' or sacked. Currently being redeployed - very unhappy workplace situation for me.

I have a weak shoulder so anything physical or involving a lot of driving is out too. Have looked at coding even though I don't like Pc's and have no idea what it is even! so desperate am I to find a safe career for when my goes tits up

I'm a journalist. I'd love to be a detective.

Midwifery (but I can't afford it!), tech or landscape design

wantmorenow do you want to go straight into another job or can you take time out for university?

If you want to go straight into work maybe Occupational Therapy assistant then do a part time conversion in a few years to qualify and along similar lines Radiography Assistant? A Science background would easily open up those opportunities to you.

Architecture. I'm also designing houses in my imagination so would make sense to do it for money. I almost did an open university (type thing) course but couldn't be arsed to in the end.

Funeral director. I wanted to do when I left uni but I looked at the typical salary and was not impressed.

The joke is on me now as I have ended up in libraries/archives/museums where the pay is equally terrible.

Research Science, Genetics or something cellular

Oo that sounds more like my bag, how did you manage that?

Oops sorry that q was aimed at contortionist i would love to work in AI

In an ideal world I would like to be a zoo worker (you know, the one who looks after animals, but only the cute friendly cuddly ones) a gardener, or a street sweeper. Really, no joke. You just sweep the streets and there's no stress in it.
Also, baker, minus the early rising.
Run my own little hotel or guesthouse.
Musician.

Glowerglass here's another one of those "Oh so you want be be I am one and ermmmm" answers.
I've been a Podiatrist NHS for 29 years now (deserves medal)

Most days its good. Some days it's manic , patients attend with all sorts, letters to write to GPs, late patients, parking on Home Visits (no we don't get a special permit like the patients think we do/should do )

There's constant changes to how we do things, the forms and updates. And RIO computers

If I had my life again, I'd work in M&S or John Lewis maybe try to get to Store Manager?

I'm a lawyer in City private practice. Don't totally hate it but definitely, definitely don't love it. So unfulfilling. But still - interesting the number of lawyers on here who've moved in-house and find it preferable. If I were 18 again I'd be a doctor but I'm far too old now!

Another burnt out psychologist here. Nhs is hard work, frustrating that there arnt the resources to help a lot of people, and listening to others problems all day can be draining. That said, its rarely dull.

Would have quite liked medicine or photography, but dont want the slog of retraining (psychology took long enough) and cant afford the pay cut at the mo so....

I'd love to be a wedding photographer, I've got all the equipment and have been told I've got a talent for photography but it's just a hobby.

I know how to use Photoshop so could go and shoot a wedding tomorrow then edit them easily but my lack of confidence stops me, I feel like a tit around people I don't know and spend ages afterwards replaying conversations and worrying about what they thought of me.

I've looked at hundreds of wedding photography sites and know I could do much better than a lot of them but I couldn't handle the responsibility.

I've spent 30 years in the admin/organisational side of the arts, getting quite senior in this at one point, and am now providing advice/support to other arts organisations, so basically a self-employed consultant, which is precarious, to be honest. My dream change of career would be some form of horticulture, perhaps running a nursery, or looking after other people's gardens. But I'm in my 50s and have arthritis in my hands, so that's not going to happen. Am considering AAT (book-keeping) training instead so I can keep working into my late 60s - much as I've enjoyed my career its been rather short of pension provision...

I'd go back to Uni and finish my law degree

I'd like to be a teacher - maybe Reception age children :-)