To give up well paid job to retrain in something more interesting

[choccyscot]

I'm thinking of retraining and have seen a diploma in nutrition that sounds great, it's a subject that has always fascinated me. Currently work in a professional role in the corporate world, flexible working, good pay but really not enjoying it.
Would I be mad to give up the financial security for me and family for something more interesting when I'm unsure what the job prospects will be..

So what will you do with this diploma when you have it? Who will be supporting you and the family if you leave your job?

My husband will still be earning but not in a high paid job. We would have enough to live on but may mean cut backs, no holidays, eating out etc. He is still reasonably supportive as knows how unhappy I've been but it would be a big change to our finances although I do have savings.
Guess I'm trying to work out if it's worth taking the risk when I don't know what the prospects are for earning an income at the end of it all versus losing my sanity staying where I am!

Is a diploma in nutritian worth the paper it's written on? There's a huge difference between that and being a dietician.

How would you use it?

That's what I'm trying to work out, the clinical side of being a dietician in a hospital doesn't appeal however I don't know if the demand for giving one on one nutritional advice is there. Maybe the question I need to ask is to nutritionists out there - what type of jobs have they gone into

Would I be mad to give up the financial security for me and family for something more interesting

^Yea you would be. Your family will have to cut back, no holidays, eating out etc so can study for a nutrition diploma that will probably lead to not much. Is it really worth it?

I did nutrition- all but 3 went into personal training, the other 3 of us are doing completely unrelated work

Most work is boring it unpleasant a lot of the time. I would just stick with what you are doing.

I think, from what you've said, that this would be a big risk. Is it possible to do the diploma part time while working (maybe cut down your hours if that's an option) rather than an "all or nothing" approach?

This is going to sound really awful, but isn't a most of a diploma in nutrition just common sense? Like, eat lots of fruit and veg, healthy fats, make sure you get enough protein, don't eat too much processed stuff, go easy on the sugar?

The advice is always changing as well. Some people think that carbs are the absolute enemy, some people think they are essential. I imagine on a nutritionist course they would tell you somewhere in between: you need some carbs, but make sure they are complex ones etc etc?

I know someone doing this part time. I think she'll be going self employed. She spoke of it as a growing area.

Really think that's a big unnecessary risk. The only place that's useful is as a dietician in a hospital and you won't do that. You're risking a stable, well paid job for nothing in return.

Do the course as a night class first I guess would be my advice.

I have a degree in nutriton. People from my course either did a postgraduate course to become a dietitian, went in to teaching or do something unrelated now nearly 10 years later. I would recommend dietetics and then look for a community role if you want to give general advice. A diploma is not necessarily going to be based on sound scientific evidence based on what I have seen about and is in my opinion not worth it.

Confusedlittleone - when you say personal training- do you mean a fitness trainer or personal nutritional advice? Mmm the ending up in a job totally unrelated is what worries me after all the time, money and effort!

I would do the diploma part time and still be able to work part time too

Er, I'd stick with your corporate job. Diplomas in nutrition are ten a penny

Soapychoc - that's interesting that they did nutrition originally and then post grad in dietetics- is that the normal route into dietetics or had they changed minds about what route to go down and/or where the jobs were likely to be?

If you're really serious about it, how about continuing to work and studying for the diploma in nutrition part time and then setting up a very small business so you can see how it goes. This way if you finally leave work you'll know you will like it and you will have a small income aleady. It also tests the market for whatever you are offering and enables you to set the price points correctly. Personally I think nutirionists don't earn that much but could earn more if done in conjunction with personal training.

What aspect of health are you interested in. Menopause, acne, diabetes 2, IBS, ADD, autism?

Have you the drive to start your own business, pay overheads, insure yourself, do your own marketing and sales and manage your clinic, pay for membership of professional associations if you qualify with that certificate to be accepted, and comply with regulations like GDPR about your clients?

Have you thought about the actual need for dietitian services in your area? Are there any others? Is the market saturated?

From what I know from friends who trained (three year degree and then yearly professional development) about being a private dietitian, it’s a very tough gig and a slow grind before you actually break even.

There’s a lot of non compliant patients who just don’t do what they’re told.... it’s a very frustrating job actually.

Another person saying stick to your job, and use your down time to volunteer in a hospice or care home feeding elderly patients, or take them for walks in their wheel chairs.
I did this for a summer and it was very rewarding.

Choccyscot you can either do degree in dietetics straight away or postgraduate dietetics. Suspect those that did postgraduate particularly enjoyed the modules more related to the medical side of it so then decided to do the postgrad. A few people tried for a couple of years for a nutrition related role after graduating and then did dietetics course.
My degree ws absolutely fascinating with a lot of information on the human body and disease etc and then also a lot of chemistry and microbiology. If you want to run your own business giving advice and are keen to have a good sound evidence based knowledge then I would recommend it.

I work in a nutrition field albeit on the outside.
Those with the degrees move around a lot and are constantly reading up on the next big thing. To get a good career out of it the studying for the degree is only the very beginning

A dietician yes. I have a nutrition diploma and it's only useful when people want to show that I have knowledge of nutrition in my current job (journo) other than that it has meant zilch.
If you're willing to start your own business you could be a weight loss coach.

And @Moonkissedlegs there is a lot of maths and weight formulas and learning your macros and how to tailor things to individuals, some of it goes against common sense tbh.

I know someone who’s done this. She’s self employed / freelance. She does individual appointments, runs after school and holiday clubs in healthy eating and does seasonal group ‘courses’ eg foraging trips where attendees then cook with what they’ve foraged. So she’s quite cookery focussed.

How about a little experiment?

Continue working in your current job, but live on the income you’d get in new role.
Do something new preliminary part-time studies in nutrition/dietetics.
Save the difference in income to build up s cushion.

See how that makes you feel.

If you do that for 6 months or a year and then decide to go for it, first set a financial goal that will make you secure (build up savings of x, pay off mortgage, build up pension fund to certain level, that kind nd of thing). Achieve that goal first.

Throughly explore things that will make a smoother transition- e.g studying part-time then setting up a side business, allowing you to first cut back to part-time in your corporate job then go the whole hog when the business takes off.

If you do ever quit, do do at s time of year that maximises your opportunity for tax refunds.

Do you know something, look at the practicalities first but then tbh if you hate your job and think this would make you happy, as in satisfied with life happy, Id go for it. I see people living fine on two small wages or one near middle and other working at finding self employed work. I honestly think there are times when your mental health has to come first. Your kids will appreciate a happy mammy more than holidays or extras and you can go back to the drawing board of it doesn't work out.