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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To feel like mid forties is too old to retrain? :(

79 replies

SilverHype · 09/05/2019 21:44

I've been a carer for the last 10 years. Before that I was a medical secretary, before that, many McJobs.

I'm at a point now where I am in a position to study/retrain but I'd be almost fifty by the time I was employable. It's all a bit too late isn't it?

Any inspirational stories of retraining and dream jobs in middle age for me at all?

OP posts:

Babdoc · 09/05/2019 21:49

Gosh, you’re writing yourself off awfully early, OP! I have medical colleagues who only retrained as doctors in their 40’s, after completely different careers - in one case as a principal soloist with a major city orchestra, and another as a research academic.
Do your homework - work out how you will fund the training etc - but it’s certainly not impossible on age grounds alone.

Holidaycountdown · 09/05/2019 21:50

Just my opinion but it’s never too late and at 50 you could have another 10-15 years of work ahead of you, possibly more dependant on your financial situation. It’s not like you can’t go back to caring if you need to. I am just finishing the first year of a degree at 36...

HennyPennyHorror · 09/05/2019 21:51

No way! People are working into their 70s OP! Go for it.

MaudebeGonne · 09/05/2019 21:52

I would say it depends what you want to retrain as. I think it would be challenging to start medicine or nursing (unless you were very physically fit with great stamina and endurance). But if you were retraining to be counsellor or something you could apply your wisdom a life experience too, then not at all. You are likely to have at least another 15 years of working life ahead of you - which sounds like the perfect length for a career.

wafflyversatile · 09/05/2019 21:53

You're going to be 50 in x years time whether you retrain or not. So retrain.

NameChangedNoImagination · 09/05/2019 21:54

Retrain! You have so many working years ahead of you!

Original poster

SilverHype · 09/05/2019 22:00

I'd like to be an Educational Psychologist or an SEN teacher. I have quite a lot of experience of working with children with autism and I feel like that could be valuable. I know these are competitive fields to get into though.

Thanks for all the replies. I'm feeling a glimmer of hope...

OP posts:

Papergirl1968 · 09/05/2019 22:04

The Daily Mail just ran an article about a former banker who gave up her megabucks job to train as a midwife at the age of 61.
I can't do links but you could Google it for inspiration - her name was Claire Slater from Redditch.

rainbowunicorn · 09/05/2019 22:04

Well given that I am 47 and my state retirement age is currently 67 and may go up to 68 I would say it is certainly worth it, you could have another 18 years before retiring

Ursaminor · 09/05/2019 22:06

Rubbish to being too old to retrain - my sis is doing her teaching qualification just now, and she's 55. Just do it! :)

Mummyshark2018 · 09/05/2019 22:06

Those fields that you're interested in are very competitive and will take a long time to achieve.
Senco/ 3 or 4 year degree, teaching experience, senco award, maybe a masters and then apply for senco role so maybe 6-8 years.
Educational psychologist- 3 year psychology degree (2.1 or higher), at least 1 year full time work with children, then applying to do the 3 year doctorate. Doctorate is very very competitive and people apply year on year. So maybe 8-10 years until qualified.

What would be your alternative to those? I wouldn't fancy starting out on that track in my forties tbh. Do you already have a degree?

AmICrazyorWhat2 · 09/05/2019 22:11

I'm 45 and am also thinking of applying for a professional degree that would take me in a new direction (albeit not completely different to what I do now, but a different branch). If I get in, I'll be at least 47/48 by the time I complete it (as a part-time student)!

But, people are working into their 70's now here (U.S.A.) so I'm expecting to be employed for at least 20 years after graduation.

Go for it!

Reasonstobeearful · 09/05/2019 22:14

Depends really. Anything competitive, I wouldn't bother. Honestly. I know several people who "followed their dreams" and ended up spending thousands to be old graduates. Teaching is one that can work out - a few have done that.

ludothedog · 09/05/2019 22:23

Of course you're not too old to retrain. Most of us now will be working until our 70ies. That gives you decades left in your new career. No one should be staying in a job for life. How boring would that be!

TheTrollFairy · 09/05/2019 22:26

Not too late at all!
You’ll still be 50 in however many years regardless of retraining or not so I don’t see what you have to lose?

Em308 · 09/05/2019 22:53

I'm 44 and will be starting a college course in September to retrain in a very different discipline to be old pre children career. I can't wait, I'm so excited!!

Em308 · 09/05/2019 22:54

Woops - to my old

ReadWriteDraw · 09/05/2019 23:09

I’m a SENCo and SEN teacher. Ed Psych and SEN teacher are very very different jobs. Ed Psych is a lot more assessing and reporting....

I’m the same age as you and thinking about what to do too/retraining so similar dilemmas! We’re definitely not too old!!

ReadWriteDraw · 09/05/2019 23:11

Ps OP - I’d like to do a creative writing masters and write for children but keep thinking I’ve left it too late. You’re definitely not alone!

Singlenotsingle · 09/05/2019 23:12

When I started my law degree at 33, one of the other mature students was 52. She got her degree and went on to work for many years at the RCJ in London.

Gracie65 · 09/05/2019 23:18

Absolutely not too old! I completed my nursing degree and qualified 7 months ago at the ripe old age of 53. It was a challenge, it was fun, it was horrible at times, I occasionally hit the depths of despair with deadlines, it was amazing, I met some great people and it's all made me proud of me! It's also made me realise you can do anything you set your mind to. Age is no limit. Go for it!

Betarocker · 09/05/2019 23:21

I went back to uni at 50 and did a 2 years MA in social work. Now working in child protection. Best career move of my life. No one has ever made me feel too old and with age comes experience.

Prior to this I had worked PT in admin/finance roles for over 20 years then my DH died suddenly in 2014 and 18 months later I was offered redundancy and I decided to take a leap of faith. Life is so very short and retirement is getting further and further away so I would say go for it!

Teaandtoastie · 09/05/2019 23:23

I started teacher training at 37 and I was by no means the oldest there! Do you have a degree? If so it’s only an extra year.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 09/05/2019 23:30

I'm contemplating doing the same as Betarocker once my youngest is a bit older (she's 11 months, I'm 41). I'm currently doing a part time Psychology degree for "fun" and have plenty of experience in related fields to Social Work from pre-children.

I know a couple of midwives who have trained in their late 40s/early 50s. One of my Aunts trained as teacher in her 40s, having been a bank manager previously.

sassafras123 · 09/05/2019 23:52

I decided to take up nursing at age 42 did 3 years training and qualified at 45 . Have been working past 15 years. So go for it !

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