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AIBU?

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Original poster

To start again career wise at nearly 30?

30 replies

JoeyHop · 09/04/2020 17:04

Okay so I know I'm technically young still however has anyone just completely changed their career and gone back to study at this sort of age?

I currently work in law and whilst I used to love it, I just hate it now. It's not the stress or the pressure, I quite like that element of it, but I'm just not passionate about it, I don't get any sense of achievement from it and I just know it's not what I want to do for the rest of my working life.

What I really have a passion for is animals and I want to do a veterinary nursing degree. I'm currently doing a HE diploma to try and meet the entry requirements for university and I have also been in discussions with some veterinary practices about work experience (I do have some already but that was around 10 years ago now so need to top up).

My worry is that if all went to plan, I probably wouldn't be looking at qualifying for at least 4/5 years at which point I'll be nearing my mid 30s and I just worry that I may have left it too long and that's providing nothing happens in the meantime that delays it, life being life, its always throwing curveballs.

What were your experiences like as a mature student? Sometimes I think I should just stay put in my current job and I talk myself out of it.

OP posts:
QuarantineDream · 09/04/2020 17:20

Do it. I quit law at 25, 1 yr PQE. Have never regretted it. You've still got at least 30 yrs of work ahead of you - don't waste it on something you hate.

AwkwardPaws27 · 09/04/2020 17:21

I'd definitely do the work experience first; RVNs work bloody hard, and although the pay has got better over the last few years, most experienced RVNs don't make more than £30k (without moving into practice management, and away from hands-on animal contact).

You are used to stress and pressure, which is good, but (depending on the area of law you work in) you'll need to test your capacity for emotional toil - burnout rates in the veterinary industry are high, you encounter very emotional situations, may be verbally abused over fees and see animals whose owners aren't caring for them correctly and who won't take your professional advice.

user1494050295 · 09/04/2020 17:22

Do it I career changed at 33 best thing ever

Ineverdidmind · 09/04/2020 17:24

I'm 42 and am retraining as an accountant. 12 exams done, 4 to go.......!

It's been a slog over the last few years but I'm really glad I've done it. I expect to be working for at least another 20 years and I didnt want to do that in a job I hate.

aquashiv · 09/04/2020 17:25

It's the exception to stay in the same career your whole working life.
Definitely do work experience.

PersonaNonGarter · 09/04/2020 17:26

You are so young! Do it, be a vet.

Temple29 · 09/04/2020 17:32

Definitely change if you’re unhappy. You have at least another 30 years of work ahead of you so I wouldn’t feel like it’s too late. I’m 30 too and am planning on retraining as an accountant this year because I don’t like my job.

Bluebooby · 09/04/2020 17:34

Definitely not too late op. Far from it.

Interesting that two posters are retraining as accountants. I've always heard it's boring... Is it actually boring? (Want to retrain myself, but no idea what as !)

FunkyKingston · 09/04/2020 17:38

I hate to be the voice of doom, but lol before you leap. I changed career at 30, did a PhD and have struggled to get academic work what I've found has been at opposite ends of the country on precarious short term contracts for poor money. I wish I'd done a bit more research and used my head and not my heart a bit now. I'm 40 and in a career cul de sac

spongebunnyfatpants · 09/04/2020 17:39

Do it. I did it at 42 and have never looked back.
Another 30 years in a job you don't like will make you ill.
Make the changes while you can and do something you'll love.

Ineverdidmind · 09/04/2020 17:44

Bluebooby there are boring aspects but I really enjoy my job overall. There's quite a lot of variety depending on the type of work you do.
I'm a management accountant and get to be involved in helping management make decisions for the business, and producing the company accounts. I find a lot of it interesting, the boring parts are minimal. But I'm a bit of a numbers and spreadsheets geek, I don't suppose it would be everyone's cup of tea!

Anotheronetwo · 09/04/2020 17:50

I also think you definitely have plenty of time to change direction but think carefully about the direction you go in. You are looking at a big drop in income - the difference will increase over time and there probably won't be a way back into law if you change your mind in a few years. Picking a job because you are passionate about one part of it doesn't always work well. Would it be possible to go part time in your current job and volunteer with an animal charity every week as another option?

MontysOarlock · 09/04/2020 17:54

My friend retrained at 32, went to uni so was 35 when she finished. Absolutely no regrets.

Zilla1 · 09/04/2020 18:00

I don't think one career change will be unusual, OP, let alone two, so if you feel you must change then it at least sound like you know what you want to do which is more than most people.

One point though I'm certain you've looked at all the options. You mention veterinary nursing for which I understand you can also be qualified while earning and working (BTEC/City and Guilds/NVQ). Have you looked at a cost/benefit financial analysis to be sure that the opportunity cost of the university course (losing three years' earning) and paying university fees (self-funding or student loans) is preferable to learning while working and earning? Please ignore if I've misread and you're looking at being a veterinary surgeon for which In don't think there is an alternative path (though could be wrong, I usually am). I think that most of the veterinary nurses I'd met didn't incur the costs of university.

Good luck.

StudentHelp · 09/04/2020 18:06

I think it’s a great idea but I wouldn’t recommend you do it via the university route.

IrisAnon · 09/04/2020 18:09

I changed at 41yrs, albeit involving only a year of training, but the best thing I ever did. Don't miss out on something that would make you happy.

Bluebooby · 09/04/2020 18:19

Thanks @Ineverdidmind I'm going to look into it more. I'm a very quiet person by nature and always get put off looking into jobs/careers where I think I'll have to do a lot of talking or any public speaking. Maybe accountancy might have something for me. I haven't ever considered it before.

Original poster
JoeyHop · 09/04/2020 18:19

Thank you all!

Some have mentioned not taking the university route and this is actually something I'm considering. I am talking with a couple of practices about perhaps entering an apprenticeship programme once I've passed the HE Diploma so that's definitely something I'm looking into rather than uni.

And the pay drop, yes it's a much more restricted pay opportunity than law. To be honest, that doesn't really bother me. My husband and I own a business that does quite well, I don't really do much other than the adminy type stuff though as it's in husband's trade sector so I don't really class it as 'mine' if that makes sense? This would be something for me, something I love, something I can give to.

About the emotional aspect, that is something I've considered. It would be tough, I don't doubt that and I'm sure you can never really understand until you've experienced it first hand but I'm confident enough that I still want to go ahead. I've found that due to my current job, I'm quite good at being hard when I need to be, emotionally. I appreciate though that this is another ball game but I can only go off what I know about myself already!

You've all made me feel a lot more confident anyway thank you Smile

OP posts:
Margo34 · 09/04/2020 18:22

🙋‍♀️ Do it. I waited until age early 30s to go back to uni (which was the best route for my role imo). Haven't managed to secure a permanent job yet, 4 years on from qualifying, but I have had year long contracts (not uncommon in my role and area) and honestly haven't been happier.

As the above poster said, don't miss out on something that could make you happy!

Original poster
JoeyHop · 09/04/2020 18:24

Everyone just always tells me it's good career I'm already in so why bother, why don't I 'try to enjoy' what I do now.

I hate that. I've been doing this a while now, I've tried to enjoy it but I don't. I don't want to try to enjoy my job for the next 30 years whilst underneath hating it!

OP posts:
Bargebill19 · 09/04/2020 18:24

Go for it. If you enjoy it and want to do it. It’s surprising how much difference it makes to your life if you enjoy what you are doing. It really is the X factor that money can’t buy.
I changed career at 48.
Do it.

salemcat · 09/04/2020 18:26

I will be 49 when I graduate, go for it👍

Drogonssmile · 09/04/2020 18:27

I've just finished my first year of an OU degree at 38. Do it!

MorganKitten · 09/04/2020 18:32

I’ve done it twice - really worth it

Slat3 · 09/04/2020 18:35

If the money isn’t an issue then go for it.
I’m ‘stuck’ in a role that i don’t love but the company/pay is good. I would love to be a midwife but it would drop my income while training for 3/4 years and then I’d start off on less than I’m on now, so it’s just not possible.

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