to think at my age (43) I would have a full and engaging career?

[CheshireDing]

I work in an industry that will potentially make redundancies due to Covid-19. As this same industry was also affected in 2008 I am thinking a need a new career.

I fell into my current job by chance 15 years ago and have mostly really enjoyed it and the money is okay.

The problems are :-

1. I don't know WHAT I want to re-train in but do want a 'proper' job iykwim

1. I also feel annoyed that I don't have a proper career and didn't go to University

1. I feel annoyed that because I didn't know what I wanted to do at school the Careers Advisor pointless woman suggested I become a Nurse (because my Gran and Dad are Nurses). I don't like blood etc so that was a definite No

1. I can't get beyond the feeling at the moment though that at my age I should have a proper job and should have gone to Uni, lots of people where I live have met this criteria and are a similar age to me (I don't live in the area I grew up in)

1. I think I feel annoyed that somebody growing up directly after WW2 (for example) as a woman may not have had many career choices but surely I should have had around 1992

I know that I didn't know what I wanted to do but I feel like there was no guidance, assistance and I constantly feel stupid/annoyed with the situation.

I know it was my own making in the end and I am waffling but I wondered whether anyone felt like this, or even understands what I am whittering about ?

apologies for keep using the word 'proper' but I couldn't think of a better explanation

I understand what you are saying.

What is your current job?

No point looking back OP. What do you want to do now?

I get what you are saying. But the road to misery lies in comparing yourself with others.
Do a job that pays the bills and make your happy or at least not miserable. It’s your life not anyone else’s. Other people will always be doing something different to you.
So long as you’ve not killed anyone and you’ve no debt - your life is yours to do what you wish.

You might be having a slight mid life crisis. I am 43 and just had one.

You need to think about applying to universities!

Are you (in terms of exams) in a position to apply this coming autumn for September 2121, or would you need an access course first?

You have plenty of time to plan. I really think this would be your most satisfactory route. What are you interested in?

I wouldn’t underestimate mostly enjoying your job. What area is it in?

2021 - sorry!

No point in getting frustrated with the past OP.

Figure out what you want to do. Then go do it.

Honestly careers advisors are always useless ime. You just have to figure out these things for yourself. No one else can tell you what’s good for you.

What is your role at the moment?

Airline/Hospitality??

I left an airline after the 2008 disaster, went to uni. However I made a vital error, I trained into hospitality 🤦‍♀️ now also badly hit. So currently I am reassessing my future.

If you really want to do a degree go for it, but it’s not necessary & what I would say is that at our age becoming a “professional” Or teacher/account would be better than a random degree.

I am currently a Conveyancer.

Among my other random above musings I think that this industry will be hit again before I retire (when I am about 120 and still working)

You've got ONE life to live.
Unless you've got £££ stacked in the bank you'll probably be working until you're at least 65 (likely to be 70).
Be brave, take a deep breath and jump into doing something different. It will be hard but at the end of the journey to get there it will be worth it.

Good luck

How about retraining as a speech therapist? I kind of wish I'd done that.

I have thought about Speech Therapist actually

DH has accused me of having a mid life crisis (lightheartedly) to which I did say I might go out and buy a Deloreon

I do need to get past the annoyed that I am not REALLY old but still feel left behind/not given proper guidance sort of feeling

Look at the positives. You’ve had a career that you have ‘mostly’ enjoyed for the last 15 years. You will have got lots of transferable skills from working in your sector over this time, even if you did ‘fall into it’.

Now you’re thinking about changing careers. It doesn’t matter what happened in the past or what options were open to you then. What matters is now, and the choices you make.

Are you in a position, financially, to go to university and retrain? If so, then go for it, grab the opportunity with both hands and put your all into it.

Start talking to everyone and anyone about possible careers. Read the job adverts in specialist sections of newspapers. Think about the aspects of your current job that you enjoy and what you don’t, and compare to their jobs. Group professions into categories - health, education, creative industries, finance etc, and look at roles within each category. Are you drawn to any of them? Go along to an open day at your local university to see what courses they have to offer (once they start up again, obviously!)

I went to university at 40 and retrained as an occupational therapist, a role I’d never even heard of until my father-in-law suggested it to me. My DC we’re 4, 6 and 8 and it was hard work but brilliant. Being a mature student is fantastic. I qualified in February and have started work as an OT in a hospital - it’s great (despite the scariness of working in a hospital and the Covid situation).

Wishing you all the best with whatever decision you make.

39 here. I also fell into my job, but it was 19 years ago. Make awesome money and have major flexibility. But things are changing and younger people are catching in faster. So I worry. I actually went to an open house for women in the trades. I've always liked working with my hands. Google has helped me do all kinds of things. So I think that should I be fired, I'll look into retraining as a welder or electrician.

I know what you mean - I had a career but gave it up do to children / moving abroad. Want to do something now but having a huge midlife crisis as I am 50 and don’t know what to do that anyone will hire me for / will be able to do until I retire.

Good luck xx

Get the Deloreon anyway, it's be cool to turn up at a job interview or viva in it!

I've just changed career. Went back to uni at the age of 37 and did a 2 year, FT Masters. I wasn't happy in what I was doing before, and figured I've got another 30 years of work before I can retire, so might as well do something that makes me feel fulfilled.

Definitely think about going to uni, although I'd imagine this year's freshers will probably defer to 2021 so admissions will be harder. On the other hand, universities will he desperate to enrol people this year, if you don't mind doing some online lectures and so on.

I decided to retrain in May/June 2018 and started in the September. For my previous MA I decided in the mid-August and started 2 weeks later! Anything is possible.

What do you enjoy doing and what are you good at?

Sorry, but it's a bit childish to mention school careers advisors and luck of guidance, as if trying to relay responsibility for your decisions onto someone else.

I've come from abroad in my 20s, retrained from scratch and been a single parent for last 11 years, so basically had no choice but have a career in order to support children, get onto property ladder, have a car and afford nice holidays.

If I could do it, those that's local with support network around them, definitely can as its so much easier.

It's not too late though OP, you've around 25 years left until retirement. Plenty of time for education and new skills.

Stop worrying about what did or didn’t happen at school 25 years ago and follow @Sparkleheads excellent advice. You need to start owning your own choices.

Agree with others - it's really not cool to blame teachers/careers officers/parents for your own lack of gumption, after the age of about 25.

We didn’t even have a careers service at my school. I didn’t go to uni but still ended up in a senior banking role. I chose this role when I was 21 and basically networked until someone was willing to take a punt on me. I think, and I do mean this well, people without determination / like to blame others or attribute the success of others on things they don’t have. For example one of the most successful COOs at my organisation is disabled - people who are less successful than him (and who might always be less successful) prefer to attribute it to his disability rather than grit, determination, and a fantastic leadership style.