To leave the NHS and learn a trade?

[hangingupmyscrubs]

Afternoon,

I've worked for the NHS for ten years now, have loved my job but now feel like it's time to do something else. Dealing with Covid the last few months really has been exhausting in so many ways and the final straw (I do appreciate the good fortune in having had a stable and secure job at such an uncertain time)

I'm going to need a job that keeps me physically busy, would it be a bit silly for a 38 year old mum of two to learn a trade? Am I too old?

Can you not learn a trade within the NHS?

No I don’t think you’re too old. What kind of thing do you enjoy doing? Think about that and work from there.

Do you mean becoming a plumber/electrician OP?

What do you do in the NHS? I fantasise about getting out and being a florist sometimes, but not sure now it the best time to do it as economy is going down the drain. So the job security and sick pay is keeping me for now plus I'm too much of a coward to leave a secure job .

Is there anything else you could do in the NHS? Or do you want a total change? Would you be able to not earn any/much money while you train in something else? 38 is not old at all, you're not even at the halfway point of your working life yet!

@MoistMolly it feels like it's time to step out.

@Fcukthisshit I like to be creative, sewing, painting. Not quite sure how to monetise those things though!

@edwinbear possibly. They're quite appealing too me.

Definitely not too late. Be realistic though. About 6 years ago, social media and every women's magazine were pushing the idea that women should give up their boring jobs to flog cupcakes or sell crafts on Etsy, With a tiny number of exceptions, those businesses do not make money.

Get financial advice and make sure that you understand in full what you earn now - it's not just your take-home pay, it's your pension and employer's NI too, plus the benefits of holiday pay and sick pay. Together, these benefit will add up to at least 30% on top of your take-home salary. Once you understand what you earn now, you can look at trades that will bring in similar amounts.

If you have a profession within the NHS, could you work on a part-time or bank basis, while training to do something else?

I went back to uni full time at age 37 for two years, it's never too late to change!

Retirement's a long way off, better to spend that time doing something you enjoy... and if at all possible, in an industry that is Covid-proof

@MrsNoah2020 thanks for your reply. I only mentioned those in response to a previous poster. Mostly as a nod to having a creative flair, enjoy doing things with my hands and seeing the results from my efforts.

Your advice is great. There are a lot of Bank shifts going at the moment and they would help to support us while I trained. Just need to find something that suits my abilities.

I know exactly what you mean OP. I’m NHS too and I fantasise about the same. I have plenty of creative skills but no idea what I would feasibly for to earn a living.

I'm in the same boat, I'm 31, been in the NHS for 7 years and doing care work before that for about 4 years and tbh I'm sick of it now. I work as bank only and I'm pregnant with my second child. How I was treated by most ward staff when I was pregnant was awful and the same pattern is starting to emerge now. After my maternity leave I really would love to run a food stall or small business but I have no idea where to start. its definatly not too late, you've still got another 30 years til retirement possibly longer and it's a long time to do a job you dont love

@hangingupmyscrubs what about decorating / interior design? Lots of courses available to learn those skills (I guess might be a bit of a wait due to Covid for them to start though) 👍

I wish I had learned a trade and left the Nursing life years ago.
I fancied being a hairdresser, I did this for day release in high school. Then again I always wanted to work with computers back in the day. I was kicked out of the computer class and technical drawing in high school as they were boy classes. It was the late 70's and I wish I'd kicked up more of a fuss. Pic a trade to you like and go for it. Sewing and cake making seems more like pin money to me. I wanted something more concrete and saleable.

Hi OP

Just came across your thread in a search as I am considering the same, changing from being a SEN teaching assistant. I've been looking at a course in renewable energy engineering, which would also qualify me as a plumber. The money seems good and it's always in demand! Just seems like a big scary change though!

How are you getting on deciding?