To ask if you have completely retrained in your 30’s or over?

[Thunderbuddies]

Particularly interested in people who have already got a degree’s experiences. I got a Sociology degree in 2009. Never did anything with it. I’m now 33 and in pretty much a dead end job and feeling really depressed and unfulfilled. I want more out of life, I keep thinking I’ve got another 34 years at least of work left and I want a ‘career’ rather than a job.

I’m worried about funding, I doubt I’d be eligible as I’ve already got a degree? Also, at 33, we had hoped to start TTC in the next few months, but then I think if I were to wait another few years I’d then be 36 and feel even more stupid at the thought of retraining? Also, it could take years to get pregnant or one of us could be infertile for all I know and we may never be able to have children. But then if I got pregnant halfway through, what would happen?!

Sorry for the rambling, I’m just feeling really confused and SO depressed at the thought of going into next year with just more of the same.

So has anyone completely retrained in their 30’s or older and logistically how easy was it to do?

Yep. Super outing, but degree in law, followed by a masters and a postgrad both in law. Worked in investment banking for years. I’m waiting on my results, but I’m qualifying as a midwife this month. I’m late 30’s.

My first degree was Hotel and Catering Management and I graduated in 1992.
I've now got less than 6 months less to be an Adult Nurse, I'll be 51 qualifying.
There have been some really low points but on the whole I've loved it. I call myself the 'oldest student nurse in town' but all I've had from nurses and medics is support.

I retrained in my 30s. I already had a degree and a PhD. I was 34 when I started (DD was 5 and DS was 3). I did it whilst working FT though, and my employer paid (I switched from R&D to Legal and retrained as a patent attorney). It was absolutely the right move. Ten years on I love my job, I’ve been promoted 3 times and I earn 3x what I used to do as an R&D scientist.

Loving these stories! Not me but a friend retrained as a medic in her late 30s with three kids in tow.
Don’t put off your baby plans but don’t put off your career either. Ideally choose a career with some flexibility to accommodate both

I switched to digital marketing in my late 30s. I started off part time helping out a small business (paid, but not much), and used this experience to get a job in an agency. I then used that experience to get my current marketing manager role. However, I think what helped is that a lot of my previous experience was directly transferable, even if technically from a different career.

I’m 43 and I’m training in accountancy. I was working in facilities and property management until 10 years ago when I became a childminder so I could be at home with my children. I plan on training to get the highest qualification I can in the next 4 years, when my youngest will be in secondary school. It is a home learning distance course, but I did a lot of research to find the course that suits me best.

Yes, in my 40s, in a foreign language which I didn't start learning until my 30s.
I already had a BA, a master's and qualified teacher status for England and Wales and had worked as a teacher using my degree as well as done office work which led to my employer funding the masters (although I never really used the masters) but those qualifications weren't massively useful routes into employment in my new home country - UK teaching qualifications not considered equivalent.

My retaining was funded and I was paid to do it as it's a massive shortage occupation in my current country - it was a degree equivalent apprenticeship. It was the hardest thing I've ever done due to the language, juggling 3 school aged kids, and juggling the 25 hours per week paid work plus the 16 hours per week compulsory college attendance and essays, reports, projects, dissertation and exams.

I wouldn't do it again tbh but I'm glad to have already done it... I'll try not to career change again ...

Thank you @CSIblonde

I graduated in 2001 so looking at 20 years for me nearly too. I'll have a think and do a bit of research

I did at 41 but I self funded and had to take a substantial pay cut and start at the bottom again.

Whilst my previous experience wasn't particularly relevant, I think it has helped me move up quickly once I got started in the new career, for example I had managed people before, albeit in a completely different field.

What do you want to do? With a degree, you may find the "top up" qualifications you need aren't too onerous.

Yes - started my ODP at uni last week!

I didn’t but my mum did when I was about 8. She was a PA and retained as a teacher and loved her job until she retired a couple of years ago.

Currently in the middle of retraining to be an operating department practitioner (NHS). Previous English degree finished in 2009 that I never did anything with. I'm 36.

I retrained in software development when my youngest started school, so I was about 34.

Best thing I ever did. Excellent money, very creative job.

I absolutely did not want to do, well..l some of the very low paid highly stressful work that people always recommend women do, like social work or teaching. I like high pay and low stress. Who doesn't?

Im thinking of retraining too. Does anyone know how much student loan would cover? Is it just the course fees?+

I am about to start a part time pschopogy degree, with the aim of graduate entry LD nursinb when I finish. I am also working almost full time and am a LP with 2 children still at home.

You are never too old and its never to late.

I did change careers at 30. Did a practical, low income trade for 10 years and then decided enough was enough as couldn’t get a mortgage and went in to a administrative gov job. Started at the bottom but still ok money - for this area anyhow! But as was in a house share, I could afford this. Have since been promoted and hopefully will get a couple more in the next few years. For me - i had to accept i would not get in to a new career without starting from the bottom, but i was lucky enough to be in a position to do so!

I'm retraining now with a second degree. I'm working whilst at University part time. I'm in my 40s. Being as I'm probably never going to be able to retire and not that I want to (i mean what do retirees do?! ) I decided to retrain in a career that I actually wanted to do.

Worked in IT for 10 years then made redundant. Trained to be an accountant but never made up the lost salary. My pension is £4k/pa. The years in your 30s/40s are crucial to building up retirement funds. Had I been an accountant I'd have told me not to do it.
Much better to move sideways if you can which can help avoid the pitfalls.

newtb I've never given up work while studying aside from my first degree done at the traditional age before starting full time work.

I'd been working three years before I did my masters and as I had no children or caring responsibility I carried on working full time - I had to anyway as my employer was paying my fees. No cost, no loan, no loss of income.

I career changed to teaching using the graduate teacher programme (which has been replaced by other teach-while-you-qualify routes since but essentially the route still exists). I took a big pay cut but still earned 19k and paid pension contributions while earning qualified teacher status.

Later still I emigrated, my teaching qualifications aren't recognised here but I did a degree apprenticeship which was paid from the start and paid ok from the second year as the first year exams conferred a qualification themselves.

There's no need to stop working to study, although a pay cut is hard to avoid and it's a lot harder juggling once you also have caring responsibilities at home.

It could be that this year is a blessing in disguise. It gives you the chance to gain work experience for your application and to pass your maths in your own time.