Help me find a career at 49!

[deepwater71]

So I need to find a viable career, what can I do at my age? Currently bar staff/shop work but it's not enough to live on as my kids are getting older, please give me suggestions what I can retrain as to get a decent wage!

Teachers and nurses are in high demand at the moment
Midwifery too

What is your background/experience - have you always worked in retail/hospitality? What qualifications do you have? What do you like doing - is there something you enjoy doing or have an interest in that you could turn in to a career? Without any context it's a very hard question to answer!

I've only ever worked in hospitality and retail

No qualifications either

How about what you want to do or enjoy then?

Have you got any personal experience you can lean on that would make you a good candidate in a particular field, support work for example?

It might be worth thinking about getting your English and Maths GCSEs. Would you be able to progress to supervisor/manager in retail maybe?

Try beta.nationalcareers.service.gov.uk for suggestions

I have no idea, that's why I've posted on here, I'm friendly, very good at customer service but I really have no idea what to do apart from the two I've already done, I have been thinking of office work but what training would I need?

Ventantaperrito thank you I'm looking at that now

If all your experience is retail/hospitality isn't your best bet to work your way up in those sectors? Team
leader to start with.

Join the civil service. Varied and secure.

Based on my attempts to find a driving instructor for my DS and lack of availability - a driving instructor

I was in a similar position to you OP around 10 years ago when I was 39. I worked part time in a supermarket, having previously worked in hospitality before that. I got myself on an Access course, then onto a degree (History because I loved it). Now work in marketing.

You are never too old to learn something new!

Wow thank you for your replies, it's given me a lot to think about x

Gallusalice how do you find out about jobs in civil service?

I'm looking for a career change away from retail /hospitality

Can you work your way up? Supermarket supervisors etc?

@GallusAlice79

Join the civil service. Varied and secure.

I think the OP would struggle to qualify for even the most basic clerical grade in the Civil Service without GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths.

@deepwater71

www.civilservicejobs.service.gov.uk/csr/index.cgi

@AdoptAdaptImprove

Had a quick glance there and saw quite a few jobs with no qualification requirements.

What about receptionist/front of house or office manager type jobs?

Similar skills

I’d sign up with some recruitment agencies and talk to them too

Get an English and Maths GCSE you can do them in a short space of time as an adult, then get a job in banking and you'll progress quite quickly.

You could do the functional skills Maths/ English/ ICT qualifications, I did those aged 50! If you fancy healthcare they do look favourably on mature students.

I wouldn't throw your experience away. Hospitality and retail have a lot of overlap, basically anything where you are in a customer service role.

It's a good idea to look at where your interests lie and what your no gos are. Like I know I couldn't work in a kitchen because they are too noisy and hot. I know I couldn't be a nurse because bodily fluids make me feel sick. I couldn't work in waist disposal or house clearances (again, my sensitive stomach).

Some people love cleaning, but want to do something different at work. Others love cleaning and start successful cleaning businesses. And a lot of people hate cleaning and want to go to work so they can afford to pay a cleaner. It's things like that you need to work out.

Maybe ask your friends/family/neighbours/boss etc. What your strengths are, and what your weaknesses are. It can be worth thinking back to or talking to people who knew you during your school days.

Do you want to do something practical? Something creative? Something intellectual? There are as many retraining opportunities as their are jobs, essentially