Confused and lost - career question

[stripeyflowers]

Posting here for traffic.

I would really appreciate some practical advice and honest opinions.

I am just about to begin the third and final year of my degree course - English Literature and Creative Writing. When I graduate I will be 57. I'm currently on course for a 1st.

My problem is that, despite it being so late in my life, I'm not just doing a degree as a pleasurable indulgence; people do seem to assume this and I do understand why.

I have at 10 years of working life left until my pension and would like to work beyond that. I would really like to be able to use this degree to find a job I can do well in and enjoy.

My initial thought was that I could work as a self-employed editor or proofreader or something along those lines but really, my heart just isn't in it. I have actually already done that for a while and I don't enjoy it at all.

I have a long work history in mainly administration/office type work but due to various factors I have not worked for an employer since 2014.

I would like to work with children in some capacity. I did think of doing the PGCE with a view to being a primary school teacher but then I thought who would employ me when there are so many younger people apply for the job?

I feel I am going to have become self-employed, whatever I decide whereas I would really prefer to be an employee. I feel very jumbled up and confused and quite hopeless about it all.

The 2 years I have done have taken their toll on my health although nothing majorly serious, but I am not exactly looking forward to this next year. This is compounded by having no solid goal or real hope of achieving anything with it anyway, because of my age.

I wonder if I do push on and complete it, is there a conversion degree that would mean I can work in some capacity with children? If not, what else - I will consider other possibilities.

What do you think? Sorry to be so vague. No one definitive question here. I just wanted to put my situation and thoughts up here to get ideas and general feedback and any practical suggestions.

I did try the uni careers guidance but they look as me as if to say 'career? surely you are retired now?' lol.

The whole situation is making me feel very down and hopeless.

Bottom line - I just want a viable, definite, realistic goal to aim for and make it worth the while.

Thank you for sticking with me and apologies for grammatical errors and typos as I'm sure they will be there!

I think we need to know more about what you were doing before the degree, so we can build on that experience?

Timely Guardian article:

www.theguardian.com/education/2021/jul/14/leaving-burnout-behind-the-pain-and-pleasure-of-starting-a-new-career-in-my-50s

Tutoring children
Tutoring adults in literacy
Substitute teaching

All the above could lead to a full-time permanent role

Doing voluntary/part-time work now if you have time can also be a foot into a place for when you graduate.

Sorry for the delay in getting back.

Thank you for all of these replies and suggestions. Genuinely they have made me realise that I really do have options and can put my degree to good use.

Just in answer to Beamer Town about my previous work experience:

I've never attained a senior position. I've worked with a fair few companies, both well-known, blue chip companies and smaller ones. My last role was 6 years with local authority. In general my roles were administration/secretarial with some reception work.

I did have opportunities to advance; three times I was offered a more senior position. Each time I declined because I felt I was not good enough. One of the problems was when I was nervous I would start to stammer. This rarely occurs now.

I am much more confident in my abilities these days and I know I have a lot to offer and can be of some use to society.

I have been looking particularly at Now Teach and will apply for more information.