To think I should have a career established by 31?

[Bella345]

Anybody else still undecided?

@D0lphine I said accept that it happens and adjust for it.

I was actually meaning that society needs to facilitate Mothers who want a career, by accepting that they may enter their chosen careers later and also noticing their careers may be derailed. I was thinking of helping women by accepting that we need a wider bandwidth of when women start careers or change them and acknowledge that Motherhood does impact a career.
Some things we could do - retraining at older ages, gaps in careers not seen as a negative, less focus on career trajectory hitting its highest point at 40 when a lot of women are in the thick of Motherhood. I could go on...

Also I know it's not the 1950's but thanks for pointing it out. I suppose everything is a LOT better now than in the 1950's, so that's a relief. I got to work AND raise my kids at the same time - it's just been so easy to do these two full time jobs and get to the top of my career.

I graduated at 49. I got a professional post a month later.

You’re 31, not 71! You’ve got literally decades to build a career. I’m slightly older than you and will be retraining as a teacher from September. By the time I’m qualified I’ll still be able to have at least 30 years of career - and I’ve already had all the DC I want to, so it will hopefully be relatively uninterrupted.

It took my until my late 20s to have the slightest clue, OP. You’ve plenty of time and no, you absolutely do not need a degree! (Unless you choose a profession in which it is required of course).

@Lastsecondfail

I was in Med school with someone in their late 40s. It's never too late to have a change of heart or find you vocation. It's just sad to think you may have missed precious years doing what you love (even if you haven't found it yet)

Thats pretty rare as the nhs wants a return on their investment of 40 years not 20

I'm 11 years into my career, quite senior now with a varied experience, still don't know what I want to be when I grow up. 31 is young still!

Thank you for starting this thread @Bella345 Its given me hope.

I'm 32. I've completed my family with two children now. I'm a part time worker in the retail industry. I have no idea what I want to do. My children are both at school, so I guess there's still time to figure out what what is I want to do. 😅

Not just me then 😅

Yes I’ve completed my family now too. Youngest is almost 2 and will start full time nursery next year so I’m starting to think what the heck will I do! Haha although I am in a role I’m not enjoying Too much it has given me the flexibility to spend time with my beautiful kids 🥰 every cloud and all 😊🙏

Oh boring.
Don't feel you need to be defined by a career or professional title.
Such a trap of our society

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I would love to be a healthcare professional, however, cannot choose which one!

I’ll be almost 31 when I finish the basic training needed to start on my chosen career path, took me this long to know for sure what I wanted to do. I’m 28 and still use the phrase ‘when I grow up…’

@Theworldisquiethere wonderful! What is it you have chosen to do 😊?

I didn't have a career at 31
I was doing cleaning work, was my own business but still not exactly a glittering career. But nonetheless, I loved it, it was reasonable money and it fitted around my dc

However I always felt so inadequate compared to my friends with "career" type jobs. I'm just not the type to have a career, tried office work etc prior to having the kids, it's not for me and I never fitted in anywhere

In 2020 I retrained and I am now a semi permanent make up and microblading artist. It cost an awful lot of money to train and also to build my studio (it is a converted garden office) and buy all the kit etc.

But I have finally found a lucrative job which I actually really enjoy as well.

So it's never too late, I was 40.

@OctoblockBuild

Oh boring. Don't feel you need to be defined by a career or professional title. Such a trap of our society

Agree

Its something I have worried about too.

I'm 33 and I've never really known what I want to do. Sometimes you fall into things.
Imjust starting a low level job in the NHS I'm hoping to work my way up and they put me through an apprenticeship.

Mines just kicking off now, I’ve hung around doing admin for 10 years and now have been promoted to more senior level. Have a small DS and am undecided as to whether to have any more, I don’t really want anymore time off work. Time is on your side if your baby days are behind you. Go for it!

[quote Bella345]@Theworldisquiethere wonderful! What is it you have chosen to do 😊?[/quote]
I’m training to be a counsellor. It’s quite intense, lots of self reflection involved in the training and it brings up a lot of emotions! But it will be so rewarding

@Theworldisquiethere that’s great! Well done you 🥰 can you counsel me on my career 😂😂

About to finish my degree and then go into the creative writing industry come hell or high water, I am 35. Both DDs will be at school in September. I can't wait!

Good luck OP
You can do it.

PS. On my OU degree course there was a 65 year old retired nurse who wanted to become a writer- she was so inspiring.

@Bella345 I can highly recommend radiography.

@Xtraincome oh wow that’s amazing!

Does anybody actually thoroughly enjoy what they do?