When you say 'just retrain'

[Poiuyy]

I've seen a lot of advice on AIBU threads about career moves - genuinely helpful posters suggesting to 'retrain' - but has anyone got examples/specific ideas?

Due to a traumatic assault in my early 20s, I've been in and out of temporary employment, my mental health was unstable with PTSD, agoraphobia and anxiety.

I'm now 38 and doing so much better, I've been working in a very busy supermarket for a year now; I've really gained my confidence back.

However I would like to look at a different role out of retail (current job is very active with 10 hour shifts and 5am starts, so I'd love a 9-5!).

I'm very confident with admin/computers, customer service skills are well practiced, and before my assault I was a copywriter. I have an arts degree, I enjoy academia. I wouldn't want to return to the copywriting though.

Ideally I'd love to enrol on a training/learning course for, say, 1/2/3 years and then be qualified for an actual role, rather than a generic qualification and still not be sure what to do.

So envious of people with established careers! In awe of you.

Any ideas?

What about an apprenticeship role?

working lives are long. Loads of people change track mid way.

what kind of industry/work are you most interested in?

Try typing "trainee" into search engines. There have been opportunities in the civil service and the NHS lately with a variety of roles. There is often trainee IT roles available, especially if you are a graduate, with great earning potential.

What kind of industry/work are you most interested in?

I'm really unsure to be honest, lots of things appeal in one way or another.

Though - I have really enjoyed the house conveyance process after overseeing it for a few family members, on their behalf with solicitors, who were overwhelmed. And I was able to organise probate for a family member, and navigate Power of Attorney bits and pieces.

I'm reading about Tort Law which is fascinating! alongside Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart... But I feel stupid even considering anything law based. I'm too old/not bright enough!

Someone I know is training in a family law firm to be a legal executive so that might be something you’d enjoy? They’re paying for her training and she does it (including exams) alongside work. If you liked it you could then go for a law degree later (my uncle retrained later in life and went from legal executive to solicitor).

I was going to suggest the same, a paralegal traineeship would be worth looking at

www.simplylawjobs.com/career-hub/articles/career-advice/how-to/how-to-become-a-paralegal-in-the-uk?source=legacy-blog#:~:text=Becoming%20a%20paralegal%20in%20the,Legal%20Practice%20Course%20(LPC).

What would you say your strengths and weaknesses are? What do you enjoy / not enjoy? Why wouldn't you want to return to copywriting?

See what courses your local college offers.

Out of the ones that you can afford to do and would fit in with your current job see what jobs they lead to.

Then do a job search for it and see if many jobs come up and what they pay.

Look at training to become a Licensed Conveyancer

You are neither too old nor too stupid for law. You’ve got an arts degree. Look at conversion courses for law. Aiming to specialise in conveyancing is a perfectly decent plan.

supermums.org

full training in how to do Salesforce admin (it’s a big sales management/tracking software with very high demand for competent admins).

Look for an apprenticeship attached to a full professional qualification. I manage a graduate trainee apprenticeship where our apprentices train as chartered accountants and we've had all sorts of people retraining who originally had other jobs - teachers, nurses, you name it. It's a 3 year programme to get a great qualification and you earn at the same time.

Can I ask, how do you retrain while looking after children financially?
I know I could do an apprenticeship.
But how do I continue to pay bills?
I am stuck in retail. I want to do something more aligned with my passions. But have no idea how I would fund it.

I'd say try an apprenticeship too. Many actually pay well now while training you and you get a good paying job at the end of it. There's accountancy ones, engineering, it, probably many other options too.

You could work for another 30 years, so do something you enjoy! It's brill that you have found a passion in law. Try a short course that's manageable and see how you feel. Well done for overcoming adversity and regaining your strength. You are an inspiration!