Completely new career at 40 ?

[Threebutterflies]

Hi
I have just turned 40 . I’ve never had a full time job only part time bar work and some factory work. I can’t do any job that involves lifting now as I have a bad back . Would it be possible to completely start from scratch at 40 and train for a new job ? I’m thinking one or two years training/college.
aibu - I’m to old now
ainbu - I’m not to old
any suggestions of jobs that involves no lifting / manual labour appreciated 👌

YANBU. I've been thinking about it myself tbh. It's been on my mind an awful lot lately. Not 40 yet but just a few months away. It's not too late. As long you can afford to do it comfortably while you do it: just go for it.

Depressing or motivating thought - you have as many working years ahead of you than have gone!

go for it.

If you’re good with customers what about call centre work?

I applied for a degree to become a health care professional at 40. Been qualified 3 years and loving it! Definitely go for it!

Definitely not too old. You may well have more working life ahead of you than behind.

Work backward - search for jobs and when you see things you like, look at the quals you would need need.

The careers service still exists though different companies hold he contract in different areas and they may also be able to help.

Perhaps you might find it helpful to browse the dedicated Mature Study and Retraining board, here, OP:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

where you’ll find hundreds of people asking the same question and finding ways to answer it - through an innumerable number of study and training options.

It’s rather a shame that its existence hasn’t been made more apparent to interested posters! (MNHQ will happily move threads to the board if asked.)

I retrained as a podiatrist in my 40s. My back was gone after 20 years of nursing. I love it and you can do NHS or private or a combination.

Thanks for all the replies I’ll go through each one this afternoon! So I’m thinking hairdressing/ barbering but I’m not sure as mainly 16 year olds do that ! Food service industry- learning to do cocktails etc . Health care I’m not to sure I like looking after people in hospital etc but can’t cope with poo / sick / mucas ( makes me heave )
I need to speak to a really good careers adviser

Sorry I had no idea this was on here ! I’m still working my way round mums net ! I’ll have a read this afternoon