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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To change career at 31?

80 replies

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 14:06

Let me start by saying I've naturally dropped into my current career. It's 100% corporate. The money is good, £60/70k with more achievable. BUT....

I don't enjoy it, at all. It's boring. Soul destroyingly so. I do it purely for the money, but the more time goes on, that simply isn't enough.

I want a fulfilling job. I want to go to University and do either Diagnostic Radiology or Primary Education with QTS. This gives me fulfilment of helping others, whilst allowing me to continue with a mixture of some office work and an element of practical work (which I really, really want)

I can't see myself staring at Microsoft excel for the next 30 years.

Am I totally crazy to give up my job for 3 years and go back to Uni? I have support from DP and with their salary and my student maintenance we would be "comfortable" - obviously a big adjustment but we have very affordable bills. We have a baby due soon and I think it's probably now or never.

Should I just bloody go for it?!

OP posts:
Delinathe · 28/05/2022 16:51

My only thoughts are - will you definitely get student loans? I didn’t think they were available
for all second degrees

Will be for the radiography, don't know if you can do a funded teaching undergrad for a second degree, obv you do for the PGCE but I don't know about the undergrad course. Been doing some googling as I'm curious but still not sure.

But due to the experiences of close relatives I would say don't do primary teaching anyway, OP, if you ever want to see your kids.

hepaticanobilis · 28/05/2022 16:56

Not too old at all, although most people I know (myself included) who've retrained have done it part time or otherwise alongside at least part-time work. I think the most important thing is to choose something you are genuinely passionate about, not just something that sounds better than what you do now.

It's a big jump to completely give up work, and it might not be as easy to go back to it in the future as you think. I'm actually in a position now of wanting to go back to a previous career after doing something else for 5 or so years and it seems to really go against me.

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:02

hepaticanobilis · 28/05/2022 16:56

Not too old at all, although most people I know (myself included) who've retrained have done it part time or otherwise alongside at least part-time work. I think the most important thing is to choose something you are genuinely passionate about, not just something that sounds better than what you do now.

It's a big jump to completely give up work, and it might not be as easy to go back to it in the future as you think. I'm actually in a position now of wanting to go back to a previous career after doing something else for 5 or so years and it seems to really go against me.

Thanks for your reply. I'm definitely open to part time work on the side, that's for sure 😊

OP posts:
Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:02

Delinathe · 28/05/2022 16:51

My only thoughts are - will you definitely get student loans? I didn’t think they were available
for all second degrees

Will be for the radiography, don't know if you can do a funded teaching undergrad for a second degree, obv you do for the PGCE but I don't know about the undergrad course. Been doing some googling as I'm curious but still not sure.

But due to the experiences of close relatives I would say don't do primary teaching anyway, OP, if you ever want to see your kids.

It is my first degree 😊

OP posts:
Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:02

easyday · 28/05/2022 16:32

My sister decided to become a doctor at 28. She had an English degree so really had to go back and take all the sciences she missed out on to get into med school, and her specialty required 7 years training.

Wow! Fantastic!

OP posts:
Namenic · 28/05/2022 17:08

I moved out of healthcare (not radiography). It’s a stressful environment. Do some work experience, see if it’s for you. See if you’re comfortable with shift work. I’d also consider waiting until you have the baby before making changes as it could change your pattern and outlook - good luck!

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:09

spotcheck · 28/05/2022 16:10

Hi
Access to degrees both careers depends on work experience and an understanding of the role.
It would be a great start if you volunteered, and also went to university open days.
Please don't leave volunteering until you start your access course. Your application for uni needs to be in by Jan 25, and most colleges have internal deadlines. This doesn't leave much time to get your head around level 3 learning, new baby/ home commitments/ and volunteering. Many places have a queue of people, and also may require a DBS check, which is time consuming. The sooner you start this, the better.

Many people who want to 'help people' tend to knee jerk to health care or teaching.
There are many ways of helping people. Baking lovely cakes for celebrations helps people. Being a hairdresser helps people. Managing a restaurant helps people Why radiography or teaching?

My worry would be that your intended careers have the potential for being unfriendly to family time. Is that what you want right now?

Would you consider having a 'pause' year- where you step into a different job ( a temporary one), give yourself time to volunteer, welcome in baby, properly explore, and then go for it?

By the way, there are apprenticeships available as a TA- school can then support you to become HLTA or qualified teacher ( for which you need a degree).
There are also assistant radiography roles too. They seem rare, but can lead to full training ( for which you also need a degree)

If you have a corporate brain but want to help people- would you consider public health?

Thanks so much for your in depth response. I'm not sure how to go about doing any voluntary work for the Diagnostic Radiography degree, I was going to do a specific Access To HE Radiography if I went down this route which I would do alongside my current job for sure. The Uni I have selected ideally (if I'm offered a place of course), gives you a placement at the hospital which is where you build up your clinical practice and experience.

I've been thinking about this for a number of years actually, and as I've become increasingly more miserable in my current position, I keep coming back to it. My natural first choice is always something medical. My dream would be Paramedic, however I deemed that even less "family friendly"

Primary School teacher was more of a "maybe" option B.

Radiography also offers me options to take on private work, and to climb the career ladder further within the NHS which teaching will not offer me (as much, anyway) plus it's fairly clear there are issues surrounding teaching right now. Also not blind to the issues in the NHS.

I honestly cannot think of anything I'd like to do more than something that is medically related but that isn't a dr, surgeon etc. but that makes a real impact, that I have a genuine interest in doing, and that offers some prospects longer term for some progression.

OP posts:
Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:10

Namenic · 28/05/2022 17:08

I moved out of healthcare (not radiography). It’s a stressful environment. Do some work experience, see if it’s for you. See if you’re comfortable with shift work. I’d also consider waiting until you have the baby before making changes as it could change your pattern and outlook - good luck!

Thank you very much. Definitely not doing anything knee jerk. I'm taking extended parental leave and will do absolutely nothing until probably October/November.

Thank you for your advice.

OP posts:
youngwildandni · 28/05/2022 17:32

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned above, but I would seriously think twice about entering primary education. The fact that teachers are leaving the profession in droves should speak volumes. It's easy to have a fantasy view of the job, that you'll be waltzing into school every day having a wonderful time with your class of children enlightening young minds etc, the reality is you'll be so bogged down with paperwork, form filling, box checking etc that you barely have time to think about the children. That, along with taking literally bagfuls of work home with you every night mean that what I want so would be a wonderful profession is actually turned into a nightmare. I took maternity leave a couple of years ago to have my daughter, and I've not gone back yet. I can't possibly imagine how I would cope with a full-time teaching job and two young children either. Total kudos to anybody who does manage it.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/05/2022 17:42

If I was going to move into healthcare I'd do something like physiotherapy. They never seem stressed and they seeem very well resourced (or at least were a couple of years back). I was almost harrassed by the physiotherapy service to make appointments when I broke my elbow a few years ago, I couldn't believe it when the waiting lists for other services are so long.

You could do paediatric physiotherapy, maybe, then you'd be connecting with children but you wouldn't be as stressed or have the workload of a primary teacher.

I would be way of making a jump before the baby is here. They can change your whole outlook on life. You need to be sure that your career is child-friendly if you want to make them a priority. Don't forget that if you become a primary teacher you will never get to see your own child in any of their school events that happen during the daytime, no concerts, no volunteering on trips, no sports day, it will be expected that your partner will be the one doing emergency childcare, you'll have to go into work during the school holidays etc etc. In short, you will have to be there for others' children when all your heart and soul wants to be with your own child when they need you.

Out of interest, OP, I'm really keen to know what your job is that can earn you 60k without a degree, and if you have had to study for professional qualifications?

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 28/05/2022 17:46

Hi OP! I would say absolutely follow your heart - you're only 31, not 51 (and even then it's never too late!)

However, would you not be better off waiting until you had the baby so you could get some amazing maternity benefits?

Wishing you all the best - I changed career 3 years ago (I too am 31) and it was the best decision I made.

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 28/05/2022 17:46

Ah sorry I just saw the update that it is your partner that is pregnant, apologies for the assumption.

If you're comfortable to do so, absolutely do it 💛

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:48

@youngwildandni thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it. Yes I've really seen quite a lot of comments that have certainly made me re-evaluate this option. Luckily Radiography was my "number 1" choice anyway, I have an old friend who is one so I've dropped her a message to chat more!

OP posts:
Cheesecakeandwineinasuitcase · 28/05/2022 17:48

It’s a brave move. But life is short OP. Go for it!

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:49

@amijustparanoidorjuststoned thanks so much! What sort of career change did you make, if you don't mind me asking?

OP posts:
AllCocomelonedOut · 28/05/2022 17:53

Have you looked into Teaching Apprenticeships? You can learn on the job whilst gaining valuable experience and get paid, although obviously low income but ultimately the same end goal.

I'm currently starting as a TA next term and will be fully qualified after one year as a primary school teacher. I do have a degree though, which is why I can complete it so quickly. Might be worth considering.

Also, I'm retraining at the ripe old age of 32.. its never too late to change! Good luck!

amijustparanoidorjuststoned · 28/05/2022 18:56

Anonnnnnnm · 28/05/2022 17:49

@amijustparanoidorjuststoned thanks so much! What sort of career change did you make, if you don't mind me asking?

@Anonnnnnnm I've dipped in and out between makeup Artistry and office work/PA work over the last 10 years. When I was 27 working full time as a PA I actually said a similar thing to you "I can't sit in this office, looking at the same spreadsheets for the rest of my life!"

So I decided to retrain as an aesthetician, starting off with simple eyelash extensions and now I mainly offer facials, chemical peels, skin consultations and microneedling. I worked very hard to build my client base up and I absolutely love it. I got very little help during the pandemic, but luckily I have office skills to pick up temp work if I ever needed to 😀 good luck with whatever you decide to do!

Norma27 · 28/05/2022 19:53

I am mid 40s now. Had a corporate job in my 20s at a big 4 firm. Left that and did various other jobs. Then did a primary pgce in my late 30s. Hated it. My situation was complicated as I was pregnant for my first 2 placements which I did enjoy. Went back to complete third placement after giving birth and the school was horrific.
I really believe you only live once and go for whatever you want. However, I have now gone back to my original corporate job at a different firm but starting at the bottom again. Tough work but I love it now.
I think it can be easy to see other jobs with rose tinted glasses.
Best of luck with whatever you decide, and my situation does show it is possible to go back if things don’t work out.

Ithinkimightbebroken · 28/05/2022 20:24

DH and I have both had a post Covid work revamp! We are in our 30s and both miserable at work.

DH was a deputy head and hated it. He’s stepped down to a classroom teacher.
Ive gone very part time in order to do a degree alongside my job and hopefully start a business.

Yes we have lost money but life is too short to be miserable for another 30 years!!

BrilloSolar · 28/05/2022 20:58

A LOT of primary teachers drop down to part time work when they have children as full time is just too much to also have any family life. But I've also know plenty who have multiple children, work full time and have a wonderful active life with their children outside of work. One woman who immediately springs to mind, I met when she came back to work (I'd recently started at the school) after her third child. She was Maths Lead, so lots of extra responsibility. She would be in by 8 but often left 'early' (i.e) 4.30pm two days a week, 5pm (ish!) after staff meeting and leadership meetings twice per week, and 4pm Fridays. She then often worked after she'd got all 3 kids to bed. Super women, but she was a fabulous teacher and somehow juggled it all. I'd often see on Facebook her family trips out at the weekends. Oh and she was mainly a single mum (odd times she was together with useless partner). Significantly, she had her mum help out a lot, who lived just down the road from her.

A lot in primary school really depends on the school and the ethos of the head teacher. A lot are awful with expectations of work. Pre-children, I'd found a fantastic position. I left home at 7.20 to be in school for 8. I'd usually leave at 6 to get all work done (home by 6.45) but could leave much earlier if needed. And I'd finally got to the point where I wasn't bringing any work home evenings, weekends or holidays unless there was a 'project' on (report writing, implementing something new, etc). However, for me, I didn't want to see nothing of my child during the week. I could have left earlier but that would have meant working after bedtime and weekends. So I left teaching. I probably would have considered part time but moved on to something else.

In teaching, there is ALWAYS something more you could be doing. You kind of have your absolute must do list because your books, planning and classroom environment are going to be monitored by leadership, and then your 'other' list that would have a great impact on the children, but you'll do it if you can catch up with everything else first.

I did really love the job though - but I'd gone through hell at another school with horrific work expectations and bullying (which is sadly very very common). What I always loved about the job was that I had so much autonomy really (I'd guess if you speak to lots of primary teachers they might not think this is true if they are thinking about how often their lessons, planning and books are monitored). I got to work and left in the evening when I wanted (obviously outside the directed time). If I wanted to meet friends at 4pm on Friday, I could. If it snowed and I wanted to scrap all my lessons and do a day basing everything around the snow, I could (not in all schools). My workload was completely my responsibility - no one told me: Mark books now, write an assessment now, do a display now (obviously I had to work within time lines given, and schools will often have policies that displays must be changed each half term, books must be marked in depth x times per week, etc. But the actual organising of my time around those policies was down to me).

One last thing to consider, and I actually hate to bring it up, but think it does need to be considered. But anything you do decide to do, you really need to be certain you could afford child care for it without your mum's help. Non of us ever really know what is around the corner, and a sudden long term illness, for example, could mean that she is no longer able to provide that for you.

Good luck in whatever you do decide (and I did a complete career change at 36, and now my husband is doing one at 38.)

notanothertakeaway · 28/05/2022 21:11

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/05/2022 14:50

I would really look into the primary teaching if you're going to have children. So many people wrongly assume that it's a cushy number. I never ended up going into primary teaching, got sidetracked with something else then spent years following DH's career. At just a bit older than you are with 2 young children I seriously looked into it again. I decided against it for their sake and till last year I wondered if it had been the right decision.

But then I got an office job in a primary school and I see the workload that all primary school staff (not just teachers) have to deal with. It's bloody horrendous! I've never worked so hard in my life, at any other job. And the poor teachers. They are there from 7.30-7.45, sometimes earlier, dont' get any proper break through the day, it's full on high energy "performance" all day (no slumping back behind your PC when you're feeling rough with a cold or period), then meetings or dealing with parents after school and prep for the next day. They get chucked out when the caretaker finishes at 5.30, then go home to eat something before they're back marking or on the PC doing more prep. Carry on like that till 11 at night. The ones that DON'T do this end up falling behind. Burn out and stress is rife. The team work is amazing as we all know each other's workload and try to help each other out as much as possible.

All for probably half of what you earn now. So depends what kind of hours you do at the moment. Sometimes the grass isn't always as green as you think. Some patches are, and others are full of weeds 😂

@CurlyhairedAssassin teachers in my family don't work those hours. They are home by 4.45, all work finished for the day

OP, at 31, I'd say it is worth changing direction if you aren't enjoying your work

CurlyhairedAssassin · 28/05/2022 22:20

Primary school teachers? Really? Is this in England?

Aria999 · 29/05/2022 01:00

Go for it. You only live once.

It will be hard though. Remember the thing about needing experience to get a job and needing a job to get experience? That happens all over again.

spotcheck · 29/05/2022 15:20

Thanks so much for your in depth response. I'm not sure how to go about doing any voluntary work for the Diagnostic Radiography degree, I was going to do a specific Access To HE Radiography if I went down this route which I would do alongside my current job for sure. The Uni I have selected ideally (if I'm offered a place of course), gives you a placement at the hospital which is where you build up your clinical practice and experience

OP
You typically need experience in a caring capacity to get ON the degree. This is evidenced in the personal statement.

I would go to open days and asked them what experience they want to see on your UCAS application ( the personal statement part).

Also, working full time and doing an access course may be very tough. Take advice from the course leaders. Radiography is competitive, so please don't underestimate how intense the course is.
Does your course offer a foundation year?

spotcheck · 29/05/2022 15:21

PS
Most hospitals have a volunteering page.

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