To ask if anyone has retrained in their 40s, and if so, as what?

[tartytowers]

I've never had a career as such; my parents wouldn't let me do A-levels or university and the only thing I was allowed to do was an awful secretarial course at college. I had a few low paid office jobs until I had my eldest at 22. I then was a SAHM for many years and have had in the past few years a few minimum wage shop and reception jobs.

Anyway, I'd really like to retrain to do a career type job. Preferably something that I can do on the job as I really don't want to spend lots on training.

I loved maths at school and wanted to do economics or maths or business and finance as a degree and then work in investment banking or something similar. I know I'm way too old for that though (mid 40s)

Has anyone else retrained in their mid 40s and has anyone got any suggestions for career type jobs where I could train on the job?

Thanks in advance!

I retrained as a teacher, passing the course aged 40 and pregnant!

I'm much the same as you, never had a solid career, just a series of random, low paid jobs. I'm almost 40. I've just started training as a counsellor. I absolutely have fallen into it heart and soul, and the lessons pass by so quickly. I've got 4 years of study til I'm qualified but for the first time in my life I have passion and direction and confidence. I need to get level 2, 3 and 4 certification which will take me 4 years and cost £3.5k. I've made a plan of action to get some work experience too.

I wish I could have felt this earlier, and it's easy to fall into a bit of a self esteem confidence spiral, but I try to remind myself that without taking the convoluted life path to get here I wouldn't be the same person as able to connect so deeply with it.

You'll find your thing, I'm sure of it. Follow your passion!

Financial analyst, accountant, business analyst, data science

Why not try a free course like this to se if you would enjoy business/finance?
www.edx.org/course/introduction-to-bookkeeping-2

I am too interested in retaining as something to do with maths. Thank you for the ideas above.

I’ve re trained as a hairdresser & a barber in my 40’s and currently doing a nail tech course to do alongside

Age 44, just six months shy of qualifying as a RICS accredited surveyor. Never too late - though I still doubt myself sometimes. LOVE this thread, I’m not alone ❤️

I worked in hospitality for 18 years when my children were younger as it fitted around them and dh’s work, I went back to college at 43 and qualified at 44 to become an early years worker, I’ve worked in a couple of private nurseries on minimum wage but started with the LA recently and loving it, wages are pretty good too.

I'm 10 years older than you and in the middle of a career change. It can be done!

I started with my current employer doing general admin/data input and, when the job opportunity arose, applied for a job in IT data/analytics/programming. Played on my strengths regarding company knowledge, willingness and desire to learn something new to keep the grey matter active, shadowed a few people in the role, asked for a small/simple project to work on and ... ta daaa.

Blagging my way through it on a daily basis but no formal qualifications needed and no embellishing the truth. I'm in a small team with a mentor at the moment but they're letting me loose on the live systems so I must be doing something right!

Name changed as outing. Retrained as a doctor.

I'm in the process of retraining to be a social worker. It's hard work but glad I'm doing it. I realised that, at 42, I still have at least half of my working life to go so for me it was worth it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do xx

Has anyone retrained in the law? I have a PhD but not in law and have always thought I would have loved to have been a barrister - is it something you really can only start when you’re young/child-free?

Hi I was a secretary etc low paid admin jobs. Then at 48 got a job as a clinical coder - love it. You are expected to sit an exam eventually and become qualified but it's an interesting career, flexible and not really stressy. Really glad I made the move. Been doing it 5 years, now qualified and very happy.

Love this thread!

Me too, it feels really hopeful. Reminds me of that wear sunscreen song

"Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you want to do with your life
The most interesting people I know
Didn't know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives
Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don't"

@deelishiS0 I've always thought that would be a fascinating job. How do you get a foot in the door without a qualification, although with quite relevant experience? I've seen that you need to study for a qualification while on the job, but is it quite hard to get a job in the first place?

I started a new job recently with on the job training but found it overwhelmed me very quickly and had to leave. So make sure you are up to it before diving into something

I’m 41 and nearly at the end of a HR apprenticeship. I have a good job in the field and hopefully will progress when I’ve completed my qualification.

I love threads like this. Always very inspiring.
Retraining in your 40s is one thing, but what about those who are the same as a school leaver in terms of qualifications and experience, but may have negative things like a criminal record and long term sickness? I honestly feel like taking a gamble on reincarnation being thing.

Shame. Hope it wasn’t too public and embarrassing.

Try HMRC jobs, it will use your Maths skills. Age/time away from the workplace is no barrier and there's lots of in-house training.

@LizzTruss

Hope you manage to find something that fits your skill set better

Watching with interest. Similar situation here. 😌

I’m 45 and retraining as a psychological therapist with the NHS, although I did start the transition 5 years ago, and all that hard work is only starting to come to fruition. Go for it. You’ve still got half your working life ahead of you. But be prepared for it to be a process rather than an event!

Finish my social work degree aged 41.

Never too late.