AIBU to want a new career at 34?

[Jerryyyyyy]

I started me first teaching job when I was 24. After 2 years I was signed off with stress and started looking at moving to a career I'm HR. I lost my nerve and took a supply position, which became permanent. 9 years later I'm still in teaching. I work 2.5 days a week, so luckily I don't feel the stress that my ft colleagues do. But I feel so unfulfilled. I've had my own children and my passion and spark for helping other children has fizzled - I just don't love the job like I used too which makes it so hard to do well!

Anyway, my AIBU is AIBU to start a new career at 34? I'd love yo hear other people's experiences, especially of starting out in HR or of leaving teaching. As I'm pt, my salary is jist under 20k so income-wise going ft in a new role would be an improvement.

I found HR not particularly fulfilling. Particularly starting out. Honestly a lot of it can be sorting squabbles. You see it on here. “Go to HR….talk to HR”. It’s maddening because most of the time it descends into he said she said. It was better later on when I could focus more on business and strategy. But even senior generalist roles involve refereeing from time to time. And sorting out messes due to people simply not communicating.

Unless you secure a position in training? That might be something you can look at. You’d be surprised how many people really have rubbish presentation/training skills. You already know how to talk to a room full of kids. Adults are generally easier!

I left secondary school teaching in my 40s but I moved into HE. Aged 50 I moved again to a different university and it was the best job I ever had - stimulating, full filling and worthwhile. You have at least 30 years of working ahead of you so do something you will enjoy. I assume you have thought of tutoring?

Thank you. I'm really not interested in teaching under any guises. I don't want to do teacher training, teaching in different places (eg hospital, SEN school, privaye school), tutoring. I don't want to be a childminder etc. All things over thought about over the years but I just want a complete change.

Teaching in a prison?
HR is bollocks, don't go. Whatever you think it is, it isn't. It's sending people policies and getting employees to do what management want them to do.
The university down the road from me certainly pay well but it's mostly WFH roles. Does that style of working suit you?

No advice on HR but I changed industries after I had DS ten years ago at age 38 and have no regrets. I moved to an industry i didn't know a lot about and I've been lucky enough to have some great roles now and some amazing experiences.
At your age you have more of your working life in front of you than behind you, its certainly not too late to change.

I only found my career at 40. It’s not exactly glittering but I went in at entry level, worked hard, did a 2yr qualification while getting two promotions and then moved to a different company as a General Manager. I earn twice what I did when I started and I’m doing something I love. Three years from entry level/min wage to being the boss.

It’s never too late IMO.

Why HR, OP? What attracts you to it?

It's obviously not unreasonable in any way to change your career but don't waste time on anything you're not certain of.

I changed career at 50! You are a wee bairn in comparison! Just do it! Life is too short to grind on in a job you are not enjoying - if you can do this financially then do it. Lots of good luck.

I completely changed my carrer in my early 30s too. I think you absolutely can change your carrer at any stage in your life but in your 30s, you’re possibly not even half way into your working life, so why wouldn’t you? You have at least 20 years ahead of you, why not do something that doesn’t make you miserable?

FWIW, my move worked out really well for me. The first couple of years were a bit frustrating for me because I had to gain industry experience before I could move onto the roles I actually fancied. 9 years in and what I’ve achieved has definitely surpassed my expectations.

However, make sure HR is for you. I second what everyone else has said. Some HR departments I’ve seen in smaller companies have a learning&development department/officer within them, this may be a way in for you.

I changed career at 47. Never too late.

Of course not, and plenty of people are happy working in HR. One thng you could look at might be working in a Uni in the team supporting PGCE courses or the Education department - they can be reasonably paid jobs and it would get you out of school and into an office environment. You might need HR qualifications/experience to get anything like decent money in that specialism.

You should give it a try - you can return to teaching later anyway.

I changed career at 35…like you I was a teacher. I swapped for a degree apprenticeship in pharmaceuticals. I’m in the last year now and I’ll qualify as a QC microbiologist. Starting on more money than I was on when left teaching

You are still very young and of course you can change career. What about educational psychology? You could do a psychology masters part-time around work and then apply for the paid doctoral course (which is usually salaried). Or have a complete change. There is lots of retraining you could probably do around your current role so it didn't affect your current income. Accountancy? Programming? So much is now online since Covid.
What are your subject interests within teaching?
I retrained in my late 40s and have an amazing second career.

That's so exciting! Well done. It feels like such a big unknown. Do you mind me asking what industry you're in?

That's really good to hear - giving me some confidence!

That's a good question. Glad you asked it as it's made me think.

When I was 26 and off work with stress I started exploring other possible jobs. HR just sounded varied, good progression and fairly good pay. Since then I've had a friend join HR, she loves it, has had several promotions and earns well and I've met two HR Managers who really enjoy their jobs too. So I guess the way they talk about their jobs confirms what I'd initially thought about it.

I am doing it at 35. Well going part-time in my current (extremely dull & unfulfilling role) and combining it with a part-time role that i really really want! Its daunting, exciting and i think you should absolutely go after something new. If you have support for kids/childcare etc. then take a chance. I felt if i didnt do something now then i just never would. My current role is just going nowhere but has a lot of positive factors so cannot give it up. But the thought of days, weeks, months just of this, is terrifying, you only live once!

I'd be quite happy WFH. I live in a university city. What kind of roles are you talking about?

You’re never to old to retrain.
After Working in bars and restaurants for 18 years when my kids were young I went back to college at 43 and gained a new qualification allowing a change in career, I love it.

don’t get me wrong, learning how to write essays again and do presentations was challenging but I’m proud of myself that I did it,

Here's how I would assess it:

In ten years' time you will be 44

You will be 44 in ten years' time if you remain a teacher.
You will be 44 in ten years' time if you change career.

You can't make those years stop, the only thing you can control is what you do with them.

I taught until my early 30s and then switched to industry. It would be very hard to earn what I earn now in teaching and I am very glad to have left the classroom behind. Advice on what you can do after teaching does depend on your subject/quals too - I'd probably make different suggestions to a history teacher than I would to a maths teacher!

Yes this is something that has really held me back. I did my degree in primary education with qts so I don't have a subject specialism.

I wouldn’t let that stop you @Jerryyyyyy my degree it quite chemist heavy. I didn’t even do chemistry for my a level equivalents 🤷‍♀️

Go for it! I changed careers at 33, when I had DS and it was the best decision of my life (now retired so I have perspective). In the new career I was far happier and the pay was much, much better

I have no experience of HR apart from everywhere I've worked they do have to deal with all the worst situations...
But definitely think a career change mid 30s is fine, gosh our retirement age is going to be like 75 at this rate. I think it's very normal nowadays to have multiple careers, I certainly plan on doing this.