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.

Also a teacher, also your age with one DC 😂

Also fancy a move into HR!

When I looked a couple of years ago, I saw a few apprenticeships but the salary was near enough what you're on now PT.

I'll be following with interest! Good luck. X

You're never too old to make a career change!
I run a Masters course which is almost exclusively full of career changers of all ages!
I also get a lot of ex teachers want to make a change but stay on the periphery of education.

Before I made my career change I volunteered one day a week in the area I was interested in. It helped me to make sure I wanted to do it but also I got the first job that came up because they could see I had potential. Might be worth thinking about

Thank you! And same to you, keep me posted on how you get on with it. I'm going to message my friend today who is HR manager for a law firm to ask her advice. Will share anything useful she says

Absolutely, lots of transferable skills, you are a graduate and you aren't after a high starting salary. Remember as well that you don't have to find your forever job before making the leap, just one to keep you going whilst you consider what you'd like to do.

Working lives are so long now that a new start when it feels right is a brilliant step.

I retrained in my early 50s and started a new career in horticulture. Loved the training, loved the change and started my own business. I'm so glad I made the move.

Previously I'd worked for 25 years in HR. It's challenging and satisfying work but entirely dependent on the organisation for who you work. Some see HR as a box ticking, admin function, others as a transformative force for good. Your success and happiness will depend on finding the right organisation for you.

I was - sort of - the other way around. I kept an HR career bubbling along to fund me through a doctorate and beyond to establish a more interesting second career.

I would say this about HR; Generalising is quite dull, especially at lower grades, but there are interesting management and specialist roles. The pay is good.

CIPD diploma qualifications are mind numbing. They aren’t based on essays but regurgitation assignments. Do a CIPD-accredited masters instead, if you want to join HR, get straight into lower management and then work towards a specialism that interests you.

I work in HR and enjoy it for the most part. 34 is definitely not too late to start a new career. I've actually retrained for a new career myself which I do alongside my HR work and I'm a fair bit older than you are.

You'll find the salary low if you start out in HR though....experience counts for a lot.

If you have any questions about HR work, you can PM me.

Did it at 46. Not HR. Still enjoying it even though I have to study for exams that won’t be completed when I’m 50😱.

@Jerryyyyyy thank you! Very kind.

Also, looked back at your OP and realised you never said you had only one DC. I have obviously made that up! It was just funny how similar our situations were, though you're a little ahead of where I am - DC is only 2, so need to get him settled in school first due to lack of childcare.

I think you've had some really good advice on this thread! X

Gosh, I'll miss the fee-free holidays though!

@MetellaInHortoEst That's really good to know, very industry-specific advice. Thanks for sharing.

Career changed to tech at your age. Positive move. Salary is good, working hours much better and more flexible than previous job. There are worries about redundancies but in general a lot happier and find it v interesting.

NP. Any qualified teacher should be able to find an HR masters course who will be delighted to take them.

Thank you to everyone that has replied. So much encouragement and good advice here!

Thanks for this - really interesting.

When you say go straight into management, how does that work? O thought I'd be looking at hr assistant roles and having to work my way up but this sounds like maybe not?

This has actually given me hope. Revising for exams whilst overworking due to lack of staff and too much workload. I keep think murtaugh’s law is a real thing (I’m too old for this sh*t), but your post has just brightened my morning.