Hate my job in marketing and want a job that helps people, AIBU to ask for your advice?

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I've worked in marketing for just under 2 years and I really dislike it. I don't like the office culture and feel like I don't belong. I've never wanted a job in a fancy office with international work trips, it just doesn't feel like 'me'. My mental and physical health is suffering because of how unhappy I am there.

The happiest I have been at a job was a minimum wage job admin role in the NHS. I felt like I was making a difference and I liked working with my colleagues.

I have a life sciences degree and master's, so I feel like I have a lot of options available to me but I don't even know where to start or what to do. I've always been drawn to being a doctor or nurse, I like the idea of it but I know I wouldn't like the actual role as I'm really squeamish. I've also considered being a primary school teacher but I think I would find it difficult as I'm very reserved and shy.

AIBU to ask if anyone has any ideas or advice?

What about doing your current job but for a charity?

What about allied health professions?
Occupational health, physiotherapist, play therapy?
Lots of nurses do non squeamish jobs.
Eg discharge co ordinators.
Also admin jobs like PALS or bereavement officers ?

Where do you live and how much do you need to earn?

Have a look at the charity jobs website www.charityjob.co.uk/jobs
I've found all my jobs on there, and all have felt rewarding and worthwhile. You don't earn much in the charity sector though.

Occupational Therapy definitely! I retrained and never regretted it. Everyday is so different and you can really make such a difference

How do you retrain in occupational therapy?

I did mine as a first degree but you can do it as a Masters or on an apprenticeship

I feel like I want a complete change away from marketing/office-based jobs. I have thought about the allied health professions but none of them really resonate fully.

I've thought about clinical scientist, but I know it's really difficult and competitive to become one which puts me off as I feel like I need something now to just get out of my current job.

I've thought about doing nursing with the aim of working in a GP surgery or in the community, or even becoming a Physician Associate but I know it will be really expensive to self-fund another degree

I know someone else has already suggested occupational therapy, and the idea doesn’t grab you, but do you really know what they do on a day to day basis? There are a variety of jobs, I’ve worked alongside many in my varied social work jobs and I have a bit of envy. They are highly skilled, and get to work with people without the hassles that I have.

Probation officer? You can join as a trainee PQuip and the MOJ pay for your degree and pay you while you train

Medicine to lengthy to train and horrendous conditions then, bounced around to different rotations etc for poor pay
i would second looking at OT in more detail like another poster has suggested

Sometimes a change is as good as a rest. Just changing employers can make a big difference.

Working in marketing for a charity could give you an insight into how that sector operates (though charities vary massively, large ones differ from small ones, plus lots of individual variation). It could also give you some ideas for other roles at the operational end of those charities, or in fundraising etc.

So why not make a short-term change, with a view to giving yourself time to think about a longer-term change, in more comfortable circumstances?

There are loads of health professions too. You could become a radiographer, speech therapist, hospital lab worker etc.

Lots of jobs help people, in all sorts of ways, without necessarily being hands-on working with people.

There's always plenty of positions available in Mental Health , it's actually really rewarding and you can make a difference. However the pay isn't the best.

Nobody has every heard of us, but I'd recommend Clinical Perfusion as a career. Very rewarding, fairly well paid and better career progression than many other clinical scientist roles IME. If you have a life sciences degree you should meet the entry requirements and it's not necessary to have previous clinical experience, just a good understanding of the role.

There are lots of jobs in charities where you don't help people directly, but you are helping the charity help people. I wouldn't become a doctor/nurse/teacher if you are shy and reserved.

'what colour is your parachute' is a good career book and if you work through it, helps you work out what makes you tick. Good luck.

I'm training part time as a counsellor. It's a long pathway as I plan to complete level 2, 3 and 4 certifications which will take 3-4 years, then maybe do a level 5 or BA top up course. Eventually I want to work in trauma therapy/CPTSD, I'm not sure whether that will be private practice or NHS though.

Assistant ambulance practitioner (This is what it is called in London, it may be called something else in other ambulance trusts), it's an apprenticeship role and you can work your way up to paramedic without having to fund another degree. You get paid from day one while training. u

or become a call taker for one of the emergency services

With a science degree, and a desire to do good, have a look at the Environment Agency. We have graduates from all sciences (I'm a geologist), as well as geographers and engineers. EA Careers, Jobs board (you'll need to register).

What about applying your training to public health? I work in that kind of marketing in the public sector and find it very rewarding. Marketing principles are applied to behaviour change campaigns very effectively.

Hi OP, what is your masters degree in? I am presuming to do with marketing but I know not necessarily. If you are very reserved and shy maybe not a direct patient facing role. How about medicinal chemistry i.e drug desire, labs based or I think what @Reallybadidea suggested above is a really good idea (and I had not heard of this) but obviously for both further training would be required, but you have the basic degree already for both.

*drug design not desire!!

How would somebody get into that kind of work? I have a marketing background and I think moving into Public Health would interest me. Thanks