AIBU to think it’s too late for me to earn more money, due to my poor life choices.

[somewhereoverthechipshop]

Basically I’m late 40s, 2 kids one still in primary school. I’m not using it as an excuse but if it’s relevant I have adhd, and grew up very poor. I left school at 16 and have worked ever since in low paid jobs. I also took long breaks to have children. I have thrown away so many opportunities to have a better career as anxiety and low self esteem has always held me back and I’ve turned jobs down. I’bve been working in a low paid school job for years now. My dh was a fairly good earner in a creative industry that is now being slowly taken over by AI. I find myself in a position where I’d love to help out more with our finances and I’m much more confident nowadays, that has come with age. I feel like nobody will want me as I don’t have many qualifications. Please be understanding I know I’ve made bad choices in my life.

I wasn't describing an experience, I was asking for more info as I'm being made redundant this year.

I had considered the NHS, though as I say locally they're recruiting as little as possible so there are unlikely to be many admin vacancies available.

Not possible to go back at the moment and I wasn't there long enough to get any credits. Did the first two assessed pieces of work, if I'd been able to go back within a year (maybe two?) I could have carried those marks over - and it would have been worth it as I got 99% for the first assignment, 89% for the second as things were going downhill rapidly with DS at that point.

I loved it though, loved the work - It was module U101 Design thinking: creativity for the 21st century.

My best bet financially though is to look at jobs that have a finance element as they pay more and there seem to be more WFH positions available. It's not the part of my current role that I enjoy though, it's the part I took on for a pay rise and to continue to actually have a job when we previously lost a chunk of funding. And admittedly I also took it on with one eye on my future CV as I could see that the organisation's days were numbered.

OP, is admin really your bag? Does it play to your ADHD strengths? And use the transferable skills you have as a TA?

I retrained as an OT in my early 40s. I'm now a band 6 so earning high 30s. It's not tonnes compared to many on here, but it's fun, dynamic, and it keeps my family of 4 ticking over.

In our children's centre the majority of staff seem to have a lot of ND traits so that's not going to be a barrier!

I’m not on the state I work full time as a TA

Thank you I’ll look into that

Not really, it’s just something I thought would lead to something else, would love to do something like you did that’s a great idea!

How did you retrain as an OT? A very quick Google suggests you need to do a degree?

Second looking at NHS apprenticeships. You can find out more Here or search NHS jobs with the term apprenticeship...
Not just clinical, project managers, IT. Estates.... The NHS is a huge employer and we are getting older and sicker so need to expand the workforce...

Thank you. I do love threads like these as they are so hopeful and full of non-judgement (although one comment crept in, I see).
I am looking to do volunteering but the lack of references is a problem.

Best of luck to you.

It's 3 yr degree (or 2yrs masters if you have the right first degree).
All but 2 on my course were mature students. Many came in following access courses.

A L3 qualification was required - within the last 5 years so even people changing careers from graduate professions needed to redo the L3.

There are full time and part time degrees and degree apprenticeships.

Depending on where you are in the country the NHS options might be limited. I just used the NHS apprenticeship search tool and there was absolutely nothing at all available within a 25 mile radius and only 3 within a supposedly 50 mile radius (I’m in Kent and one of the 3 options was in Ipswich!)

Thank you, not doable for me unfortunately.

Like with anything I think OP and others on the thread need to think about their priorities and what they can and will negotiate on. Is there going to be an amazingly well paid, flexible, WFH job with training available to progress up the pay scales? No probably not.
You can choose jobs or retraining opportunities to give you better opportunities. Or you
might have a burning desire to work in a particular area or role.
Very rarely do the two go together. I didn’t choose social work for the money. I work way over my hours, it’s very non family friendly. My friend trained as an underwriter, she’s on near 70k, completely from home. But it’s taken time and experience.
I think flexibility is key. For an employer to invest in you, they need to feel you’re committed and in it for the long haul.

@somewhereoverthechipshop I searched "ADHD job" and this thread popped up. I'm mid-40s and just got my diagnosis, and could have written your OP. It's been interesting, and hopeful, reading the replies here. So just wondering, almost 12 months on, did you manage to find something suitable? Something you enjoy and fits your brain and family?