AIBU to consider a degree instead of full time work while struggling to find a job?

[Karma1387]

I'm hoping the hive mind of mumsnet may have some suggestions on what I should do to improve my life.

I am looking to return to full time work (if I can afford to) after my maternity leave ends but the job market just seems super super tough. I need a 9-5 Monday-Friday job but everything I find online wants people with years of experience.

I want to improve my kids lives but it is looking impossible at the moment. Am I better off going and doing a degree and praying the job market is better in 3 years?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated as I feel a bit stuck but the world is crazy expensive and I have a lot of debt and I know the longer I'm not in a proper job the harder it is going to be to get into one.

But whilst I understand your post where exactly does that leave me? Does that really mean at 29 I can't get back into a well paying job because I can't be as flexible as those younger than me?

I have already been accepted but I am having second thoughts on if it is the right thing to do or if I am being silly and just wasting 3 years. Hence the post.

Yes. You have 2 children. You have poor Alevels and limited experience.

You need 9-5. You have no flexibility.

Of course you're not going to be in the running compared to someone who is flexible, has no commitments and decent qualifications/experience.

Misusing degree funding just for day to day expenses is ridiculous.

Is the pay bad? Compared to what? Compared to what your on now? Or your pension or trying to get a 9-5 job. Or being able have the holidays off with your kids but full on work during term time? And yes you would do a degree but your asking about doing one anyway.

No degree is going is going to give you an instant solution as soon as you have finished it.

I am very aware of all of that. Although not sure about misusing degree funding if there is the possibility of it improving my career prospects.

People are suggesting totally unsuitable careers for someone with CCD, 2 very small children and no flexibility.

Teaching - no way. Healthcare - no chance.

Work on getting more hours in retail where you are now.

Possibly something for me to look into and see if it can be done without any long placements.

I haven't ever considered teaching as it isn't something that has ever appealed to me but may be worth exploring. Thank you.

Why are they unsuitable with CCD?

Unfortunately more hours isn't an option in retail due to weekend requirement and early mornings/late evenings.

Hence looking for a more hours friendly career.

Because we should aspire to better for our teachers.

Besides which the OP doesn't want to do 'long placements'

Interested to know why no teaching? Don't get me wrong it isnt something I particularily want to do although I am at the point where I will have to do something I have no interest in. But considering I have been accepted onto an accounting degree, I can't see any reason I wouldn't get accepted onto a teaching degree?

It isn't about not wanting to do long placements. I have to keep my part time job otherwise I can't pay my bills! So I would have to book holiday for placements and obviously only get 6 weeks a year.

Don’t do an accounting degree for accounting AAT is much cheaper, quicker and a professional qualification. You can self study or do it at a local FE college. To get experience volunteer for a community group doing their admin and finance. Entry level role for industry would be accounts payable not much more than minimum wage but once your in you can progress.

I'm sorry but 'better for our teachers' I taught myself my A levels whilst suffering with severe depression so I was bloody proud of those grades. I am capable of much higher but life isn't always up for playing ball.

Yes because so many people are queueing up to do it.
And all teachers have great A Levels.

Yeah AAT is what I have been looking at. Is doing small bits like that enough in terms of experience? I could probably do my dads and sisters admin and finance if I knew what I was doing.

I have no issue being on minimum wage. We have to start somewhere when changing career!

While it may be true in some industries and with some unscrupulous employers, I assure you I had zero issues getting a job as a 37 year-old "fresh" graduate. It all depends on the demand (there was a huge shortage of AHPs when I graduated, you were basically guaranteed a job no matter what) and many employers, especially in clinical field, value and appreciate a weathered 30-something with life experience which allows them to develop therapeutic relationships with patients and cope with the demands of the job way better than most 21-year-olds ever could.

Age is not an issue. The issue is that OP wants to do a degree without seemingly having any passion for the subject. It sounds like anything will do from teaching to law as long as the money is coming in. While I appreciate the desperation to get out financial trouble, this just isn't a good way to go about it.
Honestly, at this point I would advise to get a quick vocational nvq (yes, self funded!). Something like a massage therapist or nail tech. I earned more being self-employed waxer (albeit in London) in my 20s than I do in my professional role. And it only takes a weekend course. About a month or two to train as a massage therapist.

Thank you for the input its really helpful. Whilst that sounds great in theory to just learn to be a massage therapist. Who is employing people who have qualified at a weekend? If you are doing it self employed what are you doing with the kids whilst you are working? I couldn't afford to pay for childcare if I didn't have income? Also where are you doing it? Other peoples houses? What about the cost of equiptment?

It is a great idea in theory but practically its a heck of a lot more complicated.

In your position I would do the level 3 AAT accounting course which would be free via the government 'free courses for adults' scheme. It's one year and would be part time a couple of evenings or days a week so could work ok with the free childcare.

I know you say you have a level 3 but presumably not in accounting?

You can also do it online - various providers but East Sussex college are a good one as they have courses starting every month.

Personally I wouldn't do the degree because it will be so long. By the time you finish you'll be 32 and the starting salaries at the accounting firms are low (not much more than minimum wage) because they will be paying for you to do accounting exams. The degree doesn't actually count for that much other than some exemptions.

Thank you this is helpful.

I wouldn’t go into social work thinking it’s 9-5, the vast majority of practicing social workers work well into the evening doing reports and case work they don’t have time for during the 9-5.

The equipment are your hands. You can pick up a foldable massage couch for under £100 on a marketplace. The outlay is minimal.
For massage courses, you will have some in-person days and you need to practice in-between and do some case studies. It's very flexible. And, as self-employed, you can pick your hours to work around childcare. I assume your partner isn't out of the house 24/7?
Since you have minimal outlay, bar tax, most of what you charge is yours. You can, of course rent a room in a salon if you are worried about your safety but that comes with financial outlay. Again, I can only speak for London but 15 years ago I was charging £60 an hour, that's nearly £40 per hour in your pocket. Even if you do one a week, it's a huge boost to your income and I could do up to 5 on some days.
But more importantly, you get really good at it over time and you will never go hungry even if everything else goes to pot. There is huge value in having a manual skill (which won't be replaced with AI!)

Yeah thats the issue with a lot of jobs like that I have heard. Same with teaching it is apparently a lot of extra in your own time but of course that could just be hearsay its hard to know unless you do the job I guess.

@Karma1387 as others have said - if accounting is what you want, go for the AAT. It will show aptitude for numbers and details, even if you don’t have the experience. You’re 29, start in it now and you’ll have so much time to grow your career. There WILL be roles there for you, don’t let the experience criteria stop you from applying. Don’t end up another 10 years down the line wanting to change career (though you’ll still only be 39 at that point!).

If ARU is your local university, then you must be near Cambridge which is a pretty buoyant job market as things go.

I don't think you have a lot of chance at getting a degree apprenticeship at this point but looking briefly online there so seem to be various lower level business administration/data analyst apprenticeships/HR support in Cambridge including at companies in manufacturing/construction related businesses which might chime with your experience working from your father's company.

The salary will be low initially but it will rise as you qualify. You could then progress onwards to level 6/degree level apprenticeships in time

You aren't going to get a really well paid job initially. But if you can make it through 2 to 3 years of a lower level apprenticeship, you would then be in a higher earning role.

https://www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk/apprenticeship/VAC2000055546

Given you did law A level, I wonder whether something in data protection might be of interest. Probably something that companies will need to continue to keep track of with the rise of AI.
Or perhaps health and safety - lots of advanced manufacturing in Cambridge.
But in both cases they are not going to pay you well on day one.