What career for Dd?

[PinkChaires]

Dd currently researching careers as just finished y11 and needs to pick A Levels. Feeling uninspired. She wanted to do med but current state of the profession puts her off massively. Doesn't want to do engineering ( except possibly biomedical) or tech. Maths isn't her strongest (still 7/8s at gcse). She wants a stimulating, high paying and fulfilling career. Any ideas?

I forgot that she said she would hate an office job ( as in sitting down staring at a screen for 8 hoirs)

What about med is putting her off? Would she be interested in an adjacent program like radiology (diagnostic or therapeautic) or pharmacology?

I would suggest googling "careers in stem" and "nhs careers" and see where that leads you. There's so many options she could look at.

Why does she need to pick a specific career now?

It seems like she's interested in medical sciences types of work. If she knows the rough field she'd like to work in, can't she just choose A-levels that'd support her into this field in a general sense?

Pick the 3 she likes best out of the STEM subjects, and that will likely keep doors open? Chemistry seems to be the linking subject for many things.

Well, she doesn't want to pick for example bio chem maths only to find out she may need physics or further for example. Med - the reality of being a doctor, working conditions, low pay etc

Also she is not adverse to law , but i think would need to pick an essay subject

Low pay as a doctor ?! When you're junior perhaps. The pay progression is rapid and the consultants carpark is full of Jags and Mercs. If she expects a 6 figure salary out of med school but virtually career pays new graduates of anything that much. Maybe finance but she hates office work having never tried it.

She's already talked herself out of med so shelve it.

Why is her mum asking mumset for careers advice? She should do what she wants to do at a level and then figure it out.

You have to be really committed to Medicine, and demonstrate this on the application. She could do Biomed or Bioengineering and perhaps pick up Medicine or a related field later if she wants. Maths is likely to be more expected than Physics.

I'm a solicitor and I'm in the kitchen making coffee having just got up from my desk after 2 hours solid. I won't leave until gone 6pm tonight having sat at a desk all day.

Your dd would hate an office job you said. Unless she does criminal law and she could be out at court but they generally pay very little.

Or a barrister but pupillage is like gold dust and the pay is very low at the start and doctors pay is too low for your daughter.

She wants a stimulating, high paid and fulfilling career.
she would hate an office job.

I mean it's good to aim high! But almost everyone wants these things! And not many careers are going to tick all of those boxes, plus she's ruled out the obvious suggestions.

Honestly the way I'd approach this is to park the idea of identifying the career right now, follow her interests and get the highest quality degree she can so she has options at the end of it. I'd also look at ways she can develop her leadership skills if she is ambitious. It could come down to finding the right role within a company rather than a specific career per se.

I mean it's good to aim high! But almost everyone wants these things! And not many careers are going to tick all of those boxes, plus she's ruled out the obvious suggestions.

Exactly. She sounds quite unrealistic as if she wants a huge salary without having to do much work for it.

Medicine is too low paid (lol) and too hard, office work doesn't appeal ruling out law, finance, accountancy, etc.

High paid and rewarding careers all come with sacrifice.

I would say biomed, it's pretty obvious to go into lab work but also sales in industry.

I think you need to do some research yourself into what you need to do to become a consultant. The UK is a shit place for a doctor nowadays .Also, i am asking for careers advice because i dont have any experience and would like to help her.

Yeah thats what i thought about law, i think that realistically shes going to have to compromise massively and pick whats important to her

Chartered Surveyor...? Lucrative in a big firm, not tied to a desk, and depending on her area of interest is very varied. Great opportunities for travel too.

(My brother is a surgeon - has actively discouraged my four children from going anywhere near medicine/the NHS)

If she's looking at both medicine and law, it doesn't sound like she is actually passionate about either and instead likes status and how impressive it is at this age to be on the path for either. This is fine, but I work at a medical school and these are the kids that fail to thrive once they get there.

What about dentistry - it has the pay and high grades of medicine but without the hard work junior doctor years.

That's funny! One of my long term partners was a consultant at a top hospital and yes I saw him work up to that.

Why are you even asking if that's your view and hers of medicine.

She's 17? Honestly choose a levels she enjoys and is good at and then figure it out. I decided I wanted to be a solicitor at 21 having done a non law degree. There's no need for this panic.

This is a good website - you can browse by sector

https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles

Forensic science of some kind?
Physiotherapy? Audiology? Pharmaceutical research and development?

Thanks ill tell her to research this

I don't think you're wrong really- i mean she is 16 but I think theres an element she/we don't know a ton of people with a range of careers. As she grew up on the breadline financial stability is very ( and probably the most) important to her and when she thinks of what jobs may lead her to achieve that, these come to mind

Just to say about the maths GCSE grade, if she is a 7 then she potentially comes out with a much lower grade at A level than if she gains an 8. I will refer you to this post by noble who teaches maths and I will also say if she doesn't particularly like maths or any subject for that matter only having 3 subjects means she will spend a lot of time on those subjects both in college and on homework.

Best to choose subjects she loves because ultimately this is also about the final A level grades and where that can take her after A levels.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/secondary/4007205-How-maths-GCSE-result-predicts-A-level-maths-result-important-for-grade-6-7

What about physics, chemistry, maths? Not all universities require biology A level for medicine ( at least 20 don’t). So she’d still be leaving that as a potential option after another year to think about things. I totally agree with you that medicine is not an attractive choice anymore. Teens with A*-A s at A level should do something ( anything) else.

Sorry, just seen she’s not keen on maths. What are her favourite subjects.

Thanks, shes currently not keen on maths a level. Wants to do bio,chem,psychology as all three are favourites at gcse but is aware thats not having maths would close doors so thats why she wants to have an idea of what career