New direction in late forties?

[Labloverrr]

I’d like to change direction but feel it’s too late.

DC are at university and sixth form. I currently run a business which has been successful, however during covid I realised just how risky it can be.

In order to change direction and become employable and to earn a decent wage I’d have to gain qualifications (have only basic secondary from many moons ago)

What careers could I be looking at? What career options are there without university? Or with Open University? If getting a degree were the only way, would you start off with a foundation degree or an access to HE?

Feeling so stuck and unhappy.

Great to see this new section!

You’re exactly the person the board was created for, Labloverrr!

You must have a look at some earlier threads. So many people here have felt the same as you - and quite a few are older than you. (I was when I stumbled over the perfect thing.)

Regarding where to start without a degree - it really will depend completely on what you want to do, and at what level. You won’t know until you make a specific enquiry.

So … What are you interested in? What skills do you have that you’re proudest of? (Yesterday, musing on the sometimes slower brain of middle age, it dawned on me that it really is important at this age to pick a subject you genuinely want to study - because you may not find the mental effort as … effortless as it would have been at 20.)

Have you ever done any personality tests? It would be reckless to rely entirely on the results of any - but the exercise is nevertheless worth it because you’re forced to think, in a structured way, about your values, strengths, weaknesses, tastes and aspirations. I’m thinking of something like Myers Briggs.

Also, until someone arrives with better suggestions, the book ‘What Colour is Your Parachute’ has been a career choice starting point for decades. Again, it’s not perfect but one has to start somewhere.

Thank you @EdmontinaDonsAutumnalHues

It feels like a minefield! But seeing as I still have a good working 15/20 years ahead of me, it doesn’t seem so crazy after all. Especially with a board like this to ease our fears and propel us toward action after thinking about it for so long.

I’m a people person so I was thinking HR or even social work. However the undergraduate social work degree requires you to be in employment in that area, which I’m not.

I shall have a look for that book and have a read to see if it helps narrow down my choices as I’d need to get started ASAP!

Thanks for the advice and food for thought 💐

How about counselling? You need a Level 3 certificate then a Diploma.

@southeastdweller

That does really interest me, however I read it’s quite competitive and not well paid so it turned me off! I’ll look into it later as I really do like the idea, friends and family say I’d be amazing at it.

Thanks 💐

An access course would lead you onto a SW degree. My access was brilliant, best thing I did for myself.

Thanks so much @MeredithMae

Did you have to be in employment related to social work to get on the degree course?

I did the social work Masters, not the undergrad, but had no experience.

(In-thread name change.)

Have you made any progress in your cogitation, OP?

Narrowed things down to any particular course?

Any institutions you need opinions on?

You dont need to be employed in an area to do the Undergraduate (unless you do it with the OU I believe).

Some experience in support/care or just working in a related field would be good on the application form, and some universitie make experience mandatory.