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Mature study and retraining

Talk to other Mumsnetters who are considering a career change or are mature students.

Original poster

I need a 'proper job' but no idea what!

19 replies

rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 15:03

Currently on mat leave and due to go back November. It's in catering and there's no career progression but I only work 3 days a week and finish at midday (very early start) so good for childcare. It was a stop gap job as I left my career in the NHS as I hated it and had to get out. I have a advanced apprenticeship and HND in electrical engineering but as I said, absolutely hate it and have no desire to go back and do even a similar job or the same job but private sector.

I'm aware I need to get a 'proper' job but no idea what. I'll have to retrain and probably get a degree won't I? But what can I do? I'd considered teaching but reading on here all teachers are leaving their jobs as it's that awful. I love my job as a cook but as it's low wage, is there anything career based I can do with this? Teaching at catering college if I got a teaching qualification? Or move away from food completely? What jobs pay well and I can retrain as an adult with a small child?

OP posts:
Rummikub · 23/07/2023 15:18

What was your nhs role?

What did you hate about it and the electrical engineering role?

I would check out teaching by shadowing/ work exp in a school. To either rule it in or out.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 15:27

Rummikub · 23/07/2023 15:18

What was your nhs role?

What did you hate about it and the electrical engineering role?

I would check out teaching by shadowing/ work exp in a school. To either rule it in or out.

It was medical engineering so fixing/ servicing medical equipment. I just wasn't suited to it, I found the electrical engineering side of it excruciatingly boring and hated sitting at a desk in the basement of a hospital. And working in a small department of people who hated where they worked was soul destroying, there was lots of bullying and bitching.

Shadowing is a good idea thank you.

OP posts:
continentallentil · 23/07/2023 15:30

what about a food scientist type role (or whatever they call people who develop food/meals for supermarkets) - food and health are growth areas I imagine, and judging by your qualification I am guessing you’re scientifically minded.

Before your Mat leave ends, would you consider trialing a micro food business from home, like making family meals for people’s freezers or something? If that appeals do a google for how to do marketing research to see where the gaps might be. (I am pretty sure the world is drowning in cakes so it probably isn’t that.)

Career shifters is quite a good organisation so have a look at that, some professional coaching advice will probably be useful so you know you want to do it, it will earn you what you need, and there is enough opportunity.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 15:33

continentallentil · 23/07/2023 15:30

what about a food scientist type role (or whatever they call people who develop food/meals for supermarkets) - food and health are growth areas I imagine, and judging by your qualification I am guessing you’re scientifically minded.

Before your Mat leave ends, would you consider trialing a micro food business from home, like making family meals for people’s freezers or something? If that appeals do a google for how to do marketing research to see where the gaps might be. (I am pretty sure the world is drowning in cakes so it probably isn’t that.)

Career shifters is quite a good organisation so have a look at that, some professional coaching advice will probably be useful so you know you want to do it, it will earn you what you need, and there is enough opportunity.

Ooh a food scientist sounds interesting! I'm always playing about with growing or fermenting things 🤣.

Everyone keeps telling me to set up from home but we've only recently moved house and our kitchen is 50 years old and vile so not really suitable to do outside catering from. Plus we have 2 dogs that sleep in there overnight so I wouldn't get a food hygiene cert from the council. But thanks a lot for the suggestions, will check out career shifters!

OP posts:
CC4712 · 23/07/2023 15:35

I was going to suggest teaching cooking/catering. Could you teach adults cooking skills? How long would the teacher training take for that? Do you enjoy teaching/cooking?

I assume you wouldn't want to be an electrician? You might get lots of female or clients and be in demand

What did you do in the NHS? What did you hate about it? My friend is an osteopath. I used to attend a clinic where the senior students treated patients under supervision. The vast majority were mature students, some with previous degrees and unrelated careers sometimes. The course can be full or part time. Once qualified, you can rent rooms and set your days. Or convert a garden room/garage to work from.

My friend has an online booking system- and opens slots around school pick up etc. She also did an additional module for animal osteopathy. She goes to stables once a month a does a 'rider and horse' session, and also treats cats and dogs. She charges £60 for the initial consultation and £50 for 30min follow up sessions for humans.

CC4712 · 23/07/2023 15:39

Would you have space for a large garden room or converted garage to teach cooking in there? Bread making, pasta making, fish skills (filleting etc), cooking for 1, veggie/vegan/less meat etc?

Rummikub · 23/07/2023 16:42

It sounds like the issue was with the work environment rather than electrical engineering. Would it be worth considering other employers of electrical engineers?

To teach catering at college you would usually require a qualification / lots of experience but then you can gain your post 16 teaching qual whilst your teaching. Search for bank hours in teaching at college.

Original poster
rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 20:04

CC4712 · 23/07/2023 15:35

I was going to suggest teaching cooking/catering. Could you teach adults cooking skills? How long would the teacher training take for that? Do you enjoy teaching/cooking?

I assume you wouldn't want to be an electrician? You might get lots of female or clients and be in demand

What did you do in the NHS? What did you hate about it? My friend is an osteopath. I used to attend a clinic where the senior students treated patients under supervision. The vast majority were mature students, some with previous degrees and unrelated careers sometimes. The course can be full or part time. Once qualified, you can rent rooms and set your days. Or convert a garden room/garage to work from.

My friend has an online booking system- and opens slots around school pick up etc. She also did an additional module for animal osteopathy. She goes to stables once a month a does a 'rider and horse' session, and also treats cats and dogs. She charges £60 for the initial consultation and £50 for 30min follow up sessions for humans.

I would really like to do that! I'll look into how long it takes to get a QTLS or if I need a PGCE too. I did a 3 day training course in baking at a prison and really enjoyed that so that would be another option to explore. I really love teaching and cooking and food is where my passion lies!

No I really don't want to do anything electrician based, I cannot stress how much I hate it 😂. And I was an electrical engineer in the NHS. Just found it really boring, no work satisfaction, didn't enjoy the structure of the work, found working in the NHS really frustrating and just didn't suit me. But that's really interesting about your friend! I also have horses and was wondering about a horse based career but we have loads of equine physios (and I'd have to do a human physio degree first) and they're always advertising so think they struggle for business. I would LOVE to do an equine podiatry course and trim hooves but my back is fucked and all the foot trimmers I know are retiring because of bad backs so definitely not an option for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 20:05

CC4712 · 23/07/2023 15:39

Would you have space for a large garden room or converted garage to teach cooking in there? Bread making, pasta making, fish skills (filleting etc), cooking for 1, veggie/vegan/less meat etc?

I have the space but not the money at the minute but that's an interesting idea thank you!

OP posts:
Original poster
rickandmorts · 23/07/2023 20:08

Rummikub · 23/07/2023 16:42

It sounds like the issue was with the work environment rather than electrical engineering. Would it be worth considering other employers of electrical engineers?

To teach catering at college you would usually require a qualification / lots of experience but then you can gain your post 16 teaching qual whilst your teaching. Search for bank hours in teaching at college.

I've been out of it a few years now so I'm worried I've forgotten loads but my training/ HND was tailored to medical engineering so if I got another job it'd be in another hospital so it would be very similar. And I think things have only got worse in the NHS since I left 😬. But I might look at sales/ training of new products, I think that's quite well paid.. Thank you, I will look up our local college and see if they have anything!

OP posts:
MouseTheDog · 23/07/2023 20:11

I’d definitely look at teaching in FE/community etc. many FE colleges will allow people with vocational experience to start teaching/assessing and then do their qualifications alongside. If you look at some FE adverts you will see ‘have or be willing to work towards a teaching qual’

Rummikub · 23/07/2023 20:12

Might be worth looking at PM roles in engineering/ technical firms.

If you did want to stay in engineering but not medical then perhaps studying with open uni could help with that shift.

CC4712 · 23/07/2023 20:17

Another idea- taking people on foraging walks and tips on how to cook the things collected? Not a full time thing, but just another idea.

I have pink, elder champagne brewing from last month and slow gin from last year. I'd love to find someone locally that does a foraging walk.

4weeknoalcohol · 23/07/2023 20:19

Practice practice practice and go on bake off or master chef 👩‍🍳

CC4712 · 23/07/2023 21:24

*Sloe gin, not slow!

Bunnyannesummers · 24/07/2023 19:21

What about using your engineering background in the private sector? Big pharma, medical devices, that sort of thing? There would be roles that aren’t engineering, but that your specific knowledge would equip you for

cafesandbookshops · 26/07/2023 07:11

OP have you thought about retraining as a dietician in the NHS? Or working as a nutritionist advising others about their diet?

Davina69 · 04/08/2023 21:17

continentallentil · 23/07/2023 15:30

what about a food scientist type role (or whatever they call people who develop food/meals for supermarkets) - food and health are growth areas I imagine, and judging by your qualification I am guessing you’re scientifically minded.

Before your Mat leave ends, would you consider trialing a micro food business from home, like making family meals for people’s freezers or something? If that appeals do a google for how to do marketing research to see where the gaps might be. (I am pretty sure the world is drowning in cakes so it probably isn’t that.)

Career shifters is quite a good organisation so have a look at that, some professional coaching advice will probably be useful so you know you want to do it, it will earn you what you need, and there is enough opportunity.

Career shifters is just a money making scam. They charge £65 for a 'consultation' which is rubbish and offers little practical advice

Rummikub · 04/08/2023 22:27

@Davina69 what happened with career shifters? Was it for just one session?

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