Feeling lost and unsure of options!

[Eisenberg]

I am 38 and have a wealth of experience in administrative roles within the public sector. I have 10 GCSEs, but no other qualifications as I started working at 16.

For the past 9 years, I have worked within the NHS in an Office Co-ordinator role. Unfortunately, this job doesn't satisfy me in either terms of enjoyment or pay. I am desperate to leave and to find more enjoyable (and hopefully more profitable work.)

What other career paths are available to me that wouldn't require years of studying? I would be willing to do a short course if necessary.

Do you want to stay in an admin role or have a complete change? All of your admin skills are valuable in a broad range of occupations. If you fancy a complete change, what sort of thing would you find enjoyable? What interests you most?

The national careers service has a range of skills assessments you could do to identify strengths and suggest possible career paths. You can also book a consultation with an adviser to talk through some options.

Social work?
Probation service?
Tech?
Civil Service role with better prospects for advancement?

Thanks for your reply.

Ideally I would like to move away from admin as I have never particularly enjoyed any of my previous roles, which also includes working in the civil service.

I am really not sure what I would like to do next or what is available without studying for years.

I noticed you mentioned Tech in your list of suggested sectors. What kind of jobs in that field would be open to me?

I mention tech because there are lots of free online training resources you could access if you're interested in that area - you probably have good IT skills already that you could build on. Code First Girls is a good place to look - they have a range of free courses (in things like web development, Python, data etc) that could give you a taster. I just did the Intro to Data and SQL course, which was suitable for beginners, and on the back of that I've signed up for a longer Kickstarter course.

They also offer a "CFG degree" which is a more intensive course, some of which are sponsored by employers who offer a job at the end of it. They are recruiting for this at the moment, so you could have a look at the types of roles on offer to get an idea.

What haven't you liked about admin? Maybe analysing what you don't like might help to guide you towards other ideas that could be a better fit?

I know nothing at all about it, @Eisenberg - but there’s a long CFG thread here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students/4742825-cfg-degree?reply=126129553

Might be helpful?

Thanks for the info regarding CFG. I did briefly try learning Python with a free course during lockdown and it wasn't really my thing.

In terms of what I don't like about admin I would say the bureaucracy associated with working in the public sector, office politics, boring work as well as relatively poor pay and prospects.

To be brutal, @Eisenberg I’d imagine that more and more admin is likely to be taken over by AI, anyway - and if you want to improve your pay and prospects you’re going to need a more advanced qualification just to get through the first round of sifting for any job with vaguely competitive entry.

That might be galling after all your years of employment - but you have so many working decades left, and it would be miserable to always lose out to people half your age with A’ Levels and degrees.

I’d suggest you find a careers advisor who can guide you to the best options. And of course look through threads here which might offer inspiration.

@MetaDaughter Thanks. I know I need to upskill, but it is hard deciding on a route to take when I have no idea what I really want to do for a living.

That’s where dedicated careers advice will help! Truly. They’ll assess all your current skills, values, untapped talents, run psychometric tests (some would say outdated but they force you to think about who you really are) and consider all that alongside your domestic and logistical and financial situation.

Then they might suggest looking at an Access course in your nearest city, or a horticultural apprenticeship a 100 miles away, or an online TEFL course, or applying for an embroidery course in - I dunno, Marseille. Who knows? But you won’t get further unless you take a step. Inspiration won’t come from sitting and waiting. (Trust me on this. Very, very different situation but I’ve been there with the indecision and not knowing … You have to do something to disrupt the status quo, even if it’s just a tiny thing.)

Apprenticeships with the Civil Service.

Agree with @MetaDaughter - seek some careers advice (National Careers Service offers one to one appointments to explore options - this includes identifying skills, interests and possible careers based on the results).

What Colour is my Parachute might be useful? I haven't read it myself but I have seen it mentioned on MN.

Do you like the idea of being your own boss? WFH? Something related to a hobby or interest?

Another way of approaching this could be to look at what skills are in demand, which sectors have plentiful employment opportunities with decent pay and benefits - look at the job descriptions and see how you might match up.

Thanks all.

@Turkeyhen I do have a copy of 'What Colour is my Parachute?' from over 10 years ago. I didn't find it any more helpful than the Skills and Interests assessments that the National Careers Service offers.

I do like the idea of WFH and/or being my own boss.

There's a thread running at the moment called something like "If you wfh, what do you do?" that might throw out some ideas.

I will check that out now.

Have you got a link to that thread, please? I have tried searching for it to no avail.

I think it must be this one (I hadn't remembered the 50k bit)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4922827-if-you-are-fully-wfh-or-almost-and-earn-around-ps50k-what-do-you-do