Retraining advice - having second thoughts about plans...

[finallysomesunshine]

I'm 50, and VERY qualified in my 'old' field (academic, humanities). I've taken redundancy and don't want to return to research or teaching in that field.

I was planning to retrain as a psychotherapist/counsellor, but I've had the year from hell, and I'm not sure that I have the stamina or enthusiasm for that any longer - my own reserves feel very depleted. I'm also a bit daunted by what feels like open-ended (and open-walleted) training.

So what shall I do? In an ideal world I'd like work that I can imagine myself going on doing (at decreasing intensity) well into my 70s. I don't need to earn a fortune at it, and I don't think that I want to work full time.

What could I do that I have not thought of doing?

Accountancy
Health professional
Data analyst
Project manager
Editor
Freelance journalist

Here are some suggestions as you haven't given any indication of what you're good at or interested in.

Grant writer. I pitched this one previously to another poster who had non-profit sector experience: you'd be leveraging your academic researching/writing skills and it wouldn't need never-ending training.

Tutor
examiner
notary

Writer. Can you put your academic knowledge to good use and write nonfiction for a general audience?

Also just to note I also work in academia and I can guess what’s led you here. But the last six years I’ve spent at the uni I am at have been absolutely wonderful, and I plan on staying until retirement. Just to say, perhaps a change of scenery?

OP we sound in a similar situation. I am part way through science degree with hope of retraining. Everything I am looking at is very competitive and I am unlikely to ever reach salary I was on before. 47. Last week or so felt confused. Watching with interest. But we are trying, which has to be a plus.

Totally understand where you're coming from. I work in Education at the moment, started retraining however, it doesn't feel right anymore. I'm going to complete the course and see how it feels. It doesn't finish till November so plenty of time.

How about exam invigilator? I know many people who do this and live the flexibility of it. If you get your name down at a sixth form college there's exams and mock exams all the time that need covering

Thank you all! Maybe I should write… tho actually I want PEOPLE in my life, so that doesn’t feel right either.
aaargh.

has anyone trained as a coach? It feels like the coaching schools are where all the work is, and I’m really suspicious of the quackery - and can it actually be a job???

OP, there was a detailed thread on this very topic a while back, including responses from actual life coaches and those who had worked with/alongside them:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5186454-if-youre-a-life-coach-do-you-think-the-sector-is-totally-oversaturated-thinking-of-career-change

@finallysomesunshine Have you made any progress in your decision? I'm in a very similar position looking to change direction to something PT that can take me into retirement. Actually a bit older and due to leave current academic post this Sep. Also looking into coaching (not life - something more specific).

Hiya, no, not much further on! Coaching is such a weird one, and when it comes down to it, I can’t see why I would EVER employ me as a coach, so that seems to close that door! But then it wriggles open again, as the people I know who have done the training have found it SO helpful and interesting, and are just about managing to make a livelihood from it.

What are tou considering?

I'm thinking about health coaching in particular. I've been on a bit of a health kick since serious illness but could still do more so I'm hoping it will be good for me personally as well as coaching others. I'm in a cross interdisciplinary area. I also considered training as a psychotherapist but I just don't have several years of training in me. I think that boat sailed at least 15 years ago. But I want to combine something PT with writing and writing is so solitary I need something else that is peopley. With coaching - I think the way forward is to develop a niche and play to your professional credentials in whatever way possible. I guess if you know a few people to ask about it that's a help. Still thinking about it?

Sounds interesting and as if you could really make this work. I do have a coachable ‘slot’ too, but it’d keep me in a particular part of my life that I’ve managed to move on from, and would rather not keep going back to! Tricky!