No experience earning £25k

[DontGoogleBlueWaffle]

I earn roughly this much, I'm a busy secretary and have been all my life. If one day (if I'm ever brave enough) I wanted a complete change - for example far away from a ringing phone - is there anything without taking a paycut?

I am not trained in anything specific, no degree and as an extra challenge I don't have a fuck load of confidence either though apparently I'm great at what I do...

So that'll be a no then 🙄

You posted less than an hour ago, give it a chance.

Well, make a list of your transferable skills.

What do you want to do?

Be a Train driver ! £40 k plus ...hmmm ...where do i sign up ..

You could maybe earn £20k plus a company car in a field sales role. You'd need to have strong communication and influencing skills tho. If you were good, there's a career path.

Sales rep....but might not get you away from the phones

We've had people transfer into our team internally from an admin/secretary position, then work their way up. Would this be something you could do in your company? I.e. comms, HR, Procurement, Facilities, Finance, etc?

And just apply for roles externally, even if you dont think you stand a chance of getting the job. I've taken on people in the past who just wanted a chance - they sold themselves in their application and excelled at interview by demonstrating their work ethic, transferable skills etc.

Loathe sales, I would loathe talking bullshit all day, I've come to hate the sound of a ringing phone constantly irritating me to be honest. I only realised how introverted I was a couple of years ago and I can't really retrain on anything now as it's too late and I can't take the paycut.

I'm very organised and good with deadlines etc but I'm thinking more away from an office altogether and doing something more outdoors but I've no other experience (or skills that I know of really) so I'm probably just dreaming.

Sorry to have wasted your time x

Never apologise for dreaming, especially if it means stretching to new challenges.

Im afraid I don't really have any other advice though, I think you need to try to narrow down what you would want to do, even to a vague idea.
What you want from it, I know you said outdoorsy, so do you mean helping in a nature/woodland area etc or dog walking etc...

Or perhaps look on the open University at modules that interest you, then see what career paths they could potentially open up if you followed it up to a diploma /
degree level etc.

Good luck though 👍🏼

If you want to do some work outside then have a think about the 'outdoorsy' businesses near you. Let's say you live north of London, for example. Are there national trust properties nearby? What tourism businesses are there?
Let's say you live in a Scottish city, what travel and hospitality businesses are there? Luxury hotels history type organisations... you get the idea.

Think about the kind of 'job lifestyle' you'd like and then what businesses / organisations work in that field.

Job titles are made up for everyone apart from doctors / lawyers / gardeners!

What kind of secretary are you? I've known a number of medical secretaries go on to do nurse training (I did it the other way around).

I do love animals and being around nature etc, I guess I just assume to do anything in that area would be specific and something you'd have to have certain experience or qualifications in. Tree surgeons or zooologists etc.

If I did move to another secretarial role I'd prefer to be in a smaller environment in an office by myself etc as opposed to big and open plan.

Funnily enough I've done so many of those "what job fits your personality" tests and they all tell me it's what I'm already doing! 😊

Well, why not look at secretarial options in vet surgeries, small zoos, etc? But the salaries may be less than you’re used to...

I was a secretary working in local government. I moved around a bit to see which departments I liked. I was then offered training because I moved to admin. I eventually became a professional education Officer and MCIPD (HR). However I fought hard for a career change. I do, though, think local government is a good place to start and build up to a different career.

Think about your transferable skills and what you would be good at. Stop worrying about the type of office. Many are open plan. The pensions are still good and the jobs can be interesting. One area of work I did for a bit was clerking governing bodies of schools. Out and about, meeting lots of people and using secretarial skills. There will be something you like.

I can't really retrain on anything now as it's too late and I can't take the paycut.

Why is it too late? And there could be other options beyond a full-time day course - it might not mean giving up work.

I worked full time. Did twilight sessions. Also got half day release eventually. You have to see what’s out there.