It's going to be teaching, isn't it?

[Anycrispsleft]

So I live abroad currently, and I haven't been working since we came out here. (I have an 8yo and 6yo.) I want to return to the UK, but I would struggle to return to my old career. I have a science degree. I would like to find a career that would be reasonably tolerant to me being early 40s and returning to work after a career break, something where there is a fair amount of demand for people, and where there are job openings all over the country (my old job was specific to London, and I don't want and can't afford to live there again - ideally I'd like to return to my native Scotland.)
I'm thinking secondary science teaching is probably my best bet. Is there anyone on here who is a secondary school teacher, or can you think of any other careers that would fit my needs? Thank you!

Big 4 accountancy firms run a lot of return to work schemes for women who have been out of the workplace. Not sure if they’d be open right now but worth a read - PwC and Deloitte definitely did them for while. You get training on the job as well.

That might be something, thank you!

Police are recruiting everywhere

Police, really? I don't know if I might be a bit old but I will look into it, thank you

Do you have a teaching qualification?

You’d need a different one to teach in Scotland to the one needed for England.

Seriously, you’d be better off stacking shelves than being a teacher. It’s safer and less hassle, and probably pays the same. If you want to retrain then you could consider podiatry, my friend did a one year course and set up her own small business.

Not too old at all as long as you are under 57. There are a huge amount of roles your science background would be good for such as SOCO (scenes of crime officer) or maybe you could consider a civilian role like a data analyst if front line isn't for you. Your post grad quals mean you could uprank if you wanted, huge options.

I used to be a teacher. Now a police officer, best job in the world

A lot of career changers drop out of teaching. I know only a few who stay. It's really tough to train even when younger.
Go for the big 4 graduate scheme instead of teaching. Have a life! Maybe consider an apprenticeship route into a new job?

The police thing looked really interesting but the Police Scotland website says you need to be resident in the UK for 3 years before taking up a role. I will look into both the SOCO thing (I had a mate from uni who went into forensics with the police actually) and the data science idea. That's come up in a few places actually. Thank you everyone, and any other suggestions are very welcome!

(And tbh I would not even mind shelf stacking if you could get a permanent contract these days...)

Have you considered applying for graduate training schemes? I was put off applying due to my age and how competitive they are, but I applied to the one that interested me and I was offered a place. I am just coming to the end of my two years training now. The majority of applicants are just coming out of university but there are a few of us in my cohort that our mid to late 30s.

Most of the schemes don't ask for a specific degree subject as you do the industry specific qualification as part of the training scheme.