Would I be mad to quit and retrain right now?

[ButNotTonight20]

First of all I know I am lucky to have a job right now but I've been unfurloughed and it's made me realize how much I hate it and how it's just not right for me anymore.

Bit of background. I've been in the same industry for 17 years which is healthcare based with a retail element. I progressed very quickly when first joining and I now have a professional qualification and a supervisory element to my role.

I went back part time after the birth of each of my two children and I feel like I've never caught up to the same standard I was when I was full time. People have joined the organisation and overtaken me in skills and knowledge since I've had children.

My confidence in my ability and knowledge to do my job is at rock bottom and I've been experiencing severe anxiety and panic attacks related to work. I don't think I am respected in the team and that they realise I am not as on the ball as I should be.

The problem is compounded by me being unable to work more hours than I do (16) because I would be unable to afford more childcare to work more hours and my boss has turned down requests to be flexible. I feel like if I could work more hours I could build my skills up again.

I just don't feel like I suit the job anymore and that it doesn't suit me either. I need to do something else but I have no idea what. I'm 39 so I should have years of working life left. But where do I even begin to retrain when this is the only job I've ever known and can I find something that can be flexible?!

It's not too late to retrain!

What would you like to do?

I retrained in my mid 20s as a nurse, I still love my job 13 years later.

Are you a pharmacist?

You're certainly not too old to retrain. I really wouldn't worry about whether now was the right time to or not. If you need to get out of your current role then you need to get out.

I could have written your post and just came on here to see if anyone else is feeling like me!

Also work in healthcare, have done the job for 10 yrs with children in between, and feel like I'm always playing catch up. There is so much extra to do outside of the actual role (CPD, supervision, training etc etc) and I'm just exhausted by it all. Things are passing me by and I have lost all confidence that I can do the job well.

anyway, I have decided to retrain so just biding my time until I can take the plunge, but I feel much better now I have a plan.

Life is too short to be doing something that makes you miserable, and I don't think it's ever too late to retrain. I'm mid thirties.

Good luck!

Not a pharmacist no but similar field.

I think I'd like to get out of healthcare and customer service in general.
I don't think I could do teaching or nursing although a lot of my family are teachers or nurses!
Something I could do computer based and online would be good. I've thought about IT of some description. I don't want to do another degree.
I also like the idea of setting up an air BnB but don't have the funds.

You do still have such a long time to work so retraining wld be worth it. Problem is that it obviously isn't that easy to do so or people would do it all the time.

You could look at the open university which would make things more flexible to study around your job and family.

If you already have a degree, then you would only get further funding towards any qualifications if they were in STEM subjects, so that might limit your options unless you are able to pay for any qualifications yourself.

Can you afford the pay cut that would probably come from changing industry? If you are a single parent, or your partner isn't on a high salary, you may be eligible for some universal credit which would help you financially while retraining or building a career in a different field.

I moved from sales based employment to office based (transferable skills etc) but it took me around 5 years to get back to the same salary as I was on when I left the old job. I've also been incredibly lucky to get a role that fits around school hours, most employers that I saw would only take people on full time.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm being negative, it is certainly possible to do without too much retraining, however it does mean losing out on something, either money or flexibility.

Take a look at this course. Lots of data analyst job around and reasonable salaries. 4 month data analysis course

@EwwSprouts

Take a look at this course. Lots of data analyst job around and reasonable salaries. 4 month data analysis course

Be careful! I am in this field and these kind of trainings are done on the basis that the ppl taking them are already working in the field and have knowledge. This specific one is a great example of this. Coming from the outside will only set up a person for failure.

Having said that: I'm sure that there are many training options that cater for ppl from 0 knowledge in a field. I'd start with coursera/udemy.

After 20+years in the software industry I am about to start an MSc in psychology for exactly the same reasons: lot of years left ahead of me and I hate my job. (although it pays well)

Become a teacher! We are crying out for science teachers and you will be able to get a part time role.

Do a PGCE first. You will get support for that

Unless you're going to do an unskilled job you'll have to do a bit of retraining.

DH works in IT and is constantly learning/having to keep his certification up to date. It's not cheap but he's very technical and quite well paid so it's worth it.