Careers that "help" but that also have a lot of progression.

[NeverHomeAlone]

I am early 30's. I have been successfully working away at a job that is largely about cosmetics. I have reached the top of what this career can offer and I also feel unfulfilled by the nature of the work. I have done a lot of work on myself and my values lately and I recognise that I am an altruistic person, I get a lot of satisfaction out of helping others, but I am also ambitious. All of my qualifications are vocational and related to my current job, so I will be starting a new career form scratch. I do have experience as a foster carer though.

I would like ideas for careers that I can really sink my teeth into, something with progression and opportunities to gain further qualifications and training, but something that involves helping people.

I've been looking about online, but a lot of caring careers have very limited career progression. I volunteer for an organisation that welcomes refugees and I've applied for a role helping refugees find support when they enter the country.

I don't have a degree, and I feel this holds me back a lot. There are apprenticeship type jobs that put you through a degree but a lot are aimed at people under 24 years old.

I have finished having children and we can scrape by on my DHs income, so I'm in an ok position to look at this now, I feel.

@Winecheesesleep it's worth putting through a salary calculator, our pension contributions are relatively low (and they put the equivalent of 27% in so the package is likely bigger than what you have now).

@userg5647 good point! My pension has always been low unfortunately so that's something I really need to think about for my next role.

I second civil service. I work for ACAS, at G8 but shortly to become a G7 after less than 2 years (although I do have lots of relevant experience outside ACAS). Pension is fantastic. It's basically priced me out of leaving the civil service at age 48!

I really feel like I'm helping at ACAS, I help resolve pay disputes and prevent strikes, as well as training managers how to be better managers.

Great thread!

Occupational Therapy if there's a course near you? The Royal College of OTs operate in all 4 nations and might be able to advise you.

Any AHP option might suit you though, speech and language, dietitian, orthoptist, pharmacy, physician assistant etc. All offer decent progression without the need to invest quite so much time in qualifying as medics, often more sociable hours than nursing and junior doc roles too and many have options to work in either acute (hospital) or non-acute settings depending on what suits you. Lots to choose from!