New career

[Tenfish]

I have made the decision that I need to find a new career, after a period of ill health. I've only ever worked as a doctor, but sadly have come to realise it's not a field I can work in any longer.

I'm 39, and have 2 kids, aged 2 and 7. My partner is supportive, and though things would be tight we would manage on one income.

I live in Devon, and with my partners job and our daughter's school, relocation is not really an option.

I've scoured job sites, but nothing seems like something I can apply for given my quite specific qualifications and work history.

I'm quite low on confidence after my illness, and also generally after working for the NHS. I worry that all employers are as brutal, and that I have nothing to offer a prospective employer anyway.

I've resigned myself to probably having to do a new degree, if only to see if I could be considered for non healthcare related jobs, but wondered if anyone had any advice or examples of people who managed to make a late life extreme career change?

Thank you

Do you have something in mind that you’d like to do?

nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/discover-your-skills-and-careers

this could be helpful to give you some ideas if not?

I'm a bit uncertain. I know I'd like to do something which has lower stress and responsibility, where I'm not directly responsible for other people's safety. I ideally would do something which still helps others. My general interests are more aligned to things like history, philosophy, psychology, but I'm not sure how useful any of that is for finding a job. I've been encouraged by family and others to maybe pursue some education in a field I find interesting, perhaps whilst being primary carer for our kids, but I feel that without a clear direction towards paid work I'd feel guilty, and like I was wasting time.

If you’ve got the opportunity to retrain in something then I’d say push aside any feelings of guilt and grab that opportunity. It’s important to make an informed decision about what to train in though so you don’t waste the opportunity. Could you do some volunteering to try and figure it out or speak to a careers adviser!

That was meant to be a question mark at the end sorry not an exclamation mark

I've had an assessment from a careers psychologist, but it didn't clarify too much beyond being told that my psychometric tests indicated I could do well in a wide range of fields. I've considered volunteering, most opportunities near me are around things like food banks or National Trust, which I'm sure I'd enjoy but can't see how they could lead to a career. I did get accepted on to a local SCITT to train as a chemistry teacher, but at the time I was still quite unwell, and I'd worry about going into teaching as the impression I get is that unless you are certain about it it's not a great idea.

Could you use your medical experience as a way into a different role - occupational health advisor, nutritionist, first aid training type thing?

Have you considered medico legal work? I know a doctor who left the NHS and now works advising insurance companies on clinical negligence claims. Much better hours and whilst it's still a professional role, no one's health is risked by their actions.

That sounds interesting. It's not something I'd considered, but I'll look into it. Do you know if they had to do further qualifications?

I don't think so. There are courses but they tend to be for experts doing the reports for Court. You wouldn't be able to do those as you're no longer practising. It's more of an in house role where you would provide general opinion, review records etc.

Look at the Judicial Appointments Commission website - they advertise fairly routinely for doctors for tribunal panels.

Have you considered medical writing? Those roles can often be hybrid or home based.