What next

[Thefajita]

I’m approaching 40 and despite having a degree I’ve never had a serious career. In my twenties, largely due to a lack of direction and self-belief I worked admin jobs. I was always conscientious and did well but never really progressed due to lack of opportunities. I then had a family and didn’t really have the energy or the need for a better paid job.
Now my children are at/approaching secondary school and I’m finding my current part-time, work from home job unfulfilling, to the point I’m not really applying myself and am doing the bare minimum. I’d like to do something more rewarding but I don’t know where to start. I’d generally consider myself to be a doer rather than an ideas person. I thrive off structure and routine, I enjoy working in a team but not face to face with customers etc. I’d happily consider training, courses etc. in my spare time.
Is anybody able to give any suggestions either on suitable career areas, or any tools that can be used to help me to plan what to do next? Thanks

Could you return to education? A felt a little adrift once my youngest dc was at high school but I’ve just completed an access course and I’m now in my first year at university.

I would consider this but I don’t really know what I would study. I’d only want to do this if I was sure that I would get a good return for the effort and cost of studying.

What was your degree? Would you consider teaching through Schools Direct or Teach First where you train on the job? Would you consider paying a consultant who could review your skills and suggest areas of work? I often see local ads for office managers. Would that suit you?

An office manager could be something to consider as I have plenty of office experience and am organised and pretty good with people. Teaching is not something I’d like to do.
That’s a good idea about using a consultant, thanks.

Would you be interested in finance/accountancy? There are courses you can do part/time to gain the necessary qualifications
Sorry I'm not in that field so can't advise on specific qualifications but my friend qualified as a management accountant that route. Once she'd done 1st level qualification she got an entry level finance job and kept studying part-time until fully qualified

@Thefajita to start with the depressing fact, which is you have 20+ years to retirement. The positive is that this is the ideal time to start a career, you can do another degree, a masters, completely change career etc.

In your shoes I would do a number of things:

• https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/ use the national careers service to a) identify your skills and knowledge, particularly those that are transferrable b) to consider what you enjoy doing and how that fits to potential careers c) look at training, be it a qualification, apprenticeship etc. d)draft an up to date CV.
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/free-courses-for-jobs I know you are working but these courses are about where there is or will be a shortage of trained people .
• investigate the impact of AI on jobs, what jobs will there be in 10-15 years.
• work out what you enjoy doing, what gives you satisfaction. You spend a lot of time at work so do something you enjoy.
• accept not everyone has a vocation, to some work is work to others it’s a career or if they are lucky a vocation.