Career changing into a non-office job

[Tearoom]

Has anybody done this?
I’m mid-30s and want to get out of the office life. I’ve worked in corporate-type environments all my life and want to do something that feels like real work, maybe something with my hands or where I feel like I’m helping people.
But I also need to earn enough to pay my share of the mortgage/bills/childcare etc.
So far I haven’t been able to find anything that pays anywhere close to a proper living wage given the current COL or that doesn’t require a specialist degree.
I have a general humanities degree, would be willing to do further study but it would need to be part time or as part of a job, I can’t afford to take time out to be a full time student.
Just scoping out ideas at the moment. If you’ve made this kind of career change, what did you go into? How much do you earn and how did you get into it?

Interested to see the answers here sorry to piggyback

I’m also interested in this so a hopeful bump for you. Since having children I want to do something different but can’t afford a drop in pay. But I realise that may not be realistic

You don't say how much you earn so it depends.
But a lot of jobs are shift based and they pay more

How about looking into an NHS apprenticeship for something like Occupational Therapy, Nursing or similar. Likely to still be a drop in pay, but you will be earning something and guaranteed a job at the end.

There are apprenticeships available for a few different Allied Health Professions (podiatrists, radiographers, paramedics etc), but it will depend what’s available at your local NHS trust.

Not necessarily guaranteed a job at the end of NHS apprenticeships unfortunately

Not a change of career so much as environment, in my 30s I only did regional / field based roles (I work in HR) which I loved as I still got to use my skills and qualifications but I wasn't in an office every day.

Eventually I got fed up of the travel and, after being made redundant, have gone back into an office role as that's all I could get but I'm actually enjoying the change after 10 or so years of limited time in the office. You do connect a lot better with colleagues when sharing a physical building in my experience.

I don't regret the regional years though and would probably consider it again if I had the opportunity although I don't miss long motorway tail backs and getting home at 10pm some days (balanced out by more 'dossy' wfh days though)
And I never got bored of staying away sometimes in some quite nice places with a generous meal allowance!

Unfortunately we value corporate office jobs more than ‘manual’ doing jobs or jobs with impact.

Of course that’s a generalisation and there are exceptions.

or how about staying in corporate world but switching to something that feels more purpose-lead?

Corporate social responsibility roles.
Social value roles.
Sustainability.
I&D.

Or find your passion alongside the office job that pays the bills. Volunteer with the Samaritans, do some work with Citizens Advice…

I feel like this too and would actually love to be a midwife but it’s just not possible to be out of work for 3 years.

Most job adverts that state they require a degree don't really. Similarly the ones that say masters don't require a masters.

As long as you can evidence alternative skills and experience that make you suitable then you may still be in with a chance of interviewing.

I don't have a masters and the ad for my role asked for one. In the NHS and other areas where roles are 'banded' often they add these requirements in the increase the band in order to get the role towards market rate.

Good luck, don't forget the personal statement or covering letter are key for your applications

You could always train to be a teacher?
you can do the training on the job, you’ll always have work and can earn quite a decent salary especially if you go into leadership.
alternatively School business managers earn a reasonable wage (depending on size of school) people willing and able to do the job seem to be in short supply (we advertised four times and couldn’t recruit) and are incredibly varied and hands on roles.

Just catching up on the replies, thanks all for your thoughts so far.
I think any job in healthcare is out, I’m really squeamish and it wouldn’t be fair on anyone. Also couldn’t be a teacher, I don’t think I’d be much good at it.

I was thinking of something related to horticulture/garden design maybe…or something like art therapy. Or something else related to art or the outdoors, that doesn’t involve sitting in front of a screen all day.
I have an HND in art as well as my degree, but didn’t pursue art further as I needed to earn a living straight away and fell into an office job, then I had a baby and life got in the way.
I know either of those fields would require more study, but maybe I could find a course that fits around work (I only work 4 days).
No idea how much demand there would be for workers in those fields though.
Realistically I probably couldn’t make the change right now, I need the salary and flexibility around childcare that my current job gives me, but I want to start laying the foundations for a potential career change in future.
Happy to hear ideas that I haven’t thought of too.

Look into OT...if you worked in mental health could be very creative e.g. facilitating art/gardening groups with patients. I'm an OT in physical health in the community and don't have to deal with any body fluids etc

No guarantee of a job at the end, in fact many trusts/UHB have recruitment freezes