Feeling low - like I will be on low pay forever

[wizzspritz]

I'm soon to be 35. I have never earned more than £23,000 a year. I graduated in 2011, worked in financial services, and never found a job that I was good at or enjoyed. I tried retraining as an accountant when I was 27 but found the work boring. I had three children in four years, so I had little time to study for the exams.

At 33, I decided to start working in care, which I love. Last year, I decided to study nursing at my local university, but I failed a module and will probably fail more, so I want to drop out. I'm not cut out for that either.

I'm at a loss as to what to do. I can't exactly get a job for £25,000 a year, and going back to university hasn't gone according to plan either. I love working in care and helping people, but I want to get paid more than I do because I'd like to buy a property at some point, which feels impossible.

I'm sorry. I know I'm ranting and having a pity party, but I need help getting out of the rut I'm in.

but I failed a module and will probably fail more, so I want to drop out.

But you haven't failed more yet, you can retake the first one and turn this around. Don't drop out.

Positive affirmations and faith in yourself!

Have you considered public sector / local government etc office jobs? You could enter at the lowest point of the scale but once you’re in it will open you up to higher pay grades, as well as a pension plan.

I understand the urge to work in care and it is very noble to want to help people, but you need to think of yourself and your children too.

Whilst noble / necessary etc etc, all jobs in the care sector / public sector will pay badly. Yes, yes, pensions etc..ok ish.

Was accountancy really that bad you couldn't go back to it. Nice easy computer work sitting down in the warm and dry..

Only partially joking - I've made a good living out of it, (if we ignore currently being unemployed)

To an extent all jobs are boring - that's why we have to be paid to do them.

You can move to IT- for me it looks like easy money but I ve been doing it so long it just seems easy

there are agencies that take on graduates or mums coming out of maternity. Go with them for couple of years to learn the job and then you can move elsewhere . I can DM you agency names if you want me to

@wizzspritz As an ex employment adviser, I’d advise that as it’s taken you a while to find your vocation to stick to it. It’s great that you’ve at least found something you genuinely enjoy and are good at. There are career opportunities within the care industry as you could become a team leader. Also try to get involved in different types of tasks. There are also opportunities to become care coordinators and deputy managers also which I can’t see why you couldn’t eventually move into. Also make sure you have regular appraisals with your manager and create a Personal Development Plan outlining month by month the goals you want to acheive in order to stand a chance of those more responsible and higher paid jobs. Good luck!