Career change/retraining at 50 - but in what?

[picturerailred]

Namechanged. Could really use some advice. I currently work freelance in an area of the media industry. This was great when my kids were young, but my sector is becoming more and more challenging and frustrating. There is simply less work and less money around and, with the big 5-0 approaching, I am considering my options for my future working life!

What is quite challenging is that most areas my background (think editorial/communications/writing) that would lend itself to a natural side-step are either immensely competitive already, or facing similar struggles - so I do wonder if it now might be time for an entirely new direction...

I have led teams and helped build businesses before, and I enjoy helping people. I have thought about teaching but not sure I have the patience! I have also explored charity roles but nothing seems to be quite the right fit.

I am quite academic and love the thought of learning something entirely new, but would need to feel confident that it would lead somewhere vocational. I'm open to the idea of a masters degree or better still, an apprenticeship so I can earn while I learn! In another life, I think I would have made a good lawyer or worked in HR, but I think it's a bit late in the day for both those things?!

Any ideas? Or has anyone been in a similar position and had help changing direction? All online tools seem to tell me what I already know with regards to my skills, or suggest industries I've worked in already 😂

What sort of salary can you drop to? I assume full time?

People always come on these sorts of threads and suggest bookkeeping or accountancy and I just wanted to offer a more realistic perspective on that before anyone does. I'm an accountant but I also teach AAT one evening a week and I see the struggles people are having breaking into the industry. AI and software have automated a lot of the entry level/junior stuff, so unless you're already more experienced than that people tend to be struggling to find roles without experience. It's also, I'm sorry to say, becoming increasingly common to see ageism at play in the areas I work in, especially at the initial entry levels. I don't see apprentices or younger folks struggling to find jobs as much as those students I have that are 45+ trying to find their first finance role.

You might find some ideas here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

@LuckyNumberFive - Thanks! But no danger of this - I am bad at maths! I mean, I can get my head around a company budget if I have to, but bookkeeping/accountancy I would be terrible at! I hear you on ageism though - my current industry is quite similar. I don't think I'd really want to 'start at the bottom' in that sense - but I would be totally willing to retrain (and not make much money, or take a student loan while I am doing so) - if it meant I eventually qualified in a specialist area I could work in, if that makes sense?

Re caring professions. I am a good listener and am interested in what makes people tick. I imagine being a psychotherapist or relationship counsellor is immensely fulfilling, but - it does seem like a very saturated market that involves years and years of training...

@MsOtisReflects - thanks also. I will take a look.

I hear you re teaching but how about FE teaching? Apparently a vey different experience, and teachers with a STEM degree seem to have work available.

@Twoshoesnewshoes - thank you. I don't have a stem degree, but I actually taught adults creative writing on a couple of short courses years ago, and did really enjoy it.

However, I think less people are going into creative industries these days (understandably!) and the solid teaching roles in academia tend to be very competitive also.