30s career change minimum wage trap

[Mocha0202]

Looking for some advice after seeing thread about jobs that earn 200k+ 😅
A bit long sorry

I’m 34, with a DD under 2, just quit my job of 9 years and don’t know what to do next. completely at a loss!

I came to the UK when I was 20, worked as a team leader in manufacturing for 5 years, then moved to Scotland, got a job in Wetherspoons and quite quickly got promoted to a kitchen manager, then got stuck for 9years (dead end). This job was really stressful and demanding, the pressure quite ridiculous considering the wages. Plus I really do not want to work physically anymore.

I am now considering a career change but taking into account my age and the baby, I feel like uni is not achievable anymore.

A few options I think would be possible are:

• CIPD 3 and try to get an entry role as an assistant in HR
• dog grooming/walking/boarding/dog photography
• AAT in my local college
• try to get a job in a local school as it would fit around my child
• baby classes franchise (I am not a massive fan of babies though 😅)

with my partner we managed to buy 2 properties (one buy to let) and have about £180k in savings, but I don’t want to live off my savings while I study.

I love personal finance, pension planning, care a lot about people and planet. I would be happy with a 30k+ job.

bit of a back story
I always wanted to go to uni and get a decent job but I had to send money back home almost every month and couldn’t just go part time and study. (Had to pay my gran’s bills as she was looking after my mentally ill mother). Looking back I think I was also too scared of failure- choosing the wrong subject or ending up in debt. I had no one to fall back on, no family to go back to, no savings.

I am just hoping that maybe someone would share their point of view and help me make the right decision.

Genuinely thank you for the time you’ve taken to read my post.

You could do the Open Uni online around other work if you didn’t want to live off savings

AAT (you can self study AAT too, college isn't essential) and look for school finance assistant roles or similar?
Term-time roles are convenient but will mean lower earnings (as its pro-rata'd).

34 is very young! There’s time to start any career you want. Given you have an investment property, a substantial savings buffer, and a partner who earns, I would aim high. You can afford childcare etc. Perhaps a vocational degree like dentistry or midwifery (if either of those appeals to you), or maybe Law?

Think about the kind of job you want and the salary you want to achieve and go from there. Don’t limit yourself to term-time school admin jobs and the like, they pay appallingly.

34 is young enough to do anything! What do you want to do, your fulfilment in life matters.

From a practical point of view, have you considered a trade (maybe electrician?)? They make a lot of money and are AI proof.

If you are passionate about the environment look at careers in renewable energy (solar, heat pumps etc)?

Maybe not solar in Scotland 🤔

I don’t know much about finance careers but just to say, I changed career at 36 and have just completed a 2nd degree through work at almost 40. It’s really not too late for you and you have a really decent buffer of savings. Go for whatever you want to do.

Someone who doesn't understand solar... 🙄

Agree with this: I'm 40 with no resources and finding it hard, you can shoot for the moon with that behind you!

Have you considered training as a mortgage/wealth advisor? Less technical and specific than accounting and a lot of firms have trainee schemes where you would earn over minimum wage.

Lots of people around me are trying to get into pet sitting/dog day care etc. I think it’s quite hard to build up clients and if you are going to collect dogs and transport them you need a bloody big van. The two people I know who do it both have converted minibuses.

it’s also quite variable - one of the people I know who does it is taking on additional admin work for people as she’s low on dog clients right now.

I started from scratch in a similar situation at 33. I entered in part-time admin entry role, did GCSEs online by night (breastfeeding baby never slept so was awake anyway lol) government provide free level 2's online, then did the rest through work as an apprenticeship. (Did year by year level 3, 4 to degree etc) Then moved into specialism. In my opinion its about finding the right employer that will actually give you access to qualifications and development.

If you're interested in personal finance and planning then why not train to be a financial adviser?

I've not listened to it yet but this is exactly what the most recent two episodes of the Meaningful Money podcast are about.

In a previous episode they said the best way in was as an admin person or junior who had the right aptitude and skills such as being able to talk confidently and empathetically to people and its something you learn on the job so not long study periods while not earning. Have a look at

meaningfulmoney.tv/mmpodcast/

I retrained at 34. I was on the £200k thread too.

IFA exams are far better than AAT in my view. There aren’t enough advisers.