So, those of you who are/have re- trained -

[Nontoxic]

How did you make the decision on what to do?

I've been at home for 14 years and want to get back to work.

I have ideas, but having been out of things for so long, I dread plunging in to some expensive and time-consuming course, only to find it's not for me.

Can anyone recommend a source of careers advice for someone in my position, or maybe some sort of psychometric testing?

Think about what interests you first then see what careers are available and attainable?

I retrained but found that I couldn't keep up with the younger competitors who didn't have DCs. Wished I had aimed lower as now am rediculously over qualified.....

Good luck

try this

It's quite basic but it might give you a starting point.

aim low(er) and you can always climb up

is there anything that excites you? even obscure stuff
flower arranging
hockey
reading the newspaper

anything at all

You could also make an appointment with Next Step

here

In fact - if you're in East Lancs you could come and see me!

Sorry to have disappeared.

Thanks all, those suggestions are really helpful.

Nannyogg, that was exactly what I had in mind.

I suppose I'm torn between aiming for a long-held dream of taking an MA in Fine Art and going on to be an artist, teaching adults in my spare time, or training for something more practical (and possibly more achievable) which is more likely to bring steady remuneration.

MA in Fine Art sounds dreamy ( in a good way). I would definately suggest doing something you love as you will do well in it. Just find a related career (teaching in secondary schools?)

MPP - I tend to agree re. doing something you love, having made the mistake in the past of getting qualified for a particular job.

I could probably do a pgce now, but I think I'd always regret not studying a subject for its own sake - while fully aware and feeling guilty that that is such a self-indulgent option.

i know how you feel
i trained to do a very specific job which i now hate but am struggling to get organised to go and re-train (money mostly)

good luck

Thank you - same to you.

Non toxic there must be a commercial aspect of working with fine art. Could you design and sell pictures (sorry don't know what your medium is), do interior murals, design for websites. I have a friend who started out in graphic design and now designs logos, letterheads, websites etc and comes up with branding for clients.

Even designing cards for Phoenix cards whispered as very popular on here but I am not sold!

Ooh - please tell me more about Phoenix card design. Just in the last few days, I've been wondering if I can support DS and I by making wedding stationery or ... designing Phoenix cards! The arty farty and musical stuff I love doing isn't the stuff of regular sensible jobs.

Do you need an MA in fine art to be an artist? We recently bought a painting (the only one we've ever bought as it happens) and the artist had no formal training.

Scarletibis - no you don't, but I've been out of all that for so long (apart from the odd class here and there) that I don't think I would have the confidence (or the contacts) to approach galleries and so on, nor do I think I have the outstanding talent that the rare successful untrained artists have.

Scrumplet - if you look at www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/corp/... and go to the Artist Profile page, they give extensive info for potential artists, including rates (more than I expected!) and suitable styles and formats.

Maplepecan, thanks for suggesting Phoenix - based on the above I might well look in to it - although I had a spell of card design years ago, and at the time found it isolating (pre DCs), and very proscriptive (teddies, which I hated doing as it was so beneath me!)
I hope you don't mind me pointing out that your friend is - wait for it - a graphic designer! Hence the logos, brochures and branding. My experience actually working in that field is limited and 20 years out of date. Even if someone gave me a job in that field, I wouldn't have a clue how to do it now.

wait for it.....sorry!

Nontoxic, here is a great resource about designing greeting cards. As a graphic designer, I design greetings cards and because I love them so much I also sell them with Phoenix (my Phoenix trader page is here). I just can't get away from cards!!

On that GCA site (the first link), you can also do a search for publishers who are looking for artists' submissions. You usually get either about £100 per design plus royalties, or a £250-300 one-off fee. So if you start doing ranges with lots of different designs then you can make some decent money with it. Good luck!