Fortysomething male. Lost in the UK, Education ? Way forward ???

temperance · 17-06-2013, 04:53 PM

Hello

Lost, looks like recession is going to take the job ive had for 23 years. I've no real qualifications other than the experience I have. Am I really able to go back to study ? Am I dreaming ? Can I afford it ?

Any advice or support would be great.

Sketchy · 17-06-2013, 07:43 PM

You are never too old to go back to study. I don't know if you can afford it or not, but it's definitely worth looking into. You can study on a part time basis so you can find work part time too.

What are you thinking of studying? Also, don't belittle your experiences. They are also something that's worthwhile and can be of use to you in the future.x

temperance · 18-06-2013, 01:23 PM

Hi Sketchy. Thanks so much for your reply. I feel like even if I did go back to study what good is a degree gained 20 years late ? I'd be up against kids in a job market more suited to people in their early twenties.

I dont even know what to study, should I go with what interests me ? thats not going to be vocational and will that be of any use ? Should I study something that might not be what I want to study just to angle towards a career I think might be worthwhile ?

Thanks again

tiptoes · 18-06-2013, 01:32 PM

I am doing a PhD at the moment and in my research group there is a guy who retired about 10 years ago and decided to teach himself physics, he then did a masters and a PhD, he graduated last year and started a job as a post-doctoral researcher in December he is 66. It is almost never too late to study. Why don't you apply for a prospectus of a near by uni and see if there is any courses that sound interesting and with a potential career associated with them?

Enthused · 18-06-2013, 01:47 PM

You could get a part time job at Tesco or something and study in between? Won't a course be free if you claim JSA? The rules keep changing and it's annoying. Haven't really added anything, in fact this is a waste of a post. Sorry!

Cacoethes · 18-06-2013, 01:56 PM

The job market is suited to no one at the moment!

My dad did his degree when he was 45 I think. He did get a job afterwards but couldn't start it because of his own health.

Its never too late to further your education and widen your prospects!

random.swirls · 19-06-2013, 12:07 AM

At uni there was a guy on one of the courses who was well over 60!

If you want to study I would do something that interests you but if you want a job out of it then that would have to be a consideration.

If money and age were no object what job would you love to do?

Depending on things you could look at the OU or an evening uni like Birkbeck say if you lived in London.

Ps Im ten years younger but have recently started working in mental health which is something I have wanted to do for a long time that said before I retire I will have to go back to uni to study some more so it's definately doable!

Sefka · 20-06-2013, 01:39 AM

What work have you been doing? Do you like it, and are there any related vocational qualifications?
Or are you looking to change direction completely? Forty-something is nowhere near too old!

thescientist · 08-07-2013, 11:58 PM

Mate - if you want to go back and study, then go back and study! SERIOUSLY.

I guess it depends on the subjects, but in general I'd advise doing what you want to do rather than "where the money is". The people who do degrees they don't even care about end up stuck in a rut by the end of it more than others...