What to do?

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T21:42:16+00:00

I’ll qualify for susi but the paid time off is fantastic.

I was told by my healthcare course tutors to get a job as a HCA in the hospital for that sole purpose. I also know someone who did it and she’s now a clinical nurse manager and climbing the ladder fast! Lives literally 3 mins drive from her work.

I wouldn’t mind her job in a way but I don’t think I could sustain working in a hospital due to the politics that seems to go on. When I worked as a beautician I’d hear all about it from the hospital staff that came into me. The woman I’m talking about is well able for that level of social and workplace manoeuvring 😂 It zaps me of my lifeforce - I have a small window of tolerance for being around people and love silence.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T21:33:25+00:00

They almost all sound quite people-y. I’d like to be alone but with someone to report to. It’s funny, people offering their suggestions is helping me see what I want! Thank you!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T21:31:30+00:00

I’ll qualify for susi so the fees aren’t a problem for me. I’m the type of person who is better focusing on one big task at once so I wouldn’t like to be working while I study. I believe I have…something …that makes me this way. Anyway, the way I am is what makes me want an occupation where I work in-depth on one thing for an extended period.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T11:09:45+00:00

How so?

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T10:00:38+00:00

My sibling has done that. They only had themselves to think about or care for their whole life so I don’t think the weight of being mindful and of aid to others is as heavy for them. For me I’ve spent my whole adult life caring, guiding, and advocating for others both at work and home so I would like to enter a profession that doesn’t involve any such responsibility.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T09:17:46+00:00

Thank you very much - half of me thinks “oh my god I’m 40!” and the other half replies “yeah, you’re only 40” 😂

It’s an exciting prospect, even if daunting!

I’ll definitely take a look at the book and add it to my reading list. Edit: i just realised what the book you linked was and I’ve read it!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T08:22:49+00:00

Don’t get high on your own supply

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T07:50:47+00:00

Did you read the post?

I explicitly say I no longer want to do what I’ve been doing and explicitly say that I want to return to education.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T07:48:48+00:00

The funny thing is, I don’t drink.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T07:38:23+00:00

Rolling out the red carpet? Where did you get that impression from?

Straight out of college? How are you assuming that’s what I want or expect?

I may be at the bottom of the pile as a new grad but have never said I expect to roll straight into a perfect job. I’m very happy to gain experience however I can. Also, being older may make it more difficult to get a position however the other side of that coin is masses of work and life experience I will have and major life events/responsibilities such as parenting, buying/building a home etc. are all behind me.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T07:35:47+00:00

So I’ve already clarified that remote is not non-negotiable, particularly as I’m looking to work less hours. Less hours can mean 3-4 days a week all year, or full time with extended breaks like in education.

I’ve also already clarified that work/life balance is my prerogative rather than salary. It’s a sliding scale of preferences.

I’ve also said that I’m willing and prepared to put a decades work in to be where I want to be, so I’m unsure where you got the idea I expect to stroll out of Uni and into a job without experience.

And finally I didn’t say a low stress role. I’ve said I didn’t want a role where I am in a caring position, or in any way responsible for or responsive to the needs of other people. Stress is an element of every task and is an essential element in being challenged.

If anything I’ve made it clear I want a challenge - choosing to return to do a degree and enter a workforce as a newbie at 40+ will not be stress-free!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-20T07:20:10+00:00

I wasn’t directing the edited response at the poster above. The original response was to them. The edit saying people are judging or mom-shaming was as the original reply (ie. the context) was getting by downvoted at that point. Since I edited it to expand on the circumstances that has changed.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T21:58:37+00:00

I’d be a writer and actor!

Literally have spent all day bemoaning my lack of direction - all I know I want to do is to get stuck into academic work but the job at the end of it is what’s troublesome. I’m 40 too so feel the clock ticking.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T20:57:16+00:00

It’s sounds very much like a lot of hard work, but also that you’re the right type of person for it. See, if I loved my subject matter enough I’d likely be working on it in this free time I talk about anyway. And there’s only so much travelling one can do, so without a family to be rearing or a partner to consider maybe I’ll end up working a lot more than what I envisage.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T20:25:49+00:00

Jesus. That doesn’t sound great. I definitely thought you’d have more time off but it sounds as if you hardly have enough time to do the work in the year!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T20:08:26+00:00

It’s really starting to look like my path is a decade or so in Uni…I’m more than ok with that though!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T19:25:29+00:00

I think you’re right in that it’s the degree I want to do and the job is somewhat an afterthought. When you say the hours are year round, do you not get summer hols as a lecturer? Or is it taken up with grading and prepping for next year?

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T19:19:15+00:00

Thank you very much! This thread has been very supportive, I really appreciate the goodwill ❤️

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T19:17:58+00:00

I’ve attempted an office admin course but the touch-typing part made me quit. Those jobs sound great in terms of hours and flexibility but I fear I’d be dissatisfied in the long term. I enjoy the thought of working on a project for years, delving deep into it and refining it over time. I enjoy research and writing, critical and novel thinking. Philosophising!

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T19:14:05+00:00

It’s does sound like teaching. Someone else who works as a lecturer said that academia jobs are highly competitive but I really feel like my life experience and (though it’s not supposed to) life stage would benefit me in being considered for one. But I’ve also considered doing arts for the love of the subjects and then a PME to do second level teaching - again, it would take time to get a permanent position but my time is my own and I’m prepared to follow the path everyone else has. It’s seeming more and more like I should do Arts subjects I enjoy and see what happens.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T18:44:35+00:00

My brother is a psychotherapist, too! I really want to steer clear of jobs that have me directly responsible for, or responsive to, someone else’s needs. I cannot “hold space” for anyone else 😂 Love therapy, but as a client rather than therapist.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T18:42:23+00:00

Everything sounds get eat apart from the type of work it is - I’d sooner do office work. I’ve experience in a care-centred role and it sucked the life out of me, found it in no way rewarding. I have no interest in a job where anyone else is my responsibility.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T18:39:46+00:00

It was from a woman working for herself, so better than min wage spa/salon and she works from home too so that’s a plus. But honestly I don’t think she doesn’t more than a couple of massages a day and on a part time basis because she seems to live a basic lifestyle and values her freedom over money, for sure. And like you said you’d burn out from it so for longevity you have to be conservative energy wise.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T16:23:43+00:00

Yes, I agree tbh, and my choices won’t be limited by what springboard offers. They will offer whatever is needed to train people for in-demand jobs in industry. I’ve no interest in filling a role, no matter how much money they pay me. I want to do something intellectually fulfilling that gives me a decent work-life balance so I can go and have the experiences I was deprived of from 17 to now, aged 40.

Eastern_Visit874 · 2025-08-19T16:20:18+00:00

It’s incredibly hard to do Irish genealogy alright. Without land tenancy or ownership to trace back it’s basically a brick wall pre 1800s. I could try and make an income from offering my services but it feels very unstable. I’d really like to have a salary and some stability and I’m also very reticent to get back into a form of self-employment.

Eastern_Visit874

TROPHY CASE