If you had to the chance to pick a trade to retrain in...

I am not practical I wish I was - When younger I should have gone for a job in the City probably as a fund/trust manager eventually. I would have been very wealthy. I didn't have the contacts or the right background or right accent and when younger the confidence.

My main job has been as a teacher to help young people with disabilities fulfil their full potential and turn from a caterpillar into a butterfly in quite a few cases, some have gone from no qualifications to first class honours degrees. There were damaged emotionally and I had to educate and repair. It could be very satisfying. I would find it very diffcult to go back to a office style job.
 
Last edited:
I love my job but would have took it up earlier. That said I was probably to immature and would not have been emotionally stable enough. If I had to choose another, a barrister. Really interesting, any get well paid to formulate arguments. What’s not to like!
 
It would have been cool to be working for the big digital startups between 2000 and 2010 in whatever capacity when tech really was the red hot new frontier. Imagine being at Google in 2000, Facebook in 2004 or Spotify in 2008. Preferably with a big fat stock option so you could retire at 28 and spend the rest of your life retraining your drinking muscles somewhere sunny.

Other than that, would have loved to have been a pro sports player. Would have to be something trainable that you don't need much natural ability in but if you do your 10,000 hours you can play pro, so table tennis or being Willo Flood maybe. Would have loved the repetition and constant improvement and the fun of competing and training and being physical, so different to what I do now.

Third option, finance.
 
i'm a bit taken aback with this thread.

options on what to do and how to live a life, and people are going for construction, bean counters or train drivers (wont be any of those by 2030) - wheres the dreams?

does no one want to be an archaeologist, or a playwright, marine biologist, actor, film maker, artist, musician, designer, physician, surgeon, architect, ecologists, etc etc etc, or even a politician ? . :giggle:

Was just about to say something in archaeology for me, love it and can't get enough of TV programmes about digs. Interested in old stuff and antiques too as I used to work at an auctioneers.
 
i'm a bit taken aback with this thread.

options on what to do and how to live a life, and people are going for construction, bean counters or train drivers (wont be any of those by 2030) - wheres the dreams?

does no one want to be an archaeologist, or a playwright, marine biologist, actor, film maker, artist, musician, designer, physician, surgeon, architect, ecologists, etc etc etc, or even a politician ? . :giggle:

As we get older we become more realistic and aware of our limitations, personally I don't think i ever had the mental capacity to become anything that ends with 'ist', 'ian' or 'ect'.
 
Not sure. Am doing what I've always wanted to do, so haven't really thought about it. I always fancied driving one of those little dust carts around the streets that sweep the curbs. Out all day listening to the radio, not having to deal with people so much.

or one of those sit on lawnmowers, driving one of those would be good.
 
My biggest regret was not joining the Navy. That said, when the Falklands war started and my mates ship was hit, I did for a while think I’d made the right decision.

Knowing what I do now, I would retrain as a Counsellor or in Mental Health
 
I left school at 16 and never knew what i wanted to do career wise, I worked for a bank for a few years then the police for a couple of years but never really enjoyed it. Came across an advert by chance for a train driver and been doing it for over 20 years now. I would recommend it to anyone, never thought I would have a job I love doing.

I'm mod 30s but that's pretty much my path but not found the thing that is me.

My health discounts train driver but I'm sure I'd enjoy it.

And then I think about things in the service sector... Landscaping... Jet washing... Etc. Simple to start and fulfilling.
 
If I could go back, I'd do a business degree, buy a plot of land in a town or city, turn it into a car park. Coin it in for doing very little, then sell that land at an extortionate rate back to the council or a developer, before buying another larger piece of land and doing it all again. If my revenues were down i'd increase fines for a range of punitive reasons and make it harder for people to appeal.
 
I often have pangs of going back to my previous life as a journalist and writer, I’m not really quite sure, beyond younger me lacking patience and a bizarre point to prove after a particularly painful break up, why I stopped doing a thing I loved for a thing I’ve never really enjoyed.

It’s not a complaint as I’ve been very lucky, have enjoyed a charmed and wonderful life, making great friends and working in some fantastic places but age brings perspective and I think I’d be a more contented soul being paid for something that I love the whole process of, from research to rewrite, than my current role.

I’m trying to do more of it and you never know now the kids are older one day I might just throw myself into it fully and see if I sink or swim.
 
Last edited:
Being a bit of a guitar geek I'd definitely retrain as a guitar Luthier. Loads of people watch TV shows like The Repair Shop etc but I constantly watch Youtube guitar build/repair videos; I'm subscribed to God-knows how many guitar build channels! May seem dull viewing to some but it all feels very hypnotic to me; love the creativity of it. Dare say there's not much money in it but as long as it covered the bills I'd be happy.
 
I changed my career last year at the age of 55. Chucked in a career as an analyst and opened up a kitchen refurbishment franchise.
Omg do I regret it, the stress of opening up a new business during a pandemic is horrific.
When reviewing my options, I wish I had become a stripper, nothing to look at but I do enjoy removing paint :)
 
im 20+ years in IT and I used to love it, but the last few years are a disaster as a manager and I hate it, but do de-skilled and devalued it is unreal. Pick a trade and not care about money, conservation of some description. I love the outdoors and love what I have done in some African countries, but only as a paid volunteer not a job
 
Back
Top