Look at roles and sectors where career development opportunities are good, such as: childcare assistants, health and social care, logistics like delivery drivers, bus drivers, facilities management, plus jobs in IT.Christian Hepburn, 51, from Bury, recently switched careers – and regrets not doing it sooner.In November he joined Alcedo Care. He says: “I used to work for a manufacturer supplying PPE to the NHS. We even won a Covid award.
“But I thought the people wearing it were the real heroes. I wanted something different, I was done with an office.”“I found it rewarding. He had carers coming in but they didn’t have much time. It wasn’t their fault – it was like 15 minutes, bang, there’s your tea.”“They give extra time to talk to your clients and get to know them so it’s not a mad rush.”“I feel like I’m making a difference, I love it,” Christian says.
“People were surprised I’d got to 50 and wanted to do something else. I still feel like I’ve got a lot to offer. “Some of my mates do a particular job, like driving, and they think that’s all they can do. But it’s not. I wish I’d done it years ago.“My daughter is 18 and I’m at the stage of my life where I can work evenings or weekends. It’s totally flexible.”
He adds: “There’s an old proverb: if you find a job you like doing, you never have to work a day in your life – that’s how I feel now.”for useful tips, links and resources – and find out more about the sectors that are hiring right now