Is it right for you?

Your questions, answered

Am I too old?

‘It’s never too late to retrain, or to take the skills you’ve already built up and transfer them to another industry,’ reassures Jill Cotton, a career trends expert for employee review site Glassdoor. ‘Hardly anyone can map exactly what they want from their career and stay in one role for their entire working life.’

Do I need to totally retrain?

‘Not every job in a new industry requires you to retrain,’ says Cotton. ‘Remember the two Rs: research and reflection.’ Find out everything you can about your dream role and understand the skills needed to secure it. ‘Use professional networks such as LinkedIn to connect with those already working in the field and to check out their career paths and experience. Identify where you have gaps in knowledge and upskill in these areas,’ she adds.

Do I need to quit my current job?

Founded by the Open University, FutureLearn pulls together online courses from universities all over the world. There are more than 1,800 courses to choose from and they’re all taught online, so you can do them from anywhere and fit them around your current schedule. Or you could try Alison – it’s one of the biggest online education and skills training platforms and it’s free. LinkedIn Learning has more than 13,000 courses, covering everything from business to creative skills.

How am I supposed to afford it?

Firstly, check out Learner Support, which is funded by the government and can provide support for childcare, materials and even accommodation. Alternatively, Turn2Us is a national charity that helps people in financial need access benefits and grants. They have a grant finder to see what options might be available to you.

Help! I’m still unsure!

Worried about taking the leap in parting with hard-earned cash or quitting outright? Take it slow. Consider making a case to your boss as to why a certain course might help the business and see if you can learn on (paid) work time. Or, if your budget allows, could you make a flexible working request to change or reduce your hours and fit a course in alongside your job more easily? Failing that, do some initial reading around your subject or try reaching out to a few people in the field for a coffee or virtual chat.