Career Options for a 28yo

Lwengerboy on 12/09/2016 - 19:14
Last edited 13/09/2016 - 09:32 by 1 other user

I dropped out of uni when I was 19, I was studying Economics at Sydney Uni but I was struggling with depression, family issues and couldn't cope. Since then I've been working odd low skilled jobs but managed to save quite a bit and get over my despression and achieve stability.

Now Im desperately seeking something to study and get a proper career. Ideally a one year course at TAFE to get me into the field and then study uni part-time. Theres is a few options im looking at one is Enrolled nurse course at TAFE 1yr than use that to do RN and the other is Civil Construction Design Diploma TAFE than study Civil Engineering at uni. Right now I'm just looking at options to contemplate, hoping you guys can prove some more options, insight or even if someone has been in a similar situation and found their career a bit late.

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  the-mal on 12/09/2016 - 19:32

  A lot of Uni's will give you course credit for particular experience you may have (or even from your first attempt at Uni). It's not as "clear cut" as entry straight out of high school and as a mature age student it'll work in your favour. The pathways are endless - I guess it really comes down to this:

  What do you want to do? If you had all the options open to you.

  What interests you? What are you passionate about? Have you ever heard someone talk about their job and thought "That sounds cool"? Do nursing and/or engineering hit your sweet spots?

  Start from what you want, because the paths there could well be very different depending on your destination.

  If you do settle on either engineering or nursing, I'd start by calling enrolments at a few Unis and setting up an appointment to speak to someone - they'll lay out your options and pathways. And don't be put off by the time factor…the time will fly by.

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  inherentchoice on 12/09/2016 - 20:14

  Do you have a good idea for a new product or business?

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  oscargamer on 12/09/2016 - 20:22

  do you prefer office based work or out in the field?

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  altomic on 12/09/2016 - 20:50

  I've got 6 weeks to go before I have to finish my psych thesis and that will be the end of my post grad degree. i'm in my early 40s. started psych 7 years ago and have been doing it part time whilst working F/T. did the first degree online with CSU and am doing the post grad course on campus at QUT.

  it's never too late to start.

  if you're 28 now and you start a 3 year degree then you'll be 31 when you finish. you're going to be 31 regardless of whether you do a course or not so you might as well do it.

  nursing vs civil engineering - which one will offer the most opportunities? - you never hear of gluts of nurses or shortages of civil engineers.

  personally I'd go for nursing. there will always be a demand for nurses. my wife was a nurse and used it to go to London for a year (for a while she worked in a mens maximum security prison - she was cute and 23 at the time -hmmmmm). she never had to look hard for work. usually a call to an agency and she'd go to a new job the next day.

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    Euphemistic on 16/09/2016 - 10:58

    Nursing, while a valuable vocation, just isn't right for some people. Don't think I could do it.

    OP really needs to think about what sort of job they want. Engineering and nursing are at the opposite ends of the spectrum, and both opposed to the original economics studied (I could see how economics would make you depressed too!)

    IF I had my time over again I don't know what id choose, but probably try some sort of trade. I love building and fixing stuff and sitting at a desk isn't heaps of fun either.

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  Savas on 12/09/2016 - 22:40

  +1

  I'm thinking something with nature. Gardening, national parks etc.

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    emjones on 21/09/2016 - 20:56

    +1

    yeah, I would recommend the same, do something different.

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  Icecold5000 on 16/09/2016 - 18:23

  Building surveying. In NSW its a TAFE course, accreditation is accepted for Oz qualifications only and its relatively unknown so no migrants flooding into it hoping to get PR.

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  rampie on 28/09/2016 - 05:03

  I started my career in my late 20s. Maybe you should consider moving to another countrie. New places often bring new possibilities. For example cyprus in Europe has a program, which makes it relatively easy for you to get a citizenship over there (you cand find more info here: https://www.passport-by-investment.com/residence-programs/cy… ) . You could apply for it, and then start a career in cyprus. It certainly is easier than here, i guess.

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  Faithgrrl on 01/10/2016 - 18:44

  due to your depression history, i wouldn't recommend nursing. The funny hours and dealing with life and death (in my opinion) is much worse for those with mental illness. I also have a mental health history and am so glad that I am in a field that is all numbers. At least they won't die on me and let me down….

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  Ughhh on 01/10/2016 - 19:04

  +1

  Nursing is definitely not for everyone and is definitely not one of those jobs you should do if you're just chasing money. You would have to be a fairly strong person mentally, as in being able to cope with annoying impatient violent drunk patients, seeing people die and getting sick, coping with night shifts and other things. If you have depression or you're emotionally sensitive, I honestly think the job would make your condition worse.