I'm turning 31 at the end of March. I live extremely rural so the jobs are limited. People keep telling me to go back to school, but I don't want to spend years studying before I can start working. Nobody's going to want to hire someone in their mid-late 30s when a 20-something has the same training and better chances of staying.

What can I look into that won't require years of school before I can start getting experience?

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People in their mid thirties are hired all the time, so I'm not sure about all that. Mid thirties is still young. My mom went back to school in her fifties and loves her new career. Don't let your age limit you!

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I appreciate the intent, but I did explicitly say that I don't want to do that.

I started with a fortune 500 company in 1981 with a lot of the same thoughts in mind as you. I had to refocus to keep my eye on the prize. Even though it had started to fade.

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Look into trades certifications. Electrician, HVAC, plumbing. Most apprenticeship programs pay you while you learn, so you're not spending years in a classroom before earning anything. In rural areas especially, skilled trades should be in demand because there aren't enough people doing them. I've got a buddy who did this at 32 and is making more than he ever earned previously. Worth looking into if you're open to the idea.

I actually already have been... Other than the electric co-op and the mill, the trades in my area are all individual people, not companies willing to do apprenticeships. The mill is only looking for CDL drivers and the co-op doesn't have any openings.

Even the federal apprenticeship website has no listings within 100 miles.

Honestly, going back to school is not a bad idea while you are still employed because the job market and global economy is bad.
Especially when you live in a rural area, you need to be open to commuting for better opportunities and then eventually relocating closer to your job.
I grew up in a rural area, when I was born in 1970 it was actually a township, and the only opportunities were fast food, restaurant, retail, and warehouse / factory work which I wanted no part of either one for the rest of my life. I did end up commuting to the metro area for a couple years until I could move closer to work which was maybe 32 years ago.
I am sorry to burst your bubble, a 20-something will not have the same training, experience, and better chance of staying at a job as many do not want to work yet they want to get paid. Work experience and skills are actually more important than college degrees.
There are many, in your generation, who only look at the money and do not research a career that they end up actually leaving after spending years in college as they find the job actually requires them to do long hours and lots of work.
There are some programs out there that you can complete in only one to two years WHILE you are still working. Years ago, I worked FT at KFC and took a one-year Bookkeeping Clerk program FT at Minneapolis Technical College, yet I forgot to do any networking as for a company to need a Bookkeeping Clerk they need to be in a city population of 50,000+. I have taken correspondence courses in Computer Assisted Bookkeeping, Master Travel and as a Financial Planning Specialist (all one-year programs completed in 11 months each) while working FT jobs.
A recruiter and hiring manager are looking more for actual work experience and skills that are related to a job opening rather than experience working in that particular role. For example, if you are looking for a job in Customer Service in a Call Center, employers are looking more for someone who has the experience and skills in customer service whether face to face or over the phone, "soft skills" (sadly most Gen Zs do not have as they grew up surrounded by technology), ability to multitask, ability to use office related computer programs, typing skills, flexibility / adaptability, willingness to learn and grow.
At your young age, whatever you decide to do I would be very strategic about it and if not, you could find yourself stuck in your present field for the rest of your life.

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