To give up the professional job I went to uni for...

[Mooey89]

And become a beautician?

I am a social worker.
I used to love it, now I'm burning out. I want a job that means I can fit it flexibly around DC, and I love all things beauty - I do hair up, make up etc for any weddings or events that friends are going to - it has always been a little hankering of mine.

I'm thinking about it more and more seriously now, but it just seems so crazy when I worked so hard for my job and I'm established, well respected, hopefully reasonably good at it (and modest!)

Anyone else had a huge career change?!

[Misty9]

I know a social worker who gave it up and is now doing something completely different. Funny, I was talking to dh about this the other night only I can't think of anything else I'd do...

Life is short.

[aaahhhBump]

YANBU. I've done a few different things from catering, retail, healthcare. No point in being miserable when you have options.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Social work is really hard, incredibly important but unfortunately mostly thankless work. Thank you for doing it however long you have.

Retraining as a beautician (as long as you properly do and don't just wing it) to work around DCs makes sense, and if it would be enjoyable and financial sensible then why not!? You only get one life.
With a profession like social work you could easily go back to it later if you wanted/needed to.

[PaperdollCartoon]

Financially*

[TopangaD]

I have a friend who was a social worker in intercity London and it broke her.. Now working part time for m&s.. I trained in another field but due to lack of jobs have landed a job with a major make up brand as a make up artist ... Pay is minimum but it it feels good to. Make a difference and make women feel good X

[DPotter]

Go for it - but with your eyes wide open.
Life is too short to burn out in a highly stressful role such as social work. However if you're dependent on your income to feed and clothe your family, may I suggest to take a few courses to help establish yourself. There is a big difference between helping out friends every now and again, to having enough clients 'to bring in the cash'.

I didn't go back to my managerial role after my maternity leave and have re-trained in 2 fields (which sort of compliment each other) and it took me a while to build up reputation and income. By and large its not my friends who are now my clients. Its been and continues to be hard work, but I can't see myself burning out - which is most definitely a good thing

[PiafPilaf]

I know someone who gave up a high flying law career to be a lorry driver. He is SO much happier.

[itsbetterthanabox]

Beautician or beauty therapist?
You need to do a level 2 beauty therapy college course to start with. What treatments are you looking to learn? You can do the college course part time whilst still working.
It's not as easy as it looks and the pay is crap if you are employed. Self employed can be a struggle but once you have a regular client base it can be rewarding.

[Ledkr]

I'm a SW and feel as if this job will literally kill me if I don't get out.
I'm also good with make up and fancy trying to get a job on one of the make up concessions.

[glad2016]

I have switched career from a high flying research scientist for 20 years in my youth, to many other things later in my life, as my/my family needs changed. Do it!

[Mooey89]

ledkr
I daydream about it constantly. I'm awake at midnight again running through my caseload in my head, it is just not sustainable any more. I just want to cry.
When it feels manageable, I love it though. That's the hardest thing. But it is just bloody impossible at the moment and getting worse every day.

[WhingySquirrel]

Do it. I have SW friends who have done the same (not beautician but burnt out and done other things).

I was a sociologist before going self employed and I don't even miss the money so much as I am so much happier. Health is much more important than wealth-and if you're passionate, go for it you will make £ anyway. Life is too short. I echo what others have said though, be cautious whilst training/getting into it and be careful. But definitely go for what you want to do.

[thisisbloodyridiculous]

I was a solicitor - now I run my own dog walking business. Do it!

[Welshmaenad]

I'm a social work student and already wondering how long I will last once I graduate!

Are you in CP? Have you considered looking for another social work role or a similar role where you can still use your skills? Before I started my degree I was a DV support worker working part time, it was very flexible as I ran my diary around my childcare commitments. Skills are super transferable.

Not that I'm saying beauty isnt a valid career but you will need to retrain and give up work to do that because NOTHING fits around social work - it would be a significant period without income. If you can manage that then go for it, if it's what you want.

[Welshmaenad]

Oh, also my mum did 32 years as a CP social worker and when she'd had enough went to work for a private foster agency as a supporting SW and she loved it - is that an option? She worked a lot from home and it was very flexible.

[shinynewusername]

Go for it! You can always go back to SW. I'm an HCP and so many of my colleagues are burnt out and miserable.

[acatcalledjohn]

One of my beauticians is an ex secondary school teacher. Still young, loves beauty, and decided she'd prefer that as a career. Good for her. Do what makes you happy.

I don't work in the field of my degree. The low pay/benefits and risky environment (risk of redundancies is significantly greater) has put me off. My degree would be more fun, but I enjoy what I do now too, plus it offers more security, which in this day and age is a part of happiness in my experience.

[Muskateersmummy]

I have just given up a successful career to take a job in retail. I'm much much happier. I get to see more of my dd, work is left at work so I don't have to do paperwork after dd has gone to bed, our home life is less stressful and I'm much more able to support my dh and dd now. Life's to short to spend it doing a job that makes you miserable if you have the option to change it

[Trills]

As well as the training in actually DOING people's hair etc you should think about the business side of things.

Do you want to work for yourself? Or work as an employee? Or rent a chair in a salon? Will you have to go out and drum up business? If you work for yourself will you have to spend a lot on equipment to get started?

[MissMargie]

I asked the beautician where she had trained, making conversation, and she said she'd done an intensive 7 day a week course in Glasgow, over, I think it was, a few months (could have been weeks).

She couldn't take afford to take unpaid time off to do a normal course. Sorry not sure what it was or where but would be more feasible for someone with financial commitments. I'm sure if you google you'd find something.

[LellyMcKelly]

Do it. Life is too short to keep banging your head against a brick wall. You make even be able at some point to combine the two (e.g. Voluntary work doing beauty treatments in a refuge, or something!).

[junebirthdaygirl]

2 friends are social workers and there only thought is getting out of the job. If it works practically for you do it.

[DonkeysDontRideBicycles]

You are in a tough line of work which not everyone could cope with. If your heart's no longer in it how effective will you be as time rolls on? Change direction if this is something niggling away at you, it's miserable having regrets. Stress won't do your health any good.

You might get some negative comments (stemming from jealousy in most cases) but this is your life.

[MrsMozart]

I uave a business that's based on my profession. We employ five people. I want out. So, we're: downsizing house and buying outright, which will reduce our needed income; paying off all debt; getting the interesting things up and running whilst still doing what I do now; and have a medium term plan (three years max) of being part-time doing the current thing.

Life is too short.