Career advice needed! Or experience of using a life coach to help with career decision!

[Careerchanger2017]

Hi everyone I am a name changer.

I have been thinking about paying to see a life coach as I am at a career crossroads but not sure if I would be wasting my money.

Before dc I gained a business studies degree and then worked as a hr administrator for 2 years with the intention of one day working in either HR, recruitment or careers advice (oh the irony!)

Then came along dc, the youngest of which starts school next September. So I have been career planning. Three ideas I have come up with are 1) get back into HR admin and work my way up from there like I had previously intended 2) study make up/beauty which has always been a passion of mine 3) find something to do working from home to fit around dc.

I am having problems with each of these choices though. Choice 1 will cost us £600 out of the family pot in childcare 😮 We will still be £500 better off a month but dc will be in childcare before school after school and most of the school holidays. I'm not sure if that is worth it for £500 a month when we can manage fine on DH salary. Although I would enjoy the work. Choice 2 is expensive I think to study make up/beauty and buy all the kit and would it be possible to use the qualification to fit around the dc as childcare would probably eat up any money earnt from this. Although it would be amazing to find work from a hobby/passion if it's possible. Option 3 do something from home. I have been doing bits off of people per hour (admin) from home since I gave up work but I find it so boring! I could carry on with this and maybe set up as a virtual assistant but my heart is not in it. What else could I do from home? I've thought of book keeping but that would bore me to tears too!

I'm so confused I am thinking of seeing a life coach but not sure if I would be wasting my money as I'm not sure how they could help me?

Thank you if you have read this far! Does anyone have any careers advice for me? Or advice about seeing a life coach? Thank you flowers

[Careerchanger2017]

Oh wow thank you so much for the reply. I think if I focused on what my passion has always been that would be makeup. At 16 I was desperate to do a beauty and makeup course but got pushed into a levels and university by my parents. Although as part of my business studies degree I enjoyed the HR modules. My sensible head tells me to persue HR but my heart says beauty! Although I have never worked in the beauty industry so have no idea what it is like!

[Careerchanger2017]

I love skin care produces and make up. I love how make up can make me feel. After having children I stopped wearing make up and also started feeling a frump and depressed. I recently had to do my makeup for an event and was amazed at the transformation. I felt like me again! I have energy for the first time in ages and my depression has lifted. All from make up I kid you not! This has got me thinking I wish I had followed my passion all those years ago when I left school, I underestimated how important make up was to me. I also love giving people facials. I find it so relaxing and like to make people feel good.

[Careerchanger2017]

I am naturally artistic and also love watching youtube tutorials. I am quiet shy though so could not imagin doing one myself!

I am not sure what my ideal day would be, sometimes I think being in a spa I love that environment. I would also like to be able to do most of the school runs though

[FrontRowSeat]

How about doing a short make up course first to see what you think. Something cool like this:

http://www.iveracademy.co.uk/courses/taster-course

Also, check out Illamasqua for a huge variety of short affordable workshops.

Or how about working for a counter like Mac so you get training and experience but no outlay and a regular pay check?

Ps I'm in a similar position so I can see your dilemma

[FrontRowSeat]

Arghhhh pay CHEQUE sorry

[Careerchanger2017]

I've just applied for a part time makeup counter position tonight woohoo! I probably won't get shortlisted though but I feel proud I made a first step!

I've been having a look at some short courses, I found one by distance learning but wasn't sure how useful it would be.

[Careerchanger2017]

One thing that worries me is my partners reaction, he is like my parents and always says but you could do so much more than makeup....
I struggle to not people please and go with their expectations of me. I just hate seeing the disappointed look on people's faces! But I have been people pleasing for nearly 17 years and it has never got me anywheee in life, just being unhappy.

[Careerchanger2017]

Also the one thing about the admin work from home is it fits perfectly around the dc, even though I don't enjoy it. I'm so confused

I just applied for a makeup counter position tonight and I'm already worrying about the Xmas school holidays lol

[FrontRowSeat]

I get that..... I guess if you were a freelance make up artist you could pick and choose your hours (around DC). Could you consider doing the counter thing short term and just manage child care as best as possible and accept it may be difficult for a short while?

Sorry I'm not being particularly helpful - it's really tough isn't it?

[Careerchanger2017]

Yes I thought if I got a shot at this just manage short term with childcare and see how it goes, see if I like the industry etc. I probably won't even get an interview so I don't know why I'm worrying!

[FrontRowSeat]

Hutch - what you have just posted is absolutely amazing. I'm not the OP but feel in a similar position to her so your excellent advice resonates with me too.

Completely inspiring.....thank you x

[Careerchanger2017]

Hutch you are really inspiring. I was doubting myself again and just saw your reply, now I'm just booking onto a one day evening course in facial massage just to get a taster! So thanks to you so far I have applied for a make up counter job part time and also a taster course in facial massage

[Careerchanger2017]

Thank you xx

[MaybeDoctor]

A bit left-field, but have you thought of taking a children's face-painting course? I think they are one-day courses, so you could be up and running v quickly (need insurance and kit obviously).