Plaese find me a new career.

[prufrock]

I need a job. I have realised that I am not at all cut out for the life of a SAHM (something to do with not actually liking children - even my own) However I cannot go back to my old job in the city - I do want to spend some time with my kids, and the commute would be terrible, and giving less than 110% would not be an option in my company, despite them saying lots about work life balance in practice going part time means giving up any hope of advancement and I couldn't cope with that.
So I need something new. I want a job that allows me to be valued and do good work even if I am only doing it for a few days a week, that pays enough to cover childcare for 2 kids, that I can leave at work - I want to be able to come home and not bring work stress with me. It would preferbaly be something that I can have as a "real" career once the kids are older.

And this is what you have to work with.
V. good GCSE's/Alevels.
No degree - I thought at 18 that I was far too intelligent to go to university
Insitute of Investment Managemnet qualified (degree level , but doesn't prove I can do much more than a discounted cash flow and a pretty good company analysis)
10+ years experince in topdrawer investment banks, goig from general back office stuff to project management.

I am very good at technical stuff, process organisation, system specs/UAT tests etc. I am v. organised (to the point of anal retentiveness), and professional.
I am crap at managing people and dealing with incompetence. I don't want to work for myself - I need to get out and be with other people and have external motivation and company. I'm in no rush (can't resign from current job until after bonus is paid in December) and am prepared to do retraining/exams as necessary.

So your challenge is to find me a job. Anything will be considered. Are you up to it Mumsnet?!

[Jimjams]

NOt sure I dare suggest this if you don't like dealing with incompetence, but have you thought about working for local government. The only reaosn I suggest it is that I know they are very open to felxible working- during school times, school holidays etc.

[tigermoth]

My thought exactly, jimjams. - public sector in some way - local council, college, hospital etc Prufrock, my cv reads nothing like yours, but my career was in the private sector for nearly 20 years. I have really enjoyed making the move to the public sector. Previously I was used to 2+ hours driving a day, a long hours culture, little tolerance of flexible family friendly working and little on the job training. Now I have a 20 minute walk into work, a flexible 35 hour week, holidays and flexileave that add up to approx 12 weeks paid holiday a year, and an organisation that's committed to training me. Of course I still have to find paid childcare, but not for as many hours as if I was in my old job. Why not log onto a few council websites and browse the jobs sections to get a feel of what's on offer?

Alternatively, don't know much about it, but something in IT could offer more chance to work from home and flexihours.

PS my dh has just started work as a pest control officer for a local council. He had no experience in the area at all. The pay is not fantastic pay, but he'll get lots of free training, shortish hours and, once he's qualified in a year or so, the prospects are good. Bet that's not up your street, but you did say you would consider anything....

[acnebride]

Instantly thought 'independent financial advisor' until I saw the bit about not wanting to work for yourself. Could you join a local firm of advisors, or partner up with someone else?

Or try getting in touch with local primary care trusts who may well be gasping for financial expertise. NHS is interesting to work for IMO.

[SenoraPostrophe]

whatever you do, don't go for anything in IT support/networking if you can't handle incompetence!

How about project management in other areas? (eg IT). It can be high stress, but judging by some of the PMs I have worked with most of the stress can just be dumped on the developers ( "oh the deadline's tomorrow by the way - sorry I forgot to send you the stuff sooner" )

But I do agree with the others that some sort of civil service job might be in order for you.

[slotnicki]

I just want to add a note of caution re the public sector - I've worked in local government for about 16 years. Although it may appear to be flexible, it really depends at what level you are working. Although I certainly have some autonomy in terms of coming and going, I pay a high price in terms of the hours I work. I am expected to work far more than my contracted hours and am not expected to claim flexidays. I think that I last had one about 10 years ago. I also never manage to use all my leave. I have also found that working part-time has damaged my career prospects. I would say that this applies throughout the organisation in which I work. If you are thinking about public sector, I would make some informal enquiries about the nature of the work culture which applies in any organisation to which you may apply. The adverts often don't paint the full picture! Having said all this, I have had a really interesting career. I have thought about taking a pay-cut and finding a public sector job with less stress. If I was going to do this, I (and you) might think about looking for a vacancy within a council's Children's Information Service. This provides info on local childcare.

[tigermoth]

Yes, I've noticed in our public sector organisation some of the higher management do work longer hours, but the whole place closes at 7.00 each evening so they have to go home then, whatever. I don't know how much work they do in the evenings, if any. Also, spending days working from home seems to be more common, so if they miss out on taking flexileave they still don't come into the office every day. All the higher level managers I know ( but granted I don't know that many) seem to take all or most of their holdiday entitlement. Having said this, managers do seem to work hard when they are at work.

[KristinaM]

I have worked in the NHS as a senior manager for 14 years and could not agree more with slotnicki. Most senior managers here work VERY long hours. Our building does NOT close at 7pm and ALL of us work in the evenings and weekends. One of my colleagues comes in every Sunday all day.

Yes there are lots of "family friendly" policies but most senior staff are not in a position to take advantage of them. Like slotnicki, I have found that working part-time has damaged my career prospects.

Sorry to be a wet blanket

[KristinaM]

And before you ask...the reason I'm not at work at this time on a Monday morning is I'm on maternity leave

[tigermoth]

As this shows, the term 'public sector' covers so many areas, so I guess it's natural that some higher echelon jobs will be more demanding time-wise than others.

[Marina]

Higher education might be a good bet, Prufrock - term-time contracts can be negotiated in the university sector.
The other thing you might want to consider is offering your excellent and in-demand financial skills to a charity or voluntary sector organisation. I should think they'd be so glad to have you they'd let you name terms...
I like librarianship, as you know, but there is much people management involved than one might imagine, not to mention dealing with students

[cuckoo2004]

Although the public sector has good family friendly policies they can usually be taken advantage of if you work at a relatively junior level.

I'm also a senior manager in the NHS (currently on maternity leave) and am inclined to agree with Kristina M in that although the organisation is keen to express a commitment to flexible working and part time hours, once you reach a certain level you are expected to get the job done in however many hours it takes, even if you are only contracted part time.

If you are thinking of going into the public sector you might want to think about going in at a slightly lower level than you currently work at. Although this might not be as interesting or well paid as the more senior posts, it may enable you to balance your home and professional life better in the short term.

Good luck.

[serenequeen]

hi prufrock

have been thinking about you! so much on your plate atm, so many changes. do you think you're expecting too much of yourself? i would rather stick needles in my eyeballs than move to a different area, have a new baby and become an SAHM all at once! should you give it more time perhaps?

alternatively, is it a job you need? what about university? just a thought - now's your chance, cambridge is just up the road.

good luck

[CountessDracula]

Don't do IT proj mgt - too much travel.
I have been thinking about this too.

How about
Estate Agent (I know but lots of fun nosing round people's houses)

Internal Proj. Manager for something like an insurance co where hours are better than banks

[Marina]

serenequeen you genius! Go on Prufrock, Lucy Cavendish needs you!