I am considering a fairly drastic (though not entirely unrelated) career change. I feel good about it but wanted to get some Mumsnetter views. I am a lawyer, but I don't do client facing work anymore – I work in an operational type position within my firm. I have been considering applying to the direct entry Detective Police Constable role (with the Met). I have absolutely zero attachment to my job, other than my colleagues who I love. The money is however excellent. I would be going from a six figure salary to around £40k, and that is clearly a huge consideration. I am bored out of my mind at work, because I don't find the industry I work in interesting in any way. I find it depressing and demoralising.
By way of background, I am late 30s, and have been doing this job for 13 years (in various shapes/forms). I have two kids – year 1 and year 4. My husband has a very senior City job, travels frequently, excellent money. I do not work for the money, but it's nice. We have a junior nanny/au pair who lives with us and does pre-after school care and holiday help. In the interests of full disclosure, I suffered a sudden family bereavement last year that has drastically changed my perspective on life, and that does have something to do with this. I feel the deep urge to do something more meaningful and do something that would test my brain in a different way. I have incredible research skills and I am very tenacious. I love to keep going until I get a result.
A lot of commentary I have read speaks to the down sides of working shifts. I have the childcare that can cover this. In a way I feel like the shift work can't be worse than what I do now, to be honest. I currently work a 31 hour week over 4 days. One day I work from home, which is nice, but the other 3 days in the office I am out of the house from 7:15am – 6:45pm. I always check my emails outside these hours. In some respects, I feel that shifts may give me more flexibility to see my kids and husband at different times.
Anyway, all thoughts welcome. Clearly a 65% pay cut is pretty drastic and not to be taken lightly. I would love to hear from anyone with experience of working in the Police, whether or not in a detective constable role.
Thank you!
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Thoughts and views please - career change into the Police?
4 replies
MtnBikeChick · 04/10/2018 13:33
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