What job/career would you go for in my position?

[Calixtine]

I’m 26, with three young children close in age (currently 3.5, nearly 2, and 9 weeks).

I’ve been a SAHM since graduating from uni a few months before DC1 was born. I currently do some freelance writing work for a US-based website in the evenings, but this is not something I want to do long-term.

I have 12 A GCSEs, 4 A A-Levels, and a first-class degree from Oxford. My degree was in two foreign languages, and my A-Levels were in English plus three further foreign languages. I’m feeling pretty rusty with all of them now, but I’m sure with some work I could get at least 2 or 3 languages back up to relative fluency again.

Things I’d like from a job/career:

• Family-friendly hours (i.e. working no later than 5.30/6 in the evening)
• A practical aspect, even if there’s some paperwork involved too
• Ideally a job which “makes a difference”, in terms of helping people and yielding concrete results
• Good opportunities for progression and pay rises in the future
• Opportunities for further training/specialisation in the future
• Good pension program

I’m planning to start work in 2-3 years’ time, once the childcare funding kicks in for my youngest. But I want to have something to work towards now.

Based on my qualifications, requirements and (lack of!) experience, what would you suggest I look at?

Sounds like language teacher would tick all your boxes, any interest in teaching?

A quick Google of language jobs gives this advice
www.jobs.ac.uk/careers-advice/careers-advice/1378/careers-with-languages-translation-interpreting-teaching-and-more

Well, you obviously have a brain. My main piece of advice is to find a job which will allow you to use it.

I was similar to you, minus the children, after graduating. Oxbridge language degree (2.1 though, not a first) and a similar wish list for a career. I wanted to "make a difference" and didn't have a specific idea about what exactly! I've ended up working mostly in the charity sector. The pay is crap and in my experience the opportunities for development and progression have been limited. On the up side the working hours are ok and the employer pension contribution isn't too bad. Statutory minimum for maternity/parental pay although that won't be an issue for you any more.

The job I do now is rewarding but I don't have the responsibility level or salary that I want and feel I deserve.

Languages are always I'm demand in business settings. And a good writing ability too. Could you do a postgrad now at home and be ready to take up a position by then? With all due respect l wouldn't get too hung up about wanting to make a difference as you will end up in a crap paying job. ( dd has done that!!) and probably wont feel too excited about that difference as a result.
You are a young mum you can give back to society when your DC are grown.
You are obviously a clever lady..add a new bow to your arrow with a business qualification..not easy with 3 tots l know, and you will be ready to go..

Thanks for the great advice.

@Cordillera Language teacher is certainly something I’m thinking seriously about. I’ve always said that I wouldn’t go into teaching — family members in education have put me off! However, it does seem hard to beat in terms of working hours (contracted — I realise that most teachers work far in excess of these hours in reality) and holiday, and my DH is on a low income so we can’t afford expensive childcare costs. We also live in an area with several large public schools, so there could possibly be an opportunity there to use some of my more “niche” languages, not usually offered in state schools.

@AnotherEmma Thanks, I’d love to work in the charity sector but I must admit that the pay puts me off. I’m not interested in making a fortune, but it needs to be enough to manage on as the children grow up. DH’s current job doesn’t have a huge amount of potential for progression/pay rises, but it’s a family business so he is motivated to stick with it for other reasons, quite understandably.

@junebirthdaygirl What sort of postgrad qualification do you have in mind? I absolutely hate the thought of a desk-based job, which is what has put me off business so far, but maybe I should look more into it. There must be other, more practical, roles, surely? Are there any particular sectors you’d recommend?

To be completely honest, the only reason I have been able to work in the charity sector is because my DH is a high earner. I don't particularly like the fact that there is such a disparity in our earnings, either. Although I am obviously grateful that we (as a family) benefit from his income.

Given that your DH earns a modest wage I would definitely advise pursuing a career that pays better than charity work!

In your place I would do a postgrad in business or economics and then apply for graduate schemes in consulting and management. The hours won’t be ideal but quite frankly there aren’t any jobs that pay a reasonable salary with those kinds of hours. If youDH is on a low income he can make his hours work around your children instead.

Thinking on the same line as Boggles. And agree about the graduate programmes. You could investigate those programmes now and maybe target one or two that are Iin your own area. Commuting plays havoc with childcare.
With your abilities when you get onto a grad programme you should fly .

I know management consultancy makes sense and pays well — lots of friends from uni went down that route — but it really, really isn’t the kind of thing that appeals to me. I need to be doing something practical and preferably physical. My dream career is midwifery, but it’s just not going to work for our family for now, sadly. We also can’t afford for me to do any postgrad qualifications unless there’s some kind of bursary on offer.

Incidentally, there does seem to be something like that for MFL teaching: the National Modern Languages SCITT (School-Centered Initial Teacher Training). Has anyone had any experience of that or heard anything about it?