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Original poster

Social media consultant

27 replies

Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 17:30

Hello all. I would like to ask you for some advice.
I am a stay at home mum for the last 6 years to 4 children. My eldest is 6 youngest is a newborn. We are not going to have any more children. I am still in my 20s and never had a career but have had jobs and help with our family business. However, i want to use this time while i can to start thinking about my career. 2 of my children will be in school full time one at pre school 15 hours a week and my youngest with me.

I don't have any help as we don't have any family around.

I am interested in social media consultancy. Can any one give me any advice on courses... How to start... Is it a good idea?

I need a career where i am flexible as my husband is self employed and the hours mean he can't do child care unless it's an emergency.

Does anyone here do this who can offer some advice? Do i need to do a course to learn. Can i learn online? How difficult is it to venture into this. I am.not trying to rush. But i have 4 years until youngest goes to school so have time to try and work my future out as i don't want to spend the rest of my life financially reliant on my DH. And i need to be a good role model toy daughters. My mum never worked. I don't want to be like that.

Any advice small or large would be very greatful
Thank you! Grin

OP posts:
Whatdayisit2 · 02/08/2019 17:52

There is a social media content institute that may help with contacts/ qualifications, or try CIM

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 17:54

Thank you i will have a look

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 02/08/2019 17:55

I do digital marketing consultancy. I’m lucky in that I started 5 years ago. The market is absolutely saturated with people doing this - I definitely notice that I get clients through word of mouth and because of my reputation. I had also done two years as a social media manager for a company before starting up myself.

If I was doing my time again I definitely wouldn’t be trying to venture into the field now especially with no previous experience.

I know that sounds really negative, but it’s worth considering.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 17:58

Ok thanks Jacques i appreciate the honesty. I'm a bit stuck and don't know what to do. I really want my own business and to work from home and that's as far as i have got! I don't want to work for my DH or be in a job making it difficult for the kids. I know everyone wants that! Obviously. Hence why i am thinking about it now while i have time to sort myself out. If that makes sense ..

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 02/08/2019 18:00

Definitely makes sense! What are your interests/jobs you’ve done before?

MustardScreams · 02/08/2019 18:00

We’ve recently been advertising for a social media consultant and the response was honestly overwhelming. 150+ cvs and recommendations in 3 days and still more being sent in.

Unless you have absolutely stunning examples of work, tons of recommendations and an in somewhere I really don’t think this is a great idea. Like @JacquesHammer said the market is absolutely saturated. Everyone thinks they can do social media and it’s a good career choice, but the good ones are very few and far between.

Is there anything you’re passionate about? Something you can start researching whilst you’re on maternity leave for training?

gobbynorthernbird · 02/08/2019 18:01

Honestly, I think you'd be better off getting a more practical qualification, bookkeeping for example.

Cloudyapples · 02/08/2019 18:01

I also work in social media and digital marketing - I wouldn’t hire a consultant who hadn’t had many many years experience in the job first, unless perhaps I was a small business who didn’t really understand it. But even then a small business could easily just hire a young graduate to do the job. So if it’s not something you’re already well experienced in I wouldn’t waste your time as there are soooo many people with lots of experience who are already doing this.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:07

Ok thank you everyone. That's one off of the list! Haha. I worked in insurance before. And never want to go back to that again! I don't have many qualifications. Left home at 18 straight into work. Hmm and to be honest i have never had to think about this much until now. I honestly have no idea what i would be interested in and don't know much about the different avenues out there. I didn't get much career support from my mum and only really know about the obvious jobs. If that makes sense... I'm not looking to be earning a fortune and want something i can progress in myself and grow. But nothing related to children!!!

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 02/08/2019 18:13

Have you thought about proofreading? I know someone who has fairly recently started up doing that and is getting a decent amount of work.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:16

I have actually a couple of years ago... To be honest my grammar isnt that great and that is quite necessary!

OP posts:
leghairdontcare · 02/08/2019 18:18

Are you mathematical? Book-keeping could be an option. You could do the books for your DH and he could recommend you to other sole traders/small businesses.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:23

No Blush oh my god i feel like crying. I'm stuck aren't i! He doesn't want me to work... But i will go stir crazy spending the rest of our lives at home and we need to up our income! But he doesn't think so... He obviously doesnt look at the bank statements very regularly!!!

Any ideas for online work?

OP posts:
Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:24

Plus his best friend is his accountant sonincant go anywhere near that avenue!

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Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:24

Ah bloody auto correct

OP posts:
MustardScreams · 02/08/2019 18:45

The problem is it’s really hard to work from home in a career where you haven’t got experience.

I’ve been working in the same area/industry for my entire working life and it’s only in the last year that I can work from home. I still have to go into the office two/three times a week though so still need childcare.

Training is all well and good, but employers or people who need your services want people with experience. That’s what I’d be looking at first. Even if you volunteer somewhere for a couple of hours a week to begin with, just to build up your CV.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:53

Thanks mustard yes that's the way to go isn't it...
The only other thing i can think of is we seem to accumulate a lot of friends who are new to the country and so need help with form filling, contacting their children schools, doctors etc as they can't read or write in English but can speak English. Is this a thing? Is it something i can set up? Can i charge people to do this and create a business out of it? Or does it sound wrong? I regularly make appointments for friends. Fill in any forms. I keep track of my sis in law's kids school activities and forms and admin. Etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:54

Also sorted out tenancy agreements for them that sort of thing. Unfortunately i don't speak any other languages though

OP posts:
JacquesHammer · 02/08/2019 18:54

That sounds similar to being a virtual assistant. Have you thought about something like that?

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:58

I have but didn't really know how to go down that route...

Or i have also thought is their a training course to teach adults English as a foreign language here or to read and write. I keep finding courses to teach English abroad but i could do it here. Maybe aimed at women. I know a lot of women who come with their husbands to the UK but can't speak read or write...

OP posts:
Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 18:59

I could do it at home or their home and do virtual lessons for speaking..

OP posts:
Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 19:00

I don't mean so they can pass their GCSEs level but to get along with daily life...

OP posts:
Brokenfurnitureandroses · 02/08/2019 19:13

Lots of online teaching English opportunities, they like people to be native English speakers. You could do a TEFL course and teach Chinese children online. Lots of the teaching is on Beijing time though. Also it may be more difficult to get work without a degree but plenty of people do it. There are Facebook groups where you can find out about employers etc.

Original poster
Needacareer101 · 02/08/2019 19:15

Thank you furniture i will do some research when the kids are in bed

OP posts:
Wolfff · 02/08/2019 19:33

It’s not really quite the same but you might find some ideas on this thread and it’s predecessors.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/3653262-August-earn-10-a-day-thread

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