Tell me about your non bullshit jobs

[MrsCremuel]

I have a meaningless job that is crushing my soul. It pays the bills and that’s what gets me through.

I’d love to hear from those of you that have jobs that give you a sense of purpose and that have meaning. The good and the bad aspects! I’m trying to be realistic before I plan my escape.

@mog27

I work in mental health and it's hard but highly rewarding. If you are looking to change career you could try being a support worker in mental health and depending on how far you want to go to retrain maybe uni and a degree in mental health nursing? Support work would be a good way of testing the waters because you get an idea of what's involved.

What would you suggest as a starting point for this @mog27 ? I work on a MH helpline and really keen to go further with this (in 40s, new career for me)

@isthisouting I work in the private sector in a secure unit for people detained under the mental health act. To be a support worker there's no formal qualifications needed and many join from other industries with no experience. Try looking at mental health services near you and looking for private sector companies, priory etc.

I'm a farmer and used to be a primary school teacher. The faff surrounding teaching got me down eventually. Good luck with your future

I was in HR left to retrain as a teacher. Mostly teaching is good. I learn something new every day. No two days are the same. You have to be able to change on the spot, think on your feet, act, not kill some really annoying adults. The students are, in the main, fabulous. However, the constant focus on grades, inspection, paperwork to prove what you do, and other mind numbing pointless duties and daft things like marking in certain coloured pens, can be wearing, some schools are toxic workplaces but others are great. It is very very tough and mentally draining and sometimes difficult to juggle with a young family but I think this is the case with loads of jobs now. The kids make you laugh. Sometimes you cry. You realise how truly crap some parents are.

[quote mog27]@isthisouting I work in the private sector in a secure unit for people detained under the mental health act. To be a support worker there's no formal qualifications needed and many join from other industries with no experience. Try looking at mental health services near you and looking for private sector companies, priory etc. [/quote]
Thank you @mog27 🙏🏼🙏🏼

@MrsCremuel I’m doing the 1 year SCITT - 4 days in school and 1 day at college.

You realise how truly crap some parents are
Don't you just. You can really see the difference in the children between those parented well and those not. Not all poor behaviour is due to poor parenting, and some of the poor parenting is in itself understandable, but I feel desperately sorry for some of the DC I deal with.

@GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman

You realise how truly crap some parents are Don't you just. You can really see the difference in the children between those parented well and those not. Not all poor behaviour is due to poor parenting, and some of the poor parenting is in itself understandable, but I feel desperately sorry for some of the DC I deal with.

Likewise.

It's one of the reasons I relish the autumn parents evening. Children make a lot more sense once you've met the parents...

@Moonlaserbearwolf

This thread is extremely heartening! I’m about to leap out of a very well paid city career into primary teaching. Teaching chat on Mumsnet is often so gloomy, but in real life my teacher friends mostly love their jobs.

Good luck @Moonlaserbearwolf, I hope you love it! There's so much negativity about the profession on MN but in my actual life, my colleagues tend to love their jobs. I won't lie though, the paperwork can be really stressful (and meetings that should be emails) but the actual job is so rewarding.

I work in pastoral roles in secondary schools (currently not working due to ill health) and I LOVE it. I love being in schools, the teenagers are just brilliantly funny generally, and being home in the holidays for DS is great. I get burnt out quite quickly due to my mental health condition, but always having a holiday every 6/7 weeks really helps. I can't imagine not working in schools now.

The downside is paperwork coming out of my ears, but I generally don't get too stressed by it. My colleagues are brilliant people and I've made friends for life with teachers who really love their jobs.

I work for a non- departmental government body which funds innovation research. I'm in an admin role which is really busy and it's rewarding to think I'm playing my part in helping support UK businesses.

I work in peacebuilding.

I'm a criminal investigator on a modern slavery team within an Organised Crime division.

Translation. Much overlooked but helping people communicate across language boundaries is vital in modern society.

@Finknottlesnewt is this within the police?

@3womeninaboat what was the first step on your career which got you into that?

I work as an early years practitioner in a day nursery. I recently switched from babies to preschool and I love it. I spend the day helping these amazing little people learn and grow. I get a real buzz when one of them achieves something new, whether it's writing their name, putting their shoes on the right feet or going to the loo by themselves. I get kisses and hugs and told 'I love you'. They are fab!

[quote MrsCremuel]@Finknottlesnewt is this within the police?

@3womeninaboat what was the first step on your career which got you into that?[/quote]
Yes and No. multi agency including police. I am a Civil Servant (central govt ) but sited in a police station .