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Original poster

What’s your dream job and what’s stopping you?

70 replies

TheChosenTwo · 17/08/2021 17:46

Or are you on your way to achieving it?
In about a year or so I’ll be at a bit of a job crossroad, I could continue what I do forever but I think I’m bored and want a change. Great GCSE results years ago, dropped out of college, did an access course a few years after than when my dc were young but nothing since. Don’t think I can face going back to study as i hated it and lacked motivation to do it.
So, if you have a dream job, what is it and why is it only a dream and not a reality?
I don’t really have a dream job, there’s a couple of things I’d like to do but not enough to warrant years of studying!
Just being nosey really.

OP posts:
Crazysheep · 17/08/2021 20:26

My dream job is working with children with special needs and after a long slog of retraining and having recently completed a degree I start my dream job in September. I couldn't be happier and praying it lives up to expectations although after falling in love numerous times on my visit I think it will.

BerryPieandCustard · 17/08/2021 20:51

My dream job is a food safety technical officer or EHO in food safety.
I drifted a bit after school/college as I didn’t know what I wanted, married, had kids and got a job in a school kitchen. Turns out in bloody good at it and I’m now a catering manager for a large secondary school and sixth form. The food safety aspect of my job is incredibly interesting to me, I have done level 4 in food safety and love learning about that side of things.

The nearest university that does EHO training is 3.5 hours away coupled together with needing to work and be around for children I am unable to go.
I have been researching other options and have found a Certificate in higher education in environmental health available part time over 2 years at a university 1hour and 20 minutes away which is a more realistic route.
I will apply for 2022 and as my youngest will be in the secondary across the road from our house at that time it will become easier for me to be more flexible.
Hopefully it will be a foot in the door somewhere.

SameToo · 17/08/2021 21:32

@TheChosenTwo it’s a specific animal I want to work with in the country they are from.

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Jobs
DHandInterview · 17/08/2021 22:25

Growing up, I had two dream jobs: stay at home mum and teacher

Sadly, I've suffered with infertility and have no children

I also didn't become a teacher, I don't think it's the same now as I thought it would be growing up

PicsInRed · 17/08/2021 22:29

Philanthropist and lady who lunches.
Unfortunate accident of birth.

Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 17/08/2021 22:35

@PermanentTemporary that’s fantastic.
Yes I too am reminding myself that I do actually love the challenge of my job - one more year and I’m feeling a bit numb about it but when I really think about it it’s not the job itself that I’m not looking forward to but the shit that goes alongside it!
Ahh @Unfashionable - similar to the reasons I never became a gymnast Grin
@Chubbymummy12 I think becoming a midwife is a wonderful dream, but jesus the work their backsides off, it’s such a physical job along with everything else.
Oh I see @SameToo, obviously not a donkey sanctuary or similar then Grin well I hope one day you get there.
Sorry to hear that @DHandInterview Sad and no, I don’t think teaching is all it promised when I was young either! The job has changed beyond recognition since I was a small child.
Good luck @BerryPieandCustard - you sound like a brilliantly committed candidate and I wish you luck for the course when you start. As the dc get older your options begin to open up a little more.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheChosenTwo · 17/08/2021 22:36

@PicsInRed Grin
You and me both!

OP posts:
JeffVaderneedsatray · 17/08/2021 22:43

I suppose I have 3.
SAHM I was one for about 4 years, did some supply work and accidentally 'wandered' into a temporary TA post which was then automatically made permanent so am back at work.
What's stopping me? Turns out my lack of achievement in the housekeeping department were not caused by a lack of time but because I'm shit at it. I need to 'contribute' to our family in some way so I'm not addressing the fact that I want to be a SAHM who is shit at housework and instead being a TA, bringing in some cash and having an excuse for being shit at housework.

2 An actor
What's stopping me? I was directed away from acting by my parents (both professional musicians) because I wasn't 'passionate' about it. What they failed to understand is that I'm not passionate about anything - I exist in a bit of a bubble. I have no training, no time and 2 challenging teens. There are only Amateur Musical socs around here and I can't sing.

3 A writer
What's stopping me? Lack of ideas for original stories. I write well but everything I write is unoriginal.

Noshowlomo · 17/08/2021 22:45

Housewife and it’s stopped due to my husband not earning £80k a year … sucks to be me !

SweatyBetty20 · 17/08/2021 22:48

Paramedic. I’m usually very calm, not bothered by blood, and long for a job which isn’t a 9-5 office job. But I’m 49, getting a mental battering from the menopause (forgetfulness and brain fog), and have completely lost my confidence study-wise. I’d be terrified of failing the degree. I also can’t afford it, I live alone, in a new relationship, and the only person who will pay my mortgage and bills is me.

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 17/08/2021 22:49

I wanted to be a social worker for reasons relating to my own childhood. I gave up on the idea because I had a relapse of symptoms during the pandemic.

SameToo · 18/08/2021 08:04

Thank you @TheChosenTwo I do too. The main reason for waiting is i think once I’m there I won’t want to come back Grin

BigRedDuck · 18/08/2021 08:23

Good thread OP. I'm like you, come to a bit of a crossroads and not sure what route to take. I've done my dream job for nearly 9 years now and it's been everything and more, but I'm burnt out. I'm finished.
I have two primary aged DC and DH has a V manual job that is required to be on call basically all the time. Honestly I think I'd like a break from work all together and concentrate on my house but financially I don't think we would survive. Part time would be ideal but again, I just don't know what I want to do.
Considering retraining as a plumber. It's not a "dream" but it's something different. And I really need different. But i don't want to study with a college course full of 16/17yr olds!

BigRedDuck · 18/08/2021 08:26

*not that there is anything wrong with 16/17yr olds, I just don't want to experience teenagers any earlier than I need too 😁😁

ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife · 18/08/2021 08:30

Architect

Far too old and didn’t do any of the right subjects at school. It’s my big regret in life that I didn’t recognise that it was what I wanted to do at the right stage of my life.

TravellingSpoon · 18/08/2021 08:34

My dream job would be a in Careers Guidance, either in a school or university.

What is stopping me is the lack of courage and a need to pay the bills.

user1471523870 · 18/08/2021 08:38

I would love to work in a big museum, but the pay would be a fraction of what I earn now. Maybe when I retire....

MasterGland · 18/08/2021 09:05

I wanted to be a vet. I memorised all the different breeds of dogs from a large book in the library (I was about 7, and thought this was essential vet knowledge! ) Unfortunately, my parents didn't think I was clever enough. They kept telling me this, and eventually my last shred of self confidence was eroded. I dropped my dream.
In the end, I left school with a full deck of top grades at GCSE and A level. I teach Biology. I can still name every dog breed by sight.

MasterGland · 18/08/2021 09:07

Meant to say, what is stopping me now is lack of money.

TatoAndBeans · 18/08/2021 09:11

Farmer.

Health and mobility issues.

mibbelucieachwell · 18/08/2021 09:13

Being a foster carer.

DH and lack of space make it impossible.

Or making money from writing. Lack of talent, hard work, confidence and determination are the obstacles.

DaisyDozyDee · 18/08/2021 09:30

I sort of have my dream job. The role is perfect, but it’s underpaid and under resourced.
If they’d asked me to take it on as a volunteer, I’d probably have said yes though. My dad refers to it as a hobby that just about breaks even.

burritofan · 18/08/2021 09:42

3 A writer
What's stopping me? Lack of ideas for original stories. I write well but everything I write is unoriginal.
There’s actually a demand for decent ghostwriters who can turn out well-edited word count at pace; not just ghostwriting for a name celeb, but lots of publishers “package” books by coming up with ideas in-house, have series such as Mills & Boon where there are rules and beats to follow rather than out-there ideas. Most full-time writers I know do a mix of passion projects and packaging.

BlessedBeTheFruitCake · 18/08/2021 09:54

I was working as a maternity care assistant and studying to apply for a midwifery degree. Unfortunately I had a disabled child which meant this wasn’t possible.

I now volunteer at my DCs complex needs school which is very rewarding. I’d love to be able to work there properly but the school doesn’t offer wrap around care or holiday clubs for dc. There’s no alternative childcare for dc before/after school as they require 2:1 support.

quiteathome · 18/08/2021 09:59

I wanted to be a doctor, but I am not academic enough. I am now two years through an AHP degree, which will mean I can work with in health/ medical setting.