So 4 year ago, when covid hit, I made the decision to leave my well paid career and retrain to be a midwife, my lives passion.
To say it has been hard is an understatement! I left my son's dad in Feb 2020 and started a fresh in a new town. no sooner had we moved in did lockdown start. My son was 18 months old.
I was furloughed so made the decision to take advantage of the additional financial support on offer to single parents and I did my Access course with no expectation that a 36 year old, single parent with no healthcare experience would be offered a place on a midwifery degree. How wrong was I! 3 interviews and 2 offers!
We have always been told that jobs are rife and you would walk into one once qualified, especially the trust you trained at. All that changed in January when it was announced that there were minimal preceptorship midwife opportunities throughout the country due to increasing staff morale and less people leaving as well as a recent recruitment drive from midwives abroad. Fab for the profession and the families in our care but not so great for me.
So far, of my cohort, less than half have been offered positions after interview.
My interview was Saturday just gone. There are 30 positions and they have interviewed over 100 candidates. It is my only real option of where I can work based on my location and personal circumstances.
Apparently, they will start contacting candidates today. I have been so calm and what will be will be, but now I am so nervous!
Genuinely not sure of my options if I am not successful. I have muted the uni group chat as everyone is winding each other up.
Please hold my hand whilst I wait for this call 😞