To ask career changers out there if you made the right choice (and if you did, what was it)?

[TheSnickeringFox]

Just having a dreamy and not entirely realistic ponder...

I trained and worked as a body piercer for a couple of years.
Went to uni as a mature student and did a psychology degree.
Worked in child protection for a few years.
Hit 30, lost the piercings/hid the tattoos and retrained to be a primary school teacher and did that for a few years.
Now I'm working for myself running pre-school music classes.

Ah yes, some kind of baby/preschool classes, that was another. Is it a good career? it seems quite a crowded market, but there are LOTS of babies round here!

I was head of Payroll for a large (very large) company and loved my job. I was made redundant at approx 30 weeks pregnant, so not ideal for looking for another job. Decided to stay home for 2 yrs and a friend I met at baby group suggested Childminding. I have now been minding for 11 yrs, I have a Degree in Early Years and I love my job. Even though my old career was great, I would not go back to it, because I now like working for myself and I don't think I could deal sympathetically with office politics any more (probably just tell them to shut up and stop being so stupid).

I think it depends what you offer. There are a lot of franchises about that have been bought by mums who want to run a business they can fit around their families but who don't have any ability in the area. E.g. I looked into some music franchises before I set up on my own and one of their main selling points is that you don't have to have any musical ability/knowledge/experience!

That's fine for some parents, but some parents want to know that you know what you are doing and why you are doing it! Especially if they are paying £5 for a 30/40 min session.

I don't use an ipod (as most of the franchises do) and I do play a variety of instruments.

You just need to find your own niche/identify a gap in the market - and then fill it

Oh, and there will always be babies!

SnickeringFox... I don't know much about any of those jobs, but they sound interesting and very 'vocational'. Are there any opportunities for you to have a 'try' at them to see if you'd really want to make them your new career but also to suss out any openings in those areas?

I think human-focused careers are incredibly difficult but also must be extremely rewarding. If there's an opportunity for you to follow your dreams, I think you should look into it at the very least, starting with looking at the income you need for your lifestyle and seeing all the options available.

I really wish you luck - it's scary to step off a well-known path, but if there's a possibility of happiness in a different career, it's worth pursuing. :)

Don't NCT offer antenatal training? - you could find out from them what that involves and the potential. Would mainly be evening work though I would think as most people on antenatal course are still working.

Is there a Montessori school near you that you could volunteer at - even 2 hours a week?

I worked with adults with disabilities as a support worker for years. Decided to do my Social Work degree to get a more powerful job.

Had a DC during my degree, and am now seriously considering dropping out, as I can't deal with the long college hours, lots of coursework plus doing all the housework and childcare etc.

So when I drop out (in next few weeks) I'm going to pretty much go back to the type of work I was doing in the first place, plus be a more hands-on mum to my DC.

Not sure if it's the right choice or not, but I hope so!

to thesnickeringfox I highly recommend becoming a Doula! I had always always wanted to be a midwife, but with four little ladies running around i so far have never found the appropriate time to be able to train for 4years and so trained and became a certified Doula 7years ago. It was the best thing i ever did. I find the whole concept of pregnancy and birth amazing and being a Doula is so more personal than being a midwife, it ticks all the boxes for job satisfaction and makes me feel wonderful and very privileged to be a part of something so special. If you are thinking about becoming one and would like any info or advice please feel free to get in touch if you would like. [email protected] www.northlondondoulas.co.uk

Victoria.x

Best choice ever. I am a thousand times happier.

After University and my Masters I somehow fell into recruitment in the city. The money was great but I hated it so much I started having panic attacks and ended up fainting at Bank tube stop, essentially it was awful. One day I just walked out and got a job in politics that I've always wanted whilst applying for PhD funding. Job is ideal, start PhD with full funding in September, couldn't be happier.

I moved from teaching to finance and am really pleased I did. Switching is a liberating experience in itself. I also much prefer my working environment. I am really glad I was a teacher too, I don't think I would have settled as well into my second career if it hadn't been for the first.

I was a lawyer for years and years...now I am a writer and I alos run a few businesses. I absolutely loveit - mka egrea money nd work entirely fexibly around m children.

I would say just go for it. Youy can spend far too much time poering and turning things over in your mind. Unti you gve somehting a go you won't know how it will pan out.