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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What job do you do?

67 replies

AtSea1979 · 31/03/2016 00:11

And do you like it?

Posting here for traffic.
Recently made redundant and looking at a career change but haven't the foggiest what to do.

How do you juggle childcare in the holidays?

OP posts:
SheHasAWildHeart · 31/03/2016 02:56

Communications Coordinator at a University. It's ok but I'd prefer to work somewhere smaller than the huge uni I'm at but can't complain.

Am a single mum so childcare in the holidays is a mixture of me taking annual leave, DD visiting her dad and she also goes to a holiday club (run by the same company and staff that run her breakfast club and after school club).

How old are your DC? What kinda careers are you thinking of?

DottyButtons · 31/03/2016 03:06

Care home nurse.
I love it. I get to give real hands on nursing care and build long standing relationships with my residents and their families. It's busy and varied.
I don't have children but the staff who do seem to manage, we do 13 hour shifts, usually 3 a week.

steff13 · 31/03/2016 03:25

I'm in the US, so I don't know if you have comparable positions there (I suspect you do), but I'm an Administrative Law Judge. I specifically deal with public assistance hearings. When someone's assistance is denied, reduced, or terminated, they have appeal rights. I hear the appeals, then make a decision based on the state regulations.

Our boys are teeangers, so childcare is not an issue for them. Our daughter is 5, she goes to preschool in the morning and daycare in the afternoon. I work from home about 90% of the time, so if school and/or daycare are closed, I usually keep her home with me.

steff13 · 31/03/2016 03:28

Oh, and I actually love my job. It isn't in a million years what I thought I would be doing, but it's perfect for my personality. An ALJ has to be kind, fair, diplomatic, firm, and have the ability to make sound legal decisions without letting emotions cloud his/her judgment.

LunaMay · 31/03/2016 03:35

I'm a disability support worker in a day options centre (Australia). Basically we have a group of clients with a range of disabilities and age who we take out into the community.

I love my job and the clients but it can sometimes get a bit tedious as in a smallish city there's only so much you can do!

Hamiltoes · 31/03/2016 03:38

Engineer. I quite like it. Spent my teens and early twenties as a "poster girl" encouraging more young women to get into engineering.

2 kids later and I'm not so sure engineering is ready for women and their baby making functions and "baggage". Could be I just have a shit company though.

Do something you enjoy doing!

HicDraconis · 31/03/2016 05:48

Anaesthetist - most of the time I love it. Occasionally I find it emotionally harrowing but mostly I look forward to my working day (& the glass of wine at the end of it!)

Childcare not an issue as DH is a SAHP, but I do try and take some leave in the school holidays so I can see my children more than just breakfast and bedtime 😀

Mistigri · 31/03/2016 06:00

I'm a professional crystal ball gazer (aka long-term planner/ forecaster in industry).

Best bit about it is that you can get it wrong literally all the time (because forecasts are almost never 100% accurate) - as long as, on average, and in the long run, you are right more often than most other people Grin.

stumblymonkey · 31/03/2016 06:39

Project Manager.

I enjoy it because I like writing lists and being bossy Grin

insancerre · 31/03/2016 06:43

I'm a nursery manager
I normally love my job but I'm feeling very undervalued after yesterday's reports that we are not doing a good enough job for the children in our care

Muskateersmummy · 31/03/2016 06:47

Just left my sales rep role to work in retail.

School holidays will be a mix of me, DM and holiday clubs

19lottie82 · 31/03/2016 06:49

Professional eBay seller and plastering student. Got paid off from
My office job 6 months ago so decided to retrain. I'm actually off to do my second paid plastering job today! And my third next Monday Grin

esiotrot2015 · 31/03/2016 06:53

Marketing officer
Me and dh share child care , use after Sch club , pay for holiday club
So this Easter hols I'm off the first week he's off the second week
No family around to help

RaskolnikovsGarret · 31/03/2016 06:58

In house financial services lawyer.

Enjoy the substance of the job, but not the hours or commute, as I miss my DDs, and it's hard to juggle their needs as well.

Childcare no longer an issue, but we have had a mixture of nannies, family and working from home/ annual leave.

topcat2014 · 31/03/2016 06:58

Financial Controller - the money is good, but training took years of exams after uni. Being a glutton for punishment I took more exams in recent years on tax.

Most days are good, apart from when customers aren't paying.

Partner runs own business P/T though, so that helps holidays etc.

MardAsSnails · 31/03/2016 06:58

Construction contracts manager.

I like it. Hate current job but that's the place not the career.

We have full time home help.

DrDreReturns · 31/03/2016 07:14

Computer programmer. I mostly love it. It could be a lot, lot worse! DW is a SAHM so childcare isn't a problem. A lot of colleagues can work from home to help out with childcare - as long as the work gets done no one minds.

SocksRock · 31/03/2016 07:18

Structural engineer. I've just finished 18 months out with very small children, am going back in a couple of weeks. Holidays will be a mix of grandparents, annual leave and holiday clubs.

KeyserSophie · 31/03/2016 07:29

Grant manager for a philanthropic foundation. 21 hr contract. It's a great job but there's no obvious route in. Depending on the foundation, most people were either formerly doing fundraising/ development in charities, working for international development organisations or are doing it as a second career post city/ investment type roles.

Childcare: Not really helpful as an Asia-specific thing but I have a live -in "helper", which is best described as a cross between a housekeeper and a nanny.

so basically this post is 100% unhelpful- sorry

catgirl1976 · 31/03/2016 07:31

I work on the board of an Energy Consultancy with overall reponsibility for HR, IT, Marketing, Infrastructure and Commercial Relationships

I'm not loving it at all at the moment due to a lot of internal politics and I want out :(

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 31/03/2016 07:35

TA in a reception class.

I like the job.
I like the holidays and regular hours.
The pay is rubbish.

Original poster
AtSea1979 · 31/03/2016 07:56

Such a broad range, most of which I went "a what?" Confused Grin
I've no idea what I want to do but fed up having responsibility for so little pay and job security so would like something where I can start relatively at bottom and work up or something that I can take a course in and actually find a local job in.

OP posts:
Lalathelastdinosaur · 31/03/2016 07:57

Senior scientist for NGO

Love my job because I work for a cause I believe in and use the qualifications I spent a lot of time and money studying for.

But NGO charity pay is rubbish -and there are no benefits, it's long hours and no thanks as the job is meant to be reward enough.

My Dh works flexible shifts so we work out childcare between us and DS goes to nursery 2 days a week.

Princesspeach1980 · 31/03/2016 08:24

Police call handler, I work shifts so it's not too bad for childcare, as long as you don't actually require sleep. Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it but it's rarely boring

feellikeahugefailure · 31/03/2016 08:27

I'm a full time blogger - blogging about my unemployment Grin

I had 2 visits yesterday so I'm on my way to becoming a millionaire Wink

I'm trying a few companies to make a bit of money online, but nothing has happened yet.