To think that it is possible to start or study for a career after having a child?

[Gchnmum]

I am 30 and have an 18 month old and have been a SAHP with him. I am now ready to go back to work but I don't want to go back to an admin job. Is it possible to start a career with a toddler? I have no strong desire to work in a particular field, but I would like to have a professional qualification of some sort. I was thinking maybe in Accountancy or HR as I have had admin jobs in those fields and there seems to be part time jobs in those fields. I have a 2:2 in Economics, good GCSEs and A levels and work experience in a variety of admin jobs.

If I gained a qualification in either Accountancy or HR would employers also consider the work experience I gained prior to having my ds? Does any have any experience in a career change or start after having children? Am I too old to be accepted onto graduate schemes? Do companies take on older graduates for graduate/trainee roles?

I'm afraid my experience was far more similar to Cherry, although I'm glad others are more positive. I am in healthcare. Any career progression in a direction I want to go requires shifts. DH's job not particularly flexible and requires out-of-hours workso most drop offs and pick ups down to me. No relatives nearby. No overnight nurseries etc. Even without shifts, I find working office hours challenging with childcare opening times. At the end of the day I probably could change things slightly if I got a nanny or au pair but that would leave me out of pocket so I have given up and decided to focus on family life while I try to win the lottery. Agree with Cherry re. getting 'the look' whenever I discuss professional development. Even study days start early and finish late so I struggle.' I am not unusual, 3 of my friends are in exactly the same position. Maybe it's a more of a healthcare thing? If you have flexible childcare options and training is cheap / work will pay then hopefully it's more of an option. I have a few friends who qualified as health care professionals with young children. All had family providing their childcare. Hope this doesn't sound bitter!

In your case I would look to get onto a graduate trainee programme with a decent firm of accountants.

Not with a 2:2. None of the big 4 will take 2:2, mid-tier might.

Also, it is hard joining the traditional grad firms as a more 'mature' offering. The whole thing is set up to churn and burn young things through their accountancy qualifications and out onto other things

Grad programs are also mainly audit, where you might be working away for a week, to much longer.

The hours are not family-friendly and it will be 3 very difficult years.

I would recommend getting your first few AAT levels done, then getting a junior role in a large commercial company with a strong finance team. Then progress up, get more AAT done, convert to CIMA and push up through the ladder at work.

Day work that you can cover with paid childcare sounds good. I'm in healthcare too cherry and I agree progression is difficult if you can't work shifts. I wish I'd done accountancy now as I am irritated at no career progression. I have the hours I ask for, great in that respect, but no real career and I had hoped for a career not just a job when I left uni. It's so disappointing to be paid at the same grade, forever. I as dong a master ps degree, but can't see the point as I can't progress.

I think this is a really odd question. Millions of women have done it. Of course it's possible.

Agree, healthcare generally not family friendly, especially anything acute :( To be fair with a 24 hour service I'm not sure it can be.

I don't think it's an odd question. However I think the studying is the easy part. Whether you can translate that into a career is the real question. Unis are geared up for childcare friendly courses, except possibly some vocational ones but real life is t always.

I did a level 7 PGCE with a 3yo dd, a disabled dh and a parent having major surgery. Hard work, but so worth it!

I did a PGCE with two children, and the course itself was fine, but I didn't enjoy the job...

I disagree YelloDraw. I have personal knowledge of top tier accountants accepting people with 2.2s when it is second career/mature applicants. They accept that there is value added from life experience. I do accept they will expect the standard 2.1/ 3 As at A level for current undergrads entering onto the programmes.

To be honest if I got a 2.2 I'd probably say I went to prison instead for three years it would be less embarrassing.

I think a lot of it is getting accepted on to the course in the first place. If you have dcs it explains the gaps in your CV, but also draws attention to the fact you won't have the time to dedicate to the course others will. I found I was immediately marked out as 'different' when I walked into the interview room. I introduced myself to the course tutor who said, without smiling "hmm, yes I thought it was you." I suppose because I was the only person in the room who wasn't 21. And they say age\ parental discrimination is illegal...

Sorry, I've realised I didn't really elaborate much on my previous post there. Teaching was the field in question.

I think you have to approach these things with an air of confidence. You are paying thousands to do this course, it's in their interests to let you on it they certainly are not doing you a favour letting you attend. If you want to apply for this year PM me and I'll help you with the application and interview practice, you shall go to the ball cinders!

Hi OP
It absolutely is -MN started up workfest because there are so many others in your boat too
info about this year's event which happened in May
best of luck to you