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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Jobs/careers that pay well

70 replies

Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 12:40

I'm in a rubbish zero hours job getting the London wage. I have a 3 year old who won't be getting her 30 hours until May so she's with a childminder 15 hours/week.

I completed 1 year of university 3 years ago but I don't want to go back.

I can barely save and would just love a stable income so I can at least have a little great here and there.

Which careers should I be looking at that pay well?

OP posts:
Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 17:47

My partner works 9-5 and is home around 6/7 most evenings. He's doing his best as a dad and he worked so hard to get his job, I wouldn't want him to go part time and lose what he's worked hard to get.

I'm thinking things would be easier when DD is in school. Maybe I could do OU to complete my degree, which is Psycholgy for the person who asked.

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Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 17:47

I'll be honest, IT doesn't interest me and I don't really understand computing besides the basics.

OP posts:
P0pupAdvert100 · 25/01/2019 17:48

Nobody just gets their dream job. Most people have qualifications and experience. In my case, graduate entry, worked in various departments with in house training. I have taken all opportunities that have been provided. You will be up against lots of competition from other people. What do you have to offer, that other people don't have ?

Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 17:52

What do you have to offer, that other people don't have?

Well I'm nothing special. Being a mum has made me boring, I no longer have anything interesting and intelligent to say. My focus and motivation have disappeared too, I'm just so exhausted with my 3 year old.

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peeblet · 25/01/2019 17:56

have a look at the housing associations. the bigger ones especially like Notting hill, One housing etc. They have loads of different types of jobs and they are increasingly supportive of employing without degrees.

Nanasueathome · 25/01/2019 17:58

There are lots of jobs/careers that pay well, often with lots of training involved
You need to decide what it is that you want to do and work from there
If you are just looking for a job with a good salary then perhaps you need to rethink how to go about it

AskMeHow · 25/01/2019 17:58

My friend worked in a call centre and is now doing resource planning - customer service based, and skills that you probably have in your job. Any company that assigns people to jobs in different places will have these types of jobs.

Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 18:00

I regret not finishing my degree. It looks really bad on my CV, so I'm feeling low that I may be unemployable for a "proper job.

I'm armament that I'm not going to have another child, I don't want to hold back my career.

What I really want from a career is something that pays wells, offers progression/training and involves international travel. I might be punching above my weight but I'm determined to rectify all my mistakes, start again and get the job I desire. I just wouldn't know where to start.

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Shazafied · 25/01/2019 18:02

Admin / pa ? You can do rsa 3 online x

MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2019 18:04

You are only 26. You can train to do something new. There are courses online. There's OU, evening classes, weekend workshops, all sorts of things.
You could have a look in your local library for "What color is your parachute?" and work through the book.
You could set up a blog...
You could use your creative skills.
Lots of people who are successful don't have a degree.
There is a world of opportunity out there.
Find out what you would like to do, how you'd like to be....
dream a bit.

MotorcycleMayhem · 25/01/2019 18:07

Civil Service Jobs website is where I'd suggest you start looking....

MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2019 18:11

Finish your degree and do Counselling? You could fit the hours around school hours.
Or work as a psychologist?
What were you planning for a career when you started your degree?

Bugsymalonemumof2 · 25/01/2019 18:16

I have two under 5s and realised I was up the creak without a degree or contacts. In June I finish my open uni degree and I have an offer of a place to do a post grad in social work so all things going to plan I will be a social worker.

I don't want a huge income, just enough to be comfortable and stable

SushiMonster · 25/01/2019 18:16

What I really want from a career is something that pays wells, offers progression/training and involves international travel.

Well it’s good to have aims. Focus on those.

What were your A levels in? What grades?

You need to be academic for the traditional accountancy routes. Yes there are apprenticeships but the competition for those is stiff and most entrants to the big4 apprentice schemes have 4 A’s and are head girl/boy and captain of U18 county football team and swim for England.

If you are bright but have been let down by a levels / not finishing degree - AAT can be a good route in but you’d need a lot of focus to move out from that into the better paid areas of accountancy.

Most accountancy roles don’t have that much international travel really anyway.

Can you go back to uni and get a degree? It does open up a lot more ‘grad scheme’ options to you.

If not I’d probably focus on employers who have solid training schemes and are supportive of non traditional academic routes in. Other people have given a few suggestions like civil service and large housing associations.

SushiMonster · 25/01/2019 18:17

Or work as a psychologist?

Mega lol. This is not an easy path!

Otterses · 25/01/2019 18:19

I'm 26, and I've only just started my degree! So you're not to 'old' to think about retraining or a degree Smile

I wouldn't recommend my career pre-DC, I was an area manager for a chocolate company and on £35k with little experience, the hours were really incompatible with childcare, and having a life outside of work was borderline impossible. But it did involve lots of travel, and was fun. There are some really good retail management schemes for non graduates out there, may be worth looking at if you're interested,

I'm doing a degree in criminology and psychology, then hopefully looking at applying to train to become a probation officer. Qualified ones round here are around 27-32k. Appreciate it's not mega bucks to some though.

My point is it's never too late Grin you can do absolutely anything you want to.

SushiMonster · 25/01/2019 18:22

I was just doing AAT Level 2 but dropped out ad I'm working a lot and tired most days to travel to the college. They wouldn't allow me to complete the course from home, which is a shame but I'm glad in some ways as its too technical- didnt enjoy bookkeeping- and I prefer the business management side of things that ACCA offers

If you couldn’t stick AAT you’re unlikely to manage your ACCA.

ACCA isn’t really about ‘business management’ anyway.

WhoAmIToTellYou · 25/01/2019 18:24

IT, good money to be made there but you will have to keep up with tech in your own time..

TheCanyon · 25/01/2019 18:28

Do a business management degree with the OU if thats what interests you. Bookkeeping is the very basis of any accountancy degree so pointless doing that.

minkies11 · 25/01/2019 18:30

Think you might struggle to do ACCA if you found AAT too technical. ACCA is a LOT harder (I've done both) and you will probably need those technical skills to even get you started on ACCA. You won't get into the business/strategy side of things until you get part-qualifed at least. I'd revisit AAT if you can as it's a really good start and a qualification in its own right.

Eliza9917 · 25/01/2019 18:31

Document control. There are a few entry level jobs in London on CV library at the moment.

Once you've got experience you can get around £42-45k for what is basically glorified admin.

peachypetite · 25/01/2019 18:34

Uni admin roles pay okay and you get good holiday. You could work your way up

Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 18:41

If I go back to UK I could get a loan so I won't have to worry about finances. I couldn't continue AAT as I would be at work 9am-5pm then college would start at 6pm. I was exhausted and unfocused but I did score 90+ in the two papers I took one 'bookkeeping' the other 'costing'. I just think it best to go straight to ACCA, I do have the aptitude but if I'm working I just won't have the time. I could reduce my hours and ask for more of DP's help on weekends to study. Or maybe I can do read a sample chapter online to see if I can understand the content?

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Original poster
Beachtimeyay · 25/01/2019 18:41

Lots of grads go straight to ACCA without AAT so I don't see how I will struggle if I have the time.

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MikeUniformMike · 25/01/2019 18:44

SushiMonster, you're right, it isn't and it's very competitive. But lots of things aren't easy.
But you could use your psychology degree in industry - do work like Training and things. You need a foot in the door.

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