Careers advice

[Curious2468]

Hi,
I have a first class biology degree plus a levels and GCSEs at reasonable levels. I haven’t worked full time since my daughter was born nearly 13 years ago but I’ve done some online work since for a year here or there.

Both of my children are disabled (autism, adhd, and a connective tissue disorder). I also home educate (hence not having worked full time).

As they are getting older I’m starting to wonder about future options for when they (hopefully) won’t need me home all day. I had applied for a pgce when I fell pregnant with my daughter so teaching is definitely high on my list of possibles (secondary science or special Ed).

What other jobs would people recommend? I want something with decent earning potential and room to progress (I’ll be mid 40s so it also needs to be something where I won’t immediately be discounted due to age). I love working with children (tutor small groups occasionally atm) and also animals/nature stuff. My degree is out of date so a job in science would be tricky to secure and they are also mostly low paid.

I’m happy to retrain and fortunate enough to have a bit of savings if I needed to pay to do this. I could do something part time or in the evenings whilst raising the kids potentially and my aim is to be ready to start a career once they hit 16/18 so I’m thinking ahead so I can prepare iykwim

Does anyone have any suggestions of jobs that could be a good fit?

You might be better off approaching your universities careers service (who will help all ex students!) / the job centre (not just for people on JSA) / local recruitment agencies. Good luck!

Oh I didn’t know that the university careers advice. I haven’t been there is so long I had assumed they wouldn't be interested!

I’ll be mid 40s so it also needs to be something where I won’t immediately be discounted due to age

Hmm, be careful in teaching-older teachers are often not popular. Usually it’s due to being expensive (which you wouldn’t be) but there is a certain type of head out there that is threatened by older teachers, bizarrely! There is also very little scope in many schools to move of the bottom rungs of the pay scale due to low budgets, so many of our younger teachers haven’t had a pay rise since they started.

If your own children have significant SEN and require additional support I also wouldn’t consider teaching unless you have a very good network of support at home-DH who can work locally or from home/local parents?

You’d probably be in school 7.30-5/6 plus work in the evening and obviously no flexibility for medical appointments/child illness (even time off for my DD’s chickenpox was unpaid), school closure etc

If your DH does all the housework, works from home and is utterly supportive though- then that’s a better starting place.